US616903A - crocker - Google Patents

Description

Patented lan. 3, |899. S.

DRUCKER. HEAD CANUPY.. (Applcation'led Sept. 80, 1897.)

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NiTnD STATES einen,

PATENT H EAD-CANOPY.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,903, dated January 3, 1899.

Application filed September 30, 1897. Serial No. 653,588. (No model.)

To LZZ 'tv/wm. t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL CROCKER, a citi'- zen of the United States,residing at Oklahoma, in the county of Oklahoma and Territory of Oklahoma, have invented a new and useful Head-Canopy, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to head `canopies or coverings designed as a protection from sun, rain, wind, dre., and adapted to be worn by a bicycle-rider or equestrian or others exposed to sun and storms, such as laborers in harvest-fields, dac.

The object in view is to provide a canopy adapted to be used either with or instead of head-apparel of the ordinary construction, such as a hat or cap, and by persons of either sex, the parts of the apparatus being adjustable to vary the positions thereof to afford a maximum protection under the conditions of use.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for attaching the same to the wearer so as to leave the hands and arms free to perform any desired functions.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims. y

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a canopy constructed in accordance with my invention shown applied. Fig. 2 Fig. 3 is an inverted plan View of the canopy-top. Fig. 4. is a detail view in perspective of the means whereby the canopy-top is mounted for adjustment and is secured in the desired position. Fig. 5 is a detail view, partly in section, to show the means whereby the vertical position of the canopy-top may be varied.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The canopy-top l, which consists, essentially, of a frame, hereinafter fully described, and a flexible cover of fabric or the equivalent thereof, (adapted to be varied to suit the particular purpose for which the device is designed,) is upheld by means of a supportingframe of looped construction, consisting of side standards 2 and a connecting cross-piece 3, the cross-piece being preferably integral with the standards and being arranged in front of the plane of the standards by deliecting the latter forwardly contiguous to their upper ends, as shown at 2. These standards are of extensible construction and include stationary members 2b, rising from shoulder-plates fl, adapted to rest upon the shoulders of the wearer, and adjustable members 2C, which are mounted to slide upon the fixed members, as by means of eyes 5 at the upper ends of the stationary members through which the movable members extend. Various means may be employed to suit the connection between the fixed and movable members of thevstandards for securing said members in the desired relative positions, or, in other words, to lock the standards at the desired extension; but in the construction illustrated a slide 6 is attached to the lower extremity of each adjustable member 2c and is provided with a guide-opening 7, fitted to slide upon the fixed member 2b, a set-screw 8, threaded in a suitable socket in said guideblock, being adapted to impinge terminally against the fixed member of the standard to lock the parts in place, this set-screw being within easy reach of the wearer of the canopy.

In this connection as an additional means` of bracing the standards against forward and rearward vibration I employ brace-arms 9, rising from said shoulder-plates and provided at their upper extremities with a loop lO, through which the members of the standards extend, said loops being preferably constructed integrally with the arms 9 and forming a means whereby guy-cords l1, which extend from diametrically opposite side edges of the canopy-top, may be hitched to enable the wearer to vary the depression of the said side edges of the canopy-top and prevent vertical vibration thereof when the device is exposed to a storm or a strong wind or when riding or walking rapidly. Y These attachingloops l0 are also arranged within convenient reach of the wearer, whereby the depression of the side edges-0f the canopy-top may be Varied by the wearer without previously removing the apparatus.

The loops or eyes lOloosely encircle the uprights or standards, and hence the braces are free to vibrate, whereby when the guy-cords ICO 11 are strained to depress or deiieet downwardly the lateral edges of the canopy-top the braces allow a certain iiexihility of the connection and a slight vibration of the side edges of the canopy top when aifected by wind or the jarring of the top, as when the wearer of the apparatus is in rapid motion, to prevent straining and disarran ging the parts. In other words, while the lateral edges of the canopytop are depressed to draw the side portions thereof closer to the head of the wearer said edges are free to yield slightly in order to relieve strains, and thereby reduce the risk of injury.

As above indicated, the canopy embodying my invention is adapted to be Worn either with or without head-apparel of the ordinary construction, the preference being in favor of its use without the ordinary head-apparel, for the reason that it is adapted to take the place of a hat or cap, and though amply protecting the head and face of the wearer it allows a free circulation of air about the head,and thus conduces to a hygienic condition, to which an unventilated hat or cap is antagonistic. It is desirable, however, in order to maintain the canopy-top centrally over the head of the wearer and effectually guard against excessive vibration to provide some means of connection between the supporting-frame and the head, and I accomplish this object by providing a head-band 12, connected at opposite points to the adjustable members 2 of the standards and adapted to extend around the head, crossing the brow of the wearer, or to extend around the cap or hat which may be worn on the head. Said band to adapt it for adjustment is provided with a buckle 13 or its equivalent. This band is preferably mounted to slide upon the adjustable members 2C of the standards, and in order that it may be secured at the desired adjustment to prevent the same from slipping down over the eyes of the wearer I employ fastening-cords 14, connected to eyes 15 respectively, in front and in rear of the point of connection of the canopy-top with the supportingframe and engaged with eyes 16 at front and rear points of the head-band.

Various means may be devised for securing the lower end of the supporting-frame upon the shoulders of the wearer, but that construction which I have found to be efficient and to be desirable by reason of leaving the arms of the wearer wholly unconfined embodies shoulder loops or straps 17, to which the shoulder-plates 4 are attached,and a breast band or strap 18, )rovided with a suitable adjusting device, such as a buckle 19. This breast band or strap extends around the body of the wearer close to the armpits and passes through loops or keepers 20 on the shoulderstraps. For ordinary purposes a harness constructed of the breast band or strap and the shoulder-straps is sufiicient to maintain the canopy in position; but Where the canopy is subjected to excessive strain and where the position or movements of the wearer require additional means of attachment I employ shoulder-strap extensions 21,`connected by buckles 22 or their equivalents to the lower ends of the shoulder-straps and terminating at their lower ends in `eyes or keepers 23, through which passes a belt or waist-strap 24, also having an adjusting device, such as a buckle 25. It is obvious that by reason of the buckles 22 the extensions 21 are detachable from the shoulder-straps 17 when the lower portion of the harness is not required, and at the same time the adjusting devices 22 provide for varying the interval between the planes of the breast and waist straps to suit the height and convenience of the wearer.

The frame of the canopy-top consists of a cross-sectionally flat crown-piece or stiifener 2G of a shape preferred for the longitudinal contour of the canopy-top and a plurality of concentric ribs 27, which intersect the crownpiece which constitutes the main rib or stiffener at diametrically opposite points, the extremities of the outermost and intermediate concentric ribs being attached to the crownpiece, while the innermost rib is carried beyond the crown-piece and its extremities arc attached to intermediate points of the adjacent intermediate rib, as shown at 2S. The crown-piece preferably consists, as indicated in Fig. 4, of a sheet-metal strip folded upon its longitudinal center to form a bead which incloses a stiffening-wire 29. Also the frame of the canopy-top preferably includes transverse stiifeners 30, extending from opposite points on the side edges of the top and intersecting the crown-piece, as indicated clearly in Fig. 3. The attachment of the guy-cords 11 to the edges of the canopy-top is made between the contiguous extremities of the stiffeners 30, and while the stiffeners resist downward deflection of the side edges of the top they permit said adjustment when the guycords are strained, as hereinbefore described. Obviously when the guy-cords are relieved of strain the stiifeners 30, by reason of being of spring metal, as steel wire, return the canopytop to its original shape.

It is desirable in practice to provide for forwardly and rearwardly tilting the canopy in order to protect the wearer against storms approaching either in front or in rear and also to enable the top to be folded back out of the way when not required, and hence the frame of the canopy-top is fulcrumed upon the supporting-frame by means of brackets 3]., provided at their upper ends with eyes 32, alined with perforations in ears 33, depending from the crown-piece 26, a removable fulcrum-pin 34 engaging the alined eyesthus formed and being adapted to be displaced to provide for interchanging canopy-tops. For instance, each canopy constructed in accordance with my invention may be provided with a plurality of interchangeable tops built for different purposes and having flexible covers 35 of different materials-such as silk, cambric,

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canvas, &c. vIn practice I prefer to conceal the inner side of the canopy-top frame by means of a lining 36. (Indicated in Figs. 2 and 3.)

A simple form of locking device for securing the canopy-top in the desired position with relation to the supporting-frame is illustrated in the drawings and in detail in 4, the same consisting of a rack-bar 37, pivoted by means of a pin 3S upon the crownpiece in rear of the fulcrum-pina, extending between the brackets 3l, and provided with notches 39 to engage a fixed stop, such as an intermediate portion of the cross-bar 3, said rack-bar or arm being yieldingly held in operative relation with said fixed stop by means of an actuating-springiO. Vhen it is desired to change the angular adjustment of the canopy-top, it may be done by the wearer by simply raising the free front end ot the rack-bar 37 to disengage it from the fixed stop and moving the top tothe preferred position. The subsequent release of the rack-bar willcause its immediate engagement with -the stop to maintain the top as adjusted.

From the above description it will be seen that the construction of the device embodying my invention is simple, that the parts thereof are adapted for adjustment with facility to occupy the desired positions, and thaty the manner of supporting the top not only adapts it to resist strains applied by wind or storm,.but to be worn without inconvenience to other riders or pedestrians where a number of persons equipped with the device are congregated. The opposite side standards serve to effectually support the canopy-top against lateral displacement, while the connection of said standards with-the head-band holds the top against forward and rearward displacement and maintains it properly over the head of the wearer without interfering with the limited forward-and-rearward movement of the head. Obviously the standards and the braces provided therefor are constructed of yielding rods or wires to adapt them to allow said movement of the head of the wearer,while at the same time the weight of the apparatus is carried wholly by the shoulders of the wearer.

In the drawings I have shown the fixed member 2b of the extensible standards termi-l nally threaded in the shoulder-plates eL, (see detail View Fig. 5;) but it will be understood that the specific construction of the connection forms no part of my invention and may be varied to form any suitable attachment adapting the standards to perform the functions speciied.

The advantage derived from the abovespecified arrangement of the set-screws 8 on the guide-block 6 to clamp said guide-blocks and the movable members of the standard at the desired adjustment with relation to the fixed or stationary members resides in the fact that the set-screws may be grasped and loosened, respectively, by the right and left CHO han ds of the wearer of the canopy, the blocks pushed to the desired height, and the setscrews again tightened. In other words, the construction described provides for the adj ustment vertically of the canopy while the device is in its ,operative position upon the wearer, such adjustment being accomplished in one movement, and the set-screws preferably being arranged at the inner sides of the guide-blocks, where they are within reach of the fingers of the operators hands while grasping the guide-blocks to change the Vertical position of the adjustable standard members.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing-any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is.-

l. A canopy having extensible side standards consisting of fixed members, provided at their upper ends with guides and at their lower ends with means for holding them upon the shoulders of the wearer, adjustable members extending through said guides and provided at their lower ends with guide-blocks forming grips having guide-openings mounted to slide upon said fixed members, and setscrews mounted upon the guide-blocks forv engagement with the fixed members of the standards to secure the adj ustableinembers in the desired positions, said set-screws being adapted to be operated by the fingers of the hands which grasp the guide-blocks, substantially as specified.

2. A canopy having side standards, shoulder-plates to which the lower extremities of said standards are attached, means for holding the shoulder-plates in position upon the shoulders of the wearer, and front and rear braces before the standards rising from the shoulder-plates .and carrying loops through which the standards extend, substantially as specified.

A canopy having flexible standards, means for supporting the lower ends of said standards in operative position upon the body of a wearer, and a head-band connected with the said standards and adapted to encircle the head of the wearer to 'communicate movementsof the head to the standards, substantially as specified.

4. A canopy havin g flexible side standards, means for supporting said standards in operative position, a head-band mounted for vertical adjustment upon the standards and adapted to encircle the head of a wearer, and means for maintaining said head-band at the desired adj ustment,substantially as specified.

5. A canopy having side standards, means for supporting the standards, a vertically-adjustable head-band mounted upon the stand-.

ards and adapted to encircle the head of the wearer, and exible fastening-cords adjust- IIO ably connected with the head-band to support itat the desired vertical adjustment, substantially as specified.

6. A canopy having a ilexible top, provided with side standards, means for supporting the lower ends of the standards, laterally-yielding braces arranged respectively contiguous to the standards and provided with eyes loosely encircling the standards, and guycords attached to the side edges of the canopytop at opposite points and adjustably connected with said eyes whereby said side ed ges may be depressed, substantially as specied.

7. A canopy having a supporting-frame including side standards connected at their npper ends bya cross-piece, brackets rising from said cross-piece at opposite sides of its center and fixed thereto, a canopy-top having a frame pivotally mounted upon said brackets, for forward and rearward tilting movement, a rack-bar pivotally mounted upon the canopytop frame, extending between said spaced brackets, and provided with seats for engagement with the center of the said cross-piece of the su pportin g-frame, and means for yieldingly holding the rack-bar with one of its seats in engagement with -said cross-piece, substantially as specified.

8. A canopy-top provided with supporting devices, and having a frame including a rigid longitudinal crown-piece, a plurality of continuous concentric pliable ribs intersecting said crown-piece at diametrically opposite points and secured thereto, whereby the side edges of the canopy-top are adapted to yield downwardly, and means, connected with said side edges, for securing the same at the desired downward deflection, substantially as specified.

D. A canopy-top provided with supporting devices and having a frame including a 1ongitudinal crown-piece, concentricv ribs attached at diametrically opposite points to the crown-piece, and transverse pliable stiifenin g-ribs connecting opposite points on the side edges of the canopy-top,substantially as specified.

10. A canopy-top provided with supporting devices, and having a frame including a rigid longitudinal crown-piece, continuous pliable ribs arranged concentrically and each secured at diam etrically opposite points to said crownpiece, and transverse pliable ribs connected at their centers with the crown-piece and terminally to the outermostconcentric rib at the opposite side edges of the canopy-top, and also intersecting the intermediate concentric ribs, in combination with means, connected to the canopy-top adjacent to the terminals of said pliable ribs, for downwardly deflectin g the side edges of the canopy-top, substantially as specified.

ln testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL CROCKER.

Titnessesz J oHN FORDEN, W. H. MILLER.

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