US1144874A - Form for front and rear or automobile-tops. - Google Patents

Description

A; H. STOKES. FORM FOR FRONT AND REAR 0F AUTOMOBILE TOPS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I, 1914.

Patented June 29, 1915.

@ H II ion -/ITTOR/VEY8 WITNESSES q (QMQW ARTHUR STOKES, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN:

FORM FOR FRONT AND REAR OF AUTOMOBILE-TOPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29, 1%15.

Application filed an 1, 1914. Seria1No.842,05/.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Aatrncn ii. STOKES, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Detroit, in the county ct Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented new and Improved Forms for Front and Rear of Automobile-Tops, ofwhich the following is a full, clea.r, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for shaping or roiuiding the'front and rear portions of automobile or other vehicle tops and more partirailarly to forms for such purpose.

The essential object of the invention is evolved by the provision of shaping devices of the class described contructed of suitable sheet material-such as very thin metal, shaped to therequired design. to cause the front and rear portions of a vehicle top to take a rounding shape whereby a very desirable style and appearance is produced, as well as providing nieans permitting reinforcement of the cover or hood of the top at these particular points.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention resides in thepeculiar combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed, it being also an object to provide a device which is simple in construction, durable and el'licient.

Reference is to be had to the accon'ipanying drawings torining a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle top equipped with the irnprovenwnt; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a fragmentary portion of a form constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig, 2 concluding with the complete devim as shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4. is a detail view of a. nlodilicd form of the device.

in illustrating the application of the forms for front and rear of HlltUlliOlJllG or ether vehicle tops, the body portion 10 of a vehicle. is shown having a folding top 11 preferably constructed in accordal'ice with the description set up in my co-pending application Ser al No. 8et7,649,filed June 27, 1914. Ordinarily the front and rearfportions of the cover or hood 12X when bent around the bows 13 and let form abrupt ends not desired in vehicle tops anditthich often result in the destruction and wearing of the cover or hood at these particular points due a to the constant strain thereon and especially when the top is folded. To obviate these diliiculties I provide the :l'orming or shaping member 15 at the front of the top and the forming or shaping member 16 at the rear of the top. These devices or members are preferably constructed of some sheet material such as thin sheet metal sufficient to sustain the strain and weight placed thereon without materially adding to the weight of the top, and as shown, the device 15 is of quadrantal cross section or substantially that of a quarter segment of a circle with a convex face portion 17 causing the cover or hood to be rounded. The device is fastened to the bow H, as shown at 18, and may be constructed of a single section pressed or molded into shape or of an intermediate section 19 and end section 20 joined thereto by brazing, weldii'ig; or otherwise, as shown in Fig. i: of the drawings.

The forming or shaping device at the rear of the top is of larger curvature and like the rounded end portions provided for the form 15 is provided with rounded end portions 21 and straight portions 22 extending from its curved corner portion 23 forward and rearwardly respectively. In order to attach this form to the bow 13 it is provided intermediate or between its longitudinal edges with a plurality of alternately arranged longitudinal slots 24 and apertures 25, at either side of the latter of which similar apertures 26 are also provided. The bow is disposed bcneathsaid slots and apertures or the form arranged to bring the parts in this relation with the ends of the bows conforming; to the curls of the form or shaping device and with braces 27 secured to the inner face of the form at spaced distances through the apertures 26. After the application of the form to the how the braces will contact with the inner face of the bow at the arch thereof and are socured in position as by means of fastening devices or rivets 28 passing through the apertures 25, the bow and corresponding, apertures in the braces.

The braces are mainly of angular form but between their extremities and the intermediate portion are bowed or made convexly tening means passing through the slots 24 at the proper intervals allowed by the provision of these slots, the front and rear portions will be rounded and supported, as is more particularly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. When the top is folded, the forms accommodate or produce housings for the bows. This is preferable as it makes the top fold up more neatly and completely, thus reducing the bulky appearance of the top when folded. In this manner the rounded form piece on the rear bow serves as a mold for the slip-cover of the top when folded, thus enhancing the appearance of the car and giving a curved appearance to the lower part of the folded top to accord with the lower part of the body at the back of the car.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. The combination with a vehicle top provided with bows; of a convexly arcuate shaping device extended transversely across said top at one end thereof and having end members arranged longitudinally of said top and means for securing the device to the respective bow.

2. The combination with a vehicle top provided with bows; of a convexly arcuate shaping device extended transversely across said top at one end thereof and having end members arranged longitudinally of said top, the connection of the end members being rounded to shape a cover, and means for securing said device and cover to the respective bow.

- 3. In a form for automobile tops, the combination .with a bow; of a sheet metal device shaped in convex form and bent lengthwise to fit the curvature of the bow and having a plurality of openings arranged longitudinally therein, and means for securing the vehicle top; of a former to cause the cover of the top to take a rounding effect, said former comprising a sheet metal member conveXly bent with rounded ends and having a plurality of longitudinal slots and intermediate openings,, braces connecting the former to a bow, and a cover attached to the bow through the slots.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. I

ARTHUR H. STOKES.

'Witnesses INA MATHESON, DUNCAN L. LIVINGSTON.

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