Improvements in Umbrellas.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application; 28th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 6th June, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Umbrellas.
We, RANDOLPH PENDLETON HULL, of No. 27 Garden Street, Manufacturer,
HENRY KELSEY BECK, of 55 Linwood Avenue, Manufacturer and HATTIE
MAY HAWLEY, of 37 West Main Street, Housekeeper, all of Norwalk in the
County of Huron and State of Ohio, United States of America, 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:-
The present invention relates to improvements in ribs and stratchers for umbrellas
of that class which are known to the trade and the public as "close rollers," that
is, the ribs and stretchers are so arranged that they fold compactly around a small
sized staff or rod to enable the cover to be closely wrapped or coiled around the
staff, ribs and stretchers; to produce a small, neat structure:
Heretofore in this art it has been common to employ a channeled, sheet-metal
stretcher in connection with the usual channeled rib so that the stretcher will fold
into or within the rib when the frame is collapsed and folded against the staff; but
in all such prior devices known to us, the ribs and stretchers must be made of
such size, to receive the strength necessary to stand the end wise pressure and
transverse strain, that only six of the connected ribs and stretchers can be
employed in an umbrella having a staff or rod of small diameter, it being preferable
in the "close rolling" type of umbrellas to use a staff about one quarter of an inch
in diameter.
It is our purpose to provide an improved construction of the ribs and stretchers
which shall have the necessary strength to resist the end wise pressure and
transverse strain brought on the ribs and stretchers and at the same time be smaller
in size than prior devices of this kind, whereby a larger number of ribs and
stretchers can be used in "close rolling" umbrellas than has been heretofore
possible in this class of umbrellas, and the umbrella when opened is given an
improved shape or appearance.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved joint or connection
for the rib and stretcher which; while simple in construction; is very strong and
durable, serves to brace the stretcher against transverse strain, operates with
practically no friction between the parts, and is not weakened to any appreciable
extent by the apertures prcduced in the rib to receive the pivot that counects the
stretcher thereto.
A further object of the invention is to so construct and organize the ribs and
stretchers that, when the umbrella frame is folded, the ears, on the ribs forming a
part of the joints, and the inner faces of the series of stretchers will contact with,
or bear upon, the surface of the small staff or rod throughout the whole length of
all the stretchers and the exposed faces of the ears on the ribs; thus preventing
the ribs from bearing at the middle thereof upon only the staff, which last described
arrangement is objectionable because the ears when they bear on the staff at the
middle thereof cause it to become marred and defaced after the umbrella is used a
short time.
With these ends in view, the invention' consists in the novel construction and
arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

page_text: The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying
drawing, forming a part of this Specification, and in which,
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the improved umbrella, with the frame in
the opened position for use.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation through a connected rib and stretcher, the plane
of the section being indicated by the dotted line -x of Figure 1 and looking in
the direction indicated by the arrow.
Figure 3 is an enlarged detail perspective view of one rib and stretcher, showing
the construction of the joint between the parts and showing the position of the
stretcher relative to the rib when the parts are closed.
Figures 4 to 6 inclusive represent a modified construction of the rib and stretcher;
Figure 4 being a perspective view showing a T-shaped rib and a channeled
stretcher; Figure 5 an elevation of the rib and stretcher when closed, and Figure 6
a transverse section on the plane indicated by the dotted line y-y of Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, transversely through the
middle of the staff, and the ribs and stretchers when the umbrella frame is collapsed
to show the compact folding of the parts upon each other and the bearing of the
T-stretchers on the cylindrical surface of the small sized staff.
Figures 8 and 9 are enlarged sectional views through the channeled ribs and
T-stretchers, respectively.
Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view through the joint between the rib and
stretcher and Figure 11 is a detail view of the joint.
Figure 12 is an elevation showing a portion of the staff and illustrating the rib
and stretcher folded together and upon the staff, showing the manner in which the
stretcher bears upon the staff, as also the ears of the rib, between which ears the
tenon on the stretcher is pivoted.
Figure 13 is a fragmentary detail of the parts shown by Figure 12, the line X-
indicating the surface of the staff or rod.
Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures of the
drawing, referring to which,-
A designates the staff of an umbrella, which is made of a small rod, about one-
fourth of an inch in diameter, and provided at one end with a suitable handle.
Near the other end of this staff or rod, is fastened the usual crown piece, B, and
on the staff is fitted the slidable runner D, all of these parts being of the usual or
any preferred construction.
To the crown piece, B, is pivoted the inner ends of the ribs C, and the inner
ends of the stretchers or braces E are hung or pivoted to the slidable runner D,
the joints between the ribs and crown piece, and between the stretchers and
runner, being of the usual construction.
We prefer to make each rib, C, of sheet metal which is rolled or creased to
produce a longitudinally channeled rib, and to make each stretcher E of a single
solid piece of metal which is rolled to the appropriate form in cross section, to
produce a stretcher in a single solid piece of metal of small size and which will
withstand the endwise pressure and strain to which it is subjected when the
umbrella frame is opened for use. We may, however, transpose the channeled and
ribbed metallic parts, that is, the rib may be of the T-shaped solid bar form, and
the stretcher of the channeled form as indicated in Figures 4 to 6, but for practical
reasons, the chauneled form of the rib and the solid T-shaped stretcher are
preferred, as shown by Figures 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the ribs C are formed of pieces
of sheet steel which are creased, folded or rolled to produce on the inner surface
or side of said rib the longitudinal channel F, which extends throughout the length
of the rib.
Each stretcher or brace, E, is rolled from a single solid bar of metal into the
substantially T-shaped form in cross section, to produce the transverse head or
flanges and the web G which stands at right angles to the head 1; and this

page_text: web G of the T-shaped stretcher is extended, at the ends of the stretcher, beyond
the head I, or in other words, the ends of the head I terminate within the prolonged
ends of the web G, to produce the protruding tenons gl at the ends of each
stretcher, such tenons being of the same thickness and width as the web G of the
stretcher. One tenon of each stretcher is connected to the notched ring at one
end of the slidable runner, and the other tenon g' at the opposite end of each
stretcher is fitted between and pivoted to ears H, H, on the companion rib to said
stretcher. An improved form of joint is produced by the ears H and tenon g¹
between the rib and stretcher, which joint is produced by manipulating the pieces
of metal of which the rib and stretcher are made, so as to dispense with the
common sleeves and fabric employed largely in the manufacture of umbrellos but
which old form of joint is highly objectionable because of the "bulky" appearance
they give to the umbrella when folded, and which is more noticeable and
objectionable in "close rolling" umbrellas. The ears H, H, on each rib are
produced at the point where the stretcher is to be joined thereto, and the ears are
formed on the inner edges of the channeled rib, and on the sides of the rib, as
shown by Figure 3, so that the ears are projected beyond the plane of the inner
edges of the channeled rib and they are spaced to accommodate between themselves
the tenon g' on the outer end of the stretcher. Said ears H. H, are produced on
the channeled rib during the manufacture thereof, or before the parts are assembled
into the umbrella frame; and the ears are furthermore thickened, or enlarged
transversely, as shown by Figures 3, 10 and 11, so that the ears are of increased
thickness as compared with the thickness of the metal forming the body of the rib.
The space between the inner opposing faces of these thickened ears is substantially
equal to the thickness of the prolonged tenon g' produced on the end of the
stretcher, and the tenon g' is thus caused to fit snugly between the thickened ears,
so that the tenon will work freely therein and without friction. Transverse
openings are drilled through these thickened ears, and the tenon 9' has an
opening in line with the opening '; and through these openings is passed the
pivot pin 4, the ends of which are swaged down into recesses produced in the
outer faces of the ears H, to bring the headed ends of the pivot pin practically flush
with the faces of the ears H and the rib.
The joint thus produced between the rib and stretcher is very strong, compact,
and durable, and it affords a good bearing and brace for the end of the stretcher
upon the rib when the umbrella frame is opened, so that the parts are well
adapted to resist any lateral or transverse strain. There are no projecting
surfaces against the cover or fabric to wear through the same, and when the
umbrella frame is folded, the stretchers are partially inclosed within the channeled
ribs, that is to say, the stretchers are so arranged in relation to the ribs that the
webs, G, of the T-shaped stretchers fold into the longitudinal channels F of the
ribs, while the heads I of the T-stretchers bear or rest against the edges of
the channeled ribs, as shown by Figures 2, 3, and 7. The head I of the T-stretcher
corresponds in width to the width of the channeled rib between the outer faces
thereof, and thus the edges of the stretcher-head lie flush with the exposed sides of
the channeled rib, to give a neat appearance to the rib and stretcher when they
are folded together.
The outer edges of the thickened ears, H, H, on each rib are straight, and
parallel to the edges of the channeled rib, and when the stretcher is folded to cause
he web G to be inclosed within said channeled rib, the outer face of the stretcher-
ead lies flush and in line with the exposed straight edges of the ears H, H.
When the head I of the stretcher is cut away near the ends thereof, to produce the
enons g', two shoulders g, y, are produced at the end of the stretcher. When the
tretcher is folded into the rib, these shoulders g, g, are very close to and flush with
he ends h, h, of the thickened straight ears; and by the described construction of
he ears and the tenon, a smooth, compact and strong joint is provided between the
b and stretcher.

page_text: As shown by Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing, and also by Figures 7 and 9, the
outer exposed face of the stretcher-head I is made slightly concave transversely
across the same, to enable said face of the stretcher to bear firmly and evenly
upon the cylindrical surface of the rod or staff A; and as this concave face of
the stretcher is practically flush with the exposed edges of the ears H, H, when
the parts are folded together, the stretcher and ears are caused to bear nicely
upon the staff A, each stretcher bearing upon the staff throughout its entire
length as shown by Figure 12 and also indicated in Figure 13. By arranging
the stretchers so that they are flush with the protruding ears on the ribs when the
parts are folded, we are able to cause the parts to bear upon the staff so as to avoid
marring and defacing the staff which, in ordinary umbrellas, is caused by the joints
at the middle of the ribs bearing on and rubbing against the face of the staff when
the umbrella is closely rolled.
The construction of the rib and stretcher as herein shown and described enables
them to be made quite small in cross section as compared with previous
constructions, but this reduced size of the parts does not in any way weaken them,
because the improved type of T-stretcher employed by us is stronger and better
capable of resisting greater end wise and transverse pressure or strain as compared
with larger sized stretchers of the common, sheet-metal, channeled form of stretchere.
The channeled rib, made from sheet steel and connected by the improved joint to
the stretcher, will not bend in use, nor become flattened or straightened out under
the strain of the stretcher when the umbrella frame is opened for use. The
compact, small size of the ribs and stretchers enables an increased number of ribs
and stretchers to be used in a close rolling umbrella without increasing the diameter
of the small sized staff which is necessarily used in this type of umbrellas, and
because the parts fold so compactly together and upon the staff when the umbrella
frame is collapsed, the size of the umbrella when rolled together is not appreciably
increased by the increased number of ribs and stretchers employed, which increased
number of ribs impart greater strength to the umbrella and give it a better and
more attractive appearance.
In Figures 4 to 6 inclusive, the ribs C' are made substantially T-shaped in cross
section, with the outer face of the cross head thereof slightly oval or convex in cross
section, as at I, to avoid cutting the fabric cover, and the stretcher F is wrought of
sheet steel to form the groove in the side that faces the rib, in order that the web
of the rib may fold within the grooved stretcher.
The rib C is preferably made to taper slightly toward both ends; and the web c
of the rib is reduced in width toward the ends, to enable the rib to fold compact
with the stretcher upon the small staff A. The outer end of the stretcher F is
bifurcated, as shown by Figure 4, to provide ears which embrace the web of
the T-rib, and through these ears of the stretcher and the web of the rib is passed
the pivot pin that connects the rib and stretcher.
A notch or recess d, is formed in the rib-web at a suitable point to receive
the wire by which the stretchers are connected to the runner, said wire on the
runner fitting into the notches d of the ribs when the stretchers and ribs are folded
together and upon the staff, in which folded condition the webs on the ribs ar
inclosed in the grooves of the stretchers and the heads of the ribs bear against th
edges of the grooved stretchers, see Figure 6, so that the headed ribs lie flush wit
the sides of the stretchers.
1laving now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what w
claim is :
1. In an umbrella, the channeled rib C provided with the integral thickene
ears H, H, combined with a solid T-shaped stretcher provided with a tenon whic
is fitted between said thickened ears, and a pin passing through said ears, and teno
substantially as and for the purposes described.

page_text: 2. In an umbrella, the solid T-shaped stretcher having its transverse integral
head provided with a concave outer face, and also provided with a tenon which
projects beyond the head, combined with a rib having ears and a pin which passes.
through the ears and the tenon, substantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated this 29th day of February 1896.
RANDOLPH PENDLETON HULL.
HENRY KELSEY BECK.
HATTIE MAY HAWLEY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.