Abstract:
A modular mobile bench for supporting a vehicle chassis comprises a modular frame and a plurality of modular fixture holders supported on such frame having fixtures pick-up points on the chassis or vehicle body that is to be suported thereon. The modular frame and fixture holders are constructed and arranged in such a way they can support the entire vehicle chassis in any desired position, upright, upside-down, on either side, on either end, one portion of the vehicle elevated relative to another portion, and at various desired angles and attitudes for working on the vehicle chassis as well as for design purposes.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the field of support structures for holding a vehicle chassis on which work is to be done, such as designing a new vehicle body or chassis, assembling component parts thereto, and the like. The support structure in this case is modular, in that its component parts may be readily assembled and disassembled, as well as being mobile, having wheels whereby it can be readily rolled from one location to another. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The modular mobile bench in accordance with this invention and the fixture holders which are releasably and adjustably securable thereto are an improvement over the prior art. The component parts are releasably connected and provide for virtually universal adjustment of the chassis supporting fixtures, horizontally, vertically and radially, to be able to engage and support virtually any point of a vehicle chassis that is to be supported or designed on the modular mobile bench. Such locations of the chassis supporting fixtures can also be easily and readily changed when the modular mobile bench in accordance with this invention is to be used to support or design a different vehicle chassis. 
     Prior, art devices of which the inventor is aware include those disclosed in two of the inventor&#39;s own previously issued patents and the references cited therein, as follows: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,337 (Papesh) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,067,222 (Eck) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,238,951 (Grainger et al) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,404,838 (Hare) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,465 (Papesh) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,510,790 (Hare) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,991 (Kuhn) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,589 (Maxwell, Jr.) 
     Australia Patent No. 249,933 
     French Patent No. 2,246,322 
     PCT Int&#39;l Patent No. 8,707,191 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The modular mobile bench in accordance with the present invention provides an easily adjustable support structure for holding and designing an almost infinite variety of vehicle chassis and vehicle bodies. It has a basic support frame comprising a pair of longitudinal support bars that may be easily moved closer together or farther apart by their slidable connections at each end to respective ones of a pair of lateral support bars. The basic support frame is mounted on four wheels making it easily movable from one location to another with a vehicle chassis supported therein, such as moving from one work station or inspection station to another. 
     Modular fixture holders are provided, a plurality of which may be releasably mounted on the longitudinal and lateral support bars and slidably moved thereon to any desired location. The fixture holders receive chassis engaging fixture members to engage and support selected pick-up points of the vehicle chassis or new design to be supported on the mobile bench. The fixture holders include a releasable and slidable connecting bracket for releasable and slidable mounting on one of the longitudinal or lateral support bars of the frame. A lateral arm is pivotally connected to the connecting bracket by a pivot pin or bolt which can be clamped down to hold the lateral arm in a selected position. The lateral arm of the fixture holder has an elongated slot through which the pivot bolt extends, whereby the lateral arm may slide relative to the pivot bolt and connecting bracket to provide for horizontal adjustment of the fixture holder. 
     The lateral arm can also be pivoted on the pivot bolt, to provide for radial adjustment of the fixture holder. 
     An upright member is slidably connected to one end of the lateral arm of the fixture holder to provide for vertical adjustment of the fixture holder and the chassis engaging fixture members received in a recess at the upper end of the upright member. The upright member extends through a connecting aperture adjacent one end of the lateral arm. A plurality of spaced apart apertures are provided through the upright member, and a pin is provided to extend through the aperture just above the surface of the lateral arm when the upright member has been raised or lowered to a selected vertical position. The pin is inserted through such aperture to then bear against the surface of the lateral arm and thus hold the upright arm in its selected vertical position. 
     Interchangeable fixture members are provided to seat in the receiving recess at the upper end of the upright member of the fixture holder. Such fixture members may be of the pin type, and several may be provided ranging from large diameter pins to small diameter pins, depending on which are suitable for the particular pick-up point on the vehicle chassis that such fixture member is to engage and support. Other interchangeable fixture members may have a bearing plate and a broad planar surface for engaging and supporting a chassis pick-up point where that type of fixture would be appropriate. Still other interchangeable fixture members include a clamp member, for clamping engagement of a portion of a vehicle chassis. 
     In addition to holding the vehicle chassis, the fixture members may also be used to hold individual components of an automobile such as the engine, the transmission, the entire drive train by itself, and the like. This feature makes the improved mobile bench in accordance with this invention particularly useful in performing its design function. 
    
    
     Other features and advantages of the modular mobile bench in accordance with this invention will become apparent from the more detailed description which follows and from the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of a modular mobile bench in accordance with this invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a pivotable fixture holder shown slidably mounted on a longitudinal support bar of the modular mobile bench shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is an end elevation view of a pivotable fixture holder as shown in FIG. 2 with the longitudinal support bar shown in section. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a connector sleeve member which connects a longitudinal support bar to a lateral support bar. 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of a connecting bracket which connects the fixture holders to the support bars. 
     FIG. 6 is an end elevation view of a connecting bracket as shown in FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a plan view of the slidable bar portion of the fixture holder in accordance with this invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of a portion of a lateral support bar with a fixture holder in place thereon, and a longitudinal support bar shown in section received in a connector sleeve member as shown in FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of a portion of a lateral support bar having a longitudinal support bar shown in section connected thereto by a connector sleeve member and a fixture holder shown secured to the longitudinal support bar. 
     FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of a set of pin fixtures for mounting at the top of the vertical support member of the fixture holder to seat in or engage various ones of the pick-up points of a vehicle chassis to be supported on the modular mobile bench. 
     FIG. 11 is a plan view of one of the threaded fixture assembly shanks and its central cavity in which the insert shafts of respective ones of the pins shown in FIG. 10 or other fixture members may be received. 
     FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of a base plate fixture whose insert shaft is receivable in the central cavity of the threaded fixture assembly shank shown in FIG. 11 and 13. 
     FIG. 13 is a side elevation view of the threaded fixture shank assembly shown in FIG.  11 . 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a base plate fixture received in the threaded fixture assembly shank shown in FIGS. 11 and 13 which in turn is received in the open upper end of a vertical support member, part of which is shown cut away. 
     FIG. 15 is a plan view from above of a vertical support member to illustrate the opening to its tubular cavity. 
     FIG. 16 is a side elevation view of a clamp fixture whose insert shaft is received in the central cavity of the threaded fixture assembly shank which in this case is received in and through the aligned rectangular apertures of the fixture holder&#39;s slidable bar, which for other uses of the modular mobile bench receive the vertical support member. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A modular mobile bench  2  in accordance with this invention comprises a support frame  4  having a pair of longitudinal support members  6  including a first longitudinal support member  8  and a spaced apart second longitudinal support member  10  extending parallel to the support member  8 , and a pair of laterally extending support members  12  including a first lateral support member  14  and a spaced apart second lateral support member  16  extending parallel to the lateral support member  14 . 
     Lateral support member  14  extends across the space between longitudinal support members  8  and  10  at one end  18  thereof. Lateral support member  16  extends across the space between longitudinal support members  8  and  10  at the opposite end  20  thereof. 
     The support members  8 ,  10 ,  12  and  14  are tubular, of generally square cross-sectional configuration. The longitudinal support members  8  and  10  are connected to the lateral support members  12  and  14  at their respective ends  18  and  20  by connector sleeves  22 . Each connector sleeve  22  includes a lateral tubular section  24  of generally square cross-sectional configuration having a generally square through passageway  26  extending therethrough, and a longitudinal tubular section  28  of generally square cross-sectional configuration having a generally square receiving passageway  30  extending therein from an open entrance wall  32  at one end to abut against side wall  34  of the lateral tubular section  24  at the opposite end  36 . The longitudinal tubular section  28  of each connector sleeve  22  is welded or otherwise secured to side wall  34  of the lateral tubular section  24  at the end  36  of longitudinal tubular section  28 . 
     The end  18  of longitudinal support member  8  is received in receiving passageway  30  of one connector sleeve  38 , and its opposite end  20  is received in receiving passageway  30  of a second connector sleeve  40 . The end  18  of longitudinal support member  10  is received in receiving passageway  30  of a third connector sleeve  42 , and its opposite end  20  is received in receiving passageway  30  of a fourth connector sleeve  44 . 
     Lateral support member  14  is received through the laterally extending through passageways  26  of connector sleeves  38  and  42  at their connections to longitudinal support members  8  and  10  at their ends  18 . Lateral support member  16  is received through the laterally extending through passageway  26  of connector sleeves  40  and  44  at their connections to longitudinal support members  8  and  10  at their ends  20 . 
     A securing pin  48  extends through aligned apertures of side walls  50  and  52  of the longitudinal tubular section  28  of each connector sleeve  22  to secure the end portion of the longitudinal support members in the receiving passageway  30  thereof when received therein. Each end portion of each longitudinal support member  8  and  10  includes aligned apertures  54  through opposite side walls  56  and  58  thereof to receive a securing pin  48  therethrough when such end portion is received in the receiving passageway  30 . 
     A threaded securing bolt  60  is threaded through side wall  62  of the lateral tubular section  24  of each connector sleeve  22  to seat in one of a plurality of laterally spaced apart positioning apertures  64  through side walls  66  and  68  of each lateral support member  14  and  16 . 
     The longitudinal support member  8  and  10  can thus be moved closer together or spaced farther apart by sliding the sleeve connectors  22  at each of the respective ends  18  and  20  of the longitudinal support members  8  and  10  along the lateral support members  14  and  16  until the securing bolt  60  through side wall  62  of the lateral tubular section of each connector sleeve  22  comes into registration with selected ones of the positioning apertures  64  through side walls  66  and  68  of each lateral support member  14  and  16 . The threaded securing bolt  60  is then rotated by its handle  70  to extend the bolt into the positioning aperture  64  thereby securing the longitudinal support members  8  and  10  in whatever spaced apart position desired. 
     Four transport wheels  72  are connected to respective outer ends  74  and  76  of each lateral support member  14  and  16  to enable rolling the modular mobile bench from one location to another, including a first transport wheel  78  connected to outer end  74  of lateral support member  14 , a second transport wheel  80  connected to outer end  76  of such lateral support member  14 , a third transport wheel  82  connected to outer end  74  of lateral support member  16  and a fourth transport wheel  84  connected to outer end  76  of such lateral support member  16 . 
     The transport wheels are connected to the lateral support members by U-shaped bracket assembly  86 , comprising a pair of spaced apart bracket walls  88  and  90  extending upwardly from a laterally extending base plate  92 , defining a receiving cavity  94  therebetween to receive an end portion of a respective one of the lateral support members  14  and  16 . A clevis  96  is pivotally connected at its bight portion to the downwardly facing side of the plate  92 , a transport wheel  72  being received between the downwardly extending spaced apart legs  98  and  100  of the clevis, and an axle rod  102  extending through the end portions of the clevis legs and hub  104  of the transport wheel  72 . A securing pin  106  extends through bracket wall  88  to seat in one of the positioning apertures  64  of the lateral support member received in the receiving cavity  94  of the transport wheel bracket assembly  86  to hold it in the selected position on the lateral support member. 
     A plurality of fixture holders  108  are provided for mounting on the longitudinal support members  8  and  10  and on the lateral support members  14  and  16  of the modular mobile bench as desired, including a first fixture holder  110  mounted toward one end of longitudinal support member  8 , a second fixture holder  112  mounted toward the opposite end of longitudinal support member  8 , a third fixture holder  114  mounted toward one end of longitudinal support member  10 , a fourth fixture holder  116  mounted toward the opposite end of longitudinal support member  10 , a fifth fixture holder  118  mounted at an intermediate location on lateral support member  14  and a sixth fixture holder  120  mounted at an intermediate location on lateral support member  12 . The chassis of a vehicle may be supported on the fixture holders  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118  and  120 . The support ends  124  of the fixture holders are movable to any selected position within the space bounded by the lateral and longitudinal support arms  8 ,  10 ,  14  and  16  of the support frame  4  of the modular mobile bench  2 , and to any selected position within the space bounded by the chassis of a vehicle to be supported thereon. 
     Each of the fixture holders  108  include a releasable connecting bracket  126 , a laterally extending slidable bar  128  slidably mounted on the connecting bracket and extendable laterally therefrom, and an adjustable upright bar  130  extendable upwardly and downwardly from an end  132  of the laterally extending bar  128 . 
     Each releasable connecting bracket  126  comprises an inverted. U-shaped bracket structure having an upper cross bar member  134  and a pair of spaced apart downwardly extending side wall members  136  and  138  defining a receiving cavity  140  therebetween to receive one of the support members of the support frame  4  therein. 
     The side wall member  136  and  138  are longer than the corresponding dimension of the pairs of support members  6  and  12 , having aligned spaced apart rectangular apertures  142  through the portions of side wall members  136  and  138  which extend below the bottom wall  144  of the tubular support members  6  and  12 . A bearing plate  146  extends through the spaced apart rectangular apertures  142  of side wall members  136  and  138 . A threaded bolt  148  extends through a threaded aperture in the center of the bearing plate  146 , its bolt head  150  below the bearing plate and its free end  152  extending above for bearing engagement against the bottom wall  144  of the support member on which the connecting bracket  126  is mounted when the bolt  148  is tightened. At such time, the bearing plate  146  bears against the bottom edge  154  of the rectangular apertures  142 , thereby clamping the releasable connecting bracket  126  securely to the support member. 
     The upper edge  156  of the rectangular apertures  142  is spaced apart from the bottom edge  154  a distance greater than the cross-sectional thickness of the bearing plate  146 . This provides clearance when bolt  148  is loosened so the releasable connecting bracket  126  can slide freely along the support member to a new position. 
     The releasable connecting brackets  126  may be removed completely from the support members by sliding the bearing plate out from the rectangular apertures  142 , whereupon the connecting brackets  126  can be lifted off from the support members. 
     The upper cross bar member  134  of connecting bracket  126  has a rectangular tubular cross-section, comprising an upper wall  160  and a lower wall  162 . The lower wall  162  of the cross bar member  134  bears against the upper surface of the support member when in position thereon. A connecting bolt  164  extends upwardly from the upper wall  160  of the cross bar member to extend through the elongated spaced apart aligned slots  166  of laterally extending slidable bar  128  for connection thereof to the releasable connecting bracket  126 . 
     A large diameter washer  168  is placed on the connecting bolt  164  above the upper surface  170  of the laterally extending bar  128  to clamp it securely in a selected position when the nut  172  is tightened down on the connecting bolt  164 . 
     When the nut  172  is loosened, the bar  128  is slidable on the connecting bolt  164  which extends through the aligned elongated slots  166  to a new selected position. 
     The laterally extending slidable bar  128  has a pair of aligned rectangular apertures  174  through the upper wall  176  and lower wall  178  thereof adjacent its upright bar connecting end  132 . The adjustable upright bar  130  is received through the aligned rectangular apertures  174 . 
     The adjustable upright bar  130  is of rectangular tubular cross-section, having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart height adjusting aligned apertures  180  through the spaced apart opposing side walls  182  and  184 . A pin  186  is received through apertures  180  at a selected height location to bear against the upper wall  176  of the laterally extending slidable bar  128 . 
     Set screws  188  are provided through side walls  190  and end wall  192  of the laterally extending bar  128  positioned to bear against and stabilize the upright bar  130 . 
     A variety of fixture members may be used with the fixture holder assembly  194 , including a pin fixture member  196 , a base plate fixture member  198 , and a clamp fixture member  200 . 
     Each of the fixture members  194  include a threaded shank  202  having a first positioning nut  204  threaded thereon. A set screw  206  extends through the nut  204  to bear against the shank  202  when the nut has been rotated and adjusted to a desired pre-selected position on the shank. A portion of the shank  202  which extends below the nut  204  is inserted into the opening  208  to the cavity of the tubular upright bar  130 , with the positioning nut  204  bearing against the-upper edge of the upright bar  130 . 
     A second nut  210  is threaded on the portion of the shank  202  which extends upwardly from the first nut  204 . A set screw  212  extends through the second nut  210  to bear against the shank  202  when that nut has been rotated and adjusted to its selected position. The threaded shank  202  has a cylindrical recess  214  extending downwardly therein from its upper end and its opening  216 . 
     The pin fixture assembly  196  includes a plurality of pins  218  whose base portions  220  are receivable in the cylindrical recess  214  of the threaded shank  202 . The pins  218  include an upwardly extending insert portion  222 . The insert portion  222  of pin  224  has a diameter of the same dimension as the diameter of the base portion  220 . The insert portion  222  of pin  226  has a slightly smaller diameter, that of pin  228  still smaller and that of pin  230  smaller than that of pin  228 . Any number of pins having insert portions of any desired diameter may be provided. The insert portions are receivable in selected pick-up points of the chassis of a vehicle that is to be received on the fixture holder assemblies mounted on the support frame of the modular mobile bench. The diameters of the insert portions to be used are selected to correspond with the diameter of the recess of the pick-up point in which the insert portion is to be received. 
     The base plate fixture assembly  198  includes a base plate  234  having an insert member  236  extending from its downwardly facing surface  238  for reception in the recess  214  of the shank  202 . 
     The clamp fixture assembly  200  includes a clamp member  240  having an insert member  242  extending downwardly from its base  244  for reception in the recess  214  of the shank  202 .