Chrysler Corporation

Daimlerchrysler Corporation

Trelleborg Ysh, Inc.

Zlatko B Stojkovic

Thomas Weber

Larry M Storinsky

Brad DiTomaso

Jim Neubacher

John D Dredge

Don Johnson

Stephen John Lewis

Joseph J Savalle

Daryl L Rothamer

Andrew R Kavc

Bruce P Mattarella

Lawrence J Lezuch

Gary W Beaubien

Mark F Jacoby

Scott Featherston

Bradley DiTomasso

Emily Zagata

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.

Setting fixture

A housing for the retention, stowage and trim of a vehicle jacking device is herein disclosed. The housing along with the vehicle jacking device comprise the jack assembly which may be disposed within the internal compartment of the vehicle or the outside of a vehicle. The housing conforms to the shape of the vehicle jacking device and includes a movable door for covering a portion of the housing and an adjuster screw for extending and retracting the telescopic post member of the jack.

Housing for a vehicle jacking device

An apparatus and method for positioning a latch assembly and a striker on a motor vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus is designed to improve the fit of the tailgate to the side walls or truck body. A good fit is defined as the outer surface of the tailgate and the outer surface of the side wall being coplanar when the tailgate is in the closed position. The apparatus, by way of a first formation and first locating element, determines the position of the latch assembly with respect to outer surface of the tailgate. The apparatus, by way of a second formation and second locating element, also determines the location of the striker with respect to the outer surface of the side walls. The apparatus, by way of a body member, also determines the position of the striker with respect to the latch assembly and vice versa. By setting the latch assembly and the striker by the above relations, build variances of the tailgate and of the truck body are eliminated as a possible cause for a poor fit.

A tool for aligning a striker with a latch for a door on a motor vehicle includes a base member and a tool locating member positioned perpendicular to an end of the base member. The tool also includes a tool holding mechanism positioned on a front face of the tool locating member for holding the alignment tool onto the vehicle, and a striker locating arm extending outwardly from another end of the base member. The alignment tool further includes a striker lead-in at one end of the striker locating arm for positioning the striker relative to the latch, and a cross member extending between another end of the striker locating arm and the base member for receiving the latch.

Method and tool for aligning a striker with a latch

The present invention provides a device for attaching a first member to a second member which allows relative movement therebetween for positioning of the first member with respect to the second member. The present invention provides a cylindrical section having a first diameter at a first end expanding therefrom to a second diameter at a second end. A first elastic insulator surrounds the cylindrical section and laterally affixes it to the second member. The first elastic insulator is positioned between the bottom side of the first member and the top side of the second member for absorbing shock therebetween. A clip section inserted into and lockingly engaged to an internal bore of the cylindrical section. The clip section has a width to allow it to move laterally with respect to the first elastic insulator and the cylindrical section for aligning the first member and the second member. A second elastic insulator is positioned around and affixed to the clip section. The first side of the elastic insulator is positioned flush against the bottom side of the second member for absorbing shock in a direction opposite that of the first elastic insulator.

Body mounted isolator with locking feature

Growing community of inventors

Brownstown, MI, United States of America

Zlatko B Stojkovic