Abstract:
An apparatus designed to provide quick connect capability between a frame straightener and a vehicle chassis comprising a plurality of varying clamp members designed to secure to the various apertures within the chassis frame and tubular inter frame-rail cross members according to the restrictions of varying attachment points thereof and thereby enabling rapid installation and removal of multiple anchors and torsion tethers thereto.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to motor vehicle frame straighteners and, more specifically, to motor vehicle chassis fasteners designed to provide quick connect capability between the frame straightener and the vehicle chassis. 
     The fasteners are designed to use a number of apertures within the chassis frame and tubular inter frame-rail cross members that will enable a quick connect of anchors and torsion tethers. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There are clamps used in conjunction with frame straighteners for attachment to a motor vehicle chassis. 
     While these clamps may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described. 
     Therefore, it is felt that a need exists for quick connect clamps to shorten the set up time for a pull. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a clamp set to be used in conjunction with a frame straightener. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a clamp set that provides means for quickly fastening to a vehicle chassis. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a clamp set having a cylindrical component having a top side and a bottom side with a threaded bore passing therebetween. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a clamp component comprising flat stock with a transverse bore on opposing ends. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a clamp component having a top side with a track and a planar bottom side. Passing longitudinally through the body is a bore whereby a threaded member extends through engaging a wedge member that when tightened will force the displaceable members apart. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a set of clamps designed to engage structural components of a motor vehicle frame. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a clamp set that is easy to manufacture. 
     Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing to motor vehicle chassis clamps designed to provide a quick connect capability between a frame straightener and a vehicle chassis. The clamps are designed to use a number of apertures within the chassis frame and tubular inter frame-rail cross members that will enable a quick connect of anchors and torsion tethers. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawing, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the application of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a vehicle chassis frame; 
         FIG. 3  is an illustrative view of the components of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a clamp of the tool set of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of clamp components of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another clamp of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a clamp component of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of components of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a clamp component of the tool set of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate the Apparatus for Providing Quick-Connect Clamps for Straightening the Frame of a Motor Vehicle of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.
           10  Apparatus for Providing Quick-Connect Clamps for Straightening the Frame of a Motor Vehicle of the present invention     12  vehicle chassis frame     14  pivotal torsion tensioner receiver     16  flat stock clamp     18  expansion wedge clamp     20  threaded bore cylinder clamp     22  flanged sandwich clamp     24  expansion wedge block clamp     26  frame straightener     28  dogleg shaped plate of  14       30  cylindrical insert of  30       32  threaded bore of  30       34  circular bolt recess     36  bolt of  14       38  torsion tensioner receiver recess     40  first flat stock plate of  16       42  second flat stock plate of  14       44  bolt receiving aperture of  16       45  cap of  16       46  expansion wedge housing     48  wedge member     50  threaded expansion wedge fastener     52  displaceable member     54  smooth bore of  46       56  threaded bore of  48       58  cylinder body     60  threaded throughbore of  58       62  bottom plate of  22       64  top plate of  22       66  threaded stock of  62       68  flange member of  64       70  bolt recess of  22         

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the application of the present invention  10 . The present invention comprises a group of clamping elements of clamps providing means for quickly attaching a vehicle chassis  12  to a frame straightener  26 . The clamps are designed to utilize the frame structure  12  for the quick connect of torsion tethers and anchors. Included among the group a pivotal torsion tensioner receiver  14 , a flat stock clamp  16 , an expansion wedge clamp  18 , a threaded bore cylinder clamp  20 , a flanged sandwich clamp  22  and a wedged block clamp  24 . 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a vehicle chassis frame  12 . Shown is a chassis frame  12  having a structure that is engaged by the various clamps of the tool set of the present invention  10  whereby a frame straightener having anchors and torsion tethers can be quickly attached thereto. 
       FIG. 3  is an illustrative view of the components of the present invention  10 . The present invention comprises a group of clamping elements of clamps providing means for quickly attaching a vehicle chassis  12  to a frame straightener  26 . The clamps are designed to utilize the frame structure  12  for the quick connect of torsion tethers and anchors. Included among the group a pivotal torsion tensioner receiver  14 , a flat stock clamp  16 , an expansion wedge clamp  18 , a threaded bore cylinder clamp  20 , a flanged sandwich clamp  22  and a wedged block clamp  24 . Each of the clamps serves as quick connect means for attachment of a frame straightener&#39;s anchors and/or torsion tethers. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a clamp of the tool set of the present invention. Shown is pivotal torsion tension receiver  14  comprising a dogleg shaped plate  28  having a circular bolt recess  34  on one end and a keyhole shaped torsion tension receiver recess  38  on the other end. A cylindrical insert  30  with a threaded bore  32  is inserted into a frame rail aperture of similar dimension whereupon the dogleg plate  28  is threadedly mounted to the cylindrical insert  30  with a bolt  38  extending through the bolt recess  34 , whether the torsion-tether receiver  14  is threadedly fastened prior to inserting the cylindrical insert  30  or after is a user preference as either method provides similar results. The receiver recess  38  is sized to receive chain which commonly serves as the tension tethers. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of clamp components of the flat stock clamp  16 . Shown are clamp component comprising a first flat stock plate  40  having substantially straight sides and a second flat stock plate  42  that is substantially curved. The both stock plates have apertures  44  on opposing ends to receive bolts. Also shown is cap  45  to hold the bracket in place to prevent it from falling off and to strengthen for pull. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the expansion wedge clamp  18  of the present invention. Shown is the clamp  18  having an elongate housing  46  with a pair of displaceable members  52  at one end, a wedge member  48  forming and inverted V-shape aligned with the seam of the displaceable members  52  and threaded fastener  50 . The housing  46  has a bore  54  extending its length and the wedge-shaped member  48  include a threaded bore  56  for receiving the threaded fastener  50 . In operation the threaded fastener  50  is inserted into the hosing bore  54  until engaging the threaded wedge bore  48 , as the threaded fastener  50  is tightened the leading edge of the wedge  48  will force the displaceable housing members  52  apart. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the cylinder clamp  20  of the present invention. Shown is a clamp component having a cylindrical body  58  with a threaded bore  60  extending centrally therethrough. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the wedge block clamp  24 . this variation has a block shaped housing  46  with a pair of displaceable members  52  at one end, a wedge member  48  forming and inverted V-shape aligned with the seam of the displaceable members  52  and threaded fastener  50 . The displaceable members  52  project angularly upward from the seam to the peripheral edges to conform with the shape of the wedge  48 . The housing  46  has a bore  54  extending its length and the wedge-shaped member  48  include a threaded bore  56  for receiving the threaded fastener  50 . In operation the threaded fastener  50  is inserted into the hosing bore  54  until engaging the threaded wedge bore  48 , as the threaded fastener  50  is tightened the leading edge of the wedge  48  will force the displaceable housing members  52  apart. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the sandwich clamp  22  of the tool set of the present invention. Shown is a clamp having a top plate  64  and a bottom plate  62  with the top plate having a flange  68  extending therefrom. The bottom plate  62  has a length of threaded stock  66  depending from the underside of the base plate. 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.