US565814A

US565814A - Top-adjuster for vehicles

Info

Publication number: US565814A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1896-08-11
Anticipated expiration: 1913-08-11

Description

(No Model.)

L. 0. SWEET.

TOP ADJUSTER FOR-VEHICLES.

No. 565,814. Patented Aug. 11, 1896,

the top is turned down.

NITED ST TES 'ATENT Fries.

LARNTINE C. SYVEET, OF LOAMI, ILLINOIS.

TOP-ADJUSTER FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 565,814, dated August 11, 1896.

Application filed November 29, 1895} Serial No. 570,503. (No model.)

To all, whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LARNTINE 0. SWEET, a citizen of the United States, residingat Loami, in the county of Sangamon and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Top- Adjuster for Vehicles, of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enable those skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use my said invention.

The purpose of my invention is to provide simple and effective means whereby the tops of vehicles may when raised be turned down or when turned down may be raised by the occupant of the vehicle without leaving his seat and without having to reach around on the outside of the sides of the top to break the joints by which the top is supported.

With this end in view my invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts shown in the annexed drawings, to which reference is hereby made and hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the top-adjuster in position on the vehicle-top when the top is raised. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the top-adj uster in position when Fig. 3 is an enlarged detached perspective view of part of the arched bar of the top-adjuster and shows the loop atone end of the bar, part of the loop being shown in section, so as to show the position of the rubber tubing on the loop. This View also shows the means for connecting the arched bar with the bow of the vehicle-top. Fig. i is an enlarged detached perspective view of one of the clamps and a portion of the bow of the vehicle-top to which it is attached, and shows the means for securing the clamp on the bow.

Similar letters of reference designate like parts in all of the views.

My top-adj uster is designed to be used with vehicles of any kind having tops which turn form to the arch of the vehicle-top. This bar has integral horizontal extensions 61 and integral curved extensions cl. The parts d are curved, as shown in Fig. 2, so that when the vehicle-top is turned down the hinged joints 0 of the vehicle-top may not strike against them. At thelower ends of the extensions d are integral loops 61 which are covered with rubber tubing d This tubing serves to retain the loops on the hinged joints 0 of the vehicle-top. It also serves as a cushion to prevent injury to the joints by the rubbing or striking of the loops thereon.

To facilitate the attachment of the bar D to the vehicle top, one side of each of the loops d? is left open, so that the joints C may be readily inserted between the ends of the loop. When the joints 0 are in place, the

rubber tubes (i are drawn on the loops, so as to extend across and close the space between the ends of the loops.

The clamp E consists of two abutting members eand 6 connected to 'etherb Y screws 6 Both of these members are longitudinally concave, as at 6 and are adapted to fit around the bows B in such manner that when the screws 6 are tightened the clamps will be firmly held on the bows. Each of the members c has a transverse notch 6 which accommodates the part d of the bar D, so that the bar will turn in the notches in the clamps Each of the members 6 has an internal longitudinal groove 6 It also has a transverse notch e The notch c accommodates the part cl of the rod D exactly as the notch 6 does, and the part d is retained in place by a key a of leather or other suitable material, fitting in the groove 6 and extending downward and part way around the part (1. Two notches e and e are provided in order that the rod D may be pivotally supported on either side of the bows B, as may be desired; also in order that in case that member which is supporting the rod D becomes broken the other member may be substituted for it.

The operation of the device is as follows: \Vhen the vehicle-top is raised and it is desired to turn it down, the occupant of the vehicle takes hold of the arched central part of the bar D and pulls it forward, so as to turn the bar in the notches e of the clamp E,

thereby causing the loops (Z on the parts d j to engage with the joints 0, so as to break the joints and permit the top to turn downward in an obvious manner. To raise the top, this operation is reversed.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A top-adjuster for vehicles, consisting of a transverse bar supported on and turning in clamps secured to the bows of a vehicletop and having curved extensions provided with loops adapted to engage With the joints of a vehicle-top, each of said loops having an opening in its side, and having a rubber tube extending across and closing said opening; as set forth.

2. In a top-adjuster for vehicles, clamps E LARNTINE C. SWVEET.

Witnesses:

L. G. SANBORN, G. W. KINNEY.