US1973166A - Window screen for automobiles - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 11, 1934. ca. R. FOWLER ET AL 1,973,165

WINDOW SCREEN FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed April 17; 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l GeorgeEFawZe SaNuLeZOD /w Sept. 11, 1934. G,' R F WLER H 1,973,166

WINDOW SCREEN FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed April 17, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 11, 1934 UNITED STATES WINDOW SCREEN FOR AUTOMOBILES George R. Fowler, Marion, and Samuel 0. Denton, West Frankfort, Ill.

Application April 17, 1933, Serial No.'666',4l2

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in automobile window screens and more particularly to improvements in a construction whereby a movable screen may be mounted in the usual doors or windows of automobiles so that the screen when in use will exclude foreign matter from the interior of the car.

It is an object of the present invention to position the movable screen upon the inside of 110 the window glass whereby in case of breakage of the window glass, the glass particles are prevented by the screen from passing into the interior of the automobile.

It is further an object of the present invention .15 to provide an improved construction whereby the window glass or the screen may be raised or lowered independently of each other and in which the operating means for raising and lowering the screen and the glass are conveniently 20 positioned for access from the interior of the car.

Further objects and advantages of the present improvements will be more readily apparent from the following disclosure taken in connection with the attached drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the interior of an automobile showing the association of the screen with the window glass in a door of the car;

Figure 2 is an inner elevation of the car door, portions being broken away to disclose the operating means;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the plane indicated 33 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical section on the plane indicated 4--4 in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a detail section on the plane indicated 55 in Figure 2, and

Figure 6 is a detail section on the plane indicated 6-6 in Figure 2.

The conventional automobile door 10 is provided with window glass 12 vertically slidable in guides 14. The glass may slide into the usual hollow portion 16 at the bottom of the door. In the present disclosure, the door is further provided with a screen 18 vertically slidable in guides 20. It is to be noted that the screen is positioned on the inside with respect to the glass. The door is provided with the usual framed window opening 22.

The inner wall 24 of the door has mounted thereon a hand crank 26 for raising and lowering the window glass, a hand crank 28 for raising and lowering the window screen and a latch- 55 release lever 30. It will be noted that the cranks 26 and 28 are closely associated in position and at a convenient height for operation by occupants of the automobile.

The crank 26 operates a pinion 32 in meshing relation with a worm 34, which drives, through a 00'; universal joint 36, a threaded shaft 38. A lever 40 is fulcrumed at 42 to the door frame and is provided with a nut member 44 threaded on the shaft 38. The lever is substantially L-shaped and the end opposite the fulcrum 42 is provided with a pin 46 sliding in the slotted plate 48 which is fixed to the bottom edge of the glass at one side thereof. The lever is offset at 50 in order that the arms of the lever will lie on opposite sides of the screen when the screen is in lowered position and the window is raised. This position is indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2.

In order to equalize the pressure upon the glass and to assist in obtaining a smoother sliding movement, a lever 52 is provided, fulcrumed 7 at 54 on the opposite side of the door frame with respect to the fulcrum 42. Lever 52 has a thrust roller 56 bearing against the lower edge of the glass on the side opposite the point of contact between the lever 40 and the guide plate 48. The lever 52 is normally urged in an upward direction by a spring 58 secured at 60 to a suitable fixed point on the door. It will be noted in Figure 2 that the glass travels a greater amount vertically than the corresponding vertical movement of the connection 44 between the lever 40 and the shaft 38.

The crank 28 which constitutes the means for raising and lowering the screen is provided with a pinion gear 62 in meshing relation with the sector gear 64 which is pivoted at 66. Adjacent the pivot 66 a coil spring 68 is provided to counter-balance the weight of the screen and normally present a yieldable resistance to the movement of the gear 64 and the screen in order that the screen will normally remain in the position to which it has been raised. One end of the spring 68 is fastened to the door, the other end is attached to the gear 64. The sector gear 64 is provided with a lever arm 70 which has a pin 72 engaging the slotted guide plate '74 which is secured to the lower edge of the screen. The lever 70 is so arranged that its point of engagement with the guide plate 74 is substantially adjacent the center of the screen in the raised and lowered positions thereof.

As previously described, the screen when in lowered position is free to pass between the offset arms of the lever 40. This arrangement permits 11b no alteration of body lines or body construction except the extra thickness of the door to as;

commodate the extra guides for the screen.

Various modifications and changes may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In an automobile door having a window opening, a window screen slidably mounted in said window opening, operating means for raising and lowering said window screen, said means including resilient means for maintaining the window screen in raised position.

2. In an automobile door having .a window opening, a slidable window screen mounted in said window opening, a rotatable operating handle on the sideof the door, a sector gear rotatably mounted in said door, a pinion gearfixed'to said operating handle within said door in meshing relation with said sector gear, an arm integral with said sector gear in operative engagement with the bottom of said window screen, whereby said window screen may be raised and lowered through movement of said handle and means for counter balancing the'wei'ght of said screen.

GEORGE E. FOWLER. SAMUEL O. DEN'ION.

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