US1193116A - Seatj - Google Patents

Description

A- J.- BRUSSEAU.

EXPANSIBLE vessu coven.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5, 195- 1,198.,1 1L6. Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

2 SHEET$SHEET I.

ghoeutoz WW M Jfirzmaeaz A. J. BRUSSEAU.

EXPANSIBLE VESSEL COVER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15.1915.

Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Q v vtme was a. mmaaeaz ADOLPHUS J. BRUSSEAU, OF PLYMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM A. KIMBALL, OF PLYMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

EXPANSIBLE VESSEL-COVER.

1,1os,11c.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

Application filed July 15, 1915. Serial No. 40,089.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADoLri-IUs J. BRUS- snAU, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plymouth, in the county of Graf ton and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Expansible Vessel-Covers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in covers for vessels and more particularly to expansible and contractible covers of this character.

The object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed and eflicient top of this character so formed that it may be quickly and easily expanded or contracted by a simple turn of the wrist.

Another object is to provide a cover of this character constructed of a plurality of radially movable overlapping sections, the operating mechanism for which is housed between two members whereby it is protected against injury and dust.

WVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully dc scribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents a plan view of a top constructed in accordance with this invention expanded to its full extent. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view with the inner plate removed; Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view showing the top in its extreme expanded position with the inner plate removed; Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is detail perspective view of one of the sec tions.

In the embodiment illustrated this improved cover is shown composed of a housing comprising two outwardly convexed plates 1 and 2 between which are housed radially movable extension plates 3, in the form of frusto-sectors, the inner edges of which are shown curved inwardly although they need not necessarily be so curved. The ends or side edges of adjacent plates overlap each other at all times, and said plates are adapted to be expanded and contracted radially, to enlarge or reduce the size of the cover. Six of these frusto-sector shaped plates or sections 3 are shown, which when assembled, form an annular extension member, but any desired number may be employed, four or more being preferable. Each of these sections 3 is provided intermediately of its side edges with a radially extending groove 4 formed by depressing the metal from which the section is made and in which is designed to be mounted headed studs 5 carried by and depending from the outer member 1 preferably near the periphery thereof and whereby said sections are guided in their radial movements and prevented from becoming accidentally detached. Each of these sections 3 is provided with a rack bar 6 which is preferably loop-shaped and extends radially inward from the inner edge of the section and is here shown substantially rectangular in form with one of the side bars thereof provlded on its inner edge with teeth 7 for a purpose to be described. These loop-shaped rack members 6 are offset laterally as shown in Fig. 5 to adapt them to be arranged in superposed position on the pinion while the plates by which they are carried are disposed substantially in the same plane. These bars 6 may be of any suitable or desired length according to the extent to which the sections are designed to be projected and the length of the groove 4 therein, it being obvious that when the headed studs 5 become engaged with the inner ends of these grooves that said sections cannot be projected any farther, as the studs and the end walls of the grooves form an effective stop for limiting the outward movement ofsaid sections, and similarly when said sections are contracted, the engagement of the studs with the outer ends of the grooves limit their inward movement.

A shaft 8 extends centrally through the members 1 and 2 and is rotatab-ly mounted therein, being provided on its outer end with a handle 9 for operating the shaft. Secured to or made integral with said shaft between said members 1 and 2 is an elon gated pinion 10 which projects through the overlapping superposed loop-shaped rack bars 6 of the various sections and with which the rack teeth 7 of the respective sections are designed to mesh, suitable washers 11 being arranged below said pinion and ion which is straddled by the side members of said loops. 7

' From the above description, it will be obvious that when the handle 9 is turned in one direction, the pinion carried by the shaft on which it is mounted will turn with it and thereby move the rack bars 6 either inward or outward according to the direction in which the handle is turned and thus project or retract the sections 3 for varying the size of the lid or cover according to the wishes of the user. Thus it will be observed that the cover may be employed in connection with a number of vessels either large or small and that all that is necessary to vary its size is to turn the handle 9 in one direction or the other, a partial revolution thereby serving to retract or expand the segments to their extreme limit.

I claim as my invention:

1. An expansible and contractible cover for vessels comprising superposed inner and outer members spaced slightly apart, a plurality of'radially movable frusto-sector shaped sections mounted between said members, and Vmeans operable through one of said'members for expanding and contracting said sections.

'2. An expansible and contracti'ble cover for vessels comprising two outwardly convexed members, a shaft revolubly mounted in said members and connecting them, a

pinion mounted on said shaft, and a plurality of radially movable frusto-sector shaped sections mounted between said plates and having rack bars extending from their inner edges and engaged with said pinion whereby on the turning of said shaft said sections may be retracted or projected, the adjacent sections lapping at all times.

3. An expansible and contractible cover for vessels comprising a housing composed of two outwardly convexed members arranged in superposed relation, a shaft revolubly mounted in said members and connecting them, a pinion mounted on said shaft between said members, a handle connected with one end of said shaft outside said outer member, and a plu'a-lity of radially movable frusto-sector shaped sections mounted to slide between said members and having rack bars extending from their inner edges and engaged with said pinion, said bars being offset laterally from their respective sections to adapt them to be arranged in superposed relation without affecting the position of the sections, said sections having their adjacent side edges lapping at all times, and coope 'ating guiding means carried by said sections and one of said housing members for controlling the extent of movement of said sections in opposite directions.

4. A device of the class described comprising a housing having a circumferential opening, a plurality of radially movable sections mounted to operate in said opening, said sections having their adjacent edges arranged in contacting relation at all times, means for projecting and retracting said sections disposed within said housing, and an actuator for said projecting and Le tracting means.

5. An expansible and contractible cover for'vessels including a plurality of radially movable sections each having a loop-shaped member extending inwardly, said members having rack teeth on one of the inner walls thereof and being arranged in superposed relation, a pinion extending through said superposed loop-shaped members, the distance between the sides of said members being substantially equal to the diameter of said pinion, whereby the teeth of the loops are held in operative engagement with said pinion, and the sections guided in their movements, and means for actuating said pinion to project and retract said sections.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ADOLPHUS J. BRUSSEAU. lVitnesses WVALTER M. FLINT, M. B. BoLAND.

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

Washington, D. G.

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