AU663988B2 - Alignment jig - Google Patents

Description

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4AUSTRALIA L& _5S8 PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR OFFICE USE Short Title: Int. Cl: Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Lapsed: Published: Priority: Related Art: 00 0 00 00 0ao 0 0 000 0 00 ooo0 0 00 oo a 0 a o 0oo o o onoo o a TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Manny G. Ornelas Unit 16/63 Norman Street PEAKHURST NSW 2210 AS ABOVE ANDERSON-TAYLOR ASSOCIATES, Registered Patent Attorneys of 10 Harrison Avenue BONNET BAY N.S.W. 2226 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: ALIGNMENT JIG The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: I I I i~ 1b r -T This invention relates to realignment jigs and more particularly although not exclusively to jigs for repairing seats such as those used in motor vehicles.

Even in relatively minor vehicle 6ollisions the seats usually incur significant damage. This is because they often cradle the weight of the driver or passenger and further, at least with bucket seats, the hinged back rest is only supported at the one side where the adjustment mechanism is located. The result is that collisions especially from the rear tend to twis the o o back frame of the seat with respect to the base. Side 0000 o collisions in addition to deforming the back laterally o 0o °may also partially collapse the bottom frame of the seat.

o 00 .3 In the-past economic repair of such damage has been o 0 virtually impossible because of the complexity of seat frames and the high standards required to meet safety codes, New seats have therefore normally been required o 0 S0 at a cost of thousands of dollars even for conventional 0000 mass produced vehicles.

1) It is therefore an object of this invention to ameliorate the aforementioned disadvantages and accordingly a jig for the repair of a damaged vehicle seat is disclosed, said jig comprising a support base surmounted by interlocking frame members which define a cubical framework on said support base for placement of said seat therein, braces mounted on said frame members and disposed along the sides and/or top of said framework and puller means attached to at least -2r"* r 0*000 o 0 0 0 r0 0 0 *0 0 e *a a e 0 0 000 0o 0 S0 0 0 0 010 some of said braces whereby selected portions of said seat frame when clamped to said support base within said framework may be pulled outwardly by force components applied by said puller means along three mutually perpendicular directions to obtain realignment thereof.

The currently preferred form of this invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a typical motor vehicle seat which has been damaged in a collision, Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a jig according to this invention being used to realign the frame of the seat of figure 1, Figure 3 shows side and end views of the horizontal brace mounted to the sides and top of the jig frame of figure 2, Figure 4 show side and end views of the vertical brace mounted to the sides of the jig frame of figure 2, Figure 5 show side and end views of the lower brace mounted across the base support of the jig frame of figure 2, o O0 00 0 0 o 0 ,o o 0 0J 0 00 00 0 0 Figure 6 shows side and plan views of the preferred form of puller used the jig frame of figure 2, with Figure 7 is a detailed view of the puller of figure 6 mounted to a frame member of the jig of figure 2, and Figur I .chciemat c view in perspective of tice preferred form of clamp for holding the seat slide.

Referring first to figure 1 there is shown a typical bucket seat 1 from a motor vehicle which has been involved in a collision. The bottom 2 and back portion 3 are twisted with respect to one another and the slide rails 4 are also bent. In accordance with this invention the damaged seat is preferably first stripped to its metal frame and then fitted into the jig as shown in figure 2.

Preferably the jig comprises a set of interlocking frame members. There is a support base 6 which sits on o four legs 7. A cube shaped framework 8 of square bar o surmounts this base and defines a space into which the seat frame 5 is fitted. There are also horizontal braces 9 S fitted across the sides and top of the framework as well 000 as vertical braces 10 and lower braces 11. Detailed views 0 oof these components are shown in figures 3, 4 and o respectively. With the horizontal and lower braces (see figures 3 and 5) there is a central bar 12 of square cross-section together with end clamps. The end clamps comprise pairs of parallel plates 13 and 14 extending at right angles to the length of the bar 12. These pairs of plates lock onto sections of the jig framework 8 by means of bolts With the lower braces there are also sets of sleeves 16 -4which carry the clamps for the seat rails as described later. The vertical braces are similar in construction with a central bar 17 and end clamps 18. In this case however the clamps are set back so that the locking bolcs align with the axis of the bar 17.

There are also screw pullers 19 fitted to the horizontal, vertical and lower brace members as shown in figures 6 and 7. Each screw puller may comprise a yoke 20 with a screw shaft 21 extending in through a threaded seat 22 at one end and terminating between the yoke members-. The opposite end of the puller is fitted with a block 23 having an aperture 24 which in use connects by a chain 25 to the Sseat frame 5. As best shown in figure 7 each puller embraces its associated frame member 26 and the end piece 27 of the screw shaft engages the outer face of said member.

S1o Rotation of the shaft using handle 28 moves the puller 0 s outwardly with respect to the jig frame and exerts a 0 00 controlled pulling force on chain One such clamp is shown schematically in figure 8. It may comprise a set of upstanding jaws 29 and 30 which are linked together by a pair of transverse bolts 31 and 32 extending Stherethrough. In the view shown the right hand jaw 30 is welded to a plate 33 which in turn swivels on the sleeve 16 mentioned earlier which slidably engages the lower brace Stherethrough. In the view shown the right hand jaw 30 is 11 to allow for different seat widths. By adjusting the bolts 31 and 32 the width of the upper ends of the jaws can be placed to lightly grip the sides of the seat slide 4 without crushing the hollow rail sections. Although only one clamp is shown preferably at least four are placed on two parallel lower braces to secure each corner of the seat to the base support.

With the seat fitted into the jig as shown in figure 2 it will be seen that by selective placement of and tightening of the various screw pullers 19 and their connecting chains 25 carefully controlled forces may be applied to chosen parts of the seat frame. By judicious SS use of such forces it has been found that the frames of 00CC ooo. even severely bent seats can be quickly realigned to their o000 original dimensions at a fraction of replacement cost.

o 0 0 0 0 0 It will thus be appreciated that this invention at least in the form of the embodiment disclosed provides a novel and useful apparatus for repairing vehicle seats. Clearly 0o o. however the example described is only the curren-ly 1 o preferred form of this invention and a wide variety of 0000oooo ,,00-0 modifications may be made which would be apparent to a .d sperson skilled in the art. For example the shape and configuration of the jig frame and the mechanism for the pullers may all be changed according to application or design preference. Also while the jig and associated components are preferably constructed from steel the invention is not limited to any particular material.

-1 r 7 II i-IIL-Li It is also preferred although not essential that the frame members comprising the jig interlock in a manner such that they can be easily dismantled e.g. by bolts and/or connecting sleeves.

For the purposes f this specification expressions such as "horizontal" and "vertical" relate to the normal orientation of a vehicle seat when in a position of use as illustrated and are not to be read as necessarily limiting 4 4 (I U I

Claims (5)

1. 2. The jig as claimed in claim 1 wherein clamps are provided on said support base for clamping a pair of ~lower slide rails of said seat, each clamp comprising a set of upstanding jaws which are linked together by a pair of transverse bolts extending therethrough whereby Dthe width of said jaws can be adjusted to grip said seat 0 slides without crushing them. ii
2. 3. The jig as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein each of 00said braces comprise a central bar with end clamps, each 00 end clamp comprising pairs of parallel plates extending 00rw at right angles to the length of said central bar and a locking bolt.
3. 4. The jig as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein each said puller means comprises a set of yoke members with a screw shaft extending through a threaded seat -8- mh at one end thereof and terminating between said yoke members. The jig as claimed in claim 4 wherein the other end of said puller means is fitted with a block having an aperture which in use connects by a tension member to the seat frame.
4. 6. The jig as claimed in claim 5 wherein each puller means receives a brace between said yoke members and an end piece of said screw shaft engages the outer face of said brace whereby rotation of the shaft moves the puller means outwardly with respect to the brace.
5. 7. The jig as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6 wherein 5005 said clamps swivel.on: a sleeve mounted on one of said braces disposed 'across said support base. O 04 S' 8. The jig as claimed in any one of the preceding claims O° .wherein the space surrounded by said frame members is ao substantially cube shaped. a a oy 9. A jig for the repair of a damaged vehicle seat, said jig being substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings. A method of repairing a damaged vehicle seat using the jig ag' claimed in claim 1, said method including the steps of;- a L-9- r;L clamping the frame of said seat onto the support base of said jig, attaching said puller means to selected portions of said seat frame, and operating said puller means to pull portions of said damaged seat frame back to the original dimensions thereof. Dated this day of ~7th 1995 Manny G. Ornelas By his Patent Attorney MICHAEL ANDEPSON-TAYLOR 00o 0 44 o 0 o4 o a -o