US2400312A - Casket rack - Google Patents

Description

y M. 5.. MILLER 2,400,312

CASKET RA'cK Filed Sept. 11, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 1 f I m/en tar may I Mzzzer M. E. MILLER CASKET RACK May14, 1946.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 11, 1943 Inventor M47]; z. Mz'ZZer' M. E. MILLER v GASKET RACK Filed Sept. 11, 1943 a; N v

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor Patented May 14, 1946 26,400,312 i v, t V cAsKET neon: 4 i 7 Mark E. Miller, Shelbyvil le, n1. Application September 11, 1943, Serial ltlo. 502,016 g I I ire cla ms. (01. 214-134) I The present invention relatesto new and useful improvements in casket racks for use ;par-' ticularly in the tonneaus of passenger automobiles, and 'has' for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, novel means whereby infant'sf caskets may :be conveniently placedin vehicles of this type and removed therefrom without the necessity of a person entering saidvehicle. V Q I Another very important object of the invention is to provide a rack of the aforementioned character which is adapted 'to be adjusted to accommodate caskets of different lengths.

sun 'anothe'r'very; important object or the: in vention is to provide a rack of'the characterdej-' scribed whichwill firmly and securely support the casket in transit- Another important object of the invention is to provide an infants casket rack which, when not in use, may be readily removed from the vehicle and folded in a manner to require a minimum of space.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an infants casket rack which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact, and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing, and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein: t

Figure 1 is a view in end elevation of a casket rack constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing said rack in use in the tonneau of a passenger vehicle.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the rack, showing one of the extensions in projected position.

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of the device.

Figure 4 is a view in horizontal section through a corner portion of the device with the extension in projected or operative position.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view through one side portion of the frame, taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure2.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section through an intermediate portion of the frame, taken substantially on the line 8-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view in section through the floor board of the automobile, showing the means of releasably securing the device thereto.

15. legs 6 are hingedly mounted at I on the'outer Figure 8 is a detail view in elevation of one of the removable end stops.

Referring now to the drawings in, detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the inven-'- tion which'has been illustrated comprises an elongated frame which is designated generally by reference numeral I, said frame being of wood, metal or other suitable material. In the embodiment 'shown, the frame I is principally of wood.

The frame 'I- may be {of anydesired dimensions solong as it can' b'e expeditiously/mounted in the: tonne'au of a conventional-passenger automobile, v

The frame-I includes side bars 3,- end bars 4 and crossbraces 5. 'Pairs' of folding supporting cross bars 5. Braces 8 (see Fig. '7) extend between the free end portions of the'pairs of legs 6. Braces 9 are hingedly mounted at II) on the intermediate cross bar 5. Plates I3 are fixed on the floor I2 of the automobile 2. The plates I3 are apertured to threadedly receive bolts II' which are inserted in openings provided therefor in the members 9 and 8 for firmly securing the rack in open position and for anchoring same to the floor I2.

The end portions of the side members 3 of the frame I have formed in their outer sides longitudinal grooves or channels I4. Strips of wood I5 on the outer sides of the frame members 3 close the grooves I4 except at the outer ends thereof. The grooves I4 slidably receive the legs I5 of substantially U-shaped extensions H on the ends of the frame I. The legs I6 of the extensions I'I have formed therein at spaced points notches I8. Substantially U-shaped latches I9 are pivotally mounted for swinging movement on the end portions of the frame I and are engageable in the notches I8 for re- .leasably securing the extensions I I in adjusted position. Springs 20 yieldingly secure the latches I9 in the notches I8,

Rollers 2| are journaled transversely at longitudinally spaced points in the frame I and in the outer end portions of theextensions H. The rollers 2I which are in the frame I are journaled on spindles 22 in the form of countersunk screws inthe frame members 3. Angular brackets 23 (see Fig. 5) are mounted at longitudinally spaced points on the side portions of the frame I. Vertical. spindles 24 are mounted on'the brackets 23. Guiderollers 25 are journaled on the spindles 24.

Upstanding stops 26 are removably and adjustably mounted on the end portions of the frame I. Toward this end, the side members of the frame I have formed therein longitudinally spaced openings 21. Depending pins 28 on the stops 26 are engageable selectively in the openings 21. Eyes 29 are provided on the extensions I! for receiving the pins 28 for mounting the stops 26 on said extensions if desired.

It is thought that the manner in which the device is used will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the rack is placed in the tonneau of the vehicle 2 and secured through the medium of the bolts H. To

comprising an elongated frame including side and end members, said side members having longitudinal grooves in the outer sides of their end portions, substantially U-shaped extensions on the ends of the frame having their leg portions slidably engaged in the grooves, said leg portions of the extensions having spaced notches in the upper edges thereof, substantially U-shaped latches pivotally mounted for vertical swinging movement on the end portions of the frame and engageable in the notches for releasably securing the extensions against sliding movement, coil mount a casket, as at 30, on the device, the door tion to accommodate different lengths of caskets.v As hereinbefore stated, the stops 26 may be readily mounted on the extensions l1.

It is believed that the many advantages of a casket rack constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to beunderstood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed. v

What is, claimed is: 1. A casket rackof the character described springs connected to the latches for yieldingly securing said latches in the notches, rollers journaled transversely in the frame and in the extensions, and supporting legs mounted beneath the frame,

2. In combination with a passenger automobile of the closed body type having a floor, front and rear seats and a rear side door opening between the seats, an elongated casket rack mounted on the floor of, the automobile transversely of the body between the seats and removable endwise directly through said side door opening, said rack including a roller carrying frame having a pair of folding legs at each end hinged to swing longitudinally of the frame to unfolded position, braces rigidly connecting the lower ends of each pair of legs, further braces hinged to the intermediate portion of the frame and having their lower ends disposed to rest on the first-named braces when the legs are unfolded, plates. secured to the floor of the automobile, and bolts passing through the f braces and threaded into said plates to secure the legs 'in unfolded position and detachably fasten the rack to the floor.

MARK E. MILLER.

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