Closure means

Sept. 3, 1940. e. _E white 2,213,601

CLOSURE MEANS Filed Nov. 13, 1937 8 Sheets-Sheet 1

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Sept. 3, 1940.

2,213,601

E. E. WHITE

CLOSURE MEANS

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Sept. 3, 1940

2,213,601

E. E. WHITE

CLOSURE MEANS

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Sept. 3, 1940.

E. E. WHITE

2,213,601

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Sept. 3, 1940.

2,213,601

Ε· E. WHITE CLOSURE MEANS

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Sept. 3, 1940.

2,213,601

Ε· E. WHITE

CLOSURE MEANS

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by . JZ/As .£?. W%j£e

Sept. 3, 1940.

2,213,601

E. E. WHITE

CLOSURE MEANS

Filed Nov. 13, 1937

Sheets-Sheet 7

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INVENTOR:

_B £. Wfaa/e

ATTORNEY.

Sept. 3, 1940.

2,213,601

E. E. WHITE

CLOSURE MEANS

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'200

Patented Sept. 3, 1940

2,213,601

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,213,601 CLOSURE MEANS Ellis E. White, New York, N. Y. Application November 13,1937, Serial No. 174,285 19 Claims. (Cl. 296—98)

The present invention relates to closed bodies for vehicles such as automobile bodies and is more particularly directed to· adjustably retractable roofs for such closed bodies, of the type that 5 may be completely or partially opened, at will, to expose the interior of the body to the atmosphere.

Many previous attempts have been made to provide removable or retractable roofs for closed vehicle bodies, but few of them have been suc10 cessful because of certain difficulties and disadvantages inherent in their construction. Such disadvantages consisted, frequently, in weakening the vehicle body as well as the roof itself, thereby providing a structure subject to· wear and easy 15 breakage and one increasingly subject, to damage in case of accident; in difficulty to open or shut the roof as and when desired; in difficulty to provide weather-tight closures when the roof was completely closed; in difficulty of providing tight, 20 rattleproof construction, and in the complexity of the roof moving and closing mechanism which made it unsightly and subject to frequent breakdowns.

The present invention contemplates the elimi25 nation of these disadvantages and the provision of a retractable and adjustable roof of simple ' construction, inherent strength and ease of operation, and which possesses many other advantages and desirable features which will here30 inafter be fully described and set forth.

The present invention contemplates the provision of vehicle body adjustable roofs of unitary or telescoping resilient construction, longitudinally flexible and retractable into the rear of the 35 vehicle body, occupying little space therein, which are readily and easily operable from the operator’s seat, within the vehicle, by means of an ingenuous arrangement of combined locking means and automatically operated switches for the roof 40 operating motor.

The present invention further contemplates the provision of weatherproof sealing means for the retractable roof which will simultaneously act to make the roof structurally tight and rattle45 proof either when open or closed.

A further improvement contemplated by the present invention is the provision of locking means which will simultaneously lock the roof in closed position and adjust the weatherproofing 50 means in weather-tight, rattleproof position without having the latter operation interfere with the former.

The structural details by which the accomplishment of the above objects is contemplated 55 are simple, having comparatively few and simple parts which operate without difficulty and without any tendency to get easily or frequently out of order, and which are susceptible of being incorporated into the vehicle body in compact and neat arrangement and in harmony in finish and appearance with the rest of the vehicle body.

Further objects of my invention will be apparent from the description which follows and from the accompanying drawings, wherein several embodiments of the present invention are R) disclosed, and in which

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view, partly in section, of a vehicle body provided with a retractable roof of the present invention and showing the relative positions of the roof actuat- 15 ing and the roof locking mechanisms.

Fig. 2 is a rear end view of the vehicle body shown in Figure 1, partly broken away and in section, illustrating roof winding means and mounting therefor and the weather and rattleproofing 05) means for the roof.

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of a closed automobile body with the roof entirely removed, showing details of the body construction to illustrate its strength and rigidity. 25

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view, in side elevation and partly in section, of the rear end of the vehicle body shown in Figure 1, illustrating, in detail, the roof winding mechanism and its motivating means. 30

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the rear end of the vehicle body, partly broken away and partly in section, to show details of the mounting and operating means of the roof winding mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view, partly broken 35 away, taken along line 6—S of Fig. 14 showing details of the mechanism for guiding and for locking the roof in closed position to make it weather-tight and rattleproof.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 7—7 of Figure 6.

Fig. 8 is a similar view taken along line 8—8 of Figure 6.

Fig. 9 is a similar view taken along line 9—9 of Figure 6. 45

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary top plan view of one corner of the roof of the present invention and the means for receiving the forward edge thereof.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along line

I!—I i of Figure 6 showing the weather and rat- 50 tieproofing construction in loose position.

Fig. 12 is a similar view of the same when in closed and tightened position, with the roof in closed position.

Fig. 13 is a similar view of the same showing 55

2,213,601 details of rattleproofing and weatherproofing when the roof is retracted.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary top plan view of the vehicle body showing, diagrammatically, the re5 tractable roof in closed position, the permanent part of the roof being partly broken away to illustrate the arrangement of the roof locking mechanism and the forward switches for the motor.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged top plan view of the front part of Figure 14, partly broken away to show, in greater detail, the roof locking and tightening mechanism of the present invention.

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic vertical sectional 15 view taken along line ! 6— i 6 of Figure 14 to show the relation of the locking mechanism to the interior of the vehicle.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged, detailed view of the roof engaging cam of the roof locking mecha20 nism, showing the same when the roof is fully closed but before it is tightened for weather and rattleproofing.

Fig. 18 is a top plan view of the vehicle body, partly broken away, illustrating, diagrammatical25 ly, a modified reinforced retractable roof and an improved, grooved guiding channel thereof.

Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic vertical sectional view of a body having the roof embodiment and guiding channel therefor shown in Fig. 18.

³⁰ Fig. 20 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view, in detail, of the modified guiding channel shown in Fig. 18.

Fig. 21 is an enlarged fragmentary end view, partly broken away, of the same.

³⁵ Fig. 22 is a top plan view of a fragment of a modified, transversely reinforced roof.

Fig. 23 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same taken along line 23—23 of Fig. 22.

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary view in perspective of 40 another modified form of roof of the present invention, transversely reinforced by means of ribs.

Fig. 25 is a diagrammatic representation of the electric circuits for the reversible motor to open and close the roof.

. Fig. 26 is a view in side elevation, and partly in section showing the arrangement and construction of an embodiment of the master switch and the front auxiliary switches for operating a roof moving motor.

Fig. 27 is an end view of the auxiliary switch shown in Fig. 26 taken along line 27—27 thereof.

Fig. 28 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 28—28 of rig. 26.

Fig. 29 is a vertical sectional view taken along 55 line 29—29 of Fig. 26.

Fig. 30 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 38—36 of Fig. 26.

Fig. 31 is a diagrammatic view of a modified embodiment of the present invention wherein a 60 winding drum is eliminated.

The retractable roof of the present invention is particularly adaptable, although not limited, for use on vehicle bodies of the unitary welded steel construction, such as is in prevalent use today 65 on motor passenger vehicles and as illustrated and generally designated in the drawings by the numeral 40.

- Such body construction may be made with substantially the entire central top portion thereof 70 eliminated, providing a roof opening 42, which may, preferably, extend from the front of the top of the body to a point rearwardly of the back seats thereof, leaving as permanent portions the side roof edges 44 and the_: front roof edge 75 46 which joins and braces the sides of the car and may be continuous with the top of the windshield frame 48.

To the rear, the body is provided with a rear wall 50 which connects and braces the side walls and which, together with the front and side roof 5 edges 44 and 4S respectively, may be suitably reinforced to compensate for the lack of a complete roof structure.

The rear wall 50 may be streamlined to slope rearwardly, to provide a space in back of the 10 rear seats wherein may be provided a compartment 52 within which may be housed a winding drum S4, mounted rotatably by means of axles 56, extending from the sides of the drum 54 and journaled in brackets 58 suitably secured on 15 the side walls of the compartment 52.

Either or both manual and mechanical means for turning the drum may be provided. I prefer to provide a combined manual and mechanical drum turning means which may comprise a mo- 20 tor 60 preferably a reversible motor, and preferably an electric motor, which may be positioned within the compartment 52. The motor shaft 62 may carry a worm gear S4 which engages operatively a gear wheel 66 mounted on one of 25 the axles and fixedly secured to the contiguous drum side. The shaft 62 may be extended beyond the worm and provided with a squared end 68 which may be engaged by a winding key, not thought necessary to be here shown, by 30 means of which the drum may be manually turned.

Passing into the compartment 52, directly underneath the rear wall 50 and secured to the drum, in any desirable and suitable manner, such 35 as by the bolts or rivets 70, is the rear edge of a rectangular retractable roof member 72. Such roof member 72 may be of sufficient length to reach to the front end of the opening 42 when it is substantially completely unwound from the 40 drum and of a width slightly less than the width of the roof opening 42, for a purpose which will hereinafter become clear.

The roof member 72 may be made of any suitable material, preferably of a strong, resilient 45 material, and of unitary, telescoping, articulated or laminated construction, provided it has sufficient rigidity to be advanced forwardly when it is unwound from the drum and possesses sufficient longitudinal flexibility to be wound there- 50 on. A preferred type of such roof member may comprise thin sheet steel, preferably spring steel and preferably provided with an inherent outward curve somewhat in conformity with the upper body curve, which sheet steel may be covered 55 on one or both sides with weatherproofing layers, such as of electroplated or bonded rubber and with the necessary coat or coats of paint, lacquer or the like. The natural curve of the spring sheet steel comprising the roof member 72 will give 60 the roof member a tendency to assume, of its own accord, a halfway open position, and thus relieve the driving motor of the greater part of the torque of starting, in either direction.

Within the compartment 52 are also provided 65 a plurality of idlers to keep the roof member snugly on the winding drum as it is wound thereon and to prevent its buckling when unwound therefrom. Such idlers may comprise suitably bent and adjusted leaf springs 74 secured by one 70 end to the compartment walls and carrying on the free end a roller 7S adapted to rest against the drum surface.

Provided in the vehicle body as a permanent part thereof are guiding means and supporting 75

2,213,601 ing. Such molding or weather strip may comprise, preferably, a substantially semi-circular hollow metal strip 116 which may retain by means of inwardly turned flanges 118 a resilient Alling or cushion 720, preferably of rubber, 5 and preferably sponge rubber, or similar resilient, waterproof material. The front end of the molding 116 may terminate by tapering or otherwise into a flat metal strip or ratchet 122 having ratchet openings i 24 adapted to engage gear 10 teeth, which ratchet extends into and is guided by a channel 126, provided for the purpose, below the front roof edge 46.

It is apparent that when the molding is pulled taut, it will form a completely sealed weather- 15 proof and rattleproof closure between the edges of the retractable roof member 72 and of the permanent roof edges 44. In such position the molding will press downwardly, the resilient cushion 120 pressing downwardly upon the roof mem- 20 ber and upon the roof edge, which may be provided with a slightly upturned lip 128 that will press into the resilient cushion 120 which will also expand into the trough of the crimp 102 and will press its ridge into the resilient layer 25 10'0, forming airtight waterproof and rattleproof seals at the three points.

When the roof is retracted, similar and similarly effective sealing will be provided between the molding filling 8 20 on the one hand and 30 the lip 128 and the resilient layer 100' on the other, preventing noise and rattling and the accumulation of dust, grit or moisture within the channels 90.

Certain variations and modifications in the 35 construction of the roof member 72 and its guiding means may be made to improve its strength and transverse rigidity and to facilitate its movement. Thus the roof member may be provided with transverse ribs 130 as shown in Fig. 24, ₄₀or with transverse corrugations S32 as shown in Figs. 22 and 23, such ribs or corrugations extending transversely along the central portion of the roof member, the edges of the same remaining free of them, in order not to interfere with _4gthe sealing closures made between the roof and the molding.

The reinforcement of the roof member may also be accomplished by means of a plurality of transverse bracing bars or strips 134 secured, 5Q preferably, to the underside of the roof member.

These rods or strips may serve to support additional rollers 136 operating within the guiding channels 90. The channels may also be provided with roller seats 138 which may slope gently .₅₅downwardly toward the front and may be positioned in the channel floors in staggered relation, to cooperate and receive rollers which are also fixed in staggered relation. Thus, in Figs. 18, 19, 20 and 21, two sets of auxiliary rollers and two go sets of cooperating seats are shown, the front rollers and front seats being shown spaced farther apart than the rear ones, so that as the roof is moved forward from an open position or backward from a closed position, the front rollers will 55 not fall into the rear seats.

Combined means, either mechanically or hydraulically operated, to lock the roof member in closed position and to draw the molding taut, to seal the roof closure, may be provided at the 70 front of the body interior, within reach of the vehicle operator. A mechanical embodiment of the locking means is illustrated, and may comprise a transversely positioned jack shaft 140 journaled in bearings 142 on Side brackets 144 75 means for the roof member, the latter being necessary because the roof member 72 is disposed within the roof opening 42 and is of lesser width than the latter. Such guiding and sup5 porting means may preferably be combined in a unitary structure along the side edges of the roof opening and may comprise a substantially Z-shaped bar supported from the underside of the side edges 44 by its horizontal flange 78 XO and having a vertical connecting wall 80 and a lower horizontal or supporting flange 82, directed inwardly into the body space, underneath the roof opening 42. The flange 82 may support a U-shaped member resting thereon on one of 15 its sides 84 having a connecting side 86 substantially parallel to and shorter than the vertical side 80 of the Z bar, and an upper side member 88, substantially parallel to and shorter than its lower side 84.

The walls 80, 84 and 88 of the Z bar and the U-shaped member, respectively, define a substantially rectangular guiding channel 90 with an opening 92 in its upper surface formed between the inner edge of the side 88 and the 25 wall 89, which opening communicates with the space provided between the side edges 44 of the body and the edges of the roof member 72, and permits the passage therethrough of forwardly and downwardly directed arms 94 ex30 tending from a wedge-shaped edge piece 96, preferably of metal, and preferably also rubber covered, carried on the front edge of the roof member 72. The arms 94 may carry on their free ends a fixed horizontal pin 98 on which may 35 be rotatably mounted rollers 99 which are supported and guided within the channels 90 to facilitate and direct the movement of the roof 72.

The upper surface of the side 88 of the Ushaped member serves as a support for the edge of the roof 72, and it may be coated with a ⁴⁰ layer of resilient material 100, which may preferably comprise rubber, preferably of the sponge variety or the like, to serve as a sound or rattleproofing layer between the roof and the support 88 and to cooperate with a crimp or bead ⁴⁵ 102 which may be provided along the edge of the roof to form a weatherproof seal when the roof is in taut, closed position.

A seat for the front edge of the roof may be provided at the front of the body by securing ⁵⁰ a substantially rectangular trough or channel member 104 secured by one of its sides in transverse position below the front edge of the body 46, its open side facing rearwardly. Within the trough member i 64 there may be provided a ⁵⁵ resilient, waterproof cushion 106, preferably of rubber and preferably shaped to nest the front edge piece of the roof in sealed, weather and rattleproof relation, when the roof is in locked, closed position.

⁶⁰ The guiding channels 90 may extend for a substantial distance forward of the rear end of the front roof edge 46 and below it, the floor of the guiding channel having the portion in advance of the trough member 104 partly cut ⁶⁵ away as at 107, to expose part of the roller 99 for engagement by the roof locking means to be hereinafter described. At their forward ends the channels 90 may be closed by a wall 110 to brace and support the sides of the channel against 70 collapsing.

Positioned party over each side edge and partly over each roof edge is a molding or weather strip I f 2 anchored on the rear wall 50 at a point below the roof opening 42, as at 114, and ex75 tending along the entire length of the roof open-.

2,213,601 carried on the underside of the front roof edge 46 and on the upper set of forked arms 146 of a centrally secured bracket 148. Fixed on. the jack shaft between the arms i 48 is a geai’ wheel 5 150 which meshes operatively with a gear segment 152 having an operating handle 154 carried on a shaft 156 journaled, preferably, in a second lower and longer pair of arms ί 58 of the central bracket 148.

Secured on each end of the jack shaft, outwardly of the brackets, in position to engage with its teeth the openings in the molding ratchet i 22 are a pair of gear wheels 160 which may be secured on the end of the shaft by means of a 15 stud pin 162 passing through the gear hub 164.

Mounted on each molding engaging gear ίSO, exteriorly thereof, is a cam disc 166 which may be retained on the gear by a short shaft 168 nesting in the opening of the hub 164 and one 2G or more pins 170 passing through one or more slotted openings 172 in the molding gear 160, the pins having heads 174 to retain the cam disc 166 upon the gear 160.

The cam disc 166 is provided with a curved or 25 cam slot 176, its outer portion- being slightly flattened, as at 177, to give a cam eSect, and its inner portion being completely circular, the rear edge of the slot forming a substantially sharp lip 178 and its forward edge a curved substan30 tially blunt shoulder 330.

The various gears and discs carried by the jack shaft 140 are so fixed in position in relation to one another that when the operating handle 154 is in the extreme rearward position, the roof is >5 unlocked and the molding in loose contact with it, the lip 178 of the cam disc 163 being directly below the rear edge of the cut out portion of the channel 90 resting on a shelf 182 depending from the supporting flange 82 of the Z-bar, which may 40 be provided for the purpose.

The manner of operation of the locking and sealing means is as follows:

When the roof is to be closed the handle 154 is pulled back, the molding 1 ί 2 is thus loosened, 45 and the slot 178 is brought around to have its mouth immediately below the channel opening 197, and the pin 170 rests against the forward end of the slot 172. As the roof moves into closed position, the roller strikes against the 50 shoulder ί80 of the cam slot, tilting the cam disc forward, until the pin 178 rests against the rear end of the slot 172 and the lip 178 is thereby raised above the channel floor behind the forward roller 29, thereby preventing any retraction of the 55 roof. This is automatically done, without turning the jack shaft 140 or moving the handle ! 54. The locking means is now in the position shown in Fig. 6.

The handle 154 is then pushed forward, the 60 cam and molding gears 160 and 169, respectively, being turned counterclockwise. During the first part of the forward movement the flattened portion 177 of the cam slot 176 acts to tighten the roof. Simultaneously, the molding 65 gear 160 pulls the molding 112 tightly in place. During the latter part of the forward movement, the roof position is not changed any further because of the circular shape of the last part of the cam slot 176; only the molding gear 160 70 acts on the molding strip 122 to pull the molding 112 tighter against the roof, as far as possible’. ' Means, of any desirable type such as the spring clasp 183, may be provided to engage the handle 154 when it is in extreme forward position, to 75 prevent its being accidentally loosened.

Conversely, when the roof is to be opened, the handle 154 is pulled rearwardly. The gears 160 turn clockwise to loosen the molding 112, and, lagging slightly behind the said gears 168, the cam discs 166 turn to release the rollers 99 and at the end of the turn when the rollers are above the edge 178, the shoulders 180 push the roller backwardly to loosen the roof member and start its rearward movement, thus relieving the roof moving motor of the starting torque.

Means for controlling the operation and direction of the reversible motor 69 and the movement oi the roof, automatically and simultaneously with the movement of the handle 154 to lock or release the roof, may be readily provided with the locking mechanism of the present invention and its arrangement. Such means may comprise a double electric circuit, one to· drive the motor forward, to close the roof, and the other to drive it in reverse, to retract it. The two circuits may be controlled by three switches a master switch designated in the diagrammatici epresentation of the circuit given in Figure 25 as _IU4, and a pair of auxiliary switches, one positioned preferably near the motor, and preferaffiy adapted to be operated directly by the roof ^{&lt;7sslgnaied} as SS6, and one positioned at the iroiib of the vehicle, and operable preferably by the movement of the handle ί54, the last switch being designated m the drawings as ί 88.

The rear auxiliary switch 186 may be preferably, of the toggle type and may be positioned preferably back of the roof opening 42, at such ^^{here 11 may be tripped b}y lugs or other suitable devices 190 and 192, respectively posithTrnn?^ear end of the roof member, preferably at or adjacent one that whfn^S’tb^{The r}/^{ar 1Ug i9}° ^{may be 30 pIaced}trin the ! Λ ^{m closed position} will trip the toggle switch to close the motor re^but.7^{iU not} Pass the toggle switch arm, so as to avoid reversing the switch at the commencement of the roof retracting moveXT\b^S™^y’ ^{the front lug 192 is so} Placed up on the roof that when the roof is fully opened Pt>^W111x,,^{trip but not pass} the toggle switch to close the second circuit for driving the roof forward.

. ^switch 184 may be positioned unuip ^the ,^{front roof edge 5S}> adjacent the bracket 148, and may comprise a simple push button ^{simlIar t0} it’ designated as 194, with the button ί 96 depending and adapted to be pushed upwardly to close the circuit within the switch when the arm 154 is completely drawn back, by means of a cam s' 98, carried on the gear segment shaft 156 externally of the central bracket arms 158 and rotatable with such shaft, to have the switch 184 opened when the arm 154 _ls moved away from such extreme back position.

The second auxiliary switch 188 may be a rotary switch mounted on an arm 280 secured to the bracket arm 158 and comprising a circular insulated box 292, with four contact members 206 contacting the four binding posts 208 which are equally spaced on the circumference of the box. The box 202 may have a central opening 210 within which is rotatably positioned a rotating member 2(2, having a brush 214 adapted to contact, intermittently, the contact members 206, the said brush being in electrical connection with the binding post 216 by means of a screw 218 and a leaf spring 220 which contacts the screw. The rotating member 212 carries a

2.213.601 effective position, the locking mechanism being provided with means to create a lag in time between the locking of the roof and the tightening of the weather strip to prevent the latter from interfering with the former. The invention also 5 includes means for moving the roof which are controllable and operable partly by the roof itself and partly by the operation of the roof locking means.

Within the scope of the foregoing broadly de- 10 scribed elements and principles of the invention, many variations in the practical embodiment described above may be made. The roof may be varied from a unitary construction to an articulated or telescoped one. The retracting means 15 for the roof may also be varied. The winding drum, for instance, may be eliminated, as shown, diagrammatically, in Figure 31, where the roof just slides back into the streamlined rear portion of the body and where the roof motivating 20 means consists of a motor and a gear wheel 232 on the motor, which engages suitable teeth or ratchets on one or both edges of the roof, which are not thought necessary to be shown in detail.

So, also, the supporting and guiding means 25 and the manner in which the roof is retained upon them may be substantially varied as well as the specific arrangement of the roof locking mechanism and its parts. I desire, therefore, to be protected for any such variation of the present 30 invention which may be made by the mere application of mechanical skill and within the spirit and scope of the present invention and the claims hereto appended.