US1494295A - Folding car step - Google Patents

Description

May 13 1924. 1,494.295

G. E. SMITH FOLDING GAR STEP Filed Jan. 19 1 924 2 Sheets-$heet 1 Patented May 13, 122

NITE STATES GEORGE E. SMITH, OF OIL CITY, LOUISIANA.

l l FOLDING CAR s'rnr;

Application filed January 19, 1924.

Y '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oil City, in the parish of Caddo and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Folding Car Step, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to folding car steps and the object thereof is to provide novel means for raising and lowering the step attached to the stationary steps of the car and so constructed that it may be readily folded to lie under the lowermost stationary step and present no obstruction when not in .use and which may be quickly and easily projected for use when desired.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within. the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a flight of car steps with this improved extension step shown applied and in extended operative position in full lines, it being shown folded in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view showing the extension step and its connecting parts.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment illustrated a flight of stationary steps 1 are shown depending from and supported by the usual car platform 2. The extension step which is supported by the lowermost step or tread of the flight 1 comprises a riser 10 here shown formed of metal with side flanges 11 and 12 between which is located the tread member 20 of the extension step composed of wood or other suitable material mounted on a base plate 21 having upstanding side flanges 22 which fit within the flanges 11 and 12 of the riser and are pivotally connected to the lower ends thereof as shown at 23. The riser is pivotally mounted at its upper end beneath the stationary steps a pintle 13 being here shown Serial No. 687,260.

for connecting this extension step with the stationary step. Foldably connected links 14 and 15 connect the front portion of tread 20 with the upper portion of riser 10 and similar links 14 and 15 connect the other side of these members so that the tread 20 may fold against the outer face of riser 10 and these parts when so folded may be folded back under the lowermost tread of the stationary steps as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

A bar 16 is pivotally connected with the front end of tread 20 at one side thereof and is mounted to slide in a track 19 carried by the outer face of a plate or bar 17 supported by the stationary steps at one side thereof. This track or guide 19 is shownwith in turned flanges 19 on its outer face between which the slide 16 is designed to reciprocate for retracting and extending the folding step.

The plate 17 has a bead 17 along its upper edge which is notched as shown at 18 for adjustable engagement by a spring pressed pawl 24 carried by a bell crank lever 25 which is fulcrumed 011 anarm 26 projecting upwardly from a head 27 fixedly secured to the outer face of the slide 16. The arm, 26 is equipped with a hand grip 28 for moving the head 27 and the slide fixed thereto longitudinally along the track 19 for projecting and retracting the folding step, it being of course understood that the lever 25 is depressed to release the pawl 24 from the rack formed by the notches 18.

In the use of this extension step when the parts are in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 and it is desired to fold up the extension step the hand grip 28 is grasped and an upward pull exerted thereon which causes the slide 16 to move upwardly in the track 19 carrying with it the tread 20 which folds up against the riser 10 the links 14 and 15 and 14 and 15 breaking joint when such pull is exerted to permit the step to fold into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1. During this upward movement of the slide 16 the dog or pawl 24 rides up on the bead 17 over the notches 18 until the extension step has been completely housed under the stationary steps when the lever 25 under the action of its spring 30 will force the pawl into locking engagement with one of the notches 18 and thus securely hold the extension step in folded inoperative position.

When it is desired to project the extension step into the full line position shown in Fig. 1 the operation above described is reversed, the pawl 24 being, released, "from its notch 18 by grasping lever 25 and moving it toward the hand grip 28. Thehand grip with the head 27 carried thereby is then moved downwardly carrying with it the slide 16 which operates to move downwardy and outwardly the tread 20 Off the extension step opening' up the links which connect it with riser 10 until it assumes the position shown in Figs. 1i and2. The links 1: and 15 and 1-4 and 15 are constructed at: their joints asshownrin 3 one having a tongue. 31' on its lower inner. edge which engages a shoulder 32 0f the other link and thus formsa stop for limiting the opening movement of the links.

From the above description it will be seen that this extension step may be very quickly operated-to either. retract or project it and avoids the necessity of; the porter carrying the USllH'lllJ-OX toassist passengers iii-alight.- lI1 ,f1D1I1'Et train.

I claim 1. The combination with a flight of stationary: steps, of a riser pivotedat its upper enditothe lowermost step at the front edge thereof, a tread pivoted to the lower end oxtvthc riser, a bar pivotedrto the front end of said trend and mounted to slide longitudinally at'the side ofzthestationary steps,

pivoted;folded1lin;l-: s connecting the front;

end ofEsaiditreadwith saidlstationary steps,

carried. by saidbar toengage said rack and locl: said bar in adjusted position.

2. In an extension car step the combinationvwiththe platform steps; of a pivotally connected tread and riser, said riser being pivoted at its upper end to the front portion of the lowermost platform step, break joint links connecting the front portion of said tread with said steps, a bar pivoted to the front end of said'tread, a guide on the side of the steps in which said bar is mounted to slide, an upwardly extending handle fixed to said bar, and cooperating meanson said handle and steps-to loclt the bar in ad j listed: position.

3. In a device of the class described, a fixed stairway, a rack on the stairway, a guide on the stairway, a bar mounted 'to slide in said guide, a headcarried by said'bar and having a handle rising therefronrand provided with a spring pressed pawl to engage said rack and hold the bar in adjusted position, a. foldable riser pivoted to the stairway and-a foldable tread pivoted to the riser, the tread being connectedto the bar and adapted toinove into retracted and extended positions onthe operation otthle bar.

In testii'nony that I claim the fore 'oing as myown, ,T have hereto atlixed'iny sifrnm turc inthe presence of twowitnessesi GEORGE E; SMITH.

Witnesses R. VVi SLANE, I. L. ANDERSON.

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