US2016232A - Casket truck - Google Patents

Description

0d. 1, 1935. H, FLOYD 2,016,232

CASKET TRUCK Filed Sept. 27, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l Gd. 1, 1935. I H, FLOYD 2,U16,232

CASKET TRUCK- Filed Sept. 27, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3mm v u fl/gf Patented Oct. 1, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The main objects of my invention are first, to

improve the appearance and operation of casket trucks using lazy-tong connections between the corner posts; second, to hide within the posts the sliding members to which the upper ends of the lazy-tong bars are pivoted; third, to lock said members in any adjusted position; fourth, to lock the caster wheels in closed positon; and other objects hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts,

Fig. 1 represents a plan view of a casket truck opened to largest operative position and exemplifying my improvements;

Fig. 2, a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 2A, a detail showing the locking position of the center handle block;

Fig. 3, a side view of the truck in its closed position;

Fig. l, an enlarged detail of the upper part of a corner post, viewed diagonally from inside the truck frame;

Fig. 5, a vertical section on the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6, a horizontal plan View and section of a corner post on the line 66 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7, a vertical section on the line 'l--] of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 8 designates the corner posts connected by lazy-tongs or other extendible bars forming sides 9 and ends Ill of a rectangular frame, which is adjustable horizontally to various sizes by operating said connections.

These corner posts are tubular with slots l I at the top, which slots are closed by fixed caps [2, preferably octagonal, having cushions for contact with a casket to be carried thereon. The said slots are located in the inner face of each post midway between a side and adjacent end frame, and preferably only one slot to each post.

Inside each of these posts and opposite the slot is mounted a slidable member l3, preferably a hollow block, having near its lower end a lateral projection M extending through the slot and then widened out for pivotal connection to adjacent upper ends of the bars of side and end frames. This widened portion is preferably formed by diverging Wings 55 extending upward, provided on 'their tips with bosses 16 having tapped holes for stud bolts, or otherwise adapted for pivotal connection to the bar frames.

A thumb screw I1 is transversely mounted in the slidable member between said wings, and on its inner end is mounted a curved chafing plate 18 5 in a recess of said member, adapted to bear against the inside of the post by turning said screw, and thus lock the member in any adjusted position. This plate avoids marring the inside surface of the post by direct engagement -cf the 10 screw thereon, which would obstruct sliding movement of said member.

In the bottom end of each post is: mounted a bushing I 9, closed at its upper end. A stem 23 of a caster wheel-carrying yoke 2|, is rotatably 5 mounted in said bushing and is preferably provided with a ball 22 at the top. The stem has an annular groove 23, and pins 24 mounted in the bushing project into said groove to hold the stem rotatably in the bushing.

A wide annular flange 25 on the stem below the post, has vertical holes therein which are engaged by a slidable trip, pin 26 mounted in a collar 21 on the end of the post, to lock the stem from turning when desired. A double pointed 25 spring 28 in said collar enters a recess in the pin to hold the pin in raised and lowered positions. The pin is readily adjusted by hand or foot by means of a bent upper end 29.

This collar has a triangular lateral lug with 30 tapped bearing faces 30 for pivotal connection with the lower ends of adjacent bars in the side and end frames 9 and I0. Intermediate bearing faces 3| in the four collars are similarly adapted for pivotal connection with the outer ends of bars 32 diagonally disposed within the truck frame. The inner ends of said bars are rounded on' their lower corners and square on their upper corners (Fig. 2A), and pivotally connected to respective sockets in a center handle block 33, so as to limit 40 the downward movement of said block by engaging said upper corners with the respective sockets when pushed below the horizontal plane through said bars (Figs. 1 and 2). The handle block thus locks the diagonal bars in their lowest position and braces the corner posts in their most widely separated position (Fig. 1). Smaller sizes of trucks are formed by raising the center handle to pull inward the corner posts, and locking the slidable members l3 in their corresponding positions inside the posts by the thumb screws II.

In the closed position of the truck (Fig. 3) the center handle is raised above the corner posts by the diagonal bar connections to a position convenient for grasping and the caster wheel forks projections through respective slots and provided are locked by the trip pins 26. with diverging wings pivotally engaging adjacent I claim: bars, and a thumb screw mounted in each mem- A casket truck comprising a rectangular frame ber between said Wings and extending through 5 of extendible bars and tubular corner posts havsaid member to exert pressure on the inside of 5 ing vertical slots in their inner faces, slidable the post, substantially as described. members mounted inside said posts having lateral HARRY T. FLOYD.

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