US1758988A - Automobile hood clamp - Google Patents

Description

May 20, 1930. w. TuRNwALD I AUTOMOBILE HOODl CLAMP Filed Dec. 7, 1927 fzenor' Waff] Mrz/dam,

Patented May 20, 1930 l UNITED STATES WOLFGANG TURNWALD, oF sYRAoUsE, NEW YORK y AUTOMOBILE noon VGLAM'P Application med December 7, 1927. 'serial No; 233,266.

VMy invention relates to automobile hood clamps. The object is to provide an improved clamp which uses both spring 'force and spring reaction for holding down the hood,

and which also locates and holds the sidewiseV position of the hood walls independently of its normal support. The device causes tension on the spring in opposite directions upon the upward movement n of the hood, thus greatly increasing the holding force of the spring. This force is still further increased by properly proportioning the opposite ends of the lower catch with respect to its fulcrum; and the increased leverage thus secured upon the lower lug or catch facilitates the engage ment of the clamp with the upper lug or catch. Automobile hoods usually areheld down by means of fourclamps and are supported by the radiator shell and car body. Lacing is used in most cases to give the hood an elastice or resilient support and to prevent squeaks and rattles.

lVhen driving over rough roads the hood is in constant motion. Due to the flexibility of the car frame the radiator is displaced with respect to the body with a resultant sliding of the hood on its supports. Also the sides of the hood are subject to an up-and down movement. Most of the hood clamps, now in use, derive their holding force from a spring contained in the clamp; the reaction force of the spring being used to press the lower ends of the hood against their supports. While threaded wing nuts have been used to engage the clamp, most clamps to-day are made to hook on, this latter method being more convenient. In order to make the hooking oper ation easy the spring force which can be used is limited, and in most cases is insufficient to properly hold the hood down. The pressure exerted against the hood lace, particularly at the lower part of the sides, wears the lace out with the result of a rattly hood.

In order to overcome somel of the above mentioned difficulties I have designed a hood clamp which uses both, spring force and spring reaction force for holding d own purposes and which at the same time locates the sides of the hood independently of its support. this way wearing 'out of thev hood lace should lbe eliminated entirely. Holding down the hood, aside fromthe doubledforce,

will further be facilitated dueto 'the .increased deiection of the spring, in case the Vhood should move up slight-ly. As compared with` the customary clamps, the spring in my clamp is deflected twice as much or more for the same movement of the hood, it therefore is equivalent to a spring twice assti.

My clamp comprisesa double armed lever, one end vof which engages the hood while the other end connects with the hook and kspring assembly. By changing the ratio of the dous ble armed lever with respect to its fulcrum, the holding down force may be increased for a'give'n springforce.

, Referring to the drawings which illustrate merely by Way of vexample a suitable embodiment Aof my invention i n Fig. 1 isan elevation of my clamp showing adjacent parts in section, the open position. beingshown in brokenlines: j i Y. Y Fig. 2 is a par-t plan part section online 2,2ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an `elevation of a modification.

Fig.-.4 is a part plan part section on line 4, lof Fig. 3. Y v Y Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The side walls 7 of the hood are provided with the bifurcated hooks or lugs A,8, for engagement with the usual engaging lat-ching memberv 9. This latching member 9Vis associated with the cylinder 10, housing uthe spring 11 which is effective between the upper end ofrod 12 and the lower end of the cylinder. The lower .end of rod 12.7.is provided withthe head 18 which-cooperates with the outer jend 14:V of levermember 15, ,whichl is pivoted at 16 to the stationary lug 17. The inner'end 18 of leverlfl "is provided with the hook formation 19V for `engaging or latching a pin or other suitable lelement 20 secured to the lower part of the'hood 7. All as shown 'in Figs. 1 and 2.V

In Figs. 3 and (4 ithe construction is substantially the saine except that the lever 15 is provided with la pin 21 adapted to engage the hook 22 secured to the lower part of hood 7.

It will be noted that the extension 14 of the lever 15 is greater than the extension 18 from the pivot or fulcrum 16.

In operation; when the handle 23 of element 9 is lifted from the position shown in broken line-s in F ig. 1, the end 18, having the hook 19 or pin 21, immediately engages locks with the pin 20 or hook 22 and draws down the hood 7, which action is facilitated by the leverage secured by the position of the fulcrum of said lever 15. rl`his greatly adds to the ease in engaging or latching the upper element 9 with the bifurcated hook or lug 8.

It will also be noted that any upward movement of the hood, when the two catches are secured, will tend to pull down on the spring 11, which is already exerting a spring tension on the element 9. Thus an increased spring tension is exerted to prevent upward movement of the hood.

It will also be noted that the engagement of the hook and pin means of the lower clamp or catch element secures the position of the lower margin of the hood wall away from and independent of any supporting means, thus preventing wear of the lacing and also preventing rattling of the hood against the usual supporting walls.

What I claim is l. In a device of the character described, the combination of upper and lower fixed latching elements and cooperating upper and lower movable latching elements, and means for exerting spring tension between said movable latching elements, the parts so arranged that the lower cooperating fixed and movable elements will come into latching engagement prior to the engagement of the upper fixed and movable latching elements.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of upper and lower fixed latching formations and cooperating upper and lower movable latching elements, means for exerting spring tension between said movable elements, and means for magnifying the power exerted by the spring upon the latching action of the lower element.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of upper and lower fixed latching elements and cooperating upper and lower movable latching elements, the lower movable element adapted to exert a downwardly directed force upon the hood before the engagement of the upper elements, and means for magnifying the said force exerted by said lower movable element relatively to the initial force applied.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of upper and lower fixed latching elements, cooperating upper and lower movable latching elements, the lower IVOLFGANG TURNWALD.

movable element comprising a pivoted lever, I

one end of which is adapted to engage the

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