Improvements in Umbrellas and Parasols.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 21st May, 1889-Accepted, 17th Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Umbrellas and Parasols.
I, HENRY ALBERT FLEUSS of 19 Adelaide Road, Brockley, London, S.E., Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
'
This invention has for its object improvements in umbrellas and parasols.
In order to obtain greater compactness together with other advantages I employ a
metal stick which in section is of cross like form, that is to say the stick has four
longitudinal webs and deep channels between the webs. I make the top notch in four
sections, one to fit into each channel and I solder them in their places. I cut away a
small part of the webs so that the top notch may not have to project beyond the webs.
I so arrange that two of the ribs of the umbrella or parasol may lie in each channel of
the stick. The ribs may have the usual bits upon them to receive the joint pins con-
necting them with the stretchers or the bits may be arranged alternately a little nearer
to and further from the ends of the ribs so that they may not meet when the ribs are
closed together. When so arranging the bits upon the ribs the stretchers are made to
differ slightly in length and are arranged alternately long and short. The joints may
be made so as to allow of some play to compensate this irregularity.
The runner is made to fit the stick and at its inner end is provided with four legs,
one lying in each channel of the stick; each lug is made to receive two of the
stretchers which are connected to it by a joint pin.
The runner carries a spring catch and the stick is slotted to receive the head of the
catch when the runner is in either the open or the closed position. The head of
the catch also passes through slots in the sides of the runner and it is inclined so that
it may more readily drop into the slots in the stick. In opening and closing the
umbrella or parasol the head of the catch is pressed back with the finger until the
inclined part is brought into the slot in the stick and then on pressure being applied
to move the runner along the stick the spring catch frees itself and it drops in again
when the movement is completed.
The stick is furnished with end pieces usually of wood which are fitted to it; at one.
end there is the handle and at the other the tip of the stick.
The wood is cross cut with a saw to receive the webs of the metal stick and when
fitted together the parts are pinned through and a metal collar over the joint renders
it secure. Or in the case of the handle a round hole is made in it to receive the end
of the metal stick and wedges are driven in to fasten it.
Dated this 21st day of August 1888.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Umbrellas and Parasols.
.1, HENRY ALBERT FLEUSS of 19 Adelaide Road, Brockley, London, S.E., Mechanical.
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the:
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the:
following statement :-
This invention has for its object improvements in umbrellas and parasols.
In order to obtain greater compactness together with other advantages I employ a
metal stick which in section is of cross like form, that is to say the stick has four
longitudinal webs and deep channels between the webs. I make the top notch in such
a manner that it may not have to project beyond the webs and I so arrange that two
of the ribs of the umbrella or parasol may lie in each channel of the stick. The ribs
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page_text: may have the usual bits upon them to receive the joint pins connecting them with the
stretchers.
The runner is made to fit the stick and at its inner end is provided with four lugs
one on each of its sides; each lúg is made to receive two of the stretchers which are
connected to it by a joint pin.
The stick is furnished with end pieces usually of wood which are fitted to it; at one
end there is the handle and at the other the tip of the stick.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tip end of the stick of an umbrella frame which
is constructed as above described. Figure 2 is a similar view of the handle end of the
stick.
Figure 3 is a section through the tip end and Figure 4 a section through the
handle in this latter view the ends of two of the ribs are shewn held in to the stick
by an ordinary tip cap.
Figure is a section through the line a b-Figure 6 a section through the line cd
shewing the ribs lying in the grooves and Figure 7 a section through the line e f.
Figure 8 a section through the line g h shewing stretchers and ribs lying in the
grooves of the stick. Figure 9 a section through the line i j.
Figures 10 are longitudinal and transverse sections of the runner. Figures 11 are
cross sections of two parts from which the stick may be made. Figures 12 are an end
view and longitudinal section of the top notch.
In these figures A is the stick formed of four radial webs-such a stick may be
formed of two thin strips of sheet metal bent to the form shewn at Figures 11 the two
parts being secured one to the other or in other suitable way. Or other suitable ways
of making a stick of a cross like form may he adopted-B is the top notch, formed in
such a manner as not to project beyond the radial webs of the stick. Preferably I
form it in the manner shewn at Figures 12 which is a manner described in an
application for patent lodged by me No. 4721 in the present year.
It is composed of a metal tube with notches cut across its lower end as shewn at
Figures 1 and 12 to receive the ends of the ribs and with two grooves B1 B2 around
its circumference. The groove B' is for the joint wire to lie in which forms the pin
of the hinge joint by which each rib is jointed to the top notch and the groove B² is
for the fabric of the cover to be tied into.
At the end of the stick which has the top notch secured to it the stick is reduced in
diameter as is shewn and is passed through the interior of the tube B and the tube is
held to it by a rivet as shewn at Figures 1 and 3.
C is the runner it is formed of a square tube to fit the stick as shewn. At the
top it has slots cut downwards for a distance in each of its sides to receive the
ends of the stretchers-and the top edges are bent over to form eyes to receive a
rivet pin by which the stretcher ends are to be jointed to the runner two stretchers
are in this way jointed to each side of the runner. D. D' are spring catches carried
by the stick the catch D is for retaining the runner from moving along the stick
in a direction away from the top notch when the umbrella is open. It is stopped
from moving towards the top notch by a short pin stop E lying in one of the
channels of the stick as shewn at Figures 1 and 7. The pin is made short so as
not to get in the way of the ribs when the umbrella is closed and the runner is
formed with an inward projection (as shewn at Figures 10. F is the handle which
may be of wood, ivory or other suitable material-a hole is bored into it for the end of
the stick to be passed into. When the end of the stick has been inserted into the
hole it can be retained there by wedge pieces F1 driven downwards into the hole
and by glueing or in other suitable ways. The tip end G of the stick may be
secured in the same way and be further retained by a rivet G₁ as shown in
Figures 1 and 3 passed through the stick and through a metal band G2 by which
the inner end of the tip is surrounded.
H is an ordinary sliding cap for holding the tip ends of the ribs close in to the stick
when the umbrella is closed. In order also that the ribs which lie in the channels of
the stick may at their tip ends be retained in such channels, so that the tip ends may
not be twisted aside when rolling up the umbrella covering-I make the webs of the

page_text: stick just where the extremities of the tip ends lie between them, with extension
pieces I extending outwards to the inner circumference of the cap as shewn at
Figures 2, 4 and 9 so that when the umbrella is closed and the cap has been passed
over the tip ends of the ribs these tip ends cannot escape from the channel in which
they lie and the covering of the umbrella can be rolled up without its being possible
to bend the ribs out of a straight line and they remain equidistant around the stick.
In place of making an umbrella or parasol with a stick of crosslike section that is
with radial webs at right angles to one another and with two ribs and stretchers
to lie in each channel of the stick when the umbrella or parasol is closed it might
be made with three radial webs and with three ribs and stretchers to lie in each
channel, I prefer however to construct it in the former manner.
Square runners such as hereinbefore described with two stretchers jointed to each
of its sides may also be used advantageously with solid or tubular sticks which are
square in cross section.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The construction of an umbrella or parasol with a stick of crosslike form in
section and with 8 ribs and stretchers two to lie in each groove or channel of the
stick when the umbrella or parasol is closed.
2. The construction of an umbrella or parasol with a stick formed with longitudinal
channels in each of which two or it might be three ribs and stretchers are made to
lie when the umbrella is closed.
3. The construction of an umbrella or parasol with a stick formed with longitudinal
channels in each of which two or it might be three ribs are to lie and with projec-
tions I from the webs of the rib which serve together with a sliding tip cap to retain
the tip ends of the ribs in the channels of the stick when the umbrella is closed
substantially as described.
4. The combination of a square runner with two stretchers jointed to each of its
sides by a separate joint pin substantially as described.
5. The construction of umbrellas or parasols substantially as hereinbefore described.
6. The stick for an umbrella or parasol formed with longitudinal grooves or channels
and with a tip and handle secured to its ends substantially as described.
Dated this 21st day of May 1889.
-
HENRY A. FLEURS.