US1501015A - Automobile accessory - Google Patents

Description

Jul 8 1924.

J. MEDLE Y AUTOMOBILE ACCESS OBY Filed Dec'. 27. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

July 8, 1924- J. MEDLEY AUTOMOBILE ACCESSORY Z4 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 2'7, 1923 IN VEN TOR.

TTONEY.

Patented July 8, 1924.

JAMES MEDLEY, OF IRONWOOD, MICHIGAN.

AUTOMOBILE ACCESSORY.

Application filed December 27, 1923. Serial No .j683,032

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that 1,. JAMES MEDLEY,

citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at Ironwood, in the county of Gogebic and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automo bile Accessories, of which the following is a .qspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. I

This invention relates to an automobile accessory and more particularly to a receptacle adapted for attachment to the steering post of a vehicle and adapted to contain f a plurality of different articles which the driver of the vehicle might desire at any time during his driving. i I i A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character whichmay be readily attached to the'vehicle and which is free from metallic clamping bands encircling the steering post which render it difficult of removal from the steeringpost. A still further object of the invention is T to provide a device of this character which may be very cheaply produced and in which theparts may be formed by stamping.

A further object of the invention is to provide a receptacle for holdin either ci gars or cigarettes, the receptac e being so" constructed that it may be readily length enedto accommodate cigars or shortened to accommodate cigarettes as desired.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein 1- Figure 1 is a perspective View of a receptacle constructed in accordance with my invention; I V

Figure '2 is a vertical sectional View '7 through the receptacle showing the same applied to the steering post of a vehicle; 2

' Figure 3 is a perspective of the removable portion ofthe combined cigarette and ci- Q gar-holder showing the construction of the same;

Figure fl: is a section on the line 4 4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 1s a plan of the blank employed Figures8 and 9 illustrate suitable elastic members for. use in attaching the device to a steering post.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the receptacle includes a match box 10, a cigar or cigarette "holder 11, aremovable ash tray 12 and means for supporting a small tin 13, such as ordinarly-employed for receiving thevalvemechanisms of the inner tubes of tires. These receptacles being of such small size are readily misplaced and since when they are greatly neededthis misplacement is a source of constant annnoyance to the motorist. It will be obvious that the provision of means for holding such devices where they are readily accessible is extremely desirous. The receptacle further alfords means, as at 14L and 15, whereby it may be readily attached to the steering post 16 of the vehicle. p

The side walls of the receptacleslO and 11 and the supports for the receptacles 12 and 13 are formed from a single sheet of metal 17, the central portion of which is flat as indicated at 18. This sheet is obtusely bent, as at '19 and 20, to form the outer walls 21 and 22 of the receptacles and 11 respectively. At the required distances from the bends 19 and the sheets are bent at right angles, as at 23 and 241-, and again bent at right angles, as at 25 and 26, the second bends directing the end portions. of the sheet back upon the inner face of the sheet so that theymay be readily attached thereto as at 27 and 28. Between the bends 23 and 25 and 24 and 26, one end wall 28 and 29 respectively of the receptacles 10 and 11 is formed. Be-

tween the bends 25 and 26 andthe points of attachment 27 and 28, the rear walls 30.

and 31 of the receptacles 10 and 11 are pro- 7 vided. The remainingend walls of the receptacles. 10 and 11 are formedbythose portions of the straight centralportion of the sheet lying between the points of attachment 27 and 28 and the1bends 19 and 20 res ectively. p V I y f t opposed points in the flat portion 18 of the sheet 17 portions 32 are struckout from the sheet and from the rear thereof,

these portions being left attached to the sheet and being 'bentback upon the front of the sheet to provide opposed hooks 33 receiving a flange 34 formed upon the side edges ofthe ash receiver v12. Adjacent the 1 f the ,fiat portion other portions empties; The sheet 18 has further struck out portions 36 which arebent upon the rear face of the sheet to provide opposed *h'obks 37 receiving the side edges of the "receptacle 13. Midway its length a further portion "38 is struck out to provide a ledge "3'9 forthe receptionof the lower ed e of the receptacle 13 so that the receptaele is supported against downward movement. The'opening formedby striking out the portion 38 isof such size that when the ash receiver 12 is removed an implement, such as-a pencil po1nt,lblade1 of a knife or the like, can be readily inserted therethrough V, to elevate the receptacle 13 to render the 25 same readily removable. The receptacle 12 is of such size that all of theopenings formed bythe struck out. portions thereof are concealed behind the rear wall of the receptacle so that they are not visible as long as the receptacle 12 is in position.

It is well-known to those familiar with the art that the steering post 10 of a vc hicle is usually rather sharply inclined rearwardlyand it will accordingly be obvious that some means must be provided for holding the receptacles in a vertical position. Thesemeans I provide by employing upper and lower sheets 40 and 41. The upper sheet 410 is constructed to provide a bridge piece-42 extending between the walls 30 and 31 immediately rearwardly of the straight portion 18 of the plate. The for- .ward edge of this bridge piece is provided with a notch 43 of a size permitting the introduction therethrough'of the receptacle 13.

The front edges 4 1 of the bridge piece are secured to-the upper edge of the plate 18 and the end edges 4L5. of the bridge piece are secured to the upper edges of the rear walls 30-and 31 of the receptacles 10 and 11. The sheet further embodies a tongue extending upwardly from the-bridge piece e2 at 'an acute angle. thereto, this tongue being preferablyrounded at its upper end as more clearly shown in Figure 1 to conform to the curvature of the steering post to sheet 1!. This bridge portion, as compared to which it is to be applied. The lower sheet 41 comprises a bridge portion 17 cured along its forward edge to-the un der ed e of the straight portion 18 .of the with the bridge portion 120f the sheet 10,

is' of considerable width and his provided 8 upon its rear face withnoutwardly extending portions 48 and 49 underlying thewalls of the receptacles 10 and 11 andsecured thereto "along its margins.

The tongue 50 of the plate 41 is secured to the bridge portion thereof similarly to the tongue 46 of the plate 410, with the exception of the fact that it extends downwardly from the plate and is at an obtuse angle to the plate, this angle being complementary to the angle of In the free end of each tongue portions of the tongue are struck out in the rear face thereof to provide upon the front face of the tongue opposed hooks 51. In combination with a device of this kind I provide elastic bands 52 or 53, the band 52 being simply an ordinary heavy rubber band procurable anywhere and the band 53 consists of a band of elastic having its ends bent back to provide loops 54. It will, of course, be understood that the elastic band 52, due to its continuous construction, is naturally provided with these loops. Such a band is stretched about the steering post and has the loops of its ends engaged with the hooks 51 of thetongues 16 or 50 as the case may be and by its frictional engagement with the steering post together with the pressure with which it causes the tongue 46 or 50 to bear against the steering post holds the receptacle in fixed position upon the steering post and at'thesame time admits of their ready removal therefrom.

The receptacle 10 is intended for the reception of matches preferably contained within a box and in order that the matches may be struck without removal of the'box from the receptacle. If the matches employed are v safety matches a section is cut out from the plate 18 between the bend 19 and point of attachment 21 exposing one striker side wall 55 of a match box 56 disposed in this receptacle. Furthermore, the front face 21 of the receptacle is preferably provided with a corrugatedporthion '57 permitting the striking of the matches thereon. The receptacle 11 is intendedfor the reception of'either'cigars or cigarettes. It will be obvious that where this receptacle is made of a height' suitable for the reception of cigars a package of cigarettes disposed within the receptacle would be so far removed from the top thereof as to render its access diflicult. It will furthermore be obvious that if this re cepta'cle were of the proper height for the reception of cigarettes, cigars disposed within the receptacle would shift about and be broken or lost from the receptacle par- 'ticularly as'their movement was reduced.

I accordingly make the walls of this recep-..

tacle of a height proper to the reception of a standard package of cigarettes and pro vide in conjunction with thisreceptacle a holder 58 for receiving cigars. This holder consists of a single strip of metal havi'ngits central portion 59 provided with a series of openings 60 of a size suitable to permit passage therethrough of cigars but preventing excessive movement of a cigar engaged therein. The ends of the sheet are bent downwardly, as at 61, bent inwardly, as at 62, and again downwardly, as at 63, thus providing a ledge 64 engaging against the upper end walls of the receptacle 11 at each end of the holder and downwardly extending tongues 65 engaging the side walls of the receptacle 11. These tongues 65 are ettes in the holder instead of cigars.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a device constructed in accordance with my invention may be very cheaply produced and requires but little change in applying the, same to steering posts having different inclinations. Where the difi'erence in inclination is but 'slightthis may be effectedby bending the tongues L6 and 50 to agree with the new angle. Where this change is excessive this may be accomplished by increasing the size of the bridge piece of the lower plate 41 to the desired extent. 7 It will also be obvious that the device is very readily removed from or attached to the steering post and accordingly will not interfere in making of repairs or the like in any way whatsoever. Since the bands employed for attaching are resilient they readily conform to the shaping of the steering post and give a good contact thereto throughout the surface so that there is little, if any, tendency of the receptacle to slip. It will furthermore be obvious that the construction of the device as hereinbefore set forth is capable of a certain range of change and modificatlon without materially departing from the spirit of my invention and I accordingly do not limit myself to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim d 1. In combination with a receptacle, means for attaching the receptacle in a vertical position to an inclined columnar support including upper and lower plates associated with the receptacle, the lower plate being the wider, an upwardly extending tongue formed on the upper plate and a downwardly extending tongue formed upon the lower plate, said tongues being aligned one with another and being at an angle to the receptacle equal'to the angle of the columnar support to the vertical, and means carried by said tongues and passing about the steering post to secure the same thereto. 7 2. A combination" receptacle comprising a sheetof metal formed centrally to provide a flat section, the ends of the sheet being bent rearwardly from the flat portion and then back upon the flat portion to combine therewith to form theside and end walls of a pair of receptacles, and a plate secured to the lower edges of the sheet enclosing the bottoms of the receptacles;

3. A combination receptacle comprising a sheet of metal formed centrally to provide a fiat section, the ends of the sheet being bent rearwardly from the flat portion and then back upon the flat portion to combine therewith to form the side and end walls of :3

a pair of receptacles, and a plate secured to the lower edges of the sheet enclosing the bottoms of'the receptacles, said plate embodying means for attaching the receptacle to a support.

4. In combination with a receptacle, means for attaching the receptacle in a vertical position to an inclined columnar support includingupper and lower plates associated with the receptacle, the lower plate being the wider, an upwardly extending I struck out portions forming supports upon the combined receptacle for further receptacles on opposite faces of such central portion.

5. In combination with a receptacle, means for attaching the receptacle in a vertical position to an inclined columnar support including upper and lower plates associated with the receptacle, the lower plate being the wider, an upwardly extending tongue formed on the upper plate and a downwardly extending tongue formed upon the lower plate, said tongues being aligned one with another and-being at an angle to the receptacle equal to the angle of the col.- umnar support to the vertical, and means carried by said tongues and passing about the steering post to secure the same thereto,

their ends with loops, said tongues each emcomprising resilient bands being provided at for engagement by the loops of said bands,

the central portion of said sheet having :struck out portions forming supports upon the combined receptacle for further. receptacles on opposite faces otsuch central portion, a second plate secured along its front edge to the upper edge of the central portion of the sheet and at itsside edges to the back end portions of the sheet, said second plate having a notch formed therein permitting positioning of the receptacle inthe :supports upon the rear of the central por- ,tion.

6. In combination with a receptacle, means for attaching the receptacle in a vertical position to an inclined columnar sup port including upper and lowerpla-tes associated with the receptacle, the lower plate being the Wider, an upwardly extending tongue formed on the upper plate and a downwardly extending tongue formed upon the lower plate, said tongues being aligned one with another and being at an angle to the receptacle equal to theangle of the columnar support to the vertical, and means carried by said tonguesa'nd passing about the steering post to secure the samethereto, comprising resilient bands being provided at their ends with loops, said tongues each embodying a pair of oppositely directed hooks for engagement by the loops of said bands, the central portion of said sheethaving, struck out portions forming supports upon the combined receptacle .for further re- 35 ceptacles .on ,oppositefaces of such central portion, a second plate secured along its frontedge to the upper edge of the central portion of the sheet and at its (side edges to the back end po-rtionsof the sheet, said second platehaving a notclrformed therein per- 'mitting positioning of the receptacle in the supports upon the 'rearof the central portion, the last named plate being provided .a height approximating the height of the standard cigarette package, and means insertible in said receptacle providing above the receptacle a plate bridging the top of the receptacle and having a plurality of openings for the reception of cigars, said means embodying resilient side sections engaging the end walls of the receptacle, the side sections having shoulders forming stops to limitthe movement thereof into the receptacle.

In testimony whereof I hereuntoaifix my JAMES j MEDLEY.

signature.

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