Patent Publication Number: US-11654467-B2

Title: Automobile dent puller apparatus and method

Description:
This application claims priority from, and is a divisional application of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/848,800. Further, this application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 62/833,729 filed on Apr. 14, 2019 and 62/876,828 filed on Jul. 22, 2019. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to automotive dent removers and pullers, and, more specifically, equipment to assist in the removal of dents and dings from the body panels of automobiles, trucks, and other vehicles, and methods of use thereof. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Over the course of its lifetime, an automobile, or vehicle of any type, may sustain numerous dents and dings to its body as a result of minor impacts or collisions. The means for repairing such dents is dependent on the severity and location of the damage. Extensive damage will often require removal of the damaged portion of the automobile, repair, and reattachment. In addition to the labor intensive steps of removal, reinstallation, and dent repair, the repaired section must be sanded and properly repainted. Even in cases where complete removal of a body panel is not warranted, traditional mechanisms of dent repair would, inter alia, sand the damaged area, pull the dents out to the extent possible, filling or raising any depressed areas, and then repainting; again, all labor intensive tasks. 
     Paintless dent repair techniques and equipment make minor dent repair considerably easier. Depending on the level of access behind the dent or ding, minor dents and dings can be removed through the use of rods and access tools to push the dent out. More importantly, paintless dent repair often involves the use of glue and glue tabs to attach a pulling tool or device to the dent in order to pull the dent out. Although a simple rod or handle can be attached via this mechanism, larger or deeper dents often require the use of a slide hammer or similar tool. 
     The larger the strip or tab that is used and the deeper the depression of the dent, the greater pulling force required to pull the strip or tab, and commensurately, the dent out. Further, it is advantageous to pull multiple tabs concurrently. Pulling multiple tabs at the same time improves the quality of the repair and also increases the speed and efficiency of the repair process. A technician using a slide hammer or other tool is limited to pulling at one location at a time. There is, therefore, a need for an apparatus and system to provide assistance with dent repair in general which overcomes these difficulties and improves repair efficiency. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention teaches a mobile anchor point for use in the repair of dents and dings in automobiles and other vehicles. A first embodiment provides a floor mounted gantry which provides an anchor point for a dent removal tool. A second embodiment provides a mobile anchor point for a dent removal tool which uses the weight of the automobile or vehicle which is being repaired as the counterweight to provide the anchor. A method of using the device to remove dents and dings is also provided. The method includes the steps of providing the mobile workstation, attaching a conventional pulling tool to the workstation, using the weight of the vehicle being repaired to secure the mobile workstation, and pulling one or more dents and dings out of the vehicle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG.  2    is an end view of a first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG.  3 ( a )  is a first leg of a floor rail. 
         FIG.  3 ( b )  is a second leg of a floor rail. 
         FIG.  3  ( c )  is an end view of a floor rail. 
         FIG.  4 ( a )  is an end view of the wheel housing. 
         FIG.  4 ( b )  is a cut-away side view of the wheel housing. 
         FIG.  5    is an illustration of an upright support beam. 
         FIG.  6 ( a )  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG.  6 ( b )  is a side view of a second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG.  6 ( c )  is a rear view of a second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG.  6 ( d )  is a top plan view of the base plate. 
         FIG.  6 ( e )  is a bottom plan view of the base plate. 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of the foot rail with jack blocks. 
         FIG.  8    is an underside perspective view of the foot rail with jack blocks. 
         FIG.  9 ( a )  is a first illustration of the second embodiment in use. 
         FIG.  9 ( b )  is a second illustration of the second embodiment in use. 
         FIG.  10    is an illustration of an alternate operation of the second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The invention provides a mobile anchor point which provides assistance to those engaged in the repair of dents and dings in automobiles and other such vehicles. 
     The first embodiment of the invention, shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , provides a floor-mounted gantry  10  that can serve as an anchor point to attach a dent pulling tool or device. The frame of the apparatus  10  consists of two floor rails  20 , two upright support beams  30 ,  40 , two mounting plates  50 , and a horizontal crossbeam beam  60  extending between the support beams  30 ,  40 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  3   ( a - b ), each floor rail  20  is essentially L-shaped having two extended sections comprising a first leg  70  and a second leg  80 . The L-shape results in the creation of a wheel-track  90  in each floor rail  20 . Each leg  70 ,  80  has a set of apertures running along the length of the rail. A first set of oval shaped holes  100  is to be used to secure each rail  20 , and commensurately the whole gantry  10 , to the floor. A second set of holes  110  is to be used to mount one or more rods, or other such locking mechanisms, to prevent travel of the frame when the gantry is in operation. Said first leg  70  having a slight curvature at the terminal portion  120  of said leg which results in a small portion of said leg extending parallel to said second leg and serving to form the upper portion of the wheel-track  90 . 
     Turning to  FIGS.  4 ( a )-( b ) , the bottom of each upright support beam  30 ,  40  is connected to a wheel housing. A wheel  130  is mounted in each wheel housing. This wheel  130  is designed to fit into the wheel-track  90  formed within the space of the first and second legs  70 ,  80  of the floor rail  20 . Each upright support beam  30 ,  40  is comprised of four elements, a primary support  140 , a base component  150 , and two secondary beams  160  as shown in  FIG.  5   . The primary member  140  lies in the same plane as the base component  150  and extends perpendicularly from the base  150 . A secondary beam  160  is attached to each end of the base component and extends at approximately a forty-five degree angle until it intersects with the primary member. The four components can be welded together, affixed by any customary means of attachment, or be of unitary construction. 
     A plurality of mounting apertures  170  are positioned at regular intervals along the length of the primary portion of the support beams  30 ,  40  and the crossbeam  60 . A conventional dent pulling tool, i.e. a device which can used to exert force, may be attached at any mounting hole location. For example, a winch (not shown) can be attached to the apparatus  10 . Although such a device may be attached through a variety of means, one such option would rely upon a winch bracket affixed by a clevis pin, or any such means, to a mounting aperture  170 . The winch is then secured to the winch bracket for use. 
     The gantry opening  15  is wide enough to accommodate a vehicle of average width while still allowing a certain amount of clearance between the sides of the vehicle and the respective upright support beams. In one embodiment, the total width of the structure from rail to rail would be approximately one hundred forty inches which would provide for approximately twenty-two inches of clearance between the side of the vehicle and each upright support beam. A cross beam anchor  180  may also be added to the structure to add additional mounting apertures  170  for repair of tailgates on SUVs and trucks. It will also be noted that the mounting plates  50  may be omitted and the gantry frame can be constructed without such elements. 
     The second and primary embodiment of the invention provides a mobile workstation which is an easily transportable apparatus that can be used to provide an anchor point for dent removal in the field. Referring now to  FIGS.  6 - 8   , this mobile version consists of three principal components, a vertical support beam  220 , a base section  225 , and an optional foot rail anchor extension. 
     The vertical support beam  220  is typically comprised of aluminum or material of similar tensile strength. The beam  220  has a front and back and two sides and further includes three channels  230 ,  240 ,  250  that run along the longitudinal axis of the beam and terminate in three respective apertures on either end of the beam  220 . The center channel  240  is positioned in the middle of the beam. The front  230  and rear 250 channels are positioned on either side of the center channel  240 . The front  230  and rear channels  250  are not entirely enclosed and include an opening disposed to receive a projection from a handle  290 . The handle  290  can include a means to receive and attach a ratchet strap or other such tool, e.g., an anchor ring  295 . The beam  220  includes a plurality of through-holes  300  along the length of the beam. 
     The vertical support beam  220  can be a single unitary element or be made up of two or more sections. In the preferred embodiment, the beam is made up of a primary element  310  and an extension element  320 . The two elements can be affixed by a variety of conventional means but the extension element  320  may include a steel tang (not shown) which may be seated into the center channel  240  at the end of the primary element  310  and may be secured with a quick release pin. The beam is mounted in the base section  225 . 
     The base section  225  is comprised of a receiving frame  330 , a platform  340 , and an optional foot rail  380  as shown in  FIGS.  6 ,  7 , and  8   . The receiving frame is disposed to receive and stabilize the beam  220 . The beam  220  is secured in place by means of a quick release pin  360 . The platform  340  extends orthogonally from the receiving frame  330 . 
     The platform  340  includes tire grabbing rails  370  to help restrict vehicle movement when a vehicle tire is used to anchor the workstation. Alternatively, a foot rail  380  can be securely attached to the platform  340 . The foot rail  380  extends outward from the base section  225 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG.  7   , the foot rail  380  is secured to the platform  340  by two bolts (not-shown) which pass through apertures  390  in the foot rail  380 . At least one jack block  400  is mounted on the foot rail  380 . Jack blocks  400  of desired heights may be employed as desired. Each jack block  400  has a tang or such structure which slides into a groove  410  in the foot rail. A pair of wheels  420  is mounted at the second end  430  of the foot rail  380 . 
     In operation, shown in  FIGS.  9  and  10   , the mobile workstation  210  is transported to the location of the automobile or vehicle which needs to be repaired. If the workstation has been broken down, e.g., the vertical support beam  220  has been removed from the base section, the workstation  210  would be reassembled prior to use. The foot rail  380  is positioned under the vehicle parallel to the dent being repaired. The beam  220  is positioned approximately two to three feet from the dented panel. The closer the beam  220  is to the vehicle, the more pressure may be applied to the beam  220 . Alternatively, if the dent is located above the wheel of a vehicle, the vehicle may be parked on top of the platform and the vehicle wheel situated in the tire grabbing rails  370 . Further, as shown in  FIG.  10   , a second vehicle, i.e., a vehicle other than the one being repaired, may be parked on the platform  340  in order to stabilize and anchor the workstation  210 . 
     In cases where the foot rail  380  is used, the vehicle is jacked up as close as possible to the foot rail  380  to accommodate the appropriate height jack block  400 . The jack block  400  is placed in the foot rail  380  even with the frame or other component under the vehicle that will support the weight of the vehicle when the vehicle jack is lowered. The vehicle jack is lowered until the vehicle is resting on the jack block  400 . 
     The adjustable handle  290  is positioned so that it is aligned with the dent to be repaired. A ratchet strap or such tool is hung from the anchor ring  295  and generally aligned with the dent. The length of the ratchet strap is adjusted to reach the dent. The desired glue tab(s) is/are applied to the dent. Once the glue has cooled and set, the remaining hook of the ratchet strap is attached to the glue tab(s). The ratchet strap is then used to apply tension to the glue tab(s) until the dent is pulled to the desired height. This process is repeated until the repair has been satisfactorily achieved. 
     It will be noted that instead of using glue tabs, the apparatus and method can be used with other dent repair equipment and techniques. For instance, the apparatus and method can be used in conjunction with weld pins or body studs which are welded to the dented area. The apparatus is then attached to the pins or studs and is used to exert the desired pressure in order to complete the repair. 
     While the invention has been described in reference to certain preferred embodiments, it will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that certain modifications or variations may be made to the device without departing from the scope of invention described in the foregoing specification.