US794219A - Adjustable dashboard. - Google Patents

Description

No. 794.219. PATENTED JULY 11, 1905.

' H. GOTTSCHALK.

ADJUSTABLE DASHBOARD.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7,1904.

- I I l nelssesf UNITED STATES Patented July 11, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

ADJUSTABLE DASHBOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 794,219, dated. July 11, 1905.

Application fil d November 7, 1904. Serial No. 231,785.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hueo GroTTsoHALK, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Reedsville, in the county of Mifliin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Dashboards, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in adjustable dashboards for vehicles; and the primary object thereof is to produce a device of this type which is extremely simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object of my invention is to provide a dashboard which can be readily swung to different adjustments without the requirement of the loosening of any nuts or other fastening means.

In carrying out my inventionI provide what might be termed hinged members, which have at their central portions friction members, the inner faces of which frictionally en gage, one another, so that the dashboard can be moved and held in its adjusted position by frictional engagement between said faces. It will be obvious that by tightening the securing element which passes between these friction members the dashboard can be made to work stiffer, or vice versa.

Further objects and advantages will be set forth in the following description and those features of novelty upon which I desire patent protection defined in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views, Figure I is a view in side elevation of the buggy constructed in accordance with my invention, the runninggear being removed. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View of the buggy-body, taken in the rear of the dashboard and looking toward the same. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in rear elevation of one of the corner-posts of the buggy-body with one of the hinges connected thereto. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the hinge. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the two hinge-sections, the same being disassembled, so as to show the construction of their inner faces. Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the relative positions of one of the hinges with respect to the forward end of the buggybody, the dashboard, and the corner-posts, parts being broken away.

In carrying out my invention I provide a plurality of hinges in the present case two being employed and it will be obvious that the number can be varied at will without making material alterations. Each of these two hinges comprises two members or sections, (indicated at 1 and 2,) the same at their adjacent ends overlapping one another and being formed with approximately circular heads, as 3 and 3.

The head 3 is provided with a small stud or pin 4, which operates in a segmental slot 5, formed in the inner face of the head 3.

Both of the heads 3 and 3 have their inner faces formed plain or smooth, so that there will be a snug engagement, and by means of a bolt 6, which passes through the two heads, I am enabled to secure the sections together in the manner more fully explained in the following.

1 preferably form the head 3 so that the same extends parallel to the body portion or leaf of the section 2, so that said body portion can be secured to the inner face of one of the corner-posts of the vehicle-body, as by bolts 7 or other means. (See Fig. 5.)

At the forward edge of the head 3 and at the juncture of said head with the body of its hinge-section I form a forwardly-projecting angular shoulder 8, which normally bears on the upper edge of the forward end of the vehicle-body, thus providing a material brace and reducing to a minimum any strain to which the bolts 7 might be subjected upon frequent manipulation of the dashboard.

The upper section 1 has its body portion disposed at approximately right angles to its head 3, so thatit can be readily secured to the inner face of the dashboard, as clearly shown in the drawings.

By reference to Fig. 4: it will be observed that the bolt 6 has its shank formed smooth, so as to be freely received in the bore of the head 3, which is also smooth; but the remaining portion thereof is threaded, and likewise the bore of the head 3 is threaded, so that while the head 3 by reason of its smooth bore engaging on the smooth portion of the bolt-shank is permitted to freely oscillate, the bolt is prevented from moving therewith, as it is held at two points-namely, in the screwthreaded bore of the head 3 and the nut 9, wlllich is removably secured on its projecting en For the purpose of illustration I have shown my improvement attached to the well-known box-body type of buggies; but it will be apparent that the same can be applied to any type of vehicle to which the same would be applicable.

In operation I provide a dashboard, as 10, which has its lower edge overlapping the outer face of the forward wall or end of the buggybottom, so that any water caught on the dashboard will be carried free of said front wall, and thus prevent it from leaking into the vehicle body. At each corner of the dashboard I secure the upper sections of the hinges, and the lower sections thereof I secure to the inner faces of the corner-posts of the vehiclebody, the shoulder 8 of each head of said lastnarned sections bearing on the upper edge of the forward end of the vehicle-body, as heretofore stated, and the nuts 9 are then adjusted to insure the exactness of suflicient friction between the inner faces of the heads 3 and 3 to enable the dashboard to be held in its various inclined positions to which it is adapted to be adjusted.

In order to limit the movement of the adjustment of the dashboard, I provide the pin 4 and groove 5 construction, which has been heretofore described, and the operation of which is believed to be clearly apparent.

My invention is especially adapted for shielding an occupant of the vehicle from rain, which usually drips from the forward portion of the buggy-top, and, as will be apparent by inspection of Fig. 1, the dashboard being shown in dotted lines at a'proper position for accomplishing these functions, the water will be caught by the dashboard and will run down the same to a point in advance of the front wall of the vehicle-body.

A further advantage resulting from the foregoing is that the dashboard can be moved or swung to a rearward inclination, so as to be out of the way of the vehicle-shafts when the same are swung to an upward position, as is the usual practice.

In the drawings I have shown a construc tion capable of carrying out the functions assigned to it; but it will be obvious that I do not wish myself to be restricted to various details, and I therefore reserve the right to make such alterations and changes as-fall within the scope of the appended claim.

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

In a device of the type set forth, a hinge comprising two sections formed at their adjacent ends with horizontal heads having smooth inner faces, a stud secured to the inner face of one of said heads, the inner face of the other head being formed with a segmentary slot in which said stud is received, a bolt passingthrough said heads, and the angular shoulder formed on the forward edge of one of said heads, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HUGO GOTTSCHALK. Witnesses:

DAVIS I'IENRY, EMME'IT E. BIGELOW.

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