US1390387A - Luggage-carrier for automobiles - Google Patents

Description

J. B. RICE.

LUGGAGE CARRIER FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED 020.23, 1920.

1,390,387. PatentedSept. 13,1921

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J. 8. RICE.

LUGGAGE CARRIER FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.23, I920.

Patented Sept. 13, 1921.

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PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. RICE, 0F UNIONTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

LUGGAGE-CARRIER FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 13, 1921.

Application filed December 23, 1920. Serial No. 432,722.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. Rrcn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Uniontown, in the county of Fayette and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Luggage-Carriers for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a carrier of this kind especially adapted for use in connection with the running board of an automobile, for carrying dress suit cases and the like, when on touring and camping trips. Furthermore the carrier may be adapted especially for use by farmers, so that they can carry cases of eggs, boxes of butter, produce, etc., in fact the carrier may be employed for carrying almost any character of commodity, which is more or less in bulk.

Another purpose resides in the provision of a carrier comprising a main strap having one end connected to one edge of the running board near the base of the body of an automobile, and its other end buckled adjustably to a short strap, which is adj ustably connected to the outer edge of the main strap, in combination with a plurality of smaller straps operatively connected to the main strap, for proper y strapping a plurality of dress suit cases or the like within the main strap, the main strap acting to strengthen and hold or support the dress suit cases in position.

Still another purpose is the provision of means extensible laterally with relation tothe running board, so as to engage under the over projecting portion of a lower dress suit case, in order to support and reinforce the weight, said extensible means being retractable, whereby an upstanding flange thereof may engage flat against the longitudinal edge of the running board.

A further purpose is the provision of means for strengthening the extensible plate or means on the underface of the running board.

Still a further purpose resides in means for avoiding the use of a wrench, in fastening the extensible plate or means and another plate on the upper face of the running board, when using a screw driver to turn the screw bolts home and in secure position.

While the design and construction at present illustrated and set forth is deemed preferable, it is obvious that as a result of a reduction of the invention to a. more practical form for commercial purposes, the invention may be susceptible of changes, and the right to these changes is claimed, provided they are comprehended within the scope of what is claimed. e

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a portion of an automobile, showing the improved carrier as applied thereto, with a plurality of dress suit cases supported on the running board, and held secured by the carrier.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the running board, showing the undersurface thereof, and showing the extensible plate as applied.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a. running board, showing the undersurface. thereof, illustrating the manner of connecting the outer end of one section of the main strap of the running board, the undersurface of which is without a wood filler, in fact where the outer edge of the running board is provided with a downwardly projecting flange.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the main strap, showing the plurality of slides or loops, which receive the auxiliary dress suit case straps.

Referring more especially to the drawings, 1 designates the running board of an automobile, and 2 denotes a plate, which is pro-- vided with an upstanding flange 3. This plate is fastened to the upper face of the running board near the inner edge thereof and adjacent the lower portion of the body of the automobile, by means of screw bolts 4, which are passed through the base of the plate, and have their lower ends threaded into transverse bars 5. The use of these bars avoids the use of a Wrench. For instance should nuts be applied to the screw bolts, it would be necessary to use a wrench for engaging the nuts, to hold them, while turning the screw driver, for the purpose of forcing the screw bolts home. However,

. with the use of the transverse bars, it is it only necessitates the continuous turning the screw driver, until the plate on the upper hooks 13, which engage the apertures 6 of surface of the board is drawn tight againstits face. The upstanding flange of the plate is rovidedwith apertures 6.

In order to provide the improved carrier,

whereby a number of dress suit cases can be securely supported on the running board, a main holding strap 7 is provided. This strap comprises the main section 8 and an auxiliary short section 9. The main section has one end folded upon itself as at 10, and

. stitched as at 11. This loop 10 receives the transverse connecting bar 12 of a pair of the upstanding flange 3 of the plate at the inner edge of the running board. One or more rivets 14 are located between the stitches of the folded end of the main section of the strap, in order to render the connection more secure. Also a shield 15 of leather is fastened to the folded part of the dominant section of the main strap. This shield 15 is wide enough corresponding to the length of the plate on the running board and extends downwardly adjacent the outer face of the upstanding flange 3, and partly overlies the heads of the screw bolts, to prevent the edge of the bottom dress suit case from being marred or otherwise damaged.

The dominant section 8 of the main carrier strap is provided with a plurality of slides or loops 16 fastened to the main section by short straps of leather 17 which are stitched to the dominant section of the strap. These slides or loops 16 receive auxiliary dress suit case straps 18 having buckles 19, which pass individually about the dress suit cases, which are disposed in superimposed positions flatwise on the running board,

with the handles thereof facing outwardly.

On all running boards, which have their under portions provided with wood fillers, such as shown in Fig. 3, with the underface of the filler 19 flush with the lower edge of the outer flange 20 of the running board extensible plates 21 are used. These lates 21 have elongated slots 22 through w ich the screw bolts 23 pass. The screw bolts 23 pass through the filler of the running board, and are threaded into a bar 24, which is adjacent the undersurfaceof the extensible plate. Ordinarily, that is to say when the carrier is not in use, the extensible plate 21 is disposed in a retracted position, with the upstanding flange 27 of the outer end of the plate in contact with the edge of the running board. However when the carrier is in use, the extensible plate is disposed in an extended position, so that the extensible plate may support the projecting part of the dress suit case. The outer extending flange 27 of the extensible plate is provided with apertures 28.

The short section 9 of the main strap is folded upon itself -to provide the loop 29, which receives the transverse connecting bar 30 of the pair of hooks 31. These hooks 31 engage the apertures 28 when the carrier is in use. The folded part of the short section 9 of the main strap is stitched and riveted as at 32, and also fastened by thesame stitches and rivets, is a shield 33 of leather, to-overlie the hooks, preventing the hooks from catching and damaging a persons clothing. The short section 9 of the main strap carries a buckle 34, which adjustably connects with the outer end of the dominant section of the main strap.

In order to hold a plurality of dress suit cases on the running board of an automobile, an auxiliary strap is engaged about each dress suit case, say for instance there being four in number. The lower dress suit case rest upon the running board, with the short section 9 of the main strap passed through the handle of the dress suitcase. The outer end of the dominant section of the main strap is positioned over the superimposed dress suit cases and engaged through the several handles, and is then buckled to the short section of the main strap. The main strap is drawn tight, and through the .medium of this construction and the auxiliary individual straps, the several dress suit cases may be held firmly and securely in position.

The longitudinal edges of the extensible plate 21 are provided with downwardly extending strengthening flanges 35, thereby reinforcing the plate, particularly when in an extended position.

Some running boards, instead of having wood fillers on their undersurfaces, are provided with downwardly extending flanges 36 on their outer edges, and in this instance apertures 37 are formed in'the flanges to receive the hooks of the short section of the main strap otherwise the construction of the carrier is the same as in the other figures.

It may be found necessary in some cases to use short boards, as indicated at 38 in Fig. 2 resting upon the upper face of the running board and under the lower dress suit case, thereby preventing the lower suit case from breaking down over the edge of the running board.

'It is obvious that the main strap as well as the auxiliary straps may be of any suitablelength, and of any suitable width and furthermore while only one main strap with its series of auxiliary straps are illustrated and described and clalmed, 1t is obvious that any number of main straps can be used. In

these cases, it is possible to carry more luggage than when simply a single main strap is used.

In this construction of carrier, it is obvious that the suit cases can be held properly in position, and such wise that they cannot tilt or shift excessibly.

It is to be noted that the carrier, as well as the dress suit cases are not designed to be fastened to the body of the vehicle. The only fastening is between the carrier and the running board of the automobile, therefore it is possible to place around the dress suit cases and over them a water proof cover (not shown), which may extend down on all sides, and particularly between the dress suit cases and the body of the automobile, as the dress suit cases and the carrier are not attached to the body. The water proof cover is designed for the purpose of protecting the dress suit cases from the weather.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as being useful is 1. In a carrier, a main carrier strap comprising dominant and auxiliary sections, the dominant section being connected to the inner edge of the running board adjacent the body of the automobile, the auxiliary section being connected to the outer edge of the running board, the two sectionsengaging about the luggage, and a plurality of auxiliary straps adjustably and detachably connected to the main strap for passing about each" article of luggage.

2. In a luggage carrier for automobiles, the combination with the running board, of a main strap comprising dominant and auxiliary sections, the dominant section being connected to the inner edge of the running board'adjacent the body of the automobile, the auxiliary section being adjustably connected to the outer edge of the running board, the two sections passing about the luggage and being adjustably connected, and means for connecting each article of luggage to the main strap.

3. In a luggage-carrier for automobiles, the combination with the running board, of a main strap comprising dominant and auxiliary sections, the dominant section being connected to the inner edge of the running board adjacent the body of the automobile, the auxiliary section being adjustably connected to the outer edge of the running board, the two sections passing about the luggage and being adjustably connected, and means for connecting each article of luggage to the main strap, a shield adjacent where the dominant section is connected to the running board to prevent marring of the luggage.

4. In a luggage carrier for automobiles, the combination with the running board, of a main strap comprising dominant and auxiliary sections, the dominant section being connected to the inner edge of the running board adjacent the body of the automobile, the auxiliary section being adjustably connected to the outer edge of the running board, the two sections passing about the luggage and being adjustably connected, and means for connecting each article of luggage to the main strap, and a shield carried by the auxiliary section of the main strap, to prevent damaging ones clothing by being engaged with the connections of the auxihary strap to the running board.

5. In a luggage carrier for automobiles, the combination with a running board, of an extensible member connected to the undersurface of the running board, a main luggage strap having one end detachably connected to the inner edge of the running board adjacent the body of the automobile, and its other end connected to the outer portion of theextensible member, and a plurality of indlvldual luggage holders connected to the main strap, thereby assisting in holding luggage on the running board.

6. In a luggage carrier for automobiles, the combination with a running board, of an extensible member connected to the undersurface of the running board, amain luggage strap having one end detachably connected to the inner edge of the running board adjacent the body of the automobile, and its other end connected to the outer portion of the extensible member, and a plurality of in dividual luggage holders connected to the main strap, thereby assisting in holding luggage on the running board, and means for shielding the luggage at a point near the inner edge of the running board, and means for shielding ones clothing at the point where the main strap connects to the extensible member.

7. In a luggage carrier for automobiles, the combination with a running board, of a main luggage strap having one end connected to the inner edge of the running board near the base of the automobile body, its other end connected to the outer edge of the running board, said strap being adjustable to fit different size luggage, and means carried by the main strap for engaging about individual articles of luggage.

8. In a device of the character and for the purpose indicated, the combination with an automobile running board, of a plate secured to the inner portion of the running board adjacent the body and provided with an upstanding flange, a main strap comprising dominant and auxiliary sections, the dominant section having a hook engaged with said flange, an extensible member secured to the under face of the running board near its outer edge, a hook carried by the auxiliary section and connected to said extensible member, means adjustably connecting the dominant and auxiliary sections, and a plurality of straps, one for each of a plurality of dress suit cases and being adjustably connected to the dominant section.

9. In a luggage carrier of the character and for the purpose indicated, the combination with an automobile running board, of a plate secured to the upper face of the running board adjacent its inner edge and having an upstanding flange, an extensible member adjustably secured'to the under face of the running board adjacent its outer edge, a main strap comprlsing domlnant and auxiliary sections, the former being attached to said flange, the latter being detachably connected to the extensible member, means adoverlying the outer end of the extensiblemember, to protect ones clothing, and a plurality of straps, each for a dress suit case and being adjustably and detachably connected to the dominant section of the main strap. y

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JOHN B. RlGE.

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