US1468203A - Automobile top construction and curtains therefor - Google Patents

Description

Senf. 1s ,1923;

H. M. HORNE ET AL AUTOMOBILE To? cNs'TRUcT'IoNAND CURTAINS THEREFOR Filed oct. 1:5. 1921 s sheets-sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

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sept. 1s, 1923.

H. M. HORNE ET AL.

AUTOMOBILE ToPcoNsTRUGTIoN AND CURTAINS THEREFOR Filed Oct. 15, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENToR.

ATTORNEY.

H. M. HORNE ET AL.

AUTOMBILE TOP vCONSTRUCTION ANDvCUR-TAINS THEREFOR Filed Oct. l5 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY.

Patented sept. is, 192e.

HUG-HAM.' HORNE AND.THADDEAUS T. 'DICKENSOI-, 0F JACKSONVLLE, FLORIDA.

AUTOMOBIJE TGP CONSTRUCTION' .AND CURTACNS THEREFOR.

Appncation inea october 1s, leali. serial no. 507,431.

This,invention appeitains to certainimprovements in vehicle top constructions and curtains vtherefor generally, and more par-V ticularly to types thereof adapted for use on automobiles. n, f

The` principal object `of the invention is to providefor a top construction of the class mentioned, and one ofV a constructionV and 'arrangementy affording greater strength and Vdurability thereto than now obtains in presentlnoivn types thereof, the framing and posts of the4 same beingpreferably formed of aluminum-to lendlightnessto the structure Without detracting from such increased.

strength and durability, aforesaid.

Another and equally important object of thev invention is to lprovide-,for a top construction as characterized, and one embodying a novel form ofv curtain Construction and arrangement whereby the Vsaine `are maintainedin position for instant use on thetop structure` of Yan automobile when the latteris inits raised operative position, the said Vcurtain being supported on the topl in amanneras to notfinterferel in any Way with the ready access to and 'exitfrom the interior ofthev'ehicle or automobile.

llVith the foregoing and other objects in yieiv, the invention resides'in the certain novel'and useful construction, arrangement andV operati-on of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, set forth in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure lis a fragmentary side elevation of the upper portion of the body of an automobile, showing a preferred embodiment of the top and curtain structure as applied thereto.`

Figure 2 is atop plan 'vievv of the top perse.` A Y ,Figure .3 yis a. horizontal section take-n on theI line 3-3 ofFigure 1.

Figure e -s an enlarged horizontal section taken on the 'une 4-4 ,of'nigurre 1. Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevatiompartly in section, of one of the intermediate top supportingand curtain guide posts, andshowing the manner of journaling the adjacent ends of the curtain rollers thereto. i

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional detail taken on the line 6-6 ,of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is anenlarged fragmentary detail of one of the front curtain guides and supporting bracket and showing its manner of attachment Ato the Wind Vshield of an automobile.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary top plan view off'the parts 'as shown in Figure 7, and

FigureQ isan enlarged fragmentary detail of the back curtain construction and showing the manner of mounting a curtainlight therein.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views thereof, the numeral 10 indicates the body portion of an automobile, 11 and 12 the liront and rear doors thereof; 13 the hood portion at the forward end of the same; and 1li the Wind shield rising from the inner end portion of the hood portion 13; all of a conventional construction and arrangement. Y

The preferred embodiment of the topfconstruction and arrangement, as contemplated for the present invention-and as' illustra-ted in the drawings, comprises an inverted yokeshaped frame ivork over Which an 4inverted. U-shaped top a is positioned and which may be formed of any suitable material, such as any of the usualfabrics, or the same may be inthe form of a sheet metal, preferably sheet aluminunnis stretched and secured, and which consists of a front transverse bar 15; a front intermediate transverse member or rib 16; a rear intermediate trans verse member or rib 17 and a. rear transverse member or rib 18; the member or rib 16 being connected to and normally spaced from the bar 15 by means of oppositely disposed brace members or bars each formed to provide a pair of sections 19, 19 and 20, 20, respectively, the sections 19 and 2O being ksecured to the bar 15 at their forward yends and hingedly connected as at 21 and 2,2

in end to end relation to the sections 19 spaced from the member or bar 16by means f bars V and 26 projecting forwardly of the member or :bar 16. Similarly, the member or bar 17 is connected -to and normally of oppositely disposed brace members or bars arranged inalignment with'the brace-V Vmembers or bar sections 19, 19 and 20, 20',

turn,are connected atV their inner endsrb'y-V hinges 33 and 34to the freelends of a pair'f of complementally and'rigidly securedshort members or bars35 Vand 36 projecting` forwardly of the frame member or bar 17,

which, in turn, is connected tothe rear frame member or bar 18 by means of a pair of oppositely disposed *brace members or bars each: formed toprovide pairs of sections37, 37 and 38, 38,', the sections 37 3,8, being hingedly connected as at 39 'and'40 to the frame member 17 at their forward ends and` similarly connectedas at 41 42 at their rear. ends to thefoi'ward ends of the sections 37', 38, which, in turn, are oonnected at their rear ends by hinges 43 and 44V ,to the free ends of a pair of compleinentally disposed and rigidly secured lshortmenibers ,i or bars 45and 46 projecting from the frame member or bar-18.` Each` of the transverse lframe' members or bars 16, 17 andf18 areof a metal barstock preferably aluminum to lend-extreme lightness'to the top structure without detracting freni the' strength and durability'tliereof, and have their opposite ends `a-ngularly bent to provide depending lportions 47 (seeFig. 6) to retain the opposite depending side edgeportio'ns of the top o .overingniatei'ialor fabric a in its smoothly stretched condition. The outer upper edge of the rear frame' member or bar 18 is channelled as at 48 to seat therein the upper edge of an inner-binding'section 49 of a suitable leather or fabric lining material Y and a section of sheet metal 50, preferably A sheet aluminum, overlying the liningsection 4 9, and over which is extended the topcovering fabric or material a. The metal section y 50 curves rearwardly and downwardly from its-.channel 48 to provide a smooth supporting surface for the .top covering fabric or material a which is trained over the saine and lextends downwardly from the lower 'edge thereof to provide aerea-r closure wall port-ion 51 and has its lower edge fastened` by suitable fasteningssuch as the usual.

snap buttons or Ythe like, to the outer side ofthe edge portion of the rear wall of the Ybody 10.A 'Similarly thefinner lining section 49 is extended downwardly over thcinner surfaeej of the vmetal section 5,()` and is connected at'its lower edge to the top fabric and the fastenings of the same.,l LThese depending sectionsor portions of the lining 49 and the top fabricfor material forma r'ear-n curtain permanently connected to the top, and may' be provided with the usual lightaperture, orY aperture-3s, preferably Y closed byria glass 52`secure`din po-sitionrby the usual nieta-l clamping elements or frames 53.v The upperside edge Yofthf'eprglasjs 52 isv preferably seated vwithin arecess ,54of

a corresponding vlength formed-by'fthe cutting away of aicentralportionfof'the lower edge the metal plate 50V substantially as is shown in Figure 9 while thei covering a and theflining1.49` is: preferably secured Vto-V gether in anysuitable` ordesiredfmanner, as at 54 on a line immediatelyl below the lower v edge of the said metal plate .50.V

' Each of the transversebarsl', lflfand 18 are provided with' depending pairs ofzoppositelyrdisposed bows, posts or standardsj,

57 and 58, respectively, each Eof which are preferably and Vizzedly fsecurediinlposition Aas at- 759 (see Fig. 6) to-and inwardlyfrom the outer bent i end portions `47 thereof, and Y have their lower` ends fformed to jprovide eyes 60 forenga-gement en studs 61 projecting at. properly spaced intervals outwardly of the opposite sides'fofthe body 10 of the automobile, the free ends of :the-studs'l being threaded for lthe reception therein'of the front transversefbar 15 isvrsupported di-Y rectly on andl secured to the upper edge of the wind shield 14, suitable recesses'being cap nuts 62, when the top is Vinv use, while i formed inwardly of the opposite ends orf-the Y f outer face of the bai-15 and engaged over the studs63 of a pairfof bracket members'V 64 seeured'at'the opposite sidesof the up' per edge' of the wind sliieldr14'for the 'pur-iV pose. lh'en the top fis insuse, and is thus supportedan'd secured in positionf,thehinged brace members extending between tl'ietrans-A Y i verse members'or bars"15`,f16,"17 and 18 Vare straightened out and smoothly support fthe covering a Vin the 'plane of the upper faces Vof the said transverse bars, the ftoplais a whole sloping in the-forward direction' to i-ioV effect a proper shedding ofV moisture there-V from. When it is desired to-fold the topV to the rear of the body 10, the loweriends ofthe posts or standards 56 and 57' are detached from their supporting studs 61, the4 front transverse barl 15 lifted from the brackets Y 64, andfthe brace members vor bars extending between the transverse members or bars 16, 17 and 18 arel broken in Va` downwarididireetionV at the centerhinges 21, 31 and 41, so

that the transverse member or bar 17 and its posts or` standards '57 will be moved rear-VV wardly into abutting relation withirespect izo to the memberlor bar 18 and its ,posts or Y i standards 58, Vthe-transverse barl16` and its posts orstandards 5,6-ina similar direction f l and into abuttingrelation withrrespect to Y the niei'nberor bar-17 and its post or standards 57, andthe front transverse bar into abutting relation with respect to the Vor standards 58 of the transverse member or bar 18 are secured 'at the opposite outer ends of the latter as distinguished from Vthe points of connection of the Vposts and standards 56 and 57 being inwardly from the opposite endsoftheir respective transverse members or bars so that the several posts or standards are disposed in `alignment in 'the vplanes of y the opposite forward tapering sides ofthe body 10, whereby the top, vwhich is substantially rectangular in plane, is supported in Athe usualnmanner tohave its opposite side Vedge portions equally ,overhanging the latter.

The sidegstorm curtains, to be used on the top construction as hereinbefore'described, Vare arranged in" pairs, one pair 64,64 to closethe openings at the opposite-side of thewbody 10 and the Atop andbetween the wind shieldlfi and the front posts or standards 56, a second pair 65, to close the openingsmbetweenrthe posts and standards 56 and 57, and a third pair 66, 66 to close theV openings between the posts and standards 57 and 58. Each of the several cur-V tains comprise a Vsheet of waterproof fabric Y or material 67 Vwhich is secured at one edge Ato a roller 68 through which is extended a Y rod 69 which is'circular in cross section Athroughout themajor portionof its length f and atone of itsrends projecting from the opposite ends of the roller, and squared at its outer end as at 7() whereby the rod 69 is prevented from turning during the revolving movement of the, roller 68 thereon, [and whereby a coiled spring 71l enclosed within the latter is placed under tension, when the curtain isunwound from the roller, .one end of the spring being connected to the rod 69 asat 72a-nd the other to the roller 68 as atV 78(see Fig. 5). 'Each/of the several our?V `taiiis 64-64Q65-65, and 66-66", are reniovably supported ,in brackets secured on the upper end portions of the inner faces of the postsV or standards 56, 57 and 58, the bracketsV 74 on4 the intermediate posts or standards 56 and 57 being of a double socket construction substantially as is vshown in Fig. 5, wherein this form of bracket has a solid centrally enlarged portion 75 which is provided with a circular'opening or socket I on one side to receive the complementally formed end of therrod 69 of the curtain roller 68 adjacent thereto', and on the other compleinental thereto, while the brackets 77 carried on therear set of posts or standards 58 and a front pair of posts or standards 78 are of a single socket form substantially as is shown in Fig. 7. Each of the posts or standards 56, 57 ,A58 and 78 are grooved as at`7 9 on their opposed side vertical faces to `receive with sucligrooves the opposite ver- Vtical side edges of the curtains 67 whereby to prevent the ingressAv of moisture around the confined edges thereof when the same are lowered to enclose the interior of the vehicle. For retaining the curtains-in any desired open ofl closed position, each of the saine 'have their-lower edges formed to provide a tubular beading 80 in which are mounted a pair of rods 81 having their inner ends spaced apart to either side ofthe vertical 'center "of the curtain byrmeans of a coiled their outer, ends to'ffrictionally engage against the inner wall of the said grooves 79, 'the outer ends of the rods 81 each being formed to provide a spherical end portion 83 to snugly conform to the formation of the said-inner walls of the grooves 79. To facilitate the raising and'lowering of the curtains, the inner adjacent ends `of the rods 81 arejpprovided with finger pieces 84 by. means of which the latter may be drawn inward of the bead 8O and against the tension ofthe spring 82, sothatthe end portions 83 are disengaged from contact with the walls of the grooves 79, the springs 71 in` the rollers 68 acting to automatically rewind the curtains onto the rollers 68 for the raising of 4the curtains, and uponthe release of the finger pieces "84, the outer headed'ends 88 of Vthe rods' 81 will again contact the grooves `top-edge of the latter, and received in suit- ;able recesses 86 formed in the under face of AAthe front transverse bar 15 of the .top fraining, substantially as is shown in Figsj' and 8. V.To assure ofthe curtains being positively retained in their lowered or closed position the lower end-portions ofthe grooves or channels 79 of the several posts or standards are deepened as 'at 87 whereby the headed ends 83 of the combined curtain guides and securing rods 81 will be forced inwardly of such deepenedA portions 87 Y and abut the shoulder formed at the junction of such latter portions and the said lower ends of the grooves or channels 79 (see Fig. 5).

n the use of the curtain, the saine may be retained in operativelposition on the top as long'as the sanie is extended overthe body so as to always be ready for instant loWer- Y iiig,tas in case of sudden rain storms, and are only to be removed from operative positionwvhenit is Ydesiredoi necessaryto fold the top toits inoperative position at the rear et the vehicle body. These several curtaiiis may be Vprovidedivithtlie usual light fio admitting` inserts 88, .the same 'being inade ofiany of the usual ilexible or pliable inaterials iioiv used for suoli purpose.; It is to Vbe'especially noted that theverticle'side edges of the several pairs of eurtains', 64;

65,- and G6, 66; which are engaged in the Vgri'ioves T9=0lfthe several .top `supporting ,bows or posts 56, 57:, and/'S are perfectly .bound with sheet instal, whereby toV ullyj protect the curtainlfabric frein undue -Wear andltear, and also to facilitate the sliding I inovenentgot the vvsaine Within the said grooves 79.' 4

From the foregoing, it will ibe `readily ap-V Y parentV that We have providedfifor asufbe stantially constructedl` but compara-tively Ilightveight top structure, androneV of. a M

` 'greater durabilityunder theusiial strains and 'stressesbrought to bear on the saine dur@ ing,- the travelaof an automobile than `is nowl .found tolbe the case vvithlrnoivn types thereof,and that, by the particular arraiigeiiientV off, the Several A transverse frame, ,ineinbera t ,bracefineinbers, and the curved jinetal rear fraineineniber, the top foevering Y Y ti'iinfed and yotherwise supported. in a inaniifer Vas to besinooth and comparatively ,freeffr'oni any andall tendency to'sag` 'or Wrinklegfalso, the curved i'iietal plate takes practically all strain;y from the bael curtain ,ofithe top, ,Whe-inthe" air pockets Within the sanieduring the runV of lthe automobile, ivhioli strain and poeieting oi, the air very Otten resultsjinan annoying` and otherwise objectionableflapping' of the back Curtain, andin the vtearing out of the asteningsvby iiieans of ,Whielrthe ,lower edgeA of the latter is secured tothe ,bodyY of the. automobile.

Y t willA alsobe apparent that the novelA construction'and arf rangement of. the side storni,curtainsv provides for Vthe carrying of the Y saine alyvays in position for'instant loitering ai'idjraising vvithoutthe usual delay in removing theni vfron-itheir[pocketsewithin the top'gor else-1 l, fa'bout 'theautomobilefand of theat-v taoliing and `detaching thereof :tofaiidiiroin operativefpositioin vvhich operationis usu- "allyi acooinpl'ished only-by Ythe operator or Vother persons manipulating the Curtains be- Y coin'ing vvet, V'especially,AifL theoperation -pended hereto.` 1 e;

delayedtoo long, as funtil' after a storni breaks. and it, starts tovrain or snow. Y From` the oregoingalso, it will be understood that, While a preferred embodiment ofV the top and the, side s t'orin curtainsthereor Y have -been desoribedf and illustrated; 'herein in specilie terms and detailsofli Yc'ioiistruction, Y arrangement and operation, variousclianges ineinbers Vinterposed between said,transverse.V i

nieinbers and normally Vspaeingthe sanieone troni tliefother, l.hinges ooi'inectinglthe seo- `tions, of said brace ineinbers together and` to said transverselnienvibers, a top fc'zo lrilgV en# tended over said raniing, saidzbracefinein- `bers *having` their upper Vfaces disposed' iiiv the plane ofthe -iipper' aceslof :the Ysaid{trans-V f Y Y verse inenibersvvhereby toinaintain support saideovering substantially smooth and tree `Atroni sagging, a baaltcurtain torined by a oonti-niiation oi'flvthe said covering depend-` metallic in ieinbei1 extending outwardly frein the rear or" saidtransverse,members aiid'supporting` said ,.baclifcurtain iii*rvpositi'oi'i. f

21A vehicleY ytop comprising a framing consistingof,transverselyextending ineznbers having their ends dovviiivardly disposed, sectional brace v iiieinbers ilii'nged together :and

verse nienibers,'atopfoovering -niounted on said transverse Einenib is, a' curvedY support seated in the'V rear transverse ineinberVV and ,depending therefrom, rearwardly extend- 4interposed betiveeiiand' hinged to 4said trans-jV Ysaid raniingfand extended over tliee'nds of f ing ,lining seated .inthe 'rear transverse linein-V ber i and g positionedfagainst said -V support', A a depending.' baalt curtain',A mounted onlsaid supportand extended 'from said covering,

and' said` bi'aee Vine'inbersi havingftheir Yupper faces dis osed Lin the olanefofthe'u 'er l i i P faees Vofthe transverse.iiieinberswhereby to V i maintain and support d'eovering substantially smooth and free ffroinlsagging, said blraee Y members Y positioned( in ploxiiilty to" the doivnivart verseineinbers ylydisposed-:ei'ids of trans-

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