Improvements in Self-closing Umbrella Frames.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1896-Accepted, 27th June, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Self-closing Umbrella Frames.
A communication by LOUIS EDOUARD BISSON, of 5 Rue Mazagran, Paris,
in the Republic of France.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6 Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham in
the County of Warwick, and 322 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Civil 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:-
Self-closing umbrella frames have hitherto caused great inconveniences in their
application, they leave much to be desired as regards solidity, the spiral or bent
spring employed for the closing operation rusts easily, breaks frequently, and still
more frequently prevents the working of the closing device.
Moreover these self closing frames having the parts folded one on the other
render the umbrellas ungraceful by increasing the dimensions.
Further, they have also the great disadvantage of cutting the cover of the
umbrella which causes expense and tends more and more to prevent self-closing
frames from coming into commercial use.
Finally their cost is somewhat high.
In order to obviate all these herein before mentioned inconveniences, the
improvements, which will be hereinafter described, have been designed, which
improvements form the subject of the present application.
These improvements consist in dispensing with spiral or bent springs having a
single or double arm and replacing them by a spring strip of steel which is lodged
in the recess of the stretcher, one extremity of said spring being hinged in the
recess of the git and the other end fixed to the stretcher.
In order to allow of the invention being better understood, reference will now be
made to the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 shows this improved self-closing umbrella-frame open;
Figure 2, the same closed;
Figure 3, the spring by itself;
Figures 4 and 5 a modification of the spring with a heel piece.
The rib A has at a suitable point a git B forming a socket or cap in which the
stretcher C is pivotted on a pin or pivot b, the end of the spring D being pivotted
on another pivot b'. The stretcher C is recessed at c in order to allow of the free
extension of the spring D, and is slotted or perforated at c' in order to form a slide
and receive the end d of the said spring, which end is enlarged or cut to a dovetail
form in order to prevent it emerging from the slot whilst leaving its movement
free.
As may be seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the spring D works by compression, the
distance between the points A, B and A' C¹ diminishing constantly up to the
perpendicular position of the stretcher C on the rib A. as shown in Figure 2.
In Figures 4 and 5, the spring D¹ works by compression and flexion, as it is
maintained by a heel piece a, formed in one with it, which prevents its rotation at
any point which may be deemed suitable by the maker.

page_text: By referring to the drawing, it is easy to understand the working of this improved
írame, which is as follows:-
When the umbrella is open, the spring D is bent and the frame is in the position
shown in Figure 1; in order to close the umbrella it is disengaged by any suitable
known means and at this moment the frame, not being any longer retained at the
top of the stick is closed by the pressure of the spring D and assumes the position
shown in Figure 2.
As may be seen from the preceding, this improved self-closing frame is extremely
simple, whilst it ensures great solidity and is of limited bulk, the git B lodging in
the recessed or slotted end of the stretcher when the umbrella is closed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In self closing umbrella frames, the application of a flat steel spring pivotted
on the git eccentrically to the point of rotation of the stretcher and working by
compression substantially as described.
2. In self-closing umbrella frames, the application of a flat steel spring with a
heel piece said spring acting by compression and by flexion substantially as
hereinbefore described and shown on the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 26th day of May 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.