US1952818A - Folding top for rumble seats - Google Patents

Description

March 27, 1934. s NEWTON, JR 1,952,818

FOLDING TOP FOR RUMBLE SEATS Filed April 28. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l TRHCY S. NEWTON,QTR.

rah 27 1934. T. s. NEWTQN, J

FOLDING TOP FOR RUMBLE SEATS Filed April 28, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 27, 1934. T. s. NEWTON. JR 1,952,813

' FOLDING TOP FOR RUMBLE SEATS Filed April 28. 1950 s Sheets-Sheet s Moe/wt "l'RAcy 5. NEWTON, J

Patented Mar. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims.

My present application is a continuation in part of my application filed January 3, 1928, Serial No. 244,131, and like such application, is directed to an invention in folding tops for rumble seats.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a top which may be applied to automobiles in use, or at the time of manufacture, and which can be quickly opened or raised to position for use, and which can be instantly folded out of use and contained snugly in the back of the automobile. 7

Another object of my invention is the provision of a folding or collapsible top which can be easily stored or placed in position for use, and which will, when in use, make a perfect top and conform to the general outline of the automobile, in order that an attractive and ornamental appearance will be assured.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a folding top which can be easily adjusted to the desired position, and which can be produced at such a small cost as to make its use highly desirable.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a folding top which will possess merit and advantages in point of simplicity and durability, ease of operation, and which in all particulars will prove efiicient, desirable and practicable.

A further object is to provide a folding top for rumble seats which in collapsed condition may be stored between the seat and back of the rumble, and which from such stored position may be raised, and either extended to form a top for the rumble seat, or swung bodily to a position behind the seat back, for entirely clearing the rumble seat, to thereby allow of ready ingress and egress therefrom, and to allow passengers to use the rumble seat without a top is so desired.

A further object is to provide in connection with such top a side curtain construction which will effectively enclose the rumble seat space and protect the occupants thereof from the elements.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for detachably connecting the top structure, when in extended position, to the original top of the vehicle in such manner as to render the joint between the permanent and folding top weather proof.

Another object is to provide a side curtain construction which may be quickly attached to and detached from the folding top structure, and which utilizes the rain gutter around the deck opening in providing a weather proof enclosure for the rumble seat.

t A further object of the invention is to provide a rumble seat top having details of construction directed to economy in manufacture, and efficiency and reliability in operation.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, which show one of the forms which the invention may take, with certain modifications,-

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of an automobile of the coup type having a rumble seat with my folding top applied, and shown in position for use.

Figure 2 represents a side elevation on a larger scale of the frame work of my folding top, showing parts of the seat and the permanent top.

Figure 3 represents a top plan view, on a smaller scale than Figure 2, with the central parts broken away, for compactness of illustration, of the top in extended position, the cover being removed.

Figure 4 represents a side elevational View, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the top frame work, showing the gear connection between the front or inner parallel bars forming a portion of the forward frame section, and the upper branches of the braces.

Figure 5 represents a top plan view of Figure 4.

Figure 6 represents a fragmentary view in side elevation showing the form that the top rear cross member may take when formed of metal, instead of the wooden form shown in Figure 2.

Figure '7 represents a side view of the frame shown in folded or collapsed position and out of use down between the rumble seat and its back.

Figure 8 represents a side view of the frame when it has been raised out of the stored position of Figure '7, after the rumble seat has been raised, and swung bodily upward about the links in position to either be extended to top supporting position of Figure 2, or to be swung to the position behind the seat back illustrated in Figure 10.

Figure 9 represents a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, on the line 9-9 of Figure 3, showing the connection between the collapsible top and the original car top.

Figure 10 represents a side view of the frame shown in folded or collapsed condition, and disposed in rear of the hinged back of the seat.

Figure 11 represents a fragmentary top plan view of the rear portion of the original car top and the front portion of the frame,'in detached condition, showing the difference in curvature between these parts. In this form both the original top is curved, and the front cross memoer or bar of the top, the curvature of the latter being on a greater radius than the curvature of the top.

Figure 12 represents a view similar to Figure 11. in which the back of the original top is straight. In this instance, the front cross member or bar of my folding top is curved in the reverse direction to that shown in Figure 11.

Figure 13 represents a view similar to Figure 4, showing a modified form of means for holding the forward frame section in braced position when the top is extended.

Figure 14 represents a top plan View of the parts shown in Figure 13.

Figure 15 represents a fragmentary vertical sectional View showing a connection of the top to the rumble seat back particularly adaptable to Ford cars.

Figure 16 represents a side elevational view of my top, extended in position with the top material and the side curtains on.

Figure 1'? represents a fragmentary cross section on the line 17-18, 1718 of Figure 16, showing the manner of fastening the top material and side curtains, such view looking forwardly.

Figure 18 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View along the line 17-18, 1'7l8 of Figure 16, looking to the rear.

Figure 19 represents a perspective view of the top in extended position with the top material and side curtains on.

In referring to the drawings, it will be understood that my folding top is particularly designed for use in connection with the coupe or roadster type of automobile 1, which is equipped with the rumble seat structure composed of the seat 2 (Figure 7), and the hinged back 3, although the top may be used in any situation where it would perform its functions in an eflicient manner.

The top is of simple construction, and includes the pair of front or inner parallel bars 4 which,

when the top is open, are in a horizontal position and lie close to the usual or original top 5 of the automobile. The bars 4 have their inner ends pivoted in the outer ends of the boxes '7 of the rectangular frame 8, said bars 4 carrying gear wheels 9 which mesh with racks 10. These racks are carried on the upper ends 11 of the upper branches 12 of the brace members, the lower branches of which are indicated at 14. The branches 12 and 14 are pivotally connected together at 13, and brace the frame when in extended position.

The front bars 4 may be connected at their forward ends by a cross member or cross bar 6 to form a forward frame section. This section is hinged to the rear frame section 8, which includes the pair of side bars and the central cross bar 8' of the frame as a whole. The side bars of the rear frame section 8 at their rear ends are pivoted as at 15, to the upper ends of the pair of back bars 16, the lower ends 17 of which are pivoted to the lower ends of the braces and to the upper ends of the curved links 18. Such links at their lower ends are pivoted at 19 to the fastenings or supports 20, which are fastened to the hinged back 3 of the rumble seat below the upper edge thereof, and form the anchorage for the top. The back bars with their cross bar 7 16 form a back frame section to which the rear frame section is pivoted.

From this construction it will be noted that I provide the forward frame'sectim, nc ud g e pair of front supporting bars, the open frame forming the rear top support and the pair of twopart braces, and that the folding of these braces rearward causes the racks 1O thereon to turn the pinions or gear wheels 9 cf the bars 4 to fold said bars back upon the frame 8, and also causes the rear frame 8, together with the forward frame folded thereon, to fold down against the back bars 16. Thisoperation brings the parts into the position shown in Figure 8, in which the frame members and back bars are collapsed in overlapping position so as to occupy a minimum of space. The moving inward or forward of the braces from this position, causes the frame to open and assume the position shown in Figures 1 and 2. The racks and the gears are in the correct ratio (about 1 to 5) to throw the forward frame 4 into its folded position with reference to the rear frame 8 as such brace assumes its folded position with reference to the rear bars 16. When the top is in extended position, the forward frame 4 will not move, should the top be swung backwardly about the pivots at the upper ends of the links, and hence it is possible to move the top backwardly about such pivots while in extended position, in order to allow one to get in or out of the seat without having to fold the top.

The frame structure is covered with a suitable cover material 24 which folds with the frame sections, and is extended when the latter are ex tended.

From the position of Figure 8, the top may be swung bodily backward and downward around the pivots which connect the lower ends of the braces, the lower end of the back frame, and the upper ends of the links 18 together, to position the frame at the rear of the rumble seat back, so that the entire rumble seat space is clear of obstruction, except for the links 18 and their supports 20, to thereby provide for ready entrance to and egress from the rumble seat space, and to allow maximum room for the piling of baggage or packages upon the rumble seat, and against the upholstery of the back thereof, should this be desired and also to allow for the use of the rumble seatforpassengers, without topif so desired. The presence of the supports 20 and the links 18 will not interfere with this, since the supports and lower ends of the links when in this position, do not project beyond the forward surface of the upholstery, the supports being comparatively short, as shown in Figure 10. The links, it will be noted, are of such length that when in the raised position of Figures 2, 8 and 10, the upper ends will be positioned-above the upper edge of the seat back, so that the frame is free to swing downwardly to occupy a position substantially parallel with and to the rear of the back of the seat. This is allowed also by the position of the pivots connecting the frame with the upper ends of the links being to the rear of the plane of the seat back.

From the position of Figure 8 also, the frame, together with the links 18, may be swung bodily downwardly to a storage position between the seat and back, as shown in Figure 7, the frame being bodily lowered by the links in assuming this position. This entirely clears the upper edge of the seat back so that it may, without hinderance,

fold into its closed position with reference to the deck of the rumble. The curved links are arranged within the lateral edges of the seat back, and the frame work does not extend beyond such edges, so that it will pass through the opening in the deck without hinderance, to allow the seat back to assume its fully closed position. Figure 3 illustrates the width of the frame as compared to the rumble seat back and deck opening, 27 being the gutter around the opening which defines the dimensions thereof.

From the foregoing it will be noted that the folding top supporting structure carrying the top as a whole, is pivoted to the pair of curved links 18 at their upper ends, while the lower ends of said links are pivoted to the pair of securing brackets or supports 20 which are rigidly mounted on and movable with the hinged back, and this is a feature of para mount importance as it allows the frame with the top material to be bodily raised upon the links to a position from which it may be extended upwardly and forwardly for use, or may be swung in collapsed position backwardly and downwardly and disposed in the rear of the back seat where it is out of the way and where if desired it may be protected by a suitable covering, and a position from which it can be folded or collapsed and bodily lowered by the links to a storage position between the seat and back when the latter is closed down, all of which insures a practical and useful device of this character.

The heels 18, at the upper end of the links 18, co-operating with similar heels at the lower ends of the rear bars 16, maintain the top when in raised position, either collapsed, as in Figure 8, or extended as in Figure 2, against folding forwardly around the pivots which connect the braces, rear bars, and the links together. In being lowered rearwardly and backwardly, to assume its position behind the seat back, the top supporting frame pivots in such relationship with the links that the heels sparate, so as not to interfere with these movements. There are also co-operating heels 18 between the lower ends of the links and the supports 20, which prevent the links from folding backwardly from the raised position, but permit them to pivot forwardly and downwardly to carry the frame to storage position.

The supports 20 may pass through the seat back and caps 20 may be screwed on their pro- J'ecting ends up against the seat back to hold them tightly in position. In Figure 15 I have shown a construction particularly adaptable for Ford cars of the Model A type, and in this construction a shoe 35 is shaped to fit against the inwardly projecting flange 36 of the metal seat back at the top of the upholstery 37, such shoe abutting against a shoulder 38 formed where the reduced shank 39 merges with the larger portion of the support 20, to thereby form an even bearing surface for the shoulder and cooperate with the flange and back metal section of the seat back in rigidly maintaining the support. Where the seat back is of such construction that it forms a bearing surface for the shoulder 8, the shoe may be dispensed with.

The upper ends of the back bars 16 may be bent slightly forwardly and provided with a rear cross bar 16' supporting a cross member of wood 16 for shaping the top material where it folds over the corner formed at this point. Or, if desired, the upper ends of the back .bars may be curved forwardly as indicated in Figure 6, and connected by a transversely curved metal cross member 16 to shape the top. Brackets 38 may be used to connect the rear pivots of the frame 8 with the upper ends of the back bars.

If desired, the-upper ends of the brace members 12, and the racks 10, may be connected by a cross rod similar to the rod 33, shown in Figure 14, to insure the brace members pivoting in unison with reference to the frame 8, to ease the break of the brace rearwardly on one side of the frame, when the brace on the opposite side thereof is broken. The braces on both sides will break when that on one side is broken, without the use of the rod, due to the transmission of motion through the forward frame, but the use of the rod will be advantageous in easing this operation, by transmitting the motion directly from one rack to the other, thus doing away with any drag should the forward frame 1 tend to twist, which drag would tend to interfere with the simultaneous operation of the gearmg.

I may, instead of using the rack and gear connection between the front and rear sections of the top frame, utilize an arrangement illustrated in Figures 13 and 14. In this form, the boxes which house the gears are dispensed with, and the forward end of the rear frame 8 is provided with the out-turned stops 34 which limit the forward or extending movement of the front frame 4 with reference to the rear frame 8. The rear ends of the side bars of the front frame 4, in this instance, are provided with the disks 31 having the notches 3l',into which the ends of hooks32 connected with the upper ends of the brace members 12 engage when the top frame work is in extended position, as indicated in Figure 13. This inter-engagement of the disks and hooks retains the frame sections 4 and 8 in locked position until the braces are broken. When this occurs, the movement of the brace members 12 will withdraw the hooks from the notches in the disks, allowing the forward frame member to be folded back upon the rear frame member 8 and the latter to be folded down upon the back bars. The cross rod 33 connecting the hooks 32 insure the simultaneous action of the latter in locking and unlocking the frame work.

I may provide a detachable connection between the forward frame of my rumble seat top, and the original top 5 of the machine, and in doing this, I may utilize the pieces 22, fastened to the rear faces of the forward cross bar 6, and extending therebelow, in conjunction with the studs 21 fastened to the original top, the lower ends of the pieces 22 being slotted or recessed. as at 22' to fit over the rear reduced and threaded ends of the studs and to be locked thereagainst by the threaded knobs 39. This construction is shown in Figure 9. The studs may be fastened to the original top by having their forward ends reduced and threaded and passed through openings made therein, to be secured on the inside by the lock washers and nuts, indicated at 40. The construction illustrated is one which will be found r of a curvature which is less than the curvature of 1 the rear wall of the original top, as illustrated in Figure 11, or when the rear wall of the original top is straight, of a curvature reversed to that of Figure 11, as shown in Figure 12, the curvature in each instance being such that before attachment the nearest point of the front bar to the Original top occurs between the studs 2l,as illustrated in these figures, and use a weather strip 23 extending the length of the front bar, which strip is sewed to the cover material 24 where the latter extends over the forward face of the bar. In either instance, when the pieces 22 are fitted over the studs, and the knobs 39 screwed down, the front bar, in assuming the curvature of the original top in the case of Figure 11, or in straightening out in the case of Figure 12, clamps the weather strip 23 against the permanent top and squeezes it tight 'to make a water proof connection. The central portion of the weather strip may be higher in the middle of the bar and slope off towards its ends, so as to form a drain for throwing the water to both sides of the top. The weather strip may be in the nature of rubber or rubber covered material, sewed to the top covering material where the latter folds over the forward face of the cross piece 6.

The top material 24 at its forward edge, where it folds over the forward and under edges of the cross bar 6, is attached to the'rear face of such cross bar by a suitable number of snap fasteners 41, one of which is shown in Figure 17. The lat eral edges of the top material may lap over the forward and rear frame sections 4 and 8, respectively, to be connected thereto by the snap fasteners 42. The cover material extends down over the back frame section, to be attached by suitable fasteners 43 to the back bars 16 thereof, and when the top is extended, the rear edge of the top material is preferably attached to the rear face bf the seat back 3 near the upper edge of the latter, by suitable snap fasteners 44. At the corner formed by the rear and back frame sections, the top material extends down in a triangular piece .24 to hang on the inside of the brace members 12-44, and the lower edge of this triangular piece preferably takes the general conformation of the brace members. The notches 45 and id-are provided in the material to allow the triangular section to extend on the inside of the braces. When the top is to be folded for storage purposes, the 'fastenings 44. are undone. The top material can then fold with and be stored with the frame-work. It will be understood that the fastening of the rear edge of the top material to the seat back, is not a necessity, but may be practiced to make a more weather-proof connection. The lower extremities of the triangular pieces 24. may, if desired, be attached by snap fasteners 47 to the side pieces of the frame which encloses the seat back upholstery 37, where such frame is utilized, as indicated in Figure 18, but this likewise is not a necessity, being done merely for the purposes of making a more snug enclosure.

In ordinary weather the top material will form sufficient protection to the occupants of the rumble seat. In stormy weather, however, it is desirable to use side curtains, and these I have provided. They appear in Figures 1619 at 25. These curtains at their upper edges are detachably connected with the side bars of the forward frame section 4 by means of hooks 30, the upper edges of the side curtains preferably extending up beyond the lower edges of the side edges of the top material. The side curtains are cut on the bias at their rear upper portions to overlap the lower edges of the triangular pieces of the top cover material, and are fastened to the lower edges of the latter by suitable detachable fastening means 48. While the biased edges of the side curtains are shown attached to the outside of side curtains extend into the gutters 2'? of the.

rumble deck, as at 25, and are provided on the inside with flaps 49 connected by detachable snap fasteners 50 with the inner flanges of the gutter. At their forward edges, the side curtains are provided with flaps 26, which extend from the front edge of the forward frame member down the rear face of the original top and around onto the deck of the rumble, and terminate near the front end of the gutters 27, preferably slightly overlapping such ends, to provide a water shed along the joint,

between the side curtains and the original top and rumble deck, and to direct the water that may collect thereon into the gutter. Fasteners 26 are provided for the flaps 26 at the points where the original top joins the rumble deck. Additional fasteners between the original top and the flaps, and the rumble deck and the flap, may be provided if desired. The rear edge of the side curtains may lap over the ends of the rumble seat back. Windows 28 and 29 of suitable material, are provided in the side curtains, and the back of the top material, respectively.

it will be observed that the top material in conjunction with the side curtains, comprises a complete enclosure for the rumble space, and that the weathenproof joint between the collapsible top, together with the water shed between the side curtains the original top and rumble deck, provides an adequately weather tight construction at the junction of the rumble enclosure with the original top, that the water turned by the rumble enclosur is directed into the gutters where it will escape to the rear, so that there will be no tende cy for accumulated rain to find its way into the enclosure; that the structure whereby the side curtains embrace the inner flanges of the gutters, forms a weathertight joint along the lower edges of the curtains, and that the overlap of the rumble seat back by the top material and curtains forms an adequate- 1y tight joint at the rear of theenclosure. It will be further observed that the construction is such that the side curtains may be applied by aperscn from within the rumble seat enclosure, and may be likewise detached from such position.

The foregoing description been given for purposes of clearness of understanding, and no undue limitations should be deduced therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

Notice is hereby given that the subject matter of the curtain structure described herein and illustrated in Figures 16 to 19 inclusive, is claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 574,630, filed as a division hereof.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new, and desire to secure by U. S. Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with the rumble seat of an automobile and its hinged back, of a pair of supports attached to the seat back and projecting forward of the same, a pair of curved links disposed in front of the seat back and within its lateral edges, said links being pivoted at their lower ends to said hinged members and at their lower ends pivoted along 'acommon axis to the outer ends of said links, said top supporting members, back bars and braces adapted to be collapsed into compact folded condition and to be bodily swung about the outer ends of said links toa position behind the back or to be lowered bodily with said links to a storage position between the seat and back. e

2; In a folding top for rumble seats, the combination with the seat and its back, of a pair of supports forward of the seat back and within the lateral edges thereof, a collapsible frame including top supporting members hinged together and braces and bars pivotally connected at their upper ends with the supporting members, a pair of links to the upper ends of which the lower ends of said braces and bars are pivoted, said links at their lower ends being pivoted to said supports at points forward of said back, said links being of such length that, when raised, their upper ends will be positioned above the upper edge of the seat back, said frame adapted to be collapsed and to be bodily swung about the links to a position behind the back or to be bodily lowered by said links to a storage position between the seat and back.

3. In a folding top for rumble seats, the combination with the seat and its hinged back, of a collapsible top frame, including top supporting members hingedly connected together and adapted to be collapsed in overlapping position into compact form, means for supporting the top frame upon the seat back and for bodily raising and lowering the top frame as a whole with respect to the seat back, comprising a pair of links arranged forward of the seat back within the lateral edges thereof, supporting pivots at the upper ends of said links upon which the top frame is pivoted for bodily movement, supports carried by the seat back to which the links are pivoted at their lower ends, the links being of such length as, when raised, to position said supporting pivots above the seat back.

4. A folding top for rumble seats, comprising top supporting frame members hinged together upon which the top material is supported, a pair of supports secured to the rumble seat back, links connected at their lower ends to said supports, and hinged braces and back bars having their lower ends connected together and to the upper end of the links, and having their upper ends connected to said top supporting frame members.

5. In a folding top for an automobile rumble seat, the combination with the seat and its back, of a top supporting structure comprising hingedly connected top supporting members, braces and bars adapted to be collapsed in overlapping position into compact form and when so collapsed to be positioned either behind the back, or in front of the same between the back and seat, supports on the seat back projecting forwardly therefrom and curved links hinged both to the supports and to the top supporting structure, such links being longer than the distance from said supports to the upper edge of the seat back.

6. In a folding top for rumble seats, the combination of a supporting frame for the top material including supporting members hinged together, back bars hinged thereto, said frame members and back bars adapted to be collapsed in overlapping position, hinged braces connecting the supporting frame members with the back bars, and links to which the back bars and hinged braces are pivotally connected and hingedly connecting the top supporting frame as a whole to the seat back.

7. In a folding top for rumble seats, the combination of a collapsible top supporting frame comprising members hinged together upon which the top material is adapted to be supported, back bars and braces pivotally connected at their upper ends to said hinged top supporting members and pivotally connected with respect to'each other at their lower ends, said frame members, back bars and braces adapted to be collapsed in overlapping position into compact form, supports adapted to be attached to the seat back, and means for conecting said back bars and braces to said supports.

8. A folding top for rumble seats, consisting of a flexible top, a folding frame carrying said top and composed of a pair of brackets to secure the frame to the back, a pair of links having their lower ends connected to said brackets, a pair of hinged brace members and a pair of back bars having their lower ends connected together and to the upper ends of said links, a frame connected with the upper ends of the back bars and braces, and a pair of front bars, having their inner ends connected with said frame, gear wheels on the inner ends of said bars, racks on the upper ends of said braces to mesh with said foo gear wheels to cause the movement of said racks to close the bars upward and backward upon said frame.

9. The combination of the forward seat top of an automobile, a rumble seat top adapted to be detachably connected to the back of the forward seat top and including a flexible cross member of contour differing from that of the back of the forward seat top,'a weather strip carried by said cross member disposed between the same and the forward seat top, and means for clamping the cross member against the back of the forward seat top, and to distort the cross member into contour conforming to that of the seat top to thereby squeeze the weather strip between said cross member and forward seat top.

10. The combination with an automobile having a forward seat top, of a rumble seat top having a forward cross bar, a compressible weather strip carried by the cross bar between the same and the forward seat top, and means between the cross bar and the forward seat for drawing the cross bar toward the forward seat top to thereby squeeze the weather strip between the cross bar and the forward seat top.

11. In a folding top for rumble seats, the combination of a collapsible frame-work including sections pivoted together, and collapsible braces adapted to support the sections in extended position, one of the sections being provided with recessed locking members, and the braces being provided with hook members adapted to engage the recessed locking members when the frame sections are in extended position for locking the frame members in such position and adapted to release the locking members when the braces ing a top and a rumble seat, a frame having side bars, and a cross bar secured to and carried by the side bars for engaging the rear side wall of the top, arms secured to the back of the rumble seat and to the rear ends of the side bars, a

a cover for the frame having its front end secured to the cross bar, and a gasket carried by the cross bar contacting with the rear side wall of the top. V

TRACY SELDEN NEWTON, JR.

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