Freely positionable force distributing device

Claim 2

A freely positionable force distributing apparatus operable on a platform with a force producing power strut and a reactive member, comprising a base plate having a bottom surface to bear on a platform, a U-shape retaining cavity mounted on said base plate operative to receive a force producing power strut and effective to divide downwardly directed forces produced by said strut into horizontal and vertical components, and anchoring means disposed in spaced relation to said retaining cavity and operative to engage a reactive member anchoring the device on the platform, said anchoring means comprising an upturned end portion of said base plate having an inner facing surface of said upturned end portion with a centrally disposed lug to retainably engage said reactive member.

Claim 3

In an apparatus for reforming bodies and frames of vehicles including a force producing power strut and a platform having a plurality of force reactive members selectively locatable thereon, the improvement comprising a freely positionable force distributing device having a base member defining a bearing surface, retaining means carried by said base member operative to retain a strut directing a downward force on said member, said retaining means comprising a U-shaped member defining a cavity for pivotally retaining a power strut effective to divide the downward force applied by a strut into horizontal and vertical components acting on said member, and anchor means carried by said base member for connecting a reactive member therewith to counteract said horizontal component of force thereby anchoring said device to the platform, said anchor means including an upturned end portion of said base member having an inwardly disposed element with a downwardly inclined inner surface to engage said reactive member to produce a downwardly directed force component biasing the base member against the platform when said element is engaged by the reactive member.

Claim 4

In an apparatus for reforming bodies and frames of vehicles including a force producing power strut and a platform having a plurality of force reactive members selectively locatable thereon, the improvement comprising a freely positionable force distributing device having a base member defining a bearing surface, retaining means carried by said base member operative to retain a strut directing a downward force on said member, said retaining means comprising a U-shaped member defining a cavity for pivotally retaining a power strut effective to divide the downward force applied by a strut into horizontal and vertical components acting on said member, and anchor means carried by said base member for connecting a reactive member therewith to counteract said horizontal component of force thereby anchoring said device to the platform, said anchor means including an upturned end portion of said base member having an inwardly disposed element with a downwardly inclined inner surface to engage said reactive member to produce a downwardly directed force component biasing the base member against the platform when said element is engaged by the reactive member.

Claim 5

A freely positionable force distributing apparatus operable on a platform with a force producing power strut and a reactive member, comprising a base plate having a bottom surface to bear on a platform, a retaining member mounted on said base plate comprising a U-shape cavity to receive a force producing power strut and aligned with said anchoring means effective to divide downwardly directed forces produced by said strut into horizontal and vertical components, and anchoring means disposed in spaced relation to said retaining member and operative to engage a reactive member anchoring the device on the platform, said anchoring means comprising an upturned end portion of said base plate having an inner facing surface with a centrally disposed lug having a downwardly inclined wall facing said cavity and in alignment therewith to create a downward component of force for stabilizing that portion of the base plate retainably engaging said reactive member.

Claim 6

A freely positionable force distributing apparatus operable on a platform with a force producing power strut and a reactive member, comprising a base plate having a bottom surface to bear on a platform, a retaining member mounted on said base plate comprising a U-shape cavity to receive a force producing power strut and aligned with said anchoring means effective to divide downwardly directed forces produced by said strut into horizontal and vertical components, and anchoring means disposed in spaced relation to said retaining member and operative to engage a reactive member anchoring the device on the platform, said anchoring means comprising an upturned end portion of said base plate having an inner facing surface with a centrally disposed lug having a downwardly inclined wall facing said cavity and in alignment therewith to create a downward component of force for stabilizing that portion of the base plate retainably engaging said reactive member.

Claim 7

A freely positionable force distributing apparatus operable on a platform with a force producing power strut and a reactive member, comprising a base plate having a bottom surface to bear on a platform and an end thereof extending upwardly from said bottom surface, a retaining member comprising a U-shape element carried by said base plate extending parallel thereto and forming an abutment extending along two sides and an end thereof operative to receive a force producing power strut and effective to divide downwardly directed forces produced by said strut into horizontal and vertical components, and anchoring means carried by said upwardly extending end of said base plate disposed in spaced relation to said retaining member and operative to engage a reactive member anchoring the device on the platform.

Claim 8

A freely positionable force distributing apparatus operable on a platform with a force producing power strut and a reactive member, comprising a base plate having a bottom surface to bear on a platform and an end thereof extending upwardly from said bottom surface, a retaining member comprising a U-shape element carried by said base plate extending parallel thereto and forming an abutment extending along two sides and an end thereof operative to receive a force producing power strut and effective to divide downwardly directed forces produced by said strut into horizontal and vertical components, and anchoring means carried by said upwardly extending end of said base plate disposed in spaced relation to said retaining member and operative to engage a reactive member anchoring the device on the platform.

Claim 9

A freely positionable force distributing apparatus operable on a platform with a force producing power strut and a reactive member, comprising a base plate having a bottom surface to bear on a platform, a retaining member comprising a U-shape element carried by said base plate extending parallel thereto and forming an abutment extending along two sides and an end thereof operative to receive a force producing power strut and effective to divide downwardly directed forces produced by said strut into horizontal and vertical components, anchoring means disposed in spaced relation to said retaining member and operative to engage a reactive member anchoring the device on the platform, said anchoring means comprising the end of said base plate opposing the end along which said abutment extends turned to extend outwardly from the bottom surface thereof in the same direction as said abutment.

Claim 10

A freely positionable force distributing apparatus operable on a platform with a force producing power strut and a reactive member, comprising a base plate having a bottom surface to bear on a platform, a retaining member comprising a U-shape element carried by said base plate extending parallel thereto and forming an abutment extending along two sides and an end thereof operative to receive a force producing power strut and effective to divide downwardly directed forces produced by said strut into horizontal and vertical components, anchoring means disposed in spaced relation to said retaining member and operative to engage a reactive member anchoring the device on the platform, said anchoring means comprising the end of said base plate opposing the end along which said abutment extends turned to extend outwardly from the bottom surface thereof in the same direction as said abutment.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said anchoring means further includes a lug having a bearing surface extending parallel to a portion of the outwardly turned end of said base plate to engage a flexible force transmitting means thereby applying a bearing force to anchor said base plate.