US1688241A - Weather shield - Google Patents

Description

A Oct. 16, 1928. 1,688,241

R. s. LAFO'ON WEATHER SHIELD Filed OCT.. 24, 1927 (J n n INVENTOR E s: ATTORNEY v-nTN s WW2 datenteol Get. 16, i928.

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RICHARDS. LAFON, OF RECHMGND, VXRGNIA.

Application filed October 2li, i327. Sera?. No 228,428.

rlhis invention relates to a weather shield for freight cars, the general objectof the invention being to provide a rooting for the space between the doors of two box cars placed side by side or between a car and a station or warehouse so as to prevent rain or snow from falling upon the gang boards, from where it would find its way into the cars, and the rooting also protects persons passing between the cars.

Another object of the invention is to so form the shield that it can be adjusted to properly bridge the space between cars of various types, with means whereby the shield can be easily and quickly putin place and taken down. I

A still further object-is to provide the device with a centrally arranged gutter for direct-ing the water falling upon the device to the sides thereof.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

ln describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure l is a diagrammatic view showing the invention in use between two cars and between a car and a station.

Figure 2 is a Iplan view ofthe device.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is adetail view showing the eye bolt at the end of one of .the rods, to which the cord or cable is attached.

As shown in these views, the device is formed of a sheet l of canvas or the like having a rod 2 placed in ahem 3 at each side edge of the device and a gutter 4i at the center of thedevice for directing water falling on the sheet off the ends thereof. The device also includes a cord or cable 5 fastened to each end of each rod 2 and having rings 6 attached thereto for engaging hooks or other fastening means in the car or freight house. As shown in Figure l, the cords are so fastened that the sheet passes through the door openings and slopes. downwardly from each edge to the center so that rain or snow will fall onthe sheet and the resultant water will flow down the sloping portions into the gutter which will direct it off the ends of the sheet. Thus rain or snow will be prevented fron'ii falling` upon the gang boards between the cars from where the rain or snow water would find its way into the cars and the device will also protect persons passing between the carsand between a car and the station or freight house.

By providing a plurality of rings 6 on each cable, the parts can be so adjusted whenV fastened in the cars that the device will be properly positioned even when placed between two cars of different types or styles.

in order to provide means for further adjustnient, l place a hook 7 adjacent each corner of the sheet, so that by rolling a portion of the sheet on each roe and then fastening the hooks in the eyelets 8 on the ends of the rods, the sheet will be held with parts rolled upon the rods and thus the width of the sheet will be shortened so that it can be used between cars, the sides of which come close together. l attach the cords 5 to these eyelets 8. f

l prefer to form the gutter e of two strips 9 of metal or the like which are of gutter shape and which are placed one above and the other below the central portion of the sheet l and then the parts are riveted together, as shown at l0.

From the foregoing it will be seen that l have provided simple means for covering the space between freight cars and the like, above the doorways, so as to prevent rain or snow entering the space at the doorways which not only protects persons passing between the cars, but also prevents rain or snow falling upon the gang boards. rl`he device can easily be put in place and removerL and it can be adjusted to suit cars of different types and styles. Y

lt is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

- lt is to be runderstood that l may malte changes in the construction and in the com.- bination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

l. fri weather shield for bridging the space between two structures, comprising a fiexible sheet sloping from its edges to its center, a

kgutter of rigid material at the center of the sheet, rods connected with the edges of the sheet and flexible members connected with the ends of the rods and adapted to be attached to parts of the structures.

2. fr weather shield for bridging the space betweentwo structures, comprisinga. flexible sheet slopingfrom its edges to its center, a gutter of rigidmaterial at the center of the sheet, rods connected with the edges of the sheet,- a cableconnected with each end of each rod, spaced rings on each cable, a hook adjacent each corner of the sheet at the end thereof and means on the ends or" the rods for engaging the hooks when portions ofthe Lessen sheet have been rolled upon the rods to de crease the Width of the sheet.

3. In combination with a pair of structures spaced apart, a member extending over the upper part of the space, means for connecting the edges of the member to interior parts of the structures and a gutter carried by the member' and arranged between the structures 20 with the parte of the member at the sides of the gutter sloping downwardly to the gutter. In testimony whereof affix my signature.

RICHARD S. LAFOON.

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