Patent GB-463197-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to rubber tread surfaces
IPC: B60R3/00
Filed: 1935-09-23
Abstract: 463,197. Vehicle running - boards. CHESTON, A. S., and BOOTH, J. H. Sept. 23, 1935, No. 26372. [Class 103 (iv)] [Also in Group X] The running-board of a motor vehicle comprises a member 10, one or more rubber members 11 having a part or parts projecting through an aperture in the plate or member 10, a backing or supporting member for the rubber member or members 11, and means integral with, or permanently mounted on, the apertured member 10 for retaining the backing member in position. The member 10 may be in the form of a metal or wood plate adapted to form the top of a running-board as shown in Fig. 2, and it may be apertured so as to provide slots spaced both longitudinally and transversely of the board, the sides of each slot being curved or otherwise formed. Each rubber member 11 is provided with a serrated, curved or other form of non- slip portion 13 and an enlarged base 14 which is disposed below the plate 10. A channelshaped backing plate 15 is placed below each rubber member 11 and metal strips 16 which extend transversely of the board are adapted to retain a group of rubber members 11 and plates 15 in position. The strips 16 are formed with bridge portions beneath the plates 15 and are secured at each end to the board by riveting or spot-welding. The running-board 10 is secured to supporting brackets 18 by bolts 19 passing through holes in the strips 16. The strips 16 may be first secured to the board 10, and the rubber members 11 and plates 15 are then slid into position, the ends 20 of the plates 15 being subsequently turned downwardly to engage the adjacent strips 16. The backing- plate 25 shown in Fig. 4 is adapted to support a number of rubber members 11 and slidably engages guide strips 23 riveted or spot-welded to each longitudinal edge of the board 10, the plate being stiffened by longitudinal corrugations 26, and, if desired, by transverse corrugations. In this arrangement, the front transverse edge of the plate 25 engages a further guide strip on the board 10, and the plate is retained in position by bending lugs on the ends of the guide strips 23 into engagement with a flange on the rear edge of the plate. The backing-plate 27 shown in Fig. 5 is substantially flat and engages at each end between a rubber member 11 and a guide strip 28 on the board 10. The board 10 is shown in Fig. 6 as pressed to provide guide channels 29 at each side of an aperture for the reception of a rubber member 11 and the backing-plate 30. The board may also be pressed as shown in Fig. 7 to provide edge channels 31 for the engagement by edge portions 32 of channel backing-plates 33. If desired, a stainless steel or other metal angle 34, Fig. 8, which may be chromium or nickel plated, is placed between the projecting portion of each rubber member and the adjacent edge of the aperture in the board. Instead of the tread member being in the form of separate strips, it may be in the form of a single rubber member having stud, strip or block portions projecting through apertures in the running- board. The rubber members may be reinforced by stiffening inserts or metal pieces. The apertured plate 10 may be mounted within or beneath an outer shell having its top surface adapted to form the running-board. The Provisional Specification describes also a tread construction in which a backing plate, which is corrugated to accommodate the flanged portions of the rubber tread members, is secured to the apertured running-board by spot-welding, rivets or screws.