Improvements in Umbrella Tents and Tables therefor.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1898--Accepted, 16th July, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Umbrella Tents and Tables therefor.
I, GEORGE WILLIAM HIGGINS, of 146, Ebury Street, Pimlico, in the County of
London, Decorator and Upholsterer, 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 relates to umbrella tents and tables therefor so constructed as to
be readily taken to pieces and fitted together again when desired. The umbrella
tent also can be easily opened or closed and will automatically fix itself in the
open position.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of the
umbrella tent and table; Fig. 2 is a plan of the table alone showing the extensible
flaps; and Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged detail views of the device for retaining the
umbrella tent in the open position. The same letters of reference where they
occur are used to indicate the same parts in the several figures of the drawings.
A is the tent pole having a tapered stem a by which it is fitted
into a tapered socket 6 in the table pillar B.
C is a runner block
on the pole A, to which the stretchers D are pivotted, said stretchers
being pivotted at their other ends to the ribs E which latter are pivotted to the
top notch or fixed block F all as in an ordinary umbrella frame. The top block F
screws on to, or is otherwise removeably attached to, the upper end of the pole A,
and the ornament G either forms part of or is removeably attached to said
block F.
The umbrella tent is raised by means of cords or the like H running through
the runner block C, and secured by a knot, said cords or the like passing over
pulleys inserted inside the fixed block F thence down through vertical holes in
the runner block C and around & between pulleys flf f³ and f* on the lower part
of the pole A. The ends of the cords after passing the pulleys ff f³ and f¹ may
if desired be knotted together so as to prevent them from slipping back between
the pulleys and to provide for a regular and simultaneous pull on all the cords.
Pivotted in a slot a' in the pole A are two counterweighted stops J, shown in
front and side elevations in Figs. 3 and 4. Both stops J are alike in shape and
are oppositely disposed on a common pivot K passing through the pole A. Each
stop Jis furnished with a segmental slot j and a pin L passes through the pole A
and through both slots j thus holding the stops J together at their upper ends.
The stops Jare counterweighted so as normally to take the position shown in
Figs. 1 and 3, that is to say, protruding as far out of the sides of the slot a¹ in the
pole as the pin L and segmental slots will allow. In this position they form a
rest on which the runner block C is supported when the umbrella tent is in the
open position shown in Fig. 1. When the block C is being raised to the open
position it abuts against the curved sides of the stops J and presses them towards
each other and completely inside the notch a' in the pole, and when the block C
has passed them the stops J fall out again to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3.
To prevent the umbrella tent from opening beyond the position required or from
being blown inside out by the wind, a counterweighted stop M is pivotted in a
slot higher up the pole.

page_text: To open the umbrella it is simply necessary to pull on the ends H¹ of the cords or
the like H until the runner block C meets the stop M, when the cords may be
released and the runner block will rest on the upper surfaces of the stops J. To
close the umbrella, first pull on the cords to raise the runner block C from the
stops J, then press these latter inwards into their slots a', by the finger
and thumb, and the runner block C will then pass thereover down the pole A.
To take the tent to pieces, close the umbrella, remove the pole from the table B
and lay it down in such position that the stop M falls completely inside the slot
in which it is pivotted, then remove the ornament G and the top block F, and the
whole of the frame can be slid off the pole towards the top.
The table top N is fitted with extensible flaps n each of which carries a second
flap n extensible at right angles as shown in Fig. 2, in which view all the flaps n
are shown drawn out to their full extent and three of the second flaps n¹ are
also shown drawn out, the other being shut up within its flap . The table top N
rests on a shoulder b¹ on a central pillar B which has a tapered socket 6 to
receive the tapered stem a of the umbrella pole A as before described, said pillar
screwing into or being otherwise removeably secured to a base P, which latter has
dowel holes p into which are fitted dowel pins q on the bottoms of brackets Q.
These brackets are screwed or otherwise removeably affixed to the pillar B and
their upper ends are level with the shoulder b¹ on the central pillar B, and with it
serve to support the table top N. The method of taking the sections of the table
apart and of fitting them together again will be well understood without further
explanation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. An umbrella tent comprising an ordinary umbrella frame secured to a re-
moveably fixed block and a runner block, cords or the like secured to said runner
block and passing over pulleys in the fixed block and over and between pulleys at
the lower end of the pole, a pair of counterweighted stops pivotted in a slot in the
pole and another counterweighted stop pivotted in a slot higher up the pole
substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and illustrated in
Figs. 1, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
2. A table for an umbrella tent comprising a top having extensible flaps each
carrying a second flap extensible at right angles, a pillar having a shoulder to
receive the table top, a base to which said pillar is removeably secured, brackets
removeably secured to said pillar and serving to support the table top, substantially
as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2
of the accompanying drawings.
An improved umbrella tent and table therefor made in separable parts and con-
structed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose herein before set forth
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
May May 10.
F. W. GOLBY,
36, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patient Agent for the Applicant.