UNITED STATESA DATENT OFFICE.
Speeiicaton of Letters Patent.
Patented May 14, 1907.
Application le January 3,1907. Serial No. 350,628,
.To all 'fm/:fomJ if muy fro/werft:
Be it known that I! losnrn Dunrsnn, of the city and county oi Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvaniai have invented an Im roveinent in IIandle-Thirnbles, of which t e foln lowing is a specification.
My invention has reference to handle thimbles and consists of certain improvements which are fully set forth in the following Specification and shown in the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof.
The object of my invention is to provide a thirnble for crank handles such as used on the electric controllers of street cars, 'which shall protect the hand in cold Weather from contact with the metal and which also further provides an insulating protection to the motorman against electric shook.
My invention consists of a thiinble, molded of rubber, and having a neck of smaller diameter split down to its lower edge and coinbined with surrounding elastic band for normally holding the parte of the neck in oontact and snugly to the handle, whereby the thimble may be easily placed over or removed i'roni the handle knob.
My invention further consists in providinfl the interior upper portion of the thimble Wit an inverted metallic en p which may rest directly upon the handle knob.
My invention also comprehends details of construction which, together with the features above 'specified7 Will be better understood by reference to the dra-Wings, in Whieh Figure l is anelevation of a handle thinihle embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of the same; and Fig. 3 is an inverted plan View of the same.
A is the head of the thiinble and is preferably somewhat ball shaped and terminates at the bottom in a neck portion B of smaller diameter. The lower edge of the neck B is provided with an outwardly directed head b and the inner edge is preferably beveled as at H so as to permit easy entrance of the handle knob (indicated in dotted lines).
The neck B is provided with one or more slits C which preferably terminate at the top in large apertures E at or about the juncture of the head and neck portions. The bounding edges of these apertures E may be bea-cled as at e to increase the strength. As shown there are three of these slits C and holes E arranged equidistant about the neck.
D is a band of rubber which is snapped over the neck B and is retained in place and protected by the lower beaded edge t of the neck. This rubber band is quite flexible and acts to normally hold the several parts of the neck in. pro er relative position as shown. yet to permit them to be spread in placing the thimble upon or removing it from the handle knob` The thimble is preferably made of rubber of ordinary grade which, While haring elasteity to maintain it in proper shape, is not depended upon to hold the several portions of the neck together since the employment of the rubber band D serves such purpose. This band D will insure the neck portions holding snu ly together and upon the handle knol).
T e interior u per portion of the head A may he providedj Withan inverted metallic cup ortion F which is forced into position and 1s adapted to directly receive the wear ol the handle knob. This eu F further acts to retain the shape of thimh e and reduce the friction between it and the knob. The cup may simply depend upon friction to keep it in position or it may he cemented or other wise held in place.
The thirnble is small and easily carried in the ocket, and is ada ted with facility to be app ied or removed ein the controller or other handle or knob.
Having now described my invention7 what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:
1. A handle thinible composed oi iiexible material molded in one piece and having a hollow head portion and a neck portion with out seams the'latter being slit from its lower edge te the head portion, combined With an elastic hand encircling the outside of the neck portion.
2. A handle thimble composed of flexible material'molded in one ieee and havin a hollow head portion Wit out seams an' a neck portion the latter being slit from its lower edge to and terminating With the head portion, combined With an inverted metallic cup in the interior of the head portion, pre- IOO combined with an elststie band eneirelin f the xo outside of the neek portion above the Yeed and holding the slit portions thereof to ether.
In testimony of which invention, have hereunto set my hand.
JOSEPI IV i.)UBlSlC IC.
senting a smooth inner surface sind an elastie bend encircling the neek portion.
3. A handle thnnble composed of rubber, having e large heed ortion and e neck ortion the letter divied vertically by t iree or more slits, terminating et their upper ends in large holes adjacent to the head portion' Witnesses: Iand having its outer body smooth except the it. M. HUNTER, lower edge which is provided with a bead, i lt. M. KELLY.