US1088016A - Automatic latch for wind-shields. - Google Patents

Description

H. W. FENTON.

AUTOMATIC LATCH FOR WIND SHIELDS.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 6, 1909.

Patentd Feb. 24, 1914.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT W. FENTON, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC LATCH FOR WIND-SHIELDS.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, HERBERT W. FENTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Latches for Wind-Shields, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an automatic latch for various uses, for instance, in folding automobile wind shields having stationary and movable sashes capable of being shifted one relatively to the other for pro-l tecting the occupant from or exposing the same to the weather as may best suit the occupant during different wind and weather conditions.

The object of this invention is to provide simple and efficient means whereby the movable sash of the shield may be easily and conveniently shifted into different positions, as desired, and reliably held in place after adjustment.

Tn the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the front part of an automobile wind shield equipped with my improved latch. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of one of the telescopic stay rods for holding the movable sash of the shield in place. Fig. 3 is a cross section in line 3 3 Fig. 2. Figs. A .and 5 are perspective views of the roller and follower of the detent device.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Those parts of the automobile with which my improved latch for a wind shield is associated and which are shown in the drawings comprise a main frame A, a hood B arranged on the front part of said frame and an upright dash C arranged on the frame in rear of the hood.

The wind shield comprises a lowerA stationary sash or section D and an upper movable sash or section D1, each sash having a frame d and a pane Z1 of glass or similar material within the frame. The lower sash is secured at its lower edge to the upper edge of the dash in an upright position and transversely of the automobile. The lower sash is sustained at its upper end by means of two braces each of which consists of a horizontal arm e projecting forwardly from one of the upper corners of the frame of the lower sash and an inclined longitudinal rod Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led December 6, 1909.

Patented Feb. 24, 1916i. serial No. 551,558.

c1 connected at its elevated rear end with the front end of the arm c while its depressed rear end is connected with the adjacent part of the automobile frame.

The upper sash or section of the wind shield is pivoted at its lower edge by means of hinges f to the upper edge of the lower sash so that the upper sash may be swung either into an upright position, as indicated in full lines in Fig. l, or may be turned backwardly and downwardly into different positions, as indicated by dotted lines in the same figure, to suit the weather conditions.

My improvements relate more particularly to the retaining device whereby the upper sash is held in the different positions into which the same may be shifted. This staying device comprises two inclined telescopic stay rods G each of which has a tubular outer member g and an inner member g1, preferably solid, arranged within the outer member. The members of each stay rod are slidable lengthwise one upon the `other and one member, preferably the outer,

is pivotally connected at its upper rear end by a bolt /t or otherwise with the adjacent upright side bar of the upper sash frame about midway of the height thereof while the other or inner member is pivotally connected at its lower front end by a bolt h1 or otherwise with the adjacent brace preferably at the junction of the arm and rod thereof. The inner and outer members of each stay rod are preferably made square or flat sided in cross section so as to prevent the same from turning relatively to each other. Upon turning the upper movable section of the shield with reference to the lower section the two members of each stay rod slide lengthwise relatively to each other and also swing in a vert-ical plane in adapting themselves to the changing position of the upper shield section or sash.

For the purpose of yieldingly holding the upper sash in its adjusted position, a detent device is applied to the members of each sectional stay rod which is preferably constructed as follows: H represents a cylindrical casing or guideway secured to the tubular section of the st-ay rod so as to project laterally therefrom and having its inner end communicating with the bore of said stay rod section by an opening LZ in the side of the latter. The outer end of this guideway is closed by a cap I which is adjustably connected with the guideway by means of a screw connection therewith. On that side vof the inner stay rod section which faces the guideway said section is provided with a longitudinal row of notches Z of concave form in a direction lengthwise of the stay rod. This side of the latter is engaged by the inner side of a cylindrical detent roller j which projects from the guideway H through the opening h2 into the tubular stay rod section and which has its axis arranged transversely of said stay rod. On its outer side the detent roller is engaged by a follower K preferably of cylindrical form which is guided in the guideway d and which is provided with two inwardly project-ing iianges or lugs Z, Z which straddle the detent roller and engage with opposite fiat sides of the same. M represents a coil spring arranged in the outer part of the guideway and bearing at its inner end against the outer side of the follower while its outer end bears against the inner side of the' screw cap I. This spring holds the detent roller yieldingly in contact with the inner stay rod sectionV and this tension can be varied to suit the requirements by adjusting the screw cap I accordingly.

Vhen the upper sash of the shield is in an upright position each detent roller engages with the lowermost or outermost notch of its inner stay rod section and is held frictionally in this position by the tension of the spring M. Upon pressing the upper sash backwardly and downwardly sufiiciently t-o cause the inner stay rod section to slidein the outersection and overcome the tension of the spring M the detent roller y' willfbe deflected out of the path of the inner stay rod section by the cam action of the active notch in this section against the detent roller. When the upper sash and inner stay rod have been moved far enough to bring another notch z' opposite the detent roller y' t-he latter is pressed into the same by the spring l and the parts are retained in this position unless the pressure upon the upper sash is continued for folding the same to a greater extent and until the detent roller engages with the notch z' corresponding to the desired position of the upper sash. rThis shifting of the upper sash can be effected quickly and with ease and after adjustment this sash is securely held against displacement. On its inner side or bore the guideway is provided with outwardly facing stops or shoulders m which are adapted to be engaged by the inner ends of the follower lugs Z, Z and thereby limit the inward movement of the follower. The diameter of the detent roller is also greater than the bore of the tubular stay rod section whereby this roller cannot turn at an angle nor move lengthwise in the tubular outer stay rod section. By this means the detent device is prevented from becoming displaced when the inner stay rod section is withdrawn from the outer section in dismembering the parts for inspection, cleaning or repairing. The upper or inner end of the inner stay rod section is tapered or beveled as shown at a in Fig. 2, so that upon pushing this section into the outer section upon assembling the parts the detentroller will be deflected out of the path of the inner rod section and caused to ride on the upper side of the latter.

I claim as my invention:

The combination of an outer tubular member provided with a laterally projecting guide tube, an inner member arranged within said outer member and provided with a longitudinal row of notches, said members being movable lengthwise relatively to one another, a detent roller of cylindrical form arranged in said guide tube and engaging with one of said notches, a follower arranged in said `guide tube and provided with a recess on its inner side which receives said roller, a screw cap applied to the outer end of said guide tube, and a spring arranged in said guide tube and bearing at its opposite ends against said follower and cap.

vWitness my hand this 3rd day of December, 1909.

HERBERT W. FENTON.

Vitnesses z THEO. L. Porn, ANNA Hniois.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

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