US1474838A

US1474838A - Method and means for converting an automobile top into a one-man top

Info

Publication number: US1474838A
Application number: US487826A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ralph F Klecker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1921-07-27
Filing date: 1921-07-27
Publication date: 1923-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 1940-11-20

Description

Nov. 20, 1923. 1,474,838

R. F. KLECKER METHOD AND MEANS FOR CONVERTING AN AUTOMOBILE TOP INTO A ONE MAN TOP Filed Julv E7 1921 Fatented Nov. 2%, M23,

METHOD AND MEANS FOR CONVERTING AN AUTOMOBILE TOP INTO A ONE-MAN TOP.

Application filed J'ulv 27, 1921. Serial No, 487,826.

To aZZ whom 2'5 may concern.

Be it known that I, RALPH F. Krinoirsn, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Los Angeles, California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods and Means for Converting an Automobile Top into a ()ne-Man Top, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to a simple and comparatively inexpensive method and means for converting the well known four bow tops of automobiles into one man tops. It is particularly adapted to the Ford automobile and is illustrated on the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an automobile body with a top embodying my in vention;

Figures 2 and 3 and 4, are side, edge and end views, respectively of one new part used;

Figures 5 and 6 are details of new parts;

Figures 7 and 8 are views of a clip for attachment to the. rear bow.

In describing my invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, I will use the reference letter O with exponents in referring to old parts, and the reference letter N, with exponent, in referring to new parts.

The well known type of top here illustrated, has the rear bows, O and the front how, 0 the lower end of which is attached topins, 0*, at the side of the front seat, and the horizontal bow 0 The front bow O which comes down to the sides of the front seat interferes with the comfort of the persons occupying that seat, and particularly with the driver in using his arm to give signals. I have conceived a very simple and comparatively inexpensive method with means for converting this type of top into the commonly known one man top, whereby the bows at the sides of the front seat are done away with, as in the case of the regularly constructed one man tops.

I accomplish this by detaching the lower ends of the front bow 0 from the pins 0* at the sides of the front seat, and swinging the ends of said bow O rearwardly and upwardly, and attaching it, by means of a clip N and bolt N to the bow 0 near the top thereof, as shown, the ends of said bow 0 being pivotally connected to said clip, as at N whereby it can turn in folding the top back, for my converted top can be readily folded, as will be clear from the showing made.

I provide a new bar N with a hole N, in one end thereof, which is pivotally connected with the lug 0 already on the front edge of how 0, and the other end of which bar is provided with a hook N, adapted to be detachably hooked over the horizontal how 0 in the manner indicated, and at the same time be adapted to be flexed so as to be unhooked from said how and allowed to swing downwardly, as indicated in dotted lines in ig. 1, when it is desired to fold the top back. Said bar N* is provided with a hole intermediate its ends, as at N", to which the ends of the horizontal bow O are pivotally attached after they have been dis connected from the lug 0 on the how 0 Said bar N is also provided with a little brace arm N which projects upwardly to engage and brace the bow O, in the manner indicated in Fig. 1, the upper end of said arm N resting in a little cup member 0 on the front edge of bow O 1 Thus the horizontal how 0 and the front bow O are firmly connected together, eliminating the objection of having the front how 0 down at the opposite sides of the front seat, and at the same time they are so connected that the top can be readily folded back, as is a one man top.

In order to secure the front of the top, I provide two side rods, as N", with holes in their opposite ends, and with a clip, N intermediate their ends, for attaching said rods to the windshield. hinge, 0 The opposite ends of said rods N", are attached to the top and to the body by means of bolts, 0 already used for other parts of the body.

Thus with a minimum of new parts, and with no reconstruction, I have provided a method and means for converting the well known four bow top into a one man top which can be folded back when desired.

I claim:

1. In combination with the rear seat bow, the front seat bow and the front or horizontal bow of a top, of a clip adapted to be attached to the rear seat bow and having a pivot connection at the front edge of said rear seat bow to receive the end of the front seat bow, a bar pivotally connected at one end to the edge of said front seat bow in its raised position and having a hook at its 0pposite end adapted to hook over the top of the front or horizontal bow, the end of said horizontal bow being pivotally connected to said bar intermediate its ends, whereby when the hooked end of said bar is sprung off of said horizontal bar, the end of said horizontal bar can swing downwardly, and a stud on said bar projecting upwardly in position to engage the front seat bow forwardly of the pivotal connection to the end of said bar, whereby to brace said parts, substantially as decribed.

2. In combination with the rear and front vertical bows, and the horizontal bow of a top, said front vertical bow having a pivot lug on its front edge to connect with the ends of the horizontal bow, of means for raising the front vertical bow comprising a pair of pivot clips attachable to the rear vertical bow with their pivot eyes at the front edges of said rear vertical how, a pair of bars pivotally connected at their ends to the pivot lugs on the front edge'of said front vertical bow and at their opposite ends provided with hooks adapted to hook over the tops of the opposite sides of the horizontal bow, and pivotally connected intermediate their ends to the ends of said horizontal bow, and brace studs between said bars and the front vertical bow.

Signed at Los Angeles Los Angeles County, California, this 22nd day of July,

RALPH F. KLECKER.

Witnesses: \V. R. LITZENBERG, H. M. BRUNDAGE.