US1178258A - Portable shelf for hearses. - Google Patents

Description

R. s. MOORE.

PORTABLE SHELF FOR HEARSES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 8, 1915.

l,l7,258, Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

WITNESSES H l/VVE/VTOR Jfi A15- Maore v5 /7 ga -3 rmy 3 THE. COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH 1:04. WASHINGTON. D. c:

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ROBERT SHELDON MOORE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PORTABLE SHELF FOR Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

Application filed December 8, 1915. Serial N 0. 65,714.

- and has particular reference to such devices adapted to be used on or in connection with hearses.

In my experience as an undertaker, I find that there is much criticism and complaint respecting the handling of the flowers in connection with the casket. Before introducing the casket into or removing it from the hearse the flowers must be handled and commonly are laid upon the ground in more or less disorder.

The primary object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a collapsible and portable shelf adapted to be carried under the seat of the vehicle, or in any other convenient place and capable of being quickly attached to a side of the hearse in position to receive the flowers temporarily while the casket is being handled. After the casket is placed and the flowers disposed of in the usual manner, the shelf is removed from the supporting position and put away for subsequent use. 7

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and while the invention is not restricted to the exact details of construction disclosed herein, still for the purpose of illustrating a practical embodiment thereof reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same partsin the several views, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a conventional form of hearse showing my improve ment applied thereto; Fig. 2 is an inner edge view of the improved shelf; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the same just after it has been opened, the supporting arms being shown in nested position in full lines and in supporting positions in different characters of dotted lines; Fig. 4. is a vertical transverse section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an outside edge view of the device collapsed or folded; and Fig.- 6 is a trans? verse sectional detail on the line 66 of Fig. 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, I show at 10 a body of a hearse hav ng vertical side columns 11 and 12. In various makes or stylesof hearses the number of columns on each side varies and also their distance apart is by no means uniform. According tothe type of hearse,'I apply to certain of the columns a pair of brackets 13 indicated in this instance as being connected to the columns 11. Each bracket comprises an upwardly projecting finger 13 and may be of an ornamental nature, not disfiguring the vehicle in any manner.

The shelf in its preferred form comprises two parts 14 and 15 hinged together at their adjacent ends at 16, and provided at their other ends with suitable hasp devices 17 and 17 to hold them closed. Each part of the shelf comprises a rectangular frame and a panel 18, the panel constituting the main supporting surface of the shelf. For the purposes for which this device is intended the shelf structure may be made of comparatively light material.

Each of the parts 14 and 15 carries a sup porting arm 19 of a length slightly less than the length of the part and loosely pivoted at 20 adjacent the outer end of the shelf. These arms may be made of tubular metal and hence being possessed of the requisite strength for their purpose. The end of each arm opposite the pivot 20 constitutes a sleeve 21 having its axis perpendicular to the axis of the arm and adapted to receive one of the fingers 13 of a bracket 13 when the arms are swung outwardly around their connections 20 as shown in Fig. 4E. .The inner edge of the rectangular frame portions of the shelf is notched out as indicated at 22 to accommodate the arms giving them a considerable amount of freedom of adjustment to accommodate the shelf to various lengths or distances between supporting columns of the hearse. It is to be under stood, however, that the scope of the claims of this patent is not to be unnecessarily limited as to the particular length of said notches 22.

Fig. 3 indicates the arms in various positions of adjustment with their sleeves 21 variously spaced. The arms 19, however, support the shelf at any points along the notches 22. hen the device is folded the arms may be fastened 1 1 Place as shown n Fig. 3'by straps 23 or equivalent temporary fasteners, and when so folded the device occupies a comparatively small amount of space and may be easily manipulated or put out of the Way.

I claim:

1. In a device of the nature set forth, the

combination of a shelf comprising two parts and hinges connecting them end to end, each part comprising a rectangular frame having an edge notch, a pair of supporting arms pivoted to the frames on the inside opposite the notches and adapted to swing outwardly from the shelf along'the notches, and means to support the arms.

2. The combination of a shelf, comprising a pair of rectangular frames and surface panels secured thereto, said frames being notched along one edge, a pair of arms loosely pivoted at one end to the frames opposite the notches, said arms being adapted to swing outwardly from the shelf and apply at any desired 1Epoints along said notches, the outer ends 0 the arms being provided with sleeves having axes at right angles to the arms, and means cooperating \vith'the arms to supportthe same and the shelf, substantially as set forth.

ROBERT SHELDON MOORE.

Witnesses ALMERON M. l/VA D, PHILIP A. BILLINGS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. V

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