Another HUP mystery part

[cmperry4]

I started to disassemble the hip ring today. On the front of the metal rim was a strip of sheet metal, about 1" x 8" held on with four sheet-metal screws, in holes drilled in the metal ring. The piece of metal was thing, galvanized, and was held on by oval-head, not round or pan-head screws, so the fasteners were definitely not original. The only function I can think of for this strip being there is perhaps to give a bit of bite for the canvas top when it is tightened from the rear, presumably by cords through the two holes in the roof behind the ring. I am guessing the ties would be secured to a U-channel and clevis pin thing mounted on the inside of the cab roof behind the ring opening. There is also a curved plate behind the ring which appears to have held down the edge of the cover, as there are remnants of fabric under it. I have no details or illustrations of the hip ring cover setup, so I'm guessing.

The piece has been attached since at least before the truck was painted yellow, likely in the '50s.

Anyone else encounted this metal strip on a hip ring? Any other ideas why it would be there?