US1461237A

US1461237A - Safety windshield

Info

Publication number: US1461237A
Application number: US453562A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ralph H West
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1921-03-19
Filing date: 1921-03-19
Publication date: 1923-07-10
Anticipated expiration: 1940-07-10

Description

July 1923. 1,461,237

R. H. WEST SAFETY WINDSHIELD Q Original Filed March 19. 1921 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 TTORN E Y.

July 10,1923. 1 ,461,237

' R. H. WEST SAFETY WINDSHIELD Original Filed March 19. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Patented July 10, 1923.

'RALPHVIH'FWESIU'QOF BAY'oIrY, MICHIGAN.

- snrETv wINnsnIELn.

Application filed March .19," 1921, Serial No. 453,562. Renewed May 24,- 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatL-RALPH WEST, a citizen of the United States of America, ref siding at Bay. City, inthe county-of Bay and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Windshields, ofrwhich the following is, a

specification. I

This invention relates to safety windshields. 1-

One object of the invention .is to design a windshield which will automatically swing upwardly and remain in open-position whenfthe-rvehiclestrikes any obstacle or object with, suificient force to throw the driver or occupants thereof the prime object of my invention, to prevent the cutting of the occupantswhen this occurs. V 7 Another object" of'the invention is to so design the wind-shield'that its general .appearance will be substantially the same "as the conventional wind-shield now in general use: A further object is to provide a'wind shield embodying the abovefeatures which will operate in exactly the same manner as the wind-shields-now 1n general use, the sectionsbeing opened or' closed as desired in exactly the same manner.

With the above and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportion and minor detailsof construction, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any 'of'the advantages of the invention.

Inthe drawings'; V a Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front view of a windshield-embodying :the present invention.

- Fig. 2 is an'edge view thereof.

Fig, 3 is an enlarged' sectional view of the pivoting mechanism. l Fig. ais a section taken on the-line 4+4 ofFig.1." Fig. 5 is a section taken on'the line 5-5 0fFig."1.- v I Fig. 6 is an isometric view" of the ratcheting means. I I

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sideview of an" V automobile showing-in dotted lines the wind- V shield in raised position.

Fig. Sis an enlarged end view of the l I wind-shield frame illustrating tions are partiallyraisedvhow the sec Fig; 9 is an isometric detail view bi the ings,.in which I have indicatedfthe w-indi shieldframe oresupport by the-numeral 1, this is of the usual typeand is rigidly secured to the body 2 of the: car,;it is also p,r o vided with the knob projection 3 to which the top ciisse'cured in the usual'manner'. through the windshield-glass, and this is this tubular member 7, .said end being see. cured: to the top section of the wind-shield 9 in any approved manneniallocknut and washer: 10 and 11" respectively being carried on the other endof the bolt and a nut 12 being 'provided'to allow forsuitable adjust ment to provide suitable friction to'pre-vent the section swinging in and out, excepting when forced-by the driver. a 1

The lower section of the wind-shieldis, pivoted to the auxiliaryframe .by means of a similar bolt 13 extending through a suitablebpening in the auxiliary frame,"and it will be apparent that both the upper and lower sections of the wind-shield can. be", swung in and out as desired. To prevent chucking or :lateral vibration I have-provideda rubber l ter the-like which I secure to the main frame as shown, and for securing the auxiliary-frame .in

which are secured to the frame lgandwhich .A; bolt member ShaVing an i engage and exert a tension on the auxiliary frame, the lip of "these clips being turned outwardlyto allow the auxiliary frame to springin and out of closed'position'. V v Both' of these frames can be ofany approved cross section, and in. this instance I l have shown the mainframe fo rmed 'of ob-' long-cross section whlle the aux l ary frame 18 of: angular cross section and is provided with a rubber strip 16 secured thereto, one surface being rounded for nesting the edge of the wind-shield proper against it. y

The member 6 is preferably formed with a circular depressed recess 17 which is adapted to receive the raised portion of the frame 1 in a manner to be hereinafter de scribed, the base of the laterally extending portion 7 being tapered as clearly indicated at 18 in Fig. 6 of the drawings. A plurality of teeth 19 are formed in the upper face and on the outer edge of this member 6 and a stop portion 20 projects from the upper surface and is also formed integral therewith. The frame 1 is formed with, raised portions or bosses 21 which are provided with circular recessed portions 22 adapted to form a ball race for receiving antifriction balls 23, to assure the smooth operation of the device, the inner balls riding on the tapered portion 18 of the member 6 while the outer balls ride on a similarly tapered portion of a cap member 2 1 which is threaded on the portion 7 of the member 6, a lock nut and washer 25 and 26 respectively being also threaded thereon for adjusting and holding the several parts in proper position.

A boss 27 is also formed integral with the member 1 and is provided with an opening.

28 therethrough, in which a latch member 29 is seated, this latch member is provided with apin 30 extending through a trans versely disposed opening therein, the inner end having an enlarged shank 31 cut as shown, one side being tapered and the opposite side being straight to form a jaw, the inner end of this opening 28 is recessed to accommodate a spring member 32 which is adapted to surround the pin or latch member 29, one end butting against the shoulder in the opening and the opposite endbearing against the shank of the latch normally tending to forcethe member 29 against the teeth formed in the member 6, the tapered edge extending in substantially the same plane as the teeth, being prevented from rotation by the pin 30 resting in slots formed in the boss to accommodate it, and in practice I turn the end of the boss 27 and fit a metal cap 27 thereto, the pin 30 extending through suitable openings in the cap and a washer may be inserted as shown, and when the auxiliary frame is swung upwardly by striking any obstacle with sufficient force, the latch will ratchet over the teeth 20 and the straight edge thereof will engage the straight edge of the teeth and prevent its swinging back to original position.

It will of course be obvious that the auxiliary frame will swing up with considerable force and I therefore provide a cushioning element which consists of flat steel resilient strip 33 secured to the raised boss 34 of the frame 1 by means of screws, 35 or the like,

teeth 19, the pin 30 being rotated until it rests on the. outer surfac of the boss 27 and the frame is then free to swing back to its original closed position. While I have shown but one edge of the windshield it will be understood that both edges are equipped identically alike.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that I have perfected a very simple and effective safety wind-shield, which will automatically swing upwardly and be held in raised position when the vehicle strikes any obstacle with sufficient force to throw the occupants through the wind-shield.

What I claim is z? 1. A safety wind-shield comprising a frame, an auxiliary frame pivotally connected thereto, frictional means for normally holding the said frame in closed position, and a ratcheting element for holding the said frame in raised position when swung outwardly by inertia.

2. A safety wind-shield comprising a main frame, an auxiliary frame pivotally connected thereto, resilient means mounted on the main frameand frictionally engaging the said auxiliary frame for holding it in closed position, a ratchet element rigid on the auxiliary frame, and'a spring actuated dog adapted to engage said ratchet ele ment for holding said frame in raised position when swung outwardly by inertia.

3. A safety wind-shield comprising a main frame, an auxiliary frame pivotally connected thereto, means for normally holding said frame against movement with relation to the main frame, a ratchet rigid on the auxiliary frame and a stop integral therewith, a spring actuated dog mounted on the main frame and adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet for holding the said frame in raised position, and a resilient member rigid on the-main frame and adapted to engage the stop for limiting the up-- ward movement of the saidv auxiliary frame.

a. A safety wind shield comprising a main frame, anauxiliary frame pivotally connected thereto, wind-shield sections frietionally and pivotallymounted in the auxiliary frame, spring clips rigid on the main frame and detachab-ly engaging the: auxiliary frame for holding it, in'closed position, a ratchet having a stop integral. there.- with rigid on the. auxiliary frame, and a spring actuated dog mounted on the main frame for holding the said frame. ad-

justed positions, a resilient member rigid onv the main frame and adapted to engage the stop for' cushioning and limiting the movement of the auxiliary frame when swung upwardly by inertia. r

V ,5. A safety wind-shield comprising a being pivotally and frictionally mounted therein, a stop integral with the said ratchet element and a spring actuated dog mounted in the main frame and engaging the said ratchet, a resilient member extending from the main frame for cushioning and. limiting the upward movement of the said frame when swung upwardly by inertia, and means for'releasing the said mechanism. V

6. A' safety wind-shield comprising a frame having an auxiliary frame mounted therein and spaced from the edges a'distance suificienttoreceive the usual storm curtains, spring clips on the main frame for engaging the auxiliary frameffor holding it ,in normal position, a ratchetel'ement mounted V on the auxiliary frame and having a hollow laterally extending tubular member pivotally'mounted in the mainframe, a bolt 30 F seated in this tubular portion-for pivotally mounting the upper wind-shield'section, and, ,a spring actuated latch mounted in the main frame and adapted to; engage the ratchet teeth, a stop integral with the -ratchetxele-' ment for limiting the upward movement of the frame, and means for releasing the said latch to allow the auxiliary frameto swing to its original position.

RALPH H wEsT'.

Intestimony whereof, I aflix mysig'najture. V I 1 V .3