Patent US4344314A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4344314A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Alignment apparatus
Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation Inc
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Filing: 1980-06-06
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Granted: 1982-08-17
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Expires: 2000-06-06
Abstract
Abstract In combination with a treadway upon which a vehicle, whose structure is to be realigned, is positioned, an improved alignment apparatus interconnecting the treadway and a selected portion of the vehicle structure. The alignment apparatus has a base assembly having a horizontal leg with a vertical member attached thereto, and a clamping assembly secured to the vertical member for attachment to the vehicle structure. The horizontal leg is adapted to rest on the treadway and is interconnected to a plurality of spaced openings in the treadway. The alignment apparatus may be rigidly secured to the treadway, or may slide across the treadway in response to a pulling force applied either to the vehicle or the alignment apparatus all while supporting the vehicle structure.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger B. Aldrich
- 👤 Gary R. White
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 20:01
CPC Classifications
B; B21; B21D; B21D1/00; B21D1/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S72/00; Y10S72/705
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
In a treadway upon which a vehicle, whose structure is to be realigned, is positioned, said treadway including a plurality of spaced openings arranged in a predetermined array, the improvement in means to interconnect the treadway and a selected portion of the vehicle structure comprising: a base assembly having an elongated horizontal leg and a vertical member, said horizontal leg including an upper and lower portions spaced to define a horizontal opening therebetween, said lower portion of said elongated horizontal leg adapted to rest on the treadway; a hold down bar receivable within said horizontal opening; means positionable within the spaced openings of the treadway to interconnect said hold down bar to the treadway; and attachment means secured to said vertical member for attachment to the selected portion of the vehicle structure; whereby said means to interconnect may be securely fastened to said treadway to prevent movement relative thereto of said base assembly and said hold down bar or fastened to said treadway to prevent movement relative thereto of said base assembly and said hold down bar or fastened to said treadway to allow movement of said base assembly with that selected portion of the vehicle structure being realigned.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
In a treadway upon which a vehicle, whose structure is to be realigned, is positioned, said treadway including a plurality of spaced openings arranged in a predetermined array, the improvement in means to interconnect the treadway and a selected portion of the vehicle structure comprising: a base assembly having an elongated horizontal leg and a vertical member, said horizontal leg including an upper and lower portions spaced to define a horizontal opening therebetween, said lower portion of said elongated horizontal leg adapted to rest on the treadway; a hold down bar receivable within said horizontal opening; means positionable within the spaced openings of the treadway to interconnect said hold down bar to the treadway; and attachment means secured to said vertical member for attachment to the selected portion of the vehicle structure; whereby said means to interconnect may be securely fastened to said treadway to prevent movement relative thereto of said base assembly and said hold down bar or fastened to said treadway to prevent movement relative thereto of said base assembly and said hold down bar or fastened to said treadway to allow movement of said base assembly with that selected portion of the vehicle structure being realigned.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
Improved means to interconnect as in claim 1 wherein said vehicle having a unibody type construction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
Improved means to interconnect as in claim 1 wherein said lower portion of said horizontal leg having vertical support means connected to said vertical member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
Improved means to interconnect as in claim 1 wherein said horizontal opening extends axially through said horizontal leg.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
Improved means to interconnect as in claim 1 wherein said vertical member is adjacent one end of said horizontal leg.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
Improved means to interconnect as in claim 1 wherein said means to interconnect said hold down bar to the treadway is comprised of connector means engageable with the treadway, and means to connect said connector means to said hold down bar.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
Improved means to interconnect as in claim 6 wherein said lower portion of said horizontal leg is provided with a horizontal elongated opening therethrough.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
Improved means to interconnect as in claim 7 wherein said horizontal elongated opening extends axially through said lower portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
Improved means to interconnect as in claim 7 wherein said means to connect said connector means to said hold down bar extends through said horizontal elongated opening in said lower portion of the elongated horizontal leg.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
Improved means to interconnect as in claim 9 wherein said means to connect said connector means to said hold down bar is an elongated bolt receivable into one of a plurality of threaded holes spaced in said hold down bar.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
Improved means to interconnect as in claim 6 wherein said connector means is comprised of a first connector member engageable with the underside of the treadway and a second connector member engageable with the top side of the treadway and said means to connect said connector means passing both therethrough and connecting to said hold down bar.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
Improved means to interconnect as in claim 6 wherein said means to connect said connector means to said hold down bar is adapted to rigidly secure horizontal leg to the treadway.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
Improved means to interconnect as in claim 1 wherein said attachment means partially received into said vertical member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
Improved means to interconnect as in claim 1 wherein said attachment means is vertically adjustable.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
Improved means to interconnect as in claim 1 wherein said attachment means is secured to said vertical member by collar means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
Improved means to interconnect as in claim 15 wherein said collar means being carried by said vertical member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
Improved means to interconnect as in claim 1 wherein said vertical member being cylindrical.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
Improved means to interconnect as in claim 1 wherein said attachment means comprising a lower portion secured to said vertical member, and a clamping post assembly.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
Improved means to interconnect as in claim 18 wherein said clamping post assembly provided with at least one jaw means for engagement with the selected portion of the vehicle structure.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
Improved means to interconnect as in claim 19 wherein said vehicle being provided with rocker panels and said jaw means being adapted for engagement therewith.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
Improved means to interconnect as in claim 19 wherein said jaw means having a plurality of grasping jaw members with a bolt means passing therethrough to rigidly draw together said jaw members for engagement with the selected portion of the vehicle structure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
43 words
Improved means to interconnect as in claim 14 wherein said attachment means being vertically adjustable by a plurality of vertically aligned holes through a lower portion of said attachment means and a rod receivable within said holes and cooperable with said vertical member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
Improved means to interconnect as in claim 1 wherein said attachment means comprising a lower portion secured to said vertical member and post means engageable with a slot provided in the underside of the vehicle structure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
Improved means to interconnect as in claim 23 wherein said post means being elongated and having an upper finger portion which is adapted to rotate so as to securely engage with said slot.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
Improved means to interconnect as in claim 24 wherein means being provided to secure said upper finger portion preventing rotation thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
Improved means to interconnect as in claim 25 wherein said means to secure said upper finger portion being a wedge received into an opening in said post means and in contact with said upper finger portion.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-08-16 | 1986-02-15 | 1986-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-08-16 | 1990-02-15 | 1990-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-08-16 | 1994-02-15 | 1994-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |