US2479591A - Adjusting device - Google Patents

Description

Aug 23, 1949. R. A. SHUTTLEWORTH 5 ADJUSTING DEVICE Filed Oct. 30, 1946 IN V EN TOR.

\ ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 23, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTING DEVICE Robert A. Shuttleworth, Buffalo, N. Y. Application October 30, 1946, Serial No. 706,718 I 2 Claims. (Cl. 287-541) This invention relates to an adjusting device for adjusting a movable member lengthwise on a supporting member which is round in cross section and more particularly to adjusting means whereby the stirrup of a racing sulky may be adjusted lengthwise on a thill of the same to suit the length of the legs of the driver or meet other variable conditions.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide adjusting means for the stirrups on the thills of sulkies or lik installations which is very simple and. compact in construction which is capable of being easily and quickly adjusted and which will securely hold the adjustable member in the required position.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of this invention used in connection with a thill and a stirrup of a racing sulky.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3-3, Fig. 1.

Although this invention may be used for adjusting members of various kinds which are movable relatively to one another and for accomplishing different purposes the same is shown in the instant example as one possible use of the invention in connection with a metal thill or supporting member l constituting part of the means for hitching a horse to a racing sulky and a metal stirrup or movable member II which is arranged on the inner side of the thill and which receives a foot of the driver while seated on the sulky. The stirrup may be of any suitable construction but the thill in the present case has the form of a longitudinal shaft which is tubular and round in cross section, as shown in Fig. 3.

Due to the variation in the length of the legs of the driver, it is necessary to adjust the position of each stirrup on its thill of the sulky relative to the seat of the same in order to permit him to assume the most comfortable position.

The adjusting means for accomplishing this purpose in accordance with the present invention are constructed as follows:

The numeral l2 represents a metal guiding and retaining rib or key of suitable length arranged lengthwise on the outer side of the thill and connected therewith by welding or otherwise.

On this thill is mounted a metal split sleeve l3 which surrounds th thill and has its inner side connected with the stirrup and provided on its outer side with a longitudinal slit forming two jaws M, M on opposite sides of the slit part of this sleeve which are arranged on opposite sides of the rib l2 which is arranged in this slit. When this sleeve is free the same is capable of sliding lengthwise on the thill and thus permits the stirrup connected with this sleeve to be adjusted into the desired position relative to the drivers seat on the sulky, but the interengagement of the rib on the thill and the slit in the sleeve prevents the latter and the stirrup from turning on the thill.

In order to hold the sleeve and stirrup in position on the thill after the same have been adjusted relatively to one another, the sleeve is contracted or drawn around the thill and its jaws I4 are gripped against opposite sides of the rib or key I 2, thereby clamping these members together and holding the stirrup against movement in a direction lengthwise of the sulky.

Clamping of the sleeve in this manner is accomplished by means which include two lips l5 projecting laterally from the outer side of the sleeve on opposite sides of the longitudinal slit therein, and a clamping screw l 6 connecting said lips at a distance outwardly from said jaws l4 and along the outer side of the rib l2 and preferably engaging its head I! with the upper side of the upper lip l 5 through the medium of an interposed washer |8 while the thread IS on its lower end engages a threaded opening in the companion lower lip, as shown in Fig. 3.

Stop means are provided whereby the clamping screw is enabled to exert a more effective pressure on the lips l5 without tending to distort the same. This is preferably accomplished by providing one of the lips l5 at its outer end with a stop lug 20 which engages with a stop surface 2| on the opposing outer end of the companion lip. Upon tightening the clamping screw the central parts of the two lips will be drawn together while the inner parts thereof adjacent to the jaws M will cause the sleeve to be contracted and the jaws pressed against opposite sides of the rib l2 and the outer ends of the lips will be held in a spaced relation and form a fulcrum which supports the lips and not only prevents the same from being distorted but also enables the jaws to grip the rib and hold the sleeve and stirrup securely in place without tightening the screw too hard.

This adjustable fastening is particularly desirable for use on sulkies and other installations which require compactness and non-interference with other parts which may be associated therewith and the same is also very strong and durable and not liable to get out of order under severe usage.

I claim as my invention:

1. A supporting rod which is cylindrical in cross section and provided on its periphery with a longitudinal rib, a sleeve adjustable lengthwise on said rod and provided with a longitudinal slit which receives said rib, lips projecting laterally from said sleeve on opposite sides of said slit, and a clamping screw connecting said lips on the outer side of said rib.

2. A supperting rod which--, is cylindrical in cross section and provided on its peripherywith a longitudinal rib, a sleeve adjustable lengthwise on said rod and provided with a longitudinal slit which receives said rib, lips projecting Mikel-ally from said sleeve on opposite sides of said slit, a stop lug arranged on the outer end of oneofsa-i'cf lips and engaging with the outer endoi the, other lip, and a clamping screw connecting said lips between said sleeve and said lug.

ROBERT A. SHUTTLEWORTH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 540,936 Williams June 11, 1895 585,963 Mercier July 6, 1897 1,795,747 Viken Mar. 10, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 358,506 Erance 1906

Images