US1064483A - Wagon-shaft holder. - Google Patents

Description

A. O. HIXON.

WAGON SHAFT HOLDER.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 9, 1912.

1,064,483, Patented June 10, 1913.

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ARTHUR. CLAYTON I-IIXON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA;

WAGON-SHAFT HOLDER.

Patented June 10, 1913.

Serial No. 708,452.

T 0 aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, ARTHUR C. HIXON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful W agon-Shaft Holder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for supporting wagon shafts or thills in upright position, and in close proximity to the front of the wagon when the latter is not in use, and has for an object to provide a simple and effective means of maintaining shafts for wagons or the like out of the way and thus increasing the storage space in a stable and at the same time eliminating the danger of the shafts becoming broken, bent, or otherwise damaged, during the movement of vehicles in the stable.

It further consists of other novel features of construction all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment which is at present preferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalit-ies as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a perspective of a portion of a vehicle body showing my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the hook portion of my device and its adjuncts. Fig. 3 represents a perspective of a retaining plate forming part of my invention. Fig. 4 represents a transverse section of the retaining plate and a portion of its support.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings :1 designates the floor or foot-board of a vehicle to which my novel shaft supporting means is adapted to be attached, and in this connection itwill be noted that the portion of the vehicle shown is the new type of six spring delivery wagon having shafts or thills 2, which are pivoted at 3, to the fifth wheel bar 4, and are adapted to be swung through a wide range of movement and may be brought to a substantially perpendicular position beside the front of the vehicle.

5 designates the cross-bar of the shafts 2, upon the bottom face 6 of which I, preferably, secure by means of screws 7 or like fastening means, a retaining plate 8 of suitable material, the function of which is to receive and lock the supporting element for the shafts. In order that this retaining plate may perform its function in the manner desired, I preferably provide the same with a pair of transverse ribs 9 which eX- tend in the present instance from side to side of the plate 8 and form between them a groove or seat 10, the configuration of which is adapted to conform to the shape of the member co-acting therewith. It will further be noted in connection with this retaining plate that it is preferable to locate the same at substantially the center of the crossbar 5, so that when the parts are in engaged or operative position the weight of the shafts will be equally distributed.

11 designates a hook member, preferably of metal, having one end terminating in an eyelet 12 and its opposite end in a clownwardly turned hook portion 13, the end 14 of which is, in the present instance bent rearwardly for a purpose to be presently described. This hook member 11 is preferably supported beneath the floor or foot-board of the vehicle and for this purpose I prefer to utilize a threaded eye-bolt 15 upon which the eyelet 12 is supported, while the threaded stem 16 of the bolt pass-es through the floor or foot-board 1 and is retained in place by means of the washers 17 and nut 18.

19 designates a hook or the like suitably mounted beneath the floor or foot-board 1, as the case may be, and located at a suitable distance from the bolt 15 to serve as a support for the hook member 11 when the latter is not in use and inoperative as a shaft supporting means.

In operation of the device the shafts 2 are swung about their pivots 3 to bring them to a substantially vertical position whereupon the hook member 11 is brought down over the face of the retaining plate 8 with the hook portion 13 seated within the groove 10. It will here be noted that the length of the hook portion 13, not including the bent end 1 1-, is of substantially the same length as the length of the groove 10, which in this instance is the same as the width of the retaining plate 8. When the parts are in this position, as shown. in Fig. 1, the end 14 of the hook member 11v is disposed beneath. the lower edge of the retaining plate 8, and thereby serves as an abutment upon which. the weight of the shafts is partially sustained. The importance of this construction will be apparent when it is seen that the resultant of the forces tending to pull the shafts down passes through the eye-bolt 15 and the abutment formedby the inturned end 14, so that the hook. member is effectually locked"in engagement with the plate 8. Furthermore any side or lateral movement is entirely prevented by the ribs 9, between which it is normally seated.

It will now be apparent that: I have devised asimple and-efficient device for'retaining or holding shafts of vehicles in a sub stantially vertical position, one which occu pies a minimum. of space on the vehicle, ispractically concealedfrom view and yet one which. may be quickly and readily adjusted into its operativeposition, and when insuch. position forms a self-locking means which cannot be jarred or shaken loose and. requires: manual manipulation to be released.

It will now be] apparent that I have devised a novel: and useful construction of a.

wagon shaft holder which embodiesthe featuresof advantage enumerated: as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have, in the present instance, shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the splrit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a device of the character stated, the

saidhook. member and prevent lateral movement' thereof;

ARTHUR CLAYTON HIXON.

WVitnesses PATRICK CONNER, n GEORGE W. WVINrrERs'.

Copies 01 this patent-may. beohta'ined for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner: of Patents,

' Washington, 110.

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