Vehicle Anchoring Apparatus and Method of Use

Abstract

The present invention is a vehicle anchoring apparatus having a first vice assembly and a second vice assembly and is adapted to anchor the frame of a discrete frame vehicle, the pinch weld of a pinch-welded unibody vehicle, or simultaneously both the discrete frame and the pinch weld of a hybrid structure vehicle. The vehicle anchoring apparatus is adapted such that the need to perform a “take down” or setup of an anchoring apparatus that is otherwise required in order to switch from securing a discrete frame of a body-on-frame vehicle to securing a unibody vehicle is eliminated.

1 . A vehicle frame anchoring apparatus comprising a mounting post having a plurality of dissimilarly configured vices structurally connected thereto and adapted such that a first vice clamping position is repositionally adjustable relative to a second vice clamping position, and such that and said first vice is expressly adapted to clamp to and secure a discrete frame of a body-on-frame vehicle and said second vice is expressly adapted to clamp to and secure a pinch weld of a unibody vehicle. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is vertically adjustable. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said vices further comprise at least one primary vice and at least one an auxiliary vice. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one primary vice includes a plurality of grasping digits and is adapted to secure a discrete frame of a body-on-frame vehicle, and wherein at least one an auxiliary vice is adapted to secure a pinch weld of a unibody vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one primary vice includes a discrete vehicle frame removably clamped therein, and wherein said at least one an auxiliary vice includes a vehicle pinch weld removably clamped therein. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said anchoring apparatus includes a mounting post connected to said plurality of vices. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said vices include a plurality of engagement projections extending from said vices. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said vices is adapted such that the angular clamping orientation of said vice is variable. 
     
     
         9 . A vehicle frame anchoring apparatus comprising a mounting post and a plurality of vices repositionably connected to said post, wherein a first vice of said vices includes at least one grasping digit and is adapted to clamp to a discrete frame of a vehicle, and wherein a second vice of said vices includes at least one grasping plate and is adapted to clamp to a pinch weld of a vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said vice having said at least one grasping digit is removably clamped to a discrete frame of a vehicle, and wherein said vice having said at least one grasping plate is removably clamped to a pinch weld of a vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of said vices is adapted such that the angular clamping orientation of said vice is variable. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said vices include a plurality of engagement projections extending from said vices. 
     
     
         13 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A vehicle anchoring apparatus comprising at least one first vice and at least one second vice, wherein said first vice is structurally secured to said second vice, and wherein said first vice is expressly adapted to clamp to and secure a discrete frame of a body-on-frame vehicle, and wherein said second vice is expressly adapted to clamp to and secure a pinch weld of a unibody vehicle. 
     
     
         22 . The vehicle anchoring apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said first vice includes a plurality of grasping digits, and wherein said second vice includes at least one grasping plate. 
     
     
         23 . The vehicle anchoring apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein each of said plurality of grasping digits includes a grasping digit shank, said shank having at least a first shank portion and a second shank portion, and wherein said first shank portion defines a shank portion having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape, and wherein said second shank portion defines a shank portion having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         24 . The vehicle anchoring apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said first vice includes a discrete frame of a vehicle clamped therein, and wherein said second vice includes a pinch weld of a vehicle clamped therein. 
     
     
         25 . The vehicle anchoring apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said apparatus is secured to a mounting post. 
     
     
         26 . The vehicle anchoring apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of said vices is adapted such that the angular clamping orientation of said vice is variably adjustable. 
     
     
         27 . The vehicle anchoring apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said apparatus is expressly adapted such that apparatus may be switched from securing a discrete frame of a body-on-frame vehicle to securing a pinch weld of a unibody vehicle without a “take down” or a setup of said apparatus. 
     
     
         28 . The vehicle anchoring apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein said apparatus is expressly adapted such that when said apparatus clamps at least one of a discrete frame of a body-on-frame vehicle and a pinch weld of a unibody vehicle and a vehicle deformation correction load is applied to said clamped vehicle, said vehicle is correctively aligned without substantially damaging said discrete frame of a body-on-frame vehicle or said pinch weld of a unibody vehicle.