Year: 1886

page_text: I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E. do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication from
George Gifford, of Philadelphia, in the County of Philadelphia, and State of
Pennsylvania, United States of America, Gentleman,) and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
This invention relates to vehicles tops, whereby the curtains of the same can be
easily and quickly operated from the inside of the vehicle, and they are drawn up
between the cover and lining out of sight; and it consists in the improved
construction and combination of parts as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.
In the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a buggy top provided with these improved
curtains showing a part broken away, and one of the curtains partly raised.
Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same taken through the middle
bow.
•
Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view.
Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view and
Figure 5 is a detail view of the upper portion of the rear view.
Referring to the accompanying drawings in which the same letters of reference
indicato corresponding parts in all the figures, A, B, and C, represent the bows of
the top secured to the seat D, in the ordinary manner and provided with a
cover, E. Ordinary braces are secured to these bows at the side and a pair of
quarter pieces F, are secured at the back in the usual manner. A groove or
channel G, is formed in the inner edge of each of the quarter pieces by joining the
lining and pieces at a distance from the edge and leaving their outer edges unjoined.
The back curtain H, is secured within these grooves instead of upon the outside as
is commonly done, and is drawn up between the lining and the cover of the top by
means of three coiled springs secured upon the inner side of the front bow one at
each corner, and one at the middle of the upper portion. Each of these springs is
secured to and operates a spool I, upon which is wound a cord J, which is attached
Drine Q17

page_text: •
to the upper end of the back curtain. Upon the under side of the rear bow G, a
bar K is secured, which leaves a slot-L between it and the bow, of the same width
as the back curtain and through which it is drawn as it is being raised. Upon the
under side of the middle bow B is a similar bar or roller M which supports the
cords and curtains, and keeps them from bearing down upon the lining. These
bars K and M are made of some hard polished material which will permit the
curtain to slide over them with as little friction as possible, and the rear ono is
placed far enough from the top of the bow and at such an angle, as to permit the
glass window in the curtain to pass up through it without breaking. To prevent
the curtain from being drawn through the slot L as the upper end of it is above it
between the cover and lining, a cross piece a trifle longer than the curtain is wide
is secured in each end, the lower end of which N is provided with holes or slots O
by means of which it is fastened to the half moon catches P on the shifting rail Q
holes being cut through the back curtain at those points where it is around the cross
piece. By turning the catches P so that they will pass through the slots Othe
curtain is released from the shifting rail, when the springs on the front bow A will
draw the curtain up into the top until the ends of the cross bar N engage with
the ends of the slot L which prevents its going farther and at the same time causes
the curtain to be stretched taut so that all wrinkles are kept. out of it, and
it remains spread out where it will take up but little room. It is evident that the
curtains of horse and steam cars, busses, and carriages can be operated in the same
way and thus be drawn up into the top by means of coiled springs and cords, and
that they can be easily drawn down and secured by means of hooks or half moon
catches as described above.
To operate the side curtains, X X of a buggy or carriage in the manner described
for the rear curtains, the middle bow B, is slotted from nearly one end to the other,
and the curtains made to slide up and down in this slot, the curtains at that point
being made thinner than at other places. A guide strip, R, is placed at each side
of the bow at this point for the purpose of making the curtains always draw up
and down in their proper places. The rear odge of each of the side curtains is
formed into a curl or hook S, which engages with a similar curl on the front edge
of each of the quarter pieces E, and the lower edge is provided with a slotted bar
similar to the one in the rear curtain. The shifting rail which is continued
around the sides of the scat, is provided with similar half moon catches to those
upon the rear portion of it.
The inner side of the rear bow, at its upper portion, is provided with two small
trough or gutters T, and the middle bow with an inclined partition U, at opposite
ends of the two troughs T, and at each end of the partition U is a coiled spring
and spool V, similar to the ones of the front bow, and a cord on the spools at one
side with the curtains upon the opposite side, the cords at the rear bow running
through the troughs T. To support the front portions of the side curtains, and
keep them from bearing down upon the lining and interfering with the cords of
the rear curtain, a cloth or other pliable support W, is stretched from side to side
and from the front to the middle bows.
These side certains can be secured to the sides of the front bows in the usual
manner, and each of them has a slot in its lower edge corresponding in length with
'the portion of the middle bow which is not slotted, the slots permitting the curtains
to be drawn down to the shifting rail and secured.
By the use of this improvement the curtains are quickly put out of sight, thus
avoiding the unsightly rolls, as commonly-used without the necessity of removing
and replaceing part of them which is often very troublesome, as. when a storm
comes up suddenly, and it also avoids the necessity of getting out of the vehicle, as
there is enough elasticity in the springs to permit of the curtains being drawn
clown farther than it is necessary to permit the hand of the operator to be put out
underneath them and then to draw the curtain taut as soon as the hand has been
withdrawn.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is→
1. In a vehicle top, the combination of the curtains upon one side of the top,
coiled springs upon the other side, and cords connecting said curtains with the
springs.
2. In a vehicle top, the combination of the quarter pieces, the inner edges of
which are provided with a groove or channel, the rear curtain sliding therein, a
series of springs secured to the front bow, and a cord secured to each of -said
springs and to the top of said curtain.
3. In a vehicle top, the combination of a bar secured to the under side of the
rear and middle bows, a curtain, a series of coiled springs secured to the front bow,
and a cord connecting each of said springs with the top of said curtain.
4. In a vehicle top, the combination of a bar secured to the rear bow a curtain
between said bar and said bow, a bar secured to each end of said curtain said bars
in said curtains being longer than the curtain is wide a series of springs secured to
the front bow and a cord connecting each of said springs with the top of said
curtain.
5. In a vehicle top the combination of a spring actuated curtain, a bar in its
lower edge having slots through it the shifting rail, and a series, of half moon
catchos.
6. In a vehicle top the combination of the bows, one of which is slotted, a
curtain in each end of said slotted bow, a spring upon the rear and slotted bows at
each side of the top and a cord connecting each spring on one side of the top with
the curtain upon the opposite side of the vehicle.
7. In a vehiclo top the combination of the bows one of which is slotted a curtain
in each end of said slotted bow, a partition in the top or middle of said slotted
bow, two troughs secured to the rear bow a spring upon the rear and slotted bow
at each side of the buggy and a cord connecting the springs on one side of the top
with the curtain upon the opposite side.
8. In a vehicle top, the combination of the quarter pieces, the front edge of each
of which is formed with a curl, and spring actuated sides of the curtains, the rear
edge of each of which is forined with a curl or hook.
9. In a vehicle top, the combination of a slotted bow, a curtain in each end of
said bow, and guide strips secured to the curtains at the sides of said bow,
10. In a vehicle top, the combination of spring actuated side curtains, and a
piece of cloth in the front portion of the top.
Daind thi tesh