US1463359A - Floor plate - Google Patents

Description

J. E. ERSKINE FLOOR PLATE 'f-J'ul 31; 1923.

' Filed Feb; '7, 1922 11w an J. E. Ersfune,

m'mR/vns WITNESSES n 25% m Patented July 31, 1923.

rares JAMES nnrson nnsmnn, or JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA rtoon PLATE.

Application filed February To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES -EDISON ER- SKINE, a citizen ofthe United States, and a resident of Jacksonville, in the county of Duval and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'Floor' Plates, of which the following is a specification.

My'invention relates to-a plate adapted to be attached to the running board of an automobile in position to be trodden upon by the foot of a passenger entering the auto mobile, and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a relatively simple and inexpensive device of the class described that will enhance the appearance of the running board and at the same time will be thoroughly effective for the purpose intended.

A further object of my invention is to provide an article of the character described having scraper lugs relatively arranged in imitation of the finish molding ordinarily provided on the running board of the automobile.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an article of the character described which embodies a foot scraper portion spaced from the body of the article and designed to be supported beyond the edge of the running board, whereby dirt scraped from the foot may fall to the ground without being deposited on the running board.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of my invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an automobile equipped with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a fragmentary portion of the running board of the automobile illustrated in Fig. 1 showing the device opcratively applied thereto, and

Fig. 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 denotes an automobile provided with a front door 2 a rear door 3 and the usual running board 4. In the drawings, an embodiment of my invention is indicated generally at 5. I pro v, 1922. sem ire-534,711.

vide as many of the plates as there are doors on the automobile, each plate being disposed on the running board directly in front of a door, as shown.

Each of the platesis formed of a suitable material, preferably a non-corrosive 'metal, many of which are well known-in the art to which 'my invention relates, and has the configuration clearly shown in the draw ings.

In the form of the-invention illustrated, the plate 5 comprises a body portion 6 havmg a flat under surface or face adapted to contact the surface of the running board 4 evenly at'all points. The body portion 6 is superposed on the running board with an edge thereof, indicated at 7, substantially flush with the outer edge of the running board and is attached to'the running board through the agency of screws 8 or like fas-- tening means. A foot scraper portion 9 extends substantially parallel with, the edge 7 of the body portion 6 for the greater part of its length and is merged into'the body port1on 1ntermediately by a reinforcing and spaclng connector 10. The end portions of the foot scraper 9 are curved rearwardly and merged into the body portion 6 at 11 and 12 respectively. It is to be observed at this point that the portions 11 and 12 are inclined downwardly, which adds to the pleasmg ppearance of the plates when operatively applied. The foot scraper 9.is positioned in advance or beyond the edge of the running board 4: and in consequence, dirt scraped thereb from the shoe of a personentering the automobile may fall through the spaces or apertures 13 and 14 defined by the provision of the portions 10, 11 and. 12 without being deposited upon the plates or upon the running board 4. The portions 11 and 12 have tapering integral extensions 11 and 12 respectively, extending oppositely along the outer edge ofthe running board 4-.

The body portion 6 is formed with a plurality of spaced apart longitudinally extending parallel ribs or ridges 15 and a rib or bead 16 extending parallel with the side edges at the front of the body portion, as shown. This bead 1s merged at its ends, as

indicated at 17 and 18, respectively, into a similar bead 19 which extends along the margin of the scraper 9and across the portions 11 and 12. a

Certain of the ridges 15 terminate adjacent to the central portion of the body portion 6 and adjacent ridges are connected by arcuate ridges indicated at 20, 21, 22 and 23 to define a circular field 2st on which may be stamped, embossed, or otherwise marked, a monogram, such as shown.

The four slots in the back part of the plate, which are indicated at 27, 27, 27 and 27 are each adapted to retain a short stiff brush 28 which may be replaced by raising the plate.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof will be readily understood. The de vice may be readily applied, since only two screws are used in attaching the same to a running board. The ridges 15 and the scraper member 9 engage the sole of the shoe and preventslipping when the running board is wet, and at the same time provide effective means for scraping dirt from the shoe. An important advantage obtained is derived from the fact that the scraper 9 is positioned in advance of the edge of the running board and of the body portion of the plate, whereby the dirt scraped from a foot will not fall-upon the plate on the running board or adhere to the plate, but will drop through the apertures or spaces 13 and 14 to the ground.

It will thus be obvious that I provide a device which is adapted for use in performing all of the functions for which articles of this nature are ordinarily employed, and which at the same time is pleasing in appearance and serves to enhance rather than detract from or mar the appearance of an automobile to which applied.

I claim A floor plate for running boards of vehicles comprising a substantially fiat substantially rectangular body comprising a series of spaced parallel ribs on the upper face thereof, said ribs extending longitudinally of the body and terminating at their opposite ends short of the corresponding ends of the body, the remote ribs of said series being located at appreciable distances from the side edges of the body, the space between ne of SiLlClIGIl'lOlZG ribs and the adjacent edge of the body being provided with slots adapted to removably receive brushes, and scraper means integral at its ends with said body and having the intermediate portion thereof disposed in substantially parallel spaced relation to the second side edge of the body.

JAMES EDISON ERSKINE.

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