Setting fixture

{
  "publication_number": "US6324948B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Setting fixture",
  "abstract": "A tool for coupling a striker structure to a vehicle body structure in operative alignment with a latch mechanism coupled to a door structure. The tool includes a body locating portion and first and second fixture portions. The body locating portion selectively couples the tool to the vehicle body structure. The first fixture portion is coupled to the body locating portion and includes a post member for engaging a latch ratchet of the latch mechanism and an outrigger structure for engaging the door structure to thereby limit an amount by which the tool may rotate about the post member. The second fixture portion may be coupled to one of the body fixture portion and the first fixture portion. The second fixture portion includes a plate member and a latch clamp. The plate member has a slot for receiving the leg member of the striker structure with the slot having a proximal end and a generally open distal end. The latch clamp includes a clamp arm structure pivotable about an axis perpendicular to the slot between an open condition and a closed condition. The clamp arm structure pushes the striker structure against the proximal end of the slot when the clamp arm structure is positioned in the closed condition.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A tool for coupling a striker structure to a vehicle body structure in operative alignment with a latch mechanism, the striker structure having a plate member and a leg member extending therefrom, the latch mechanism coupled to a door structure and having a latch ratchet for engaging the leg member, the vehicle body and door structures pivotably coupled to one another, the tool comprising: a body locating portion for selectively coupling the tool to the vehicle body structure; a first fixture portion coupled to the body locating portion, the first fixture portion having a post member and an outrigger structure, the post member adapted for engagement with the latch ratchet, the outrigger structure adapted to engage the door structure to thereby limit an amount by which the tool may rotate about the post member; and a second fixture portion coupled to one of the body locating portion and the first fixture portion, the second fixture portion having a plate member and a latch clamp, the plate member including a slot adapted to receive the leg member of the striker structure, the slot having a proximal end and a generally open distal end, the latch clamp having a clamp arm structure pivotable about an axis perpendicular to the slot between an open condition and a closed condition, the clamp arm structure adapted to push the striker structure against the proximal end of the slot when the clamp arm structure is positioned in the closed condition.",
    "2. The tool of claim 1, further comprising spring means for biasing the clamp arm structure toward the open condition.",
    "3. The tool of claim 2, further comprising a magnet coupled to the plate member and operable for applying a force to the clamp arm structure to overcome a force exerted by the spring means and retain the clamp arm structure in the closed position when the clamp arm structure is rotated to the closed position.",
    "4. The tool of claim 1, wherein the body fixture portion includes a magnet for coupling the body locating portion to the vehicle body structure.",
    "5. The tool of claim 1, wherein the location of the clamp arm structure is stationary relative to the location of the slot.",
    "6. The tool of claim 1, wherein the outrigger structure includes a downwardly depending outrigger member and a bumper member adapted to contact the door structure.",
    "7. The tool of claim 6, wherein the bumper member is formed from a resilient material.",
    "8. The tool of claim 6, wherein the bumper member includes an adjusting means for adjusting an angle between the longitudinal axis of the slot and a centerline of the latch ratchet.",
    "9. The tool of claim 1, wherein the first and second fixture portions are fixedly but adjustably coupled to one another such that a vertical distance between a longitudinal axis of the slot and a centerline of the latch ratchet may be tailored to a predetermined distance.",
    "10. A method for coupling a striker structure to a vehicle body structure in operative alignment with a latch mechanism, the striker structure having a plate member and a leg member extending therefrom, the latch mechanism coupled to a door structure and having a latch ratchet for engaging the leg member, the vehicle body and door structures pivotably coupled to one another, the method comprising the steps of: providing a tool with a body locating portion, a first fixture portion and a second fixture portion, the first fixture portion having a post member and an outrigger structure, the second fixture portion coupled to one of the body locating portion and the first fixture portion, the second fixture portion having a plate member and a latch clamp, the plate member including a slot having a proximal end and a generally open distal end, the latch clamp having a clamp arm structure pivotable about an axis perpendicular to the slot between an open condition and a closed condition; coupling the first fixture portion of the tool to the latch mechanism such that the latch ratchet engages the post member and the outrigger structure engages a surface of the door structure; pivoting the door structure toward the vehicle body structure such that the body locating portion contacts the vehicle body structure and the striker structure is disposed within the slot; positioning the striker structure with the clamp arm structure; and securing the striker structure to the vehicle body structure.",
    "11. The method of claim 10, wherein in the step of positioning the striker structure, the clamp arm structure is rotated to the closed position wherein the clamp arm structure pushes the striker structure against the proximal end of the slot."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "1. Technical Field The present invention relates generally to vehicle assembly tooling and more particularly to a tool for aligning a door striker to a vehicle body. 2. Discussion Despite widespread use of striker positioning fixtures, variations in the various components which affect striker alignment have not eliminated the need to manually verify and adjust the alignment of a striker structure to a latch mechanism. Many of the tools currently in use employ locating details that wear and effect the overall alignment between a striker structure and a latch mechanism. Further, many of these tools are based on nominal dimensions and lack the capability to be readily adjusted to accommodate for variances in the vehicle being produced and/or to improve the robustness of the tool. Consequently, vehicle manufacturers expend tremendous amounts of labor to measure the alignment between the striker and a latch mechanism, and to adjust the alignment of the striker when it is determined to be out of position.\n\nTo gage the alignment between a striker and a latch mechanism, a technician will repeatedly open and close a vehicle door to “feel” whether the striker is dragging on the latch mechanism. This process is heavily dependent upon the skill and experience of the technician and several iterations of unfastening, moving, refastening and rechecking are typically necessary to obtain satisfactory alignment. Despite the effort that vehicle manufacturers expend to achieve proper alignment between a striker and a latch mechanism, complaints regarding improperly aligned strikers are relatively frequent.",
  "cpc": [
    "E05B 79/04",
    "B25B 27/0035",
    "E05B 17/0004",
    "E05B 17/06",
    "E05B 85/045",
    "Y10T 29/53913",
    "Y10T 29/53978"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B25B 27/00",
    "E05B 15/02",
    "E05B 17/00",
    "E05B 17/06",
    "E05B 65/12"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "DAIMLER CHRYSLER CORP"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "KAVC ANDREW R",
    "LEZUCH LAWRENCE J",
    "STOJKOVIC ZLATKO B",
    "ZAGATA EMILY",
    "BEAUBIEN GARY W",
    "DITOMASSO BRADLEY"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2000-08-07",
  "publication_date": "2001-12-04",
  "grant_date": "2001-12-04",
  "priority_date": "2000-08-07",
  "application_number": "US-63321100-A",
  "family_id": "24538704",
  "citations": [
    "US4930337A",
    "US4989313A",
    "US5282305A",
    "US5653012A",
    "US5694675A",
    "US6006635A",
    "US6029335A",
    "US6092771A",
    "US6209186B1"
  ]
}