US360208A - Carriage-top - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GILBERT 'l. COOLEY, OF SYRACUSE, NE\V YOFK.

CARRIAGE-TOP.

EPBCIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 360,208, dated March 29, 1887.

V Application filed December-1, 1886. Serial No. 220,359. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GILBERT T. COOLEY, of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State ofNew York, have invented new and use ful Improvements in Carriage-Tops, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to the class of carriage-tops which are adapted to be thrown from an erect position back and folded con1- pactly in a rearwardly-inclined and open position; and the invention consists in a novel construction and combination of parts which effectually sustain the top in its erect position, and hold the cover and lining thereof perl'ectly taut and smooth without the use of the usual moss or excelsior padding which heretofore has been introduced between the cover and inner lining of the top.

The invention is fully illustrated in the annexed drawings, wherein Figure l is a side view of the frame of my improved carriage-top, showing it in its erect position by full lines and in its folded position by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the top proper, with the cover and inside lining attached thereto; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section on lines a 00, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspending parts.

A represents the central main supportingbow of the top, said bow being pivoted at its feet to short posts a, rigidly secured to the front portions of the sides of the carriage-seat B, which constitutes the base of the top, the pivots of said bow allowing it to swing from a vertical position rearward to recline on the usual prop-blocks, b,on the rear portions of the sides of the seat or base 13, as represented by dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings. To the feet of the bow A are hinged or pivoted the feet of the front main bow, C, and back main bow, D, and the upper part of the latter is connected with the rear portion of the base B by the usual flexible back stays, E.

F is ajointed brace pivoted at its lower end to the bolt of the prop-block b, or to some other suitable support on the rear portion of the side of the base 13. The upper end of said brace is pivoted to the upper end of the vertical portion of the bow A, and the central portion of the brace is provided with the usual knuckle-joint, c.

F is another knuckle-jointed brace pivoted at its rear end to the same stud or bolt on the bow, A, to which the braceF is pivoted. The forward end of the brace F is hinged to the upper end of the vertical portion of the front bow, C.

d d d represent intermediate short bows extending across the top proper,and terminating at points in lines along the upper parts of the sides of the carriage-top. Theseintermediate bows are connected with the main bows O, A, and D by flexible stays 0e, usually designated side quarters, consisting of strips of sailcloth extended along the sides of the top at the extremities of the intermediate bows, and tacked or otherwise firmly secured thereto and to the main bows. Anotherstay, .e, ofthe same material may be secured to the central portions of the aforesaid bows, or said stays may be extended diagonally across the top.

The attachment of the aforesaid flexible stays completes the frame of the carriage-top.

The usual cover, t, and inside lining, Z, are to be tacked or otherwise suitably secured to the main bows and intermediate bows in such a manner that when the carriage-top is erect, as shown by full lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the aforesaid cover and lining shall be taut and smooth. It will be observed that in this manner I dispense with the usual padding of moss or eXcelsior between the lining and cover, and the top is thus made to present a much neater appearance, and can be folded more compactly.

The inclination of the main bows O D in opposite directions from the feet of the bow A, together with the braces F F, and backstays, E, serve to effectually sustain the top proper in a distended position.

Having described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

The combination, with the main supportingbows, of the short intermediate bows extending across the topsproper and terminating. of two attesting witnesses, at Syracuse, in the at the upper parts of the sides, and the flexible county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, :0 side quarters, e e, secured to the main bows this 27th day of November, 1886.

and to the ends of the intermediate bows and 5 supporting the latter, substantially as de- GILBERT GOOLEY' scribed and shown. WVitnesses:

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed H. P. DENISON, my name and affixed my seal, in the presence 0. BENDIXON.

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