Large automotive panel paint rack

• US 7,448,606 B1
• Filed: 11/04/2004
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovative Tools & Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Innovative Tools & Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, Bryan Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson; Lee D.
• Application Number:
  US10/982,007
• Time in Patent Office: 1,468 Days
• Field of Search: 269/16, 269/17, 269/71, 269/104, 248/127
• US Class Current: 269/17
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/0285 Stands for supporting individual articles to be sprayed, e.g. doors, vehicle body parts

Abstract

A large automotive panel paint rack has a wheel-mounted base with an adjustable upright post and at least one platform having adjustable support members and hook members. It also has heat and paint-resistant protective rubber sleeves to keep critical adjustment threads free from over-spray. The large panel paint rack permits stationary support of a large part, especially a large automotive panel part for preparation work, repair and painting.

Claims

1. A stand for holding automotive panels comprising:

a base;

an upright member extending from the base;

a frame member pivotally coupled to the upright member about a pivot axis;

a pivot locking structure coupled to the upright member defining a plurality of locking positions at which the frame member may be locked;

at least one or more arm members associated with the frame member for securely holding an automotive panel; and

an adjustment arm associated with the frame member such that a user can grasp a portion of the adjustment arm to unlock the frame member from one of the plurality of locking positions and while continuing to grasp the portion of the adjustment arm pivot the frame member about the pivot axis, wherein releasing the grasp of the portion of the adjustment arm locks the frame member into one of the plurality of locking positions, wherein the adjustment arm comprises a proximal end for engagement with the pivot locking structure and a distal end, wherein the distal end comprises a pistol grip mechanism, wherein the pistol grip mechanism comprises a rigid handle and a trigger, wherein the trigger is movable relative to the rigid handle, and further wherein the pistol grip mechanism is the portion of the adjustment arm that the user grasps to unlock the frame member.

2. The stand according to claim 1, wherein the user disengages a portion of the proximal end of the adjustment arm from the locking structure by grasping the distal end of the adjustment arm.

3. The stand according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment arm further comprises a rigid member fixedly coupled to the frame member and a movable locking member movably coupled to the rigid member for engaging the pivot locking structure so as to lock the frame member in one of the plurality of locking positions.

4. The stand according to claim 3, wherein the movable locking member comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the user disengages the proximal end of the movable locking member from the pivot locking structure by grasping the distal end of the movable locking member, and further wherein the distal end of the movable locking member comprises the trigger of the pistol grip mechanism.

5. The stand according to claim 1, wherein the pivot locking structure defines a plurality of discrete locking positions.

6. The stand according to claim 1, wherein the stand further comprises a plurality of rubber sleeves for protecting portions of the stand from over-spray.

7. A stand for holding automotive panels comprising:

a base;

an upright member extending from the base;

a platform pivotally coupled to the upright member about a pivot axis;

a pivot locking structure coupled to the upright member defining a plurality of discrete locking positions at which the platform may be locked; and

an adjustment arm associated with the platform comprising;

a rigid member fixedly coupled to the platform, wherein the rigid member comprises a proximal end proximate the upright member and a distal end, wherein a portion of the distal end of the rigid member forms a portion of a pistol grip mechanism; and

a movable locking portion movably coupled to the rigid member, wherein the movable locking portion comprises a proximal end proximate the pivot locking structure and a distal end, wherein a portion of the proximal end of the movable locking portion is configured to engage the plurality of discrete locking positions of the pivot locking structure and a portion of the distal end of the movable locking portion forms a trigger of the pistol grip mechanism.

8. The stand according to claim 7, wherein a length of the platform is adjustable along a first axis that is orthogonal to the pivot axis, and further wherein a width orthogonal to the length of the platform is adjustable along a second axis that is parallel to the pivot axis.

9. The stand according to claim 7, wherein the platform comprises a plurality of adjustment hook members positioned to apply outwardly-facing opposing forces to an automotive panel, wherein each adjustment hook member comprises a proximal end coupled to the platform and a distal end terminating in a hook structure for engaging the automotive panel.

10. A stand for holding automotive panels comprising:

a base;

an upright member extending from the base;

a platform pivotally coupled to the upright member about a pivot axis for receiving an automotive panel, wherein a length of the platform is adjustable along a first axis that is orthogonal to the pivot axis, and further wherein a width orthogonal to the length of the platform is adjustable along a second axis that is parallel to the pivot axis; and

a pivot locking structure coupled to the upright member defining a plurality of discrete locking positions at which the platform may be locked, wherein each of the plurality of discrete locking positions comprises a receiving aperture to receive a movable locking member, wherein the movable locking member is movable relative to a rigid member coupled to the platform.

11. The stand according to claim 10, wherein the stand further comprises a plurality of adjustment hook members positioned to apply outwardly-facing opposing forces to the automotive panel, wherein each adjustment hook member comprises a proximal end coupled to the platform and a distal end terminating in a hook structure for engaging the automotive panel.

12. A stand for holding automotive panels comprising:

a base;

an upright member extending from the base;

a platform pivotally coupled to the upright member about a pivot axis for receiving an automotive panel, wherein a length of the platform is adjustable along a first axis that is orthogonal to the pivot axis, wherein a width orthogonal to the length of the platform is adjustable along a second axis that is parallel to the pivot axis, and further wherein the platform comprises;

a first frame member lying along a first frame member axis, wherein the first frame member is pivotally coupled to the upright member about the pivot axis, and further wherein the first frame member is movable relative to the upright member in a direction orthogonal to the pivot axis to adjust the length of the platform; and

a second frame member lying along a second frame member axis, wherein the second frame member is movably coupled to the first frame member, further wherein the second frame member is movable relative to the upright member in a direction orthogonal to the pivot axis to adjust the length of the platform, and further wherein the first frame member axis and the second frame member axis are parallel; and

a pivot locking structure coupled to the upright member defining a plurality of discrete locking positions at which the platform may be locked.

13. The stand according to claim 12, wherein the platform further comprises:

a first frame member locking structure for locking the first frame member at a position relative to the upright member and preventing the first frame member from moving along the first frame member axis; and

a second frame member locking structure for locking the second frame member at a position relative to the upright member and preventing the second frame member from moving along the second frame member axis.

14. The stand according to claim 12, wherein the platform further comprises:

at least one first telescoping adjustable arm support member lying along a first telescoping adjustable arm support member axis orthogonal to the first frame member axis, wherein the first telescoping adjustable arm support member comprises a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, wherein the proximal end portion of the first telescoping adjustable arm support member is coupled to a distal end of the first frame member, wherein the distal end portion is extendable from the proximal end portion; and

at least one second telescoping adjustable arm support member lying along a second telescoping adjustable arm support member axis orthogonal to the second frame member axis, wherein the second telescoping adjustable arm support member comprises a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, wherein the proximal end portion of the second telescoping adjustable arm support member is coupled to a distal end of the second frame member, wherein the distal end portion is extendable from the proximal end portion.

15. The stand according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the first and the second telescoping adjustable arm support members further comprises an adjustment hook member, wherein the adjustment hook member comprises:

a proximal end coupled to the distal end portion of the telescoping adjustable arm support member; and

a distal end terminating in a hook structure for engaging the automotive panel.

16. The stand according to claim 14, where at least one of the first and the second telescoping adjustable arm support members further comprises an extension locking structure for locking the distal end portion relative to the proximal end portion.

17. A stand for holding automotive panels comprising:

a base;

an upright member extending from the base;

a platform pivotally coupled to the upright member about a pivot axis for receiving an automotive panel, wherein a length of the platform is adjustable along a first axis that is orthogonal to the pivot axis, wherein a width orthogonal to the length of the platform is adjustable along a second axis that is parallel to the pivot axis, and further wherein the platform comprises;

a first tee-frame pivotally coupled to the upright member about the pivot axis, wherein the first tee-frame comprises;

a first frame member lying along a first frame member axis orthogonal to the pivot axis, wherein the first frame member comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and further wherein the first frame member is movable relative to the upright member in a direction orthogonal to the pivot axis to adjust the length of the platform; and

at least one first cross member comprising a coupling portion coupled to the distal end of the first frame member, wherein the at least one first cross member further comprises at least one extension portion extendable from the coupling portion;

a first tee-frame locking structure for locking the first frame member relative to the upright member;

a second tee-frame movably coupled to the first tee-frame, wherein the second tee-frame comprises;

a second frame member lying along a second frame member axis orthogonal to the pivot axis and parallel to the first frame member axis, wherein the second frame member comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and further wherein the second frame member is movable relative to the upright member in a direction orthogonal to the pivot axis to adjust the length of the platform; and

at least one second cross member comprising a coupling portion coupled to the distal end of the second frame member, wherein the at least one second cross member further comprises at least one extension portion extendable from the coupling portion; and

a second tee-frame locking structure for locking the second frame member relative to the upright member; and

a pivot locking structure coupled to the upright member defining a Plurality of discrete locking positions at which the platform may be locked.

18. The stand according to claim 17, wherein the at least one first cross member and the at least one second cross member are extendable to adjust the width of the platform.

19. The stand according to claim 17, wherein the first tee-frame further comprises a first cross member locking structure for locking the at least one extension portion of the first cross member relative to the coupling portion thereof, and wherein the second tee-frame further comprises a second cross member locking structure for locking the at least one extension portion of the second cross member relative to the coupling portion thereof.