Target holder and method of coupling target holder to vehicle wheel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9658062-B2
Application number	US-201514814265-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2015
Priority date	Jul 30, 2015
Publication date	May 23, 2017
Grant date	May 23, 2017

Abstract

A target holder that can be secured within a central aperture of a vehicle wheel includes a base defining a central axis of the target holder. The base has a first end configured to receive a target and an opposing second end. A retainer is coupled to the second end of the base. The retainer is insertable into the central aperture and engageable with the vehicle wheel to secure the target holder to the vehicle wheel. A plunger is disposed in the retainer. A lever is pivotably coupled to the base and operatively coupled to the plunger. With the retainer inserted into the central aperture, the lever is actuateable to move the plunger toward the retainer to urge a terminal end portion of the retainer to expand radially outward from the central axis of the target holder to engage an inner wall of the vehicle wheel defining the central aperture.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A target holder that can be secured within a central aperture of a vehicle wheel, the target holder comprising:
a base defining a central axis of the target holder, the base having a first end configured to receive a target and an opposing second end;
a retainer coupled to the second end of the base, the retainer insertable into the central aperture and engageable with the vehicle wheel to secure the target holder to the vehicle wheel;
a plunger disposed in the retainer; and
a lever pivotably coupled to the base and operatively coupled to the plunger, with the retainer inserted into the central aperture, the lever is actuateable to move the plunger with respect to the retainer to urge a terminal end portion of the retainer to expand radially outward with respect to the central axis to engage an inner wall of the vehicle wheel defining the central aperture.

2. The target holder of claim 1 , further comprising a bolt positioned within the base and operatively coupling the lever to the plunger.

3. The target holder of claim 2 , wherein, with the lever in a first position, the plunger is released from the retainer and the retainer is in a closed configuration.

4. The target holder of claim 3 , wherein, as the lever is moved from the first position to a second position, the bolt moves along the central axis to urge the plunger against the retainer to move the retainer to an expanded configuration with the lever in the second position.

5. The target holder of claim 4 , wherein the retainer comprises a plurality of members disposed around a perimeter of the retainer at the terminal end portion and, with the retainer in the expanded configuration, each member of the plurality of members expands radially outward from the central axis to engage the inner wall of the vehicle wheel.

6. The target holder of claim 1 , wherein the terminal end portion of the retainer defines a plurality of members disposed around a perimeter of the retainer, adjacent members of the plurality of members separated by a slot to enable the terminal end portion of the retainer to radially expand and contract.

7. The target holder of claim 6 , wherein each member of the plurality of members has an outer surface configured to contact the inner wall of the vehicle wheel.

8. The target holder of claim 7 , wherein the plunger is configured to urge the terminal end portion of the retainer radially outward with respect to the central axis to secure the outer surface in engagement with the vehicle wheel.

9. The target holder of claim 1 , wherein the retainer is received in the second end of the base.

10. The target holder of claim 1 , further comprising a clamp coupling the target to the base.

11. A target holder to facilitate alignment of wheels on a vehicle, the target holder comprising:
a base defining a central axis of the target holder, the base having a first end configured to receive a target and an opposing second end defining a cylindrical recess;
a retainer positioned within the cylindrical recess and fixedly coupled to the second end of the base, a terminal end portion of the retainer movable between a closed configuration and an expanded configuration to engage an inner wall of a wheel defining a central aperture of the wheel;
a plunger disposed in the retainer;
a lever pivotably coupled to the base and movable between a first position and a second position; and
a bolt positioned within the base along the central axis, the bolt operatively coupling the lever to the plunger, wherein, as the lever is moved from the first position to the second position, the bolt moves along the central axis of the target holder to urge the plunger against the retainer to move the terminal end portion of the retainer to the expanded configuration with the lever in the second position.

12. The target holder of claim 11 , wherein, as the lever is moved from the second position to the first position, the bolt moves along the central axis of the target holder to urge the plunger away from the retainer to release the plunger from the retainer and allow the retainer to move to the closed configuration.

13. The target holder of claim 11 , wherein the terminal end portion of the retainer defines a plurality of members disposed around a perimeter of the retainer, adjacent members of the plurality of members separated by a slot to enable the terminal end portion of the retainer to radially expand and contract with respect to the central axis.

14. The target holder of claim 13 , wherein each member of the plurality of members includes a protrusion on an outer surface of the member to engage the wheel.

15. A method for coupling a target holder to a wheel of a vehicle, said method comprising:
inserting into a central aperture of the wheel a retainer operatively coupled to a base of the target holder; and
engaging the retainer with the wheel to secure the target holder to the wheel.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising, with the retainer inserted into the central aperture of the wheel, moving a plunger disposed in the retainer toward the retainer to urge a terminal end portion of the retainer to expand radially outward with respect to a central axis of the target holder to engage an inner wall of the wheel defining the central aperture.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein moving a plunger comprises actuating a lever, pivotably coupled to the base and operatively coupled to the plunger, from a first position to a second position to move the plunger toward the retainer to urge the terminal end portion of the retainer to expand radially outward with respect to the central axis.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein, as the lever is actuated from the first position to the second position, a bolt moves along the central axis of the target holder to urge the plunger against the retainer to move the retainer to an expanded configuration with the lever in the second position.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the terminal end portion of the retainer comprises a plurality of members disposed around a perimeter of the retainer and, with the retainer in the expanded configuration, each member of the plurality of members extends radially outward from the central axis to engage the inner wall of the wheel.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising coupling a target to the base.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Duff Douglas J
• Kara Thomas W

Classifications

• G01B11/275 Primary

  for testing wheel alignment · CPC title

• F16B9/023

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• G01B2210/30

  Reference markings, reflector, scale or other passive device · CPC title

• G01B11/2755 Primary

  using photoelectric detection means · CPC title

• F16B2/185

  using levers · CPC title