Improvements in Umbrellas.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1896-Accepted, 4th July, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Umbrellas.
I. HARVEY D. SABIN, of St. Albans, in the County of Franklin, and State of
Vermont, United States of America, Gentleman, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in umbrellas in which the ribs and
stretchers are attached to the top-notch and runner by ball and socket joints, and
the object of my improvement is to provide means whereby
(a) The ribs, stretchers and fittings can be readily and rigidly connected and easily
taken apart, (b) the strength of the ribs and stretchers is maintained throughout their
length, (c) the sockets constituting one part of the joints may be formed directly
in the body of the top notch or runner and not in separate parts thereof, and
(d) the ribs and stretchers may be connected to the top-notch and runner respectively
in such a way as to prevent the last-named fittings or the ribs or stretchiers from
injuring the fabric with which the umbrella may be covered.
Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein like indicating letters point
out like parts throughout the various figures,
Fig. 1 shows the supporting stick X and top-notch A of the umbrella and some
of the ribs a, provided with the balls g, in place within the sockets b, and it also shows
the runner B with some of the balls e of the stretchers c in place within the
sockets d of said runner.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the upper face of the runner B.
Fig.
3 is a similar view of the lower face of the top notch A.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view and Fig. 5 a vertical section of parts of the runner B
showing a method of attaching the confining plates i thereto.
The top notch A has a series of sockets or recesses b, bored at equal distances
apart into the lower surface thereof and a distinguishing feature of my device is
thai these sockets are wholly formed in the single piece which forms the body of the
top notch, thus avoiding the necessity of providing a loose protecting washer as
has been provided in other devices of this character, whereby I obtain a much
stronger joint than is obtainable where the socket is partly formed in each to two
circumjacent pieces; these sockets are adapted to receive the balls g upon the joint.
ends of the ribs a and form therewith true ball and socket joints of maximum
strength; the slots connect these sockets with the exterior of the top-notch A ;
the plate which supports the balls g in the recesses b, is provided with radial slots k
Fig. 3 coinciding with the sockets and the slots of the top notch. The
confining plate which may form part of the top notch A as shown in Fig. 1 is
provided with fingers of unequal length by crimping over two or
the longer of which viz., the fingers as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 in connection
with the runner B, the plate l is secured in position.
more of
The runner B is of substantially similar construction to the top notch A. It is
provided with the same sort of integral socket holes d similarly placed, but here
the holes are bored into the edge of the runner thus forming the sockets for the
joints to be made with the balls e of the stretchers ; the slots m connect the
sockets d with the upper surface of the runner; the confining plate i is attached
to the runner B by crimping over the longer fingers as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5.
That part of the ribs a and the stretchers c next to the balls 9 and e which

page_text: form parts of their joints, I denominate the "neck" shown in Fig. 1 at o. These
portions of the ribs and stretchers is of course a little smaller than the balls which
form the joints within the sockets; their thickness however governs the width of
the slots and of the top-notch A and plate and the width of the slots of
the runner B for a given joint the neck o is so fashioned that when the umbrella
is closed it just fills the slot in the fitting A or B thus presenting a smooth
surface to the fabric with which the umbrella may be covered and preventing all
wear at that point and dispensing with the necessity of protecting it at that point.
Having thus described my invention I now proceed to show the method of its
operation the ribs and stretchers being provided with balls at their inner ends
fitting into the integral sockets of the top notch A and runner B and having the
necks of said ribs and stretchers so shaped as to exactly fill the slots described,
the balls are placed within the sockets, the confining plates are rigidly attached
and the stick X inserted, the top notel A being permanently attached thereto.
Upon sliding the runner B upward the confining plates prevent the balls from
leaving the sockets, the slots h, m permit the free upward movement of the ribs
and outward movement of the stretchers, and when the umbrella is closed the
fittings A B present no sharp edges to injure the fabric.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performned, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In an umbrella and parasol frame, the combination of headed ribs with a
notched head and a slotted cap having lingers of unequal length and of which the
longer fingers are bent inward to lock the cap in place.
2. An umbrella comprising in combination a series of headed ribs and noiched
head, a series of headed stretchers pivoted to said ribs and a notched runner, the
notched heads and runners being provided with sloited caps having fingers of
unequal length and of which the longer fingers are bent inward to lock the caps
in place.
Dated this 2nd day of March 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.