US642215A - Vehicle-step. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Jan. 30, I900:

E. A. 0. ERIKSDN.

VEHICLE STEP. (A ipliation filed June 2 1899 (No Model.)

0 m. m w .6 Z h rr TTES PATENT FFICE EDUARD AUGUST OLEF ERIKSON, OF HILLSBOROUGII, TEXAS.

VEHICLE-STEP.

SPECIFICATION fo ming part of Letters Patent No. 642,215, dated January 30, 19 00.

Application filed June 2, 1899. Serial No. 719,105. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that l, EDUARD AUGUST OLEF ERIKSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hillsborough, in the county of Hill and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Vehicle-Step, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to Vehicle steps which are capable of being swung out of the way so as to avoid obstructions in the road, and has for its object to provide certain new and useful improvements in the manner of mounting the step, whereby the latter is normally held in its proper position for use.

To this end the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction may be made within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a carriage having the improved step fitted thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of the forward side of the step, illustrating the manner of mounting the same. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the bearing-brackets, having a stop adapted to hold the step in its normal position.

Corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings are designated by like characters of reference.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2 of the ac companying drawings, it will be seen that the step comprises a vertical standard 1, having a 1aterally-extending arm or branch 2, located at its lower end and adapted to support the stepplate 3. At the upper end of the standard and extending laterally therefrom in a direction opposite to that of the arm 2 is a bearing-arm 4, and pendent from the outer end of the bearing-arm is an inwardly-inclined brace 5, connected to the standard 1 intermediate of the ends thereof. The upper portion of the standard 1 is provided with a lateral offset or bend G, which is located in the plane of the standard and its bearing-arm it. It is preferable to form the standard 1, the

bearing-arm 4, and the brace 5 in a single casting; or they may be bent from a single rod and the lower extremity of the inclined brace 5 welded or otherwise secured to the adjacent rear side of the standard.

In mounting the step to a carriage 7 the bearing-arm 4 is located transversely across the lower side of the bottom 8 of the earriage, with the step-plate 3 projecting a suitable distance outward and beyond the adjacent outer side of the carriage-body, and is connected thereto by means of bearing-brackets 9 and 10, respectively, which embrace the arms 4: and are connected to the under side of the bottom of the carriage by means of suitable fastenings 11. These brackets are of substantially the same form, and, as indicated in Fig. 3, are formed from a single plate or strap of metal bent intermediate of its ends to provide a bearing socket or depression 12 and the opposite attaching-ears 13, which are provided with suitable openings 14 to receive the fastening devices 11. The sockets 12 are adapted to loosely embrace the bearing-arm t, the bracket 9 being located at the outer end of the arm and adapted to engage the adjacent side of the upper end of the inclined brace 5, While the bracket 10 is located at the opposite end of the armat and adapted to engage the inner side of the bent or ofiset portion 6 of the standard 1, whereby the step is conveniently held against movement longitudinally of the arm 4 and transversely of the carriage. By reason of the construction hereinbefore described it will be understood that the step is capable of a lateral swinging movement longitudinally of the carriage, so that should the step encounter an obstruction it will swing rearwardly and upwardly, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, thereby clearing said obstruction and preventing breakage or damage to the step.

In order that the step may be held in its normal position, the outer bearing-bracket 10 is provided with a pendent stop-shoulder 15, which is located at the outer edge of the bracket and immediately in advance of the socket or depression 12, whereby the bent or offset portion 6 of the standard 1 is adapted to engage against the adjacent side of the stop 15, whereby the step is prevented from swinging forward beyond its normal position after it has cleared an obstruction. As indicated in Fig. 3, it will be seen that the stopshoulder 15 is formed by bending downwardly a portion of the plate or is cast integral therewith.

What I claim is- In a device of the class described, the combination with a stop having an upright standard, a lateral bearing-arm extending from the upper end of the standard, and a downwardly-inclined brace connecting the outer end of the bearing-arm with the standard, of attaching brackets loosely embracing the bearing-arm and adapted to connect the latter to a vehicle-body, one of the brackets being located at the rear end of the bearingarm and in engagement with the inclined brace, and the other bracket being located at the opposite outer end of said arm and in engagement with the standard, whereby longi tudinal movement of the bearing-arm is prevented, the outer bracket being provided with a pendent stop-shoulder located in advance of the bearing-arm and in normal engagement with the forward side of the standard, substantially as and for the purpose set forth; In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

'EDUARD AUGUST OLEF ERIKSON Witnesses:

R. P. Row, L. N. MARTIN.

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