US1656719A - Top construction - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 11, 190:. 1,656,719

P. E. BRENEMAN TOP CONSTRUCTIDN Filed March 17. 1926 I NV ENTOR 001.5 520mm ATTOR N EYE;

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Patented Jan. 17, 1928.

PAUL E. BRENEMAN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN,

PORATION, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, A

ASSIGNOR TO THE STUDEBAKER COR- CORPQRATION OF NEW JERSEY.

T01 CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed March 17. 1926. Serial No. 95,318.

This invention relates to vehicle bodies of the closed type and particularly to the construction of the tops thereof, the principal object being to provide a new and novel construction therefor which will be simple in construction, light in weight and economical to manufacture, particularly in quantities.

Another object is to provide a top of the permanent type with side rails constructed of sheet metal to embody frame members and shaping members.

Another object is to provide a side rail for a vehicle to of the permanent type composed of a s eet metal frame member having a door stop portion produced during the forming of said frame member, and a covedsheet metal shaping member, both of said members being secured together along their outer edges to form a longitudinal drip trough.

A further object is to body with a top which will be constructed chiefly of hollow metallic side rails, wooden tacking pieces, sheet metal cross bows, and front and rear cross members.

These, being among the objects of the press invention, the same consists of certain featuresof construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing, and then claimed, having the above and other objects in view.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates a suitable embodiment of the present invention, and in which like numerals referto like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a closed vehicle body, showing a top therefor, embodying the features of the present invention, secured thereon.

Figure 2 isan enlarged perspective sectional View of one of the side rails of the present invention, taken transversely therethrough adjacent one of the top cross bows.

provide a vehicle Figure 3 is a section of the side rail of Figure 2 taken longitudinally through one of the cross bows, showing the method of securing the same to the side rails.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional perspective view of a modification of the side rail of Figure 2, taken adjacent one of the cross bows.

of the permanent type tour may Figure 5 is a sectional view of the side rail of Figure 4. taken transversely therethrough and longitudinall Y through one of the cross bows, showing t e method of securing the same to the side rail.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the cross bows attaching members used in conncction with the side rail of Figure 4. g

The top, in general, as best illustrated in Figure 1, is built up in such a manner as to embody a pair of longitudinal side rails 10, a plurality of cross bows 11 holding the side rails 10 in spaced relationship, a front cross member 12 and a rear cross member 13, all of which are first preferably assembled to make up the top structure and then are attached to the vehicle body as a unit. This unitary structure is supported by and attached to the bod rear quarter panel 14 and body posts or pi lars 15 by bolts or any of the other conventional fastening methods.

Referring now to the rail construction shown in Figures 2 and 3, it will be noted that a portion of each side rail 10, which will be referred to in the following description as longitudinal frame member 16, provides the support for the top structure on the panel 14 and illars 15 just mentioned. This frame mem er 16 regardless of its irregular eonbe very economically and easily produce by stamping it in one or more operations from a single sheet of metal. It is formed to provide a substantially horizontal portion 17, the outer marginal edge thereof being turned upwardly to form a flange 18, and the opposite edge of the portion 17 extending downwardly a short distance and then being bent "on itself in spaced relation 0 to form the downwardly extending door sto 19 for the upper edge of the door which is adapted to co-act therewith, the bent back portion 20 continuing u wardly well' above the portion 17 and then being bent horizontally inwardly to form an abutment 29, the marginal edge of which is bent downwardly to form the vertically disposed flange portion 21.

At regularly spaced intervals, suitable reinforcing members 22, which may be formed from strap iron as shown, are welded or otherwise secured at one end to the horizontal portion 17 of the frame member 16 of each side rail 10. The free ends 23 of the reinforcing members 22 extend inwardly through recesses 24 provided in the vertical portion 20 of the frame member 16, and are received within the trough of, and are preferably welded, but may be otherwise secured, to the cross bows 11 which span the side rails 10. It is-noted that the cross bows 11 are trough-shaped in form and may be stamped economically from sheet metal, but it is to be understood that they may be of any suitable shape and may be constructed of wood or other material. The trough-shaped stampings, as shown, are better adapted to the resent invention as they are light in weight and the bottoms thereof provide a suitable seat for the free ends 23 of the reinforcing members 22.

To lend a neat and more finished appearance to the structure and to conceal the reinforcing members 22, and to stiffen the structure as a whole, a shaping member 25 having, for the most part, a convex outer surface is provided. This member, like the frame member 16, may be stamped in one operation from a single sheet of metal to form the curved outer surface, previously mentioned, and to form the outer edge with a narrow horizontal portion 26 and an upwardly etitending marginal flange member 25 is positioned on the frame member 16 with the flange 27 thereof abutting against the flange 18 and the inner edge 28 resting on and extending somewhat beyond the abutment portion 29. The edge of the flange 18 is bent back upon itself to clamp the flange 27 therebetween to secure the two principal members I6 and 25 together along their outer edges, and the inner edge 28 is preferably, but may not be, welded or otherwise secured to the abutment 29 of the frame member 16.

A wooden tacking strip 30 is shown as being supported by and secured to the reinforcing members 22 by suitable wood screws 31, and the inner face thereof resting against the vertical leg 21 and being secured thereto by bolts such as 32 and nuts such as 33, the extending edge 28 of the shaping member 25 also being secured to the upper face thereof by nails 34. It is to this wooden strip 30 that the edge of the top covering 35 is tacked, a molding such as 36 being provided to cover this edge and to conceal the edge 28 of the shapingmember 25 and its securing nails 34.

It is essential that some means be pro vided for catching the water or rain which runs off the edge of the top. Top construction used heretofore usually embodied a drip trough secured thereto, which in addition formed a suitable molding, the common trade name for such a construction being a drip molding. The trough 39 formed by the narrow horizontal portion 26 and the flange 27 at the marginal ed e of the shaping member 25 very successfillly meets this 27. The shaping need and eliminates the expense of providin an additional drip molding.

teferring to Figures 4 and 5, a siderail is provided which is a slightly modified form of the side rail 10 shown in Figures 2 and 3, but is built up of essentially the same members, that is, a frame member and a shaping member 51. The frame member 56 is stamped, like the frame member 16 of Figure 2, from sheet metal to provide a hori zontal surface 52 having an outer marginal flange 52-5, a downwardly projecting door stop portion 54 and an upwardly extending portion 55, but, however, from this point on it is shaped differently than the previously mentioned frame member 16, the metal thereof being bent inwardly at right angles to the vertical portion 55 to form the horizontal face 56 and then upwardly to form the vertical face 57 and lastly, flanged inwardly, thereby providing the horizontal flange portion 58; in other words, it is stepped upwardly and inwardly. her is secured along its outer edge to the outer edge 53 of the frame member 50 and is curved inwardly and upwardly, providing a drip trough 59 along the outer edge thereof similar to the trough 39 of the previously described construction. The inner edge of the member 51 is stepped downwardly to meet the horizontal portion 56, which step down is obtained by bending down the inner edge of the member 51 to form the face 60 and then bending it inwardlyto form the horizontal leg 61. The joining of the two members 50 and 51 in this manner provides a rectangular shaped trough bounded by the faces 56 and 60 and leg 61 which receives a longitudinal wooden tacking piece 62 that is held in place by suitable wood screws 63 which extend through the metal of the frame member horizontal base portion 56 and the shaping member horizontal leg 61, into the wood thereof.

Cross bows 64, trough-shaped in form.

are provided with T-shaped stampings 65 which are welded to the inside faces of the sides and bottom thereof at the extreme ends. The cross bows 64 are then secured to the side rails, the top surfaces thereof being preferably welded to the under surface of the frame member horizontal flange 58 and the wings 66 the T-shaped stampings 65 being welded to the frame member outer vertical face 57, as clearly shown in Figure 5.

The projection 54, formed by bending the metal of the frame member horizontal portion 52 downwardly and back, accomplishes the same purpose as the door stop in the previously described side rail. Suitable top material may be assembled to the top construction in the same manner as previously described.

It may be seen from the preceding description that a top of light construction The shaping mem- ,to form a drip trough, said di wit an upwardly eztendilgg for a vehicle body may be built very simply and very economically by using practically all sheet metal parts shaped essentially as shown, but it is to be understood that other shapes,'"materials for some of the parts, and securing means other than those mentioned, my be used. Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention describ without departing from the spiritand substance of the broad invention the scope of which is commensurate with the ap ended claims.

1 hat I claim is:

1. In a top side rail comp a coved sheet metal shaping ember an a sheet metal frame member secured together along their outer edges, an abutment ortion consisting of a horizontally extending face and a. downwardly extendi flan a the inner edge thereof formed in ra ly with said frame member the inner of said shaping member ing sec to said horizopitally extending face and projecting past ear I 2. A to side rail com rising a sheet metal frame an shaping me rs secured together along their outer es,-said frame member bei rovided wit an abutment portion consisting of a horizontally extending face and a downwardly extending marginal flan e, the inner edge of said she-pin memher in secured to said horiaonta extending ace and projecting past said ange, and a wooden tacking member secured to said rojecting portion and to said downextending flan e. a vehicle tap a1 a rail, a horizontally sheet met frame member provided flanged outer a coved sheet metal aping member provided with a similarflan ed outer edge e member being scoured together and shaping member ,by abutting said flanged ed 0 of said shapin member against said anged edge of said frame member and bending the metal of one of said flanged edges over and against the other of said edges, thereby holding the same in secured relationship;

4. In a. vehicle top of the permanent ty e having side rails comprising coved sheet metal shaping members and horizontally extending frame members secured together in abuttingi relationship along their outer and ges, tacking strips secured to said lnner edges, and members for reinforcing said side rails secured to said frame members and said tacking strips.

5. A vehicle top having sheet metal side rails comprising cored sheet metal shaping members and horizontally extendin frame members secured together along their inner and outer edges to form hollow construction, cross bows extending between said side rails, and reinforcing members for said side rails secured within said hollow structure and projecting inwardly therefrom to provide the sole supports for said cross bows.

6. A vehicle topside rail comprising a sheet metal frame member and a sheet metal sha ing member joined together to form a ho ow structure, said frame member comrising at lower horizontal portion bounded eg an upwardly extending wall, the upper ge of said vertically extending wall being bent inwardly and then downwardly to form an inverted trough, the bottom of said trough for-min" an abutment for said shaping member an the inner side thereof forming an abutment for a tacki strip.

A vehicle top side rai comprising a sheet metal frame member and a sheet metal shaping member joined together to form n hol ow structure, a transverse member secured to said frame member and rojecting inwardly therefrom to form the so e support for the end of a crossbow, and a tacking strip secured to said frame member, said shaping member, and said transverse member.

8. A vehicle top side rail comprising a sheet metal frame member and a sheet metal sha ing member joined together to form a ho ow structure, said frame member comprising a main horizontal portion terminal mg at its inner ed 0 in a downwardly turned portion reversely bent to form an upwardl extending wall, the upper edge of said wal being bent inwardly to form a horizontal abutment and then downwardl to form a vertical abutment, a transverselgr extending strap member secured to said main horizontal portion and projecting inwardly therefrom through said wall, said shaping member bein secured to and projecting inwardly from said horizontal abutment, and a tacking strip secured to said vertical abutment between said inwardl projecting portions of said strap and said 5 a ing member.

9. A vehiele top si e rail comprising a sheet metal frame member and a sheet metal sha ing member secured together to form n hol ow structure, said frame member comprising a horizontal portion and a vertical wall, and a reinforcing member secured to I said horizontal portion and extending through said vertical well, said reinforci member being ste ped outwardly of sai vertical wall where )y the projecting portion thereof is above the plane of that port on of T said reinforcing member secured to said horizontal ortion of said frame member.

10. A ve iclc top side rail comprising a sheet metal frame member and a sheet metal shaping member secured together to form a hollow structure, said frame member having a horizontal portion hounded at its inner dge by an upwardly extending vertical wall, and a transverse ruin forcing member secured to said horizontal portion and having a I stepped portion projecting through said vertical wall.

11. A vehicle to side rail comprising; a frame'member an a. shaping member said Frame memberhuyin'g a horizontal wall and a vertical wall, and a reinforcing member rovided' with a flit portion secured to said iurizontul wall and a vertical step projecting through said vertical wall to provide a cross-bow support.

12. In a vehicle top, a side rail comprising a sheet metal frame member and a sheet metal sha'ing member joined together to form a hol iow structure, a reinforcing merm ber secured at oneendto one of said first named members within said hollow structure and projecting outwardly through a wall thereof, and a crossbow supported on the projecting end of said rein orcing member out of contact with said rail.

13. A. side rail for a, vehicle top of the permanent type comprising, a frame member, a shaping member secured thereto adjacent the inner and outer edges thereof to form a hollow structure, and reinforcing members secured at one end of said frame member within said hollow structure and having the opposite end extending inwardly beyond said frame member.

14. A side tail for a permanent top, comprising a hollow sheet metal structure having the outer marginal edge thereof shaped to provide an inggrel drip trough and the inner marginal ee edges formmg attaching faces for it tacking strip, and reinforoi'n members secured at their one end within structure and having their 0 posite ends extending inwardly beyond saimrstructure to su poritl a cross-bow out of contact with said Si 6 re 15. A side rail for a vehicle top of the permanent type oomprisi metal shaping member-(an a stamped sheet metal frame member secured thereto ilong their outer edges, said framemember having :1 horizontal abutment portion for supporta cored sheet 1 ing theinner enduof said shaping member and having e. vertienl flange extending beyond said horizontal portion t-r-zto provide attachin meansfor a tackin strip.

Si no me anaemic,- idlichzgan, US. A., t is 1% day of March, 1926.

PAlJL BRENEMAN.

stepped portion projecting through said vertical wall.

11. A vehicle top side rail comprising a frame'member and a shaping member, said Frame member having a horizontal Wall and a vertical wall, and a reinforcing member )rovided with a fiat portion secured to said horizontal wall and a vertical step projecting through said vertical wall to provide a "ross-bow support.

12. In a vehicle top, a side rail comprising a sheet metal frame member and a sheet metal shaping member joined together to form a hollow structure, a reinforcing memher secured at one end to one of said first named members Within said hollow structure and projecting outwardly through a Wall thereof, and a cross-bow supported on the projecting end of said reinforcing member out of contact with said rail.

13. A side rail for a vehicle top of the permanent type comprising, a frame member, a shaping member secured thereto adjacent the inner and outer edges thereof to form a hollow structure, and reinforcing members secured at one end of said frame member within said hollow structure and having the opposite end extending inwardly beyond said frame member.

14. A side rail for a permanent top, comprising a hollow sheet metal structure having the outer marginal edge thereof shaped to provide an integral drip trough and the inner marginal free edges forming attaching faces for a tacking strip, and reinforcing members secured at their one end Within said structure and having their opposite ends extending inwardly beyond said structure to support a cross-bow out of contact with said side rail.

15. A side rail for a vehicle top of the permanent type comprising, a coved sheet metal shaping member, and av stamped sheet metal frame member secured thereto along their outer edges, said frame member having a horizontal abutment portion for supporting the inner end of said shaping member and having a vertical flange extending beyond said horizontal portion .to provide attaching means for a tacking strip.

Signed by me at Detroit, Michigan, U. S. A., this 12th day of March, 1926.

PAUL E. BRENEMAN.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. l, 656, 719.

It is hereby certified that error appears Granted January 17, 1928, to-

PAUL E. BRENEMAN.

in the printed specification of. the

above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 29, for the word "press" read"'present"; page 4, "to"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read w line 26, claim 13, for the word "of" read ith these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Off ice.

Signed and sealed this 14th day of February, A. D. 1928.

Seal.

M. J. Moore, ,Acting Gommissionerof Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 1,656,719. Granted January 17, 1928, to

PAUL E. BRENEMAN.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 29, for the word "press" read "present"; page 4, line 26, claim 13, for the word "of" read "to"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 14th day of February, A. D. 1928.

M. J. Moore, Seal. Acting Commissioner-of Patents.

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