US1732994A

US1732994A - Steel running board

Info

Publication number: US1732994A
Application number: US263064A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter J Spiro
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1928-03-20
Filing date: 1928-03-20
Publication date: 1929-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 1946-10-22

Description

Oct. 22,1929. w. J. SPIRO STEEL RUNNING BOARD Filed March 20., 1928 Patented Oct. 22, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEEL RUNNING BOARD Application filed March 20, 1928. Serial No. 263,064.

This invention relates to a steel running board and particularly to a rigid all metal construction designed to provide greater strength and protection than is secured in the use of the ordinary wooden running board.

In this class of work it is particularly important that the outer edge of the running board he of a heavy material in order to resist damage from accidental contact therewith and to protect the body of the vehicle from injury by a colliding or sideswiping engagement of another vehicle. The tread or surface of the running board does not require such heavy material, but should be longitudinally braced or stiffened against springing or bending by any load placed thereon, while it is essential to provide a substantially flat and continuous upper face to receive the usual covering material for the tread. 'The rezo quirement for different widths of running boards for various constructions of automo-- biles has rendered their production costly as special tools and machinery were necessary when one-piece metal construction was used. :5 In the event that the board is composed of a numberof fitted and bolted parts the labor in volved prevents economical production.

To avoid these objections and provide'a simple construction embodying the advantages stated, I have produced a running board from a plurality of similar channel iron units having their abutting flanges secured together, for instance'by welding, and such depending longitudinal flanges effectually 5 stiffen the boar-d throughout its I length. These unit irons'may be further connected by supporting brackets secured thereto and adapted to span the longitudinal flanges. By such an assemblage the outer iron forming the 40 frame of the board may be of heavier material, or of greater strain resisting qualities, and the inner irons formmg the body or tread of much lighter material only suflicient to.

carry the weight or load imposed thereon. This weight of material may be greatly reduced by the use of the abutting longitudinal flanges and supporting brackets which resists any springing or downward bending at the tread portion of the board. The construction also provides for the production of boards of different widths by varying the number or width of the inner irons used, which avoids the necessity of special tools or machinery for each desired size of running board, as a variation in the assemblage of the units will provide for the production of boards of any desired width and strength. The supporting bracket is also provided with a special means for receiving and retaining the attaching bolt adapted to be secured to the usual hanger from the chassis of the vehicle.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improvedconstruction including a plurality of longitudinally extendingchannel irons having depending abutting flanges secured together to stiffen the tread portion of the board. A further object of the invention is to present a new structure of running board formed of longitudinally extending channel iron units, with the 1 outer member thereof of greater strain resisting qualities than the remaining units to produce a protecting face at the outer edge of the board.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a body or tread portion of substantially U-shaped channel irons having depending flanges and connected by transverse brackets secured to the under faces of the irons.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction of supporting bracket having members for attachment to the running board and a slotted body adapted to receive a securing device, together with a finger alined; with the slot and disposed parallel thereto.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a' bottom plan;

Figure 2 is an enlarged section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a detail edge view with parts broken away; 7

Figure 4 is an enlarged section on &4 of Fig. 1, and

line

Figure 5 is a sectional perspective on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several figures of the drawing.

The metal running board may be produced of any desired size or shape and the body thereof is formed by a plurality of parallel longitudinally extending channel irons 10 having depending vertical flanges 11 disposed in contact with each other throughout their length and secured together by any desired means, such as the rebent end 11 of one flange embracing the associated flange. These irons provide a flat upper surface forming the tread of the board and adapted to receive any preferred covering to be used thereon. The flanges form parallel longitudinal stiffening means which prevent any bending of the board intermediate its ends.

The outer edge of the board if provided with a channel iron 12 of less width or of greater strength, and the inner flange 13 of this outer iron is secured to the flange 11 of the next body iron, while the outer flange 14 of the iron 12 depends below the before mentioned flanges to form an apron. At the inner edge of the board a similar, relatively narrow channel iron 15 has its inner flange 16 secured to the adjacent body iron, and may also be provided if desired with a depending apron 17.

The ends of the longitudinal member 10 are connected by a transverse channel iron 18 of relatively narrow width and secured to the under face of the top of all of the channel irons in any desired manner, such as by'spot welding as indicated at 19. To permit the application of the irons 18 the

flanges

11, 13 and 16 are cut away at both ends of the longitudinal irons for a distance equal to the width of the transverse irons l8 so-that thelatter may abut the ends of the flanges; These transverse irons are apertured and adaptedto be secured to the ends of the fenders in the usual manner.

For the purpose of laterally supporting the board a series of braces or brackets are applied to the under face thereof. These brackets may be of different forms, but a desirable construction comprises a U-shaped member having attaching flanges 21 adapted to be secured to the under face of the irons 10 in any manner, for instance spot welding as indicated at 22. Vertical walls 23 depend from these flanges and are formed with recesses 24: to receive the longitudinal flanges of the channel irons and are connected by a horizontal portion 25. This portion has formed therefrom a finger 26 terminating at its free end in an enlargement 27 and these parts are alined with the slot 28 and eye 29 formed by cutting the finger from the body. This finger construction is for the purpose of attaching the board to the usual Figure 2.

The head 31 of the securing bolt 32 is passed through the eye into engagement with the end of the finger and then moved along the slot until in proper position to enter its aperture 33 in the hanger. It is not necessary that all of the brackets be provided with attaching means, as they may be omitted, as at 25 in Figure 1. 1

It will be seen that'the invention presents a simple, efiicient and economically manufactured metal running board adapted to secure the maximum strength with the minimum weight of material as the structure provides parallel lines of longitudinal and transverse bracing and is adapted to be assembled in the desiredsize without the use of bolts or similar manually applied connecting devices. By the use of U-shaped channel irons a substantially flat continuous tread surface is secured and the application of the outer iron of greater strength permits the inner irons to be of lighter material and of relatively greater width. The brackets brace the longitudinal irons against the transverse strain and in connection with the outer iron resists any crushing lateral pressure applied to the board so as to protect the car from injury due to collision.

While the specific details of the invention have been shown and described the invention is not confined thereto as changes and alterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined s by the following claims. i

What I claim is v 1. A running board including a plurality of separate longitudinally extending channel irons abutting each other and secured in such contact, one of said irons having inherent in itself greater strength characteristics than the adjacent iron. 1

2. A running board including a plurality of separate longitudinally extending channel irons abutting each other and secured in such contact, the outer iron thereof having inherent in itself greater strain resisting qualities than the associated irons.

.3. A running'board including an outer sep- 5 arate longitudinally extending channel iron of heavy material extending in parallel relation to inner longitudinal channel irons of lighter material. 7

4:. A running board including an outer separate longitudinally extending channel iron of heavy material extending in parallel relation to inner longitudinal channel irons of lighter material, and end channel irons in abutting relation to the longitudinal irons and secured thereto. I

5. A running board including a plurality of separate longitudinally extending channel irons having depending parallel flanges secured to each other, and supporting brackets secured to the irons and extending transversely of said flanges to embrace the same.

6. A running board including a plurality of separate longitudinally extending channel irons having depending flanges secured to each other, a support bracket secured to the under face of abutting irons and embracing the flanges thereof, and means upon said bracket for retaining a securing member in contact therewith.

7 A running board including a plurality of longitudinally extending channel irons having depending flanges secured to each other, a supporting bracket secured to the under face of abutting irons and having a slotted body with an entrance eye, and a finger disposed in alinement with said slot and parallel thereto.

8. A running board including a plurality of longitudinally extending channel irons secured together, and a U-shaped supporting bracket having at its free ends flanges for attachment to said irons and a slotted body portion formed with an overlying finger alined with said slot.

9. A running board including a plurality of longitudinally extending channel irons having depending flanges secured to each other, and a transverse supporting bracket having flanges secured to the under face of said irons and recessed to receive the depending flanges therefrom.

10. A running board including a plurality of longitudinally extending channel irons having depending flanges spaced from the opposite ends of the irons, and end channel irons abutting the ends of the longitudinal flanges and secured to the under face of the horizontal portion of such longitudinal irons.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WALTER J. SPIRO.