US1600531A - Top construction - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 21 192s.

J. H.-B'ouRGoN 'for cons'rnuc'rron" Find' Nov. :20, 1924 INVENTOR m55/PH H. @0f/60 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 21, 1926.

`f'UNI',TED STATES PATENT OFFICE."

JOSEPH H. BOURGON, v0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 THE STUDEBAKER COR- Y y' PORATION, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AND DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A C ORPORATION` or newV JERSEY.

Tor CONSTRUCTION.

VApplication filed November 20,1924. Serial No. 751,154.

pioved construct-ion, thei main portion of which is composed of ysheet metal to make it strongand durable and to which the various: other top members `and adjuncts may be applied to form a permanent unitary structure. v v t V Another object is to provide a top frame constructed from a continuous sheet of metal of such a construction that the top of which it forms a part will not be subject to the drumming usually associated with tops of this type.

Another object is to providea sheet metal automobile top frame with a plurality of l' tions of parts tov relatively large' face thereof, the metal at the edge of the openings 'being downwardly bent to give added strength and stiffness to the top.

A further object is to provide a top frame of the class described with relatively large openings in the upper surface thereof, the metal at the edge of said openings being downwardly turned to form; attaching iianges for strengthening ribs orv tacking strips.

. The above being among the objects of the present invention, vthe saine consists of certain lfeatures of construction and combinabe hereinafter described with reference to the. accompanyingdrawing,A andl thenV claimed, having the above and other objects in view. Y

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates va suitable embodiment of the pres-- ent invention, and in which like numerals refer :to like parts throughout the severa-l views, Y

Figure l isfaperspective view of a finished automobile top constructed in accordance with the present invention as it may appear on an open type automobile.

Figure 2. isr a perspective view of the frame of the top shown in Figure l before the top covering and top supports have been applied thereto.

Figure 3 is a broken perspective view of a portion of the top frame 'including one or' the openings therein showingy the manner openings in the uppersur? quently of securing the strengthening ribs or tacking strips thereto with the, top Ylining in place.

Figurefi is a longitudinal vertical section sired shape and contour, but in the following description and claims which will refer tothe top` frame as being constructed from a continuous sheet yof metal, it will be kept in mind that the present invention is' not limited toa metaltop` frame which isi constructed from a single sheet of metal, as it is applicable to and 'includes those constructions where the saine are made up `of a plurality of units weld-ed, riveted .or otherwise suitably secured together to forml a continuous sheet,l and has the same practical results andef'fects as a frame constructedfroin a singley sheet. 1

Top framesk constructed. from a continuous sheet of 'metal have had bu-t'a limited use inv the past due tothe fact that thesey early designs had a tendency toy vibrate in unison, to a highly objectionable degree, with other vibrations present in the automobile f of which they formed a part, or with the explosions ofthe engi-ne, in much the same way that a drum head may be made to vibrate in sympathy with independent vibra tions. Another great objection tothe for# nier tops occurred whenthe topwas distorted or by weaving as the automobile of which it formed a part traveled over rough or uneven surfaces, because of stresses of va,- rious characters being set -up in the metal with the resulting tendency fory the metal to temporarily change its shape, which frecaused snapping or crackling sounds much the same asl are produced upon pressing the bottom of an oil-can. In the present invention I have eliminated such disadvantages and objections as appeared in the former type of top and have provided `a structure which will present flexibility with the body but not lose the advantages et a permanent top.

- As mentioned above, the metal of the top trame 10 is formed from a continuous sheet oit metal into the desired shape and contour, that is, to the shape or" conventional tops Vas shown inY Figures 1 and 2, or otherwise, but preferably such that no flat spots are present anywhere on its surface to better eliminate any drumming sound that may develop. v 4

- As illustrated in Figures 2 and 11# a wooden front cross member 11 is provided in the construction shown to more easily secure a rainshield`12 or windshield 13 thereto, but this may be dispensed with and the metal ot' the top 10 be extended to take its place. At frequent intervals in the upper and fiattest surface olf the frame 10 relatively large openings lt are provided which prevent the drumming of the top with the same result as is experienced when vopenings are cut in a drum head, that ifs, the openings substantially eliminate all vibrations in the top. n addition to eliminating the tendency of the top 10 to drum 'or vibrate, the openings 111 also act to break -up any stresses that may be set up in the metal when the top weaves, inasmuch as no stress can be transmitted through the openings, and the result of thus breaking'up the stresses setup in themetal is thev elimination of the' snapping or crackling sounds.

lt has beeniiound desirable to turn the edges of the metal surrounding the openings 1.4L downwardly perpendicular to the plane oi? the top to t rm flanges 15 toassist in strengthening the top. These anges 15 act to give the frainelO more strength in a plane perpendicular to the plane thereof and thereby eliminate the Vtendency to drum, and they also t'orm ready means for attaching wooden strips such as 16 -to the top, which strips 16 may be extended across the inside otl the frame r1t) to act as stiiiening ribs or tacliing strips for the top lining 17.

The number, shape and size of the openings 111, as well as the depth of the ilanges 15,

may vary according to the needs of the various shapes, sizes and contours oi' the tops in which they are used and the most desirable dimensions will probably be best found by experimentation, although the number of openings and formation thereof as shown have proven satisfactory. Y Y

As shown in Figure 5, it is preferable to turn the lower edge of the trame l() inwardly to form a horizontally extending flange 18 to which may conveniently be secured the wooden strip 19 which may be utilized for a variety ot different purposes such as a. tackstrip for the top outer covering or the 1 te.

Although the frame l0 as shown in Figure 2 is illustrated as applied to an open type of automobile body 20 in Figure l, it will be apparentwithout further discussion that it may equally well be applied to bodies of the closed type with equal advantages.

Formal changes may be made in the speciiic embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit or substance ot the broad invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims. Y

1. A vehicle top frame formed from a continuous sheet of metal, the upper portion of said traine being provided with a plurality ot' openings extending transversely thereof, the metal at they edge of said openings being Vbent downwardly out of the plane of said openings, cross ribs secured to said downwardly projecting edges, and a top lining spaced from said trame secured to said cross ribs. Y'

2'. in a vehicle top frame, a continuous sheet ot' meta-l iormed to substantially the shape ot the inished top, the upper portion et said sheerI being provided with a plurality of. relatively large openings therein, the metal. at the edge of saidy openings being downwardly turned to form attaching `langes, and cross ribs secured to said flanges.

3. lnr combination with a vehicle top, a trame iormed to substantially the shape ot' the finished top from a continuous sheet of instal, relatively large vopenings formed in the upper portion thereof in spaced relation, the metal at the edge of said openings being downwardly turned to orm attaching flanges, tacliing strips secured to said anges, and a covering within said top to conceal said openings secured to said tac/king strips.

4. In a vehicle tol, a trame comprising a` continuous sheet of metal formed to substantialy the shape of a finished top, having a flange at its lower edge and a plurality of relatively large openings formed in the upper surface thereolvthe metal at the edges of said openings being turned downwardly to form stitiening members and tacking strips secured to a side of said downwardly turned members.

Signed by me at Detroit, Michigan, U. S. A., this 17th day of November, 1924.

JOSEPH H. BOURGON.

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