The present invention relates to a body clamp for use e.g. in conjunction with an automobile body straightener, said body clamp comprising at least two clamp jaws, a gripping part attached to the clamp jaws, and a joint connecting the clamp jaws.

Previously known solutions for a body clamp are proposed by Finnish patent nr. 53930 and US patent nr. 3,108,629. The body clamp proposed by said Finnish patent comprises two clamp jaws held together by a joint placed below the supporting leg or clamp beam. Placed against the upper surface of the supporting leg is a wedge piece, which is tightened by means of a bolt and nut. When the wedge piece is being tightened, it presses the body clamp firmly against the supporting leg, and at the same time the clamp jaws grip the edge of the automobile body. The problem with this body clamp is the close dimensioning of the device. If the wedge piece presses the body clamp too early against the supporting leg, then it is possible that the power is insufficient for the actual task, i.e. for gripping the edge of the automobile body. The same problem exists in the contrary case as well. If the wedge forces the jaws together too early, the body clamp cannot be locked onto the supporting leg. The problem of dimensioning is further aggravated by the differences in the thickness of the body sheeting of different automobiles. The solution proposed by said US patent uses several screws for fastening the body clamp on the edge of the vehicle body. The drawback in this case is a very slow procedure of fastening the body clamp.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the draw¬ backs referred to above and to achieve a reliable body clamp which can be quickly and easily fastened and is simple in con¬ struction and therefore cheap. The body clamp of the invention

is characterized in that it comprises a bearing surface and that one of the clamp jaws is provided with a tightening means and the other clamp jaw with a swivelling pressure block acting as a stop face for the tightening means. The invention provides the advantage that the body clamp can be quickly and reliably locked in place both on the supporting leg on which the body clamp is fastened and on the edge of the automobile body.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that each clamp jaw has two side plates placed at a distance from each other, the side plates of one of the clamp jaws being joined together by at least one bearing member, the underside of which constitutes a bearing surface located below the joint connecting the jaws. The advantage is that the clamp jaw is held in a fixed position, so that the gripping part is also held in a fixed position.

Another preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that, relative to the gripping parts, the tightening means and the pressure block are located at the opposite end of the clamp jaws in such manner that a space is formed between the bearing surface and the tightening means, into which space a supporting means, such as a supporting leg of the straightener, can be inserted. The advantage in this case is a large pressing power and a convenient working position during the screwing of the tightening means.

A third preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the pressure block surface pressed against the support¬ ing leg is essentially curved and located below the supporting leg at a suitable distance from the joint of the pressure block, and that the pressure block has a stop face for the tightening means, which is also located below the supporting leg. The advantage is a an even and strong locking pressure against the supporting leg.

A further preferred embodiment of the invention is characterize

in that the tightening means consists of a screw and a connecting beam that joins the side plates of the first clamp jaw together and is provided with an internal thread for the screw. The advantage is a simple tightening means construction that renders the clamp jaw more rigid.

A still further preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the joint connecting the clamp jaws is placed above the supporting leg and, relative to the vertical plane passing between the gripping parts, on that side where the movable clamp jaw is located. The advantages in this case are that the device provides a high clamping power and that the gripping part of the movable clamp jaw moves in the correct direction when touching the edge of the vehicle body.

The invention is described in the following in greater detail by the aid of an example with reference to the drawings attached, wherein:

Fig. 1 presents the body clamp in lateral view. Fig. 2 presents the body clamp in front view.

The body clamp consists of two clamp jaws 1 and 2, a joint 4 that links them together, and a tightening means 6. The first clamp jaw 1 has two parallel side plates 9, placed at a distance from each other. When the body clamp is in its normal position, i.e. in the position shown in the drawings, the topmost part of the clamp jaw is the gripping part 3, which is attached to both side plates 9, thus connecting them together. The side plate 9 consists of an upper part with bevelled front and rear edges, a middle part of uniform width, and a lower part with a bevelled front edge. Attached to the front edges of the upper parts of the side plates 9 and placed in a direction parallel to the gripping part 3 is a bracing plate 18 which connects the side plates to each other. In figure 2, the bracing plate has been omitted for the sake of clarity. Attached between the front edges of the lower parts of the side plates 9 is a horizontal

connecting beam 17 which stiffens the lower part of the clamp jaw. The connecting beam 17 has been slightly rotated about its horizontal axis so as to achieve a suitable angle for the tightening screw 16 going through it. In the middle of the connecting beam 17, at a suitable angle to the horizontal plane, is a hole with internal thread for the tightening screw 16. The other clamp jaw 2 consists of a pair of parallel side plates 10, the distance between which is such that the external width of the second clamp jaw 2 is less than the internal width of the first clamp jaw 1. The topmost part of the clamp jaw 2 is the gripping part 3, which is attached to both side plates 10, thus connecting them together. The side plate 10 consists of an upper part with bevelled front and rear edges, a middle part of uniform width, and a lower part with bevelled front and rear edges. At the juncture of the upper and middle parts, attached to the front and rear edges of the side plates are horizontal bracing beams 11 connecting the side plates 10 and mounted in such manner that the undersides of said beams 11 are located at the same horizontal level, constituting the bearing surface 5 of the clamp jaw. In addition, the clamp jaw 2 is provided with a lower horizontal bracing plate connecting the side plates 10. In the lower part of the second clamp jaw 2, between the front edges of the side plates 10 is a pressure block 8, which is supported by a horizontal shaft 14 pivoted on the side plates 10. The length of the pressure block 8 is so chosen that the pressure block fits between the side plates of the second clamp jaw 10 so that it can turn about its horizontal axis. At the top edge of the pressure block 8 is a curved pressing surface 13, which, when the clamping screw 16 is tightened, is pressed against the underside of the supporting leg 12 of the automobile body straightener, said leg 12 being inside the body clamp. The pressing surface 13 is located at a suitable distance from the joint 14. On the front side of the pressure block 8 is a stop face 15 essentially perpendicular to the screw 16 of the tightening means, the end of the screw 16 being pressed against said stop face. The tightening screw 16 may be an ordinary hexagonal screw which is turned with a suitable tool. The clamp

jaws are held together by a common horizontal bearing axle placed above the bearing surfaces 5 but below the gripping part 3. In the locked position, the vertical plane passing betwee the gripping parts coincides with the centre line of the body clamp. The axle 4 is located on the same side of said vertical plane as the movable clamp jaw 1. By virtue of this positioning of the axle, the motion of the gripping part 3 of clamp jaw 1 is optimized with respect to the angle in which the gripping part meets the edge of the vehicle body, so that no bending strain is imposed on the automobile body sheeting. Another decisive factor regarding the positions of different parts of the clamp is that the bearing axle 4 is placed above the supporting leg 12 whereas the tightening means 6 is located below it. This arrangement provides a leverage that greatly increases the clamping power. Moreover, considering space utilization, the tightening screw is easy to turn from below the supporting leg.

It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted to the example described above, but that its embodiments may instead be varied in the scope of the following claims. Thus, for instance, instead of two separate bearing members 11 it is possible to use a single bearing member of a larger width. Also, instead of an internal thread in the connecting beam 17 it is possible to use a nut fixed to the beam, or the tightening means itself may have a construction differing from that of a screw.