Locator Tool Assembly for Paint Replacement Films

Abstract

A locator tool assembly ( 10 ) comprising a locator tool ( 20 ) capable of being mounted to a vehicle door ( 200 ). The tool ( 20 ) includes at least one locator projection ( 42 a, 42 b ) adapted to mount one or more film tabs ( 104 ). Each tab ( 104 ) forms a removable part of an adhesive-backed film structure ( 102 ). The assembly ( 10 ) further includes a stripper mechanism ( 50 ) associated with the locator tool ( 20 ) for use in removing the one or more film tabs ( 104 ) from the at least one locator projection ( 42 a, 42 b ).

1 - 23 . (canceled)  
     
     
         24 . A locator tool capable of being positioned on an edge of an outer surface of a vehicle door adapted to receive an adhesive-backed film segment comprising: 
 a main body configured to be mounted on the edge of the outer surface of the vehicle door;    holding structure associated with said main body for releasably securing said main body to the outer surface edge; and    at least one locator projection associated with said main body and adapted to mount an adhesive-backed film structure including the film segment capable of being adhered to the vehicle door outer surface.    
     
     
         25 . The locator tool as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein said main body includes at least one recess into which the surface edge is received.  
     
     
         26 . The locator tool as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein said main body comprises at least one flange which defines said recess.  
     
     
         27 . The locator tool as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein said holding structure comprises at least one magnetic element.  
     
     
         28 . The locator tool as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein said magnetic element is mounted so as not to extend into said recess.  
     
     
         29 . The locator tool as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein said at least one locator projection comprises at least two locator pins adapted to receive a removable tab forming part of the adhesive-backed film structure.  
     
     
         30 . The locator tool as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein said main body has a configuration allowing it to be mounted to an outer edge of the vehicle door outer surface.  
     
     
         31 . The locator tool as set forth in  claim 24 , herein said main body has a configuration allowing it to be mounted to an inner edge of the vehicle door outer surface.  
     
     
         32 . The locator tool as set forth in  claim 24  wherein said main body, comprises a first leg portion and a second leg portion, said first and second leg portions defining an angle less than about 140 degrees so as to allow said main body to be mounted to a corner of the vehicle door outer surface.  
     
     
         33 . The locator tool as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein at least a portion of said main body has a textured surface so as to reduce the amount of adhesion that occurs when a portion of an adhesive side of the adhesive-backed film segment contacts said main body thereby allowing the segment adhesive side portion to be easily removed from said textured surface.  
     
     
         34 . A locator tool assembly comprising: 
 a locator tool capable of being mounted to a vehicle door and including at least one locator projection adapted to mount one or more film tabs, each tab forming a removable part of an adhesive-backed film structure; and    a stripper mechanism associated with said locator tool for use in removing the one or more film tabs from said at least one locator projection.    
     
     
         35 . The locator tool assembly as set forth in  claim 34 , wherein said locator tool further comprises: 
 a main body configured to be mounted to the vehicle door, said at least one locator projection being coupled to said main body; and    holding structure associated with said main body for releasably securing sad main body to said door.    
     
     
         36 . The locator tool assembly as set forth in  claim 35  wherein said main body includes at least one recess into which an edge of a vehicle door is received.  
     
     
         37 . The locator tool assembly as set forth in  claim 35 , wherein said holding structure comprises at least one magnetic element.  
     
     
         38 . The locator tool assembly as set forth in  claim 34 , wherein said stripper mechanism comprises: 
 at least one guide rod; and    at least one stripper element coupled to said guide rod, said stripper element and said guide rod being movable relative to said at least one locator projection so as to effect removal of the one or more tabs from said at least one locator projection.    
     
     
         39 . The locator tool assembly as set forth in  claim 38 , wherein said at least one guide rod extends through a bore in a main body of said locator tool and said at least one stripper element comprises first and second stripper plates coupled to said at least one guide rod on opposing sides of said main body.  
     
     
         40 . The locator tool assembly as set forth in  claim 39 , wherein said at least one locator projection comprises at least two locator pins which extend through bores in said main body so as to permit the one or more film tabs to be mounted on one of first and second sides of said main body.  
     
     
         41 . The locator tool assembles as set forth in  claim 34 , in combination with one or more adhesive film structures.  
     
     
         42 . The locator tool assembly as set forth in  claim 41 , wherein each of said one or more adhesive film structures comprises an adhesive-backed paint replacement film structure.  
     
     
         43 . A method for applying an adhesive-backed film segment to an outer surface of a vehicle door, said method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a locator tool assembly comprising a locator tool capable of being mounted to a vehicle door and including at least one locator projection, the locator tool assembly further including a stripper mechanism associated with the locator tool;    mounting the locator tool to a vehicle door;    mounting an adhesive-backed film structure on the at least one locator projection via a tab forming part of the adhesive-backed film structure, the film structure further including a segment;    securing the adhesive-backed film segment to an outer surface of the vehicle door; and    removing the tab of the adhesive-backed film structure from the at least one locator projection via the stripper mechanism.    
     
     
         44 . The method as set forth in  claim 43 , wherein the locator tool comprises a main body including at least one recess and said mounting step comprising the step of locating the main body such halt an edge of the vehicle outer surface is received in the at least one recess.  
     
     
         45 . The method as set forth in  claim 43 , wherein the stripper mechanism comprises at least one guide rod, and at least one stripper element coupled to the guide rod, and said removing step comprising the step of moving the stripper element and the guide rod relative to the at least one locator projection so as to effect removal of the tab from the at least one locator projection.  
     
     
         46 . The method as set forth in  claim 43 , wherein the tab and segment of the adhesive-backed film structure are coupled together prior to said securing step and further comprising the step of separating the segment from the tab.