Improvements in Umbrellas and Sunshades.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1900
Improvements in Umbrellas and Sunshades.
I, NELSON FOLEY, of Isola di Gaiola Posillips, Naples, Italy, Manufacer,
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 improvements in umbrellas and sunshades of the class
capable of being shortened so as to make them more convenient for packing or
travelling, or for being attached to cycles.
And in order that my said invention may be more clearly understood I have
hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings upon which :-
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate the handle end constructed according to my method
for an umbrella, and Fig. 7 the same principle applied to a sunshade.
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate the ground or ferrule end for an umbrella, and
Fig. 8. the same principle applied to a sunshade.
Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 7 are longitudinal sections through the handles, Figs. 1 and 7
showing them extended and held in position by steel clips or catches.
Fig. 3 shows a handle extended and a method which may be adopted for prevent-
ing the handle from being drawn completely off.
Fig. 2 shows a handle shut in, riz., when the umbrella is shortened.
Figs. 4 and 6 shows the point extended and held in position by outside clips
or catches in case of an umbrella, and Fig. 8 shows the point of a sunshade
extended and held in position by a simple catch.
Fig. 5 shows the point of an umbrella shut in riz., when the umbrella is
shortened.
In Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 7 (a) is the principal shaft of the umbrella or sun-shade,
preferably tubular (b) is the hollow tubular handle (c) and (d) are washers,
soldered or otherwise fixed to the shaft to act as guides for the handle, but (c)
may also act as a stop to prevent the handle from being drawn off, (c) being a
ferrule soldered or fixed on the inner end of the handle for the same purpose.
The ferrule (e) also serves the purpose of engaging with the clips or spring
catches (f) which are destined to maintain the handle in the extended position.
The said spring catch may be bent round and pass through a slit in the end of
the shaft and be held firmly in place by the washers (). The ferrule (e) on the
handle may be slotted on its rim in order that the spring catch may engage in
the notches to prevent the umbrella or parasol from turning round. (9) is the
usual catch in the shaft to keep the umbrella shut.
In Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 8 (a) is the principal shaft of the umbrella, the extremity
at least of which is tubular. (k) is the point which slides telescopically into the
shaft. () is the steel spring catch or clip to retain the point in the extended
posifion. (m) is a washer soldered or otherwise fixed to the tubular point to act

page_text: as a stop. (n) is a washer to which is attached the stop and which also serves
as a plug to prevent rain from entering the umbrella, (o) is one kind of stop
which may be used, another more simple kind being shown in Fig. 8, where the
washer (m) is checked by the end of the ferrule () which carries the ribs. (r) is
the usual catch for keeping the umbrella open.
In an umbrella or sunshade constructed according to my invention the handle
is made tubular, so that it can be run in over the radial arms when the umbrella
or sunshade is shut up, and over the movable sleeve to which are attached the
said arms. The shaft or main stick of the umbrella is preferably made of metal
tube, and the running sleeve (s) in Figs. 1 and 2 is made of such a form as to
have the least possible diameter at the part where the radial arms are attached.
The handle is prevented from being drawn completely off by some suitable means,
such as that shown and described above.
In the case of an umbrella a double catch is preferred for keeping the handle
extended as pressure comes on the handle when the article is used as a walking
stick. For parasols simple catches are considered sufficient.
In the case of an umbrella or sunshade made on my principle the point or
ground end is made to slide telescopically into the shaft, a steel clip or spring
catch being used to maintain the said point in the extended position in such a
manner as above described, or other suitable methods may be employed. In the
case of an umbrella a double catch is preferred, but for parasols simple ones are
considered sufficient. The clips or catches are preferred on the out end viz. out-
side the umbrella as being always visible, and also so that there may be no opening
through which water might enter and run down the shaft. The point is prevented
from being drawn out by suitable stops such as shown but any other convenient
method may be adopted and in the case of a sunshade a pin in the end of the
point instead of the washer (m) running in a slot in the tube (a) would be suffi-
cient. The curved ends of the steel clips () when the point is run in by their
friction against the walls of the tubular shaft serve to keep the said point in. In
the case of the handle, in order to shorten the umbrella it is only necessary when
the umbrella is shut up to press the ends of the steel spring or catch, by finger
and thumb, and then to push in the handle over the radial arms. In extending
the handle it should be simply drawn out until it stops then turned slightly round
until the catch falls into one of the slots in the ferrule (e) if the catch does but
of itself come opposite a slot in the first instance. In the case of the point to
shorten the umbrella the same simple operation is only necessary, namely, to
compress the ends of the catch and push it in. To extend the point draw it out
until the clips spring out of their recess.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention I declare that what I claim is:-
1: In improvements in umbrellas and sunshades a hollow tubular handle,
sliding in over the end of the principle shaft or stick and over the radial arms
when they are in the shut up position, also over the sleeve to which the radial
arms are attached as herein set forth and shewn on the accompanying drawings.
2: The combination of the hollow tubular handle which slides over the radial
arms as just described with a movable point or ferrule end which slides tele-
scopically into the extreme ground end of the principle shaft or stick as herein
set forth.
3-In improvements in umbrellas and sunshades, the combination of the
ordinary catches in the principle shaft or stick for holding the umbrella or sun-
shade open with the hollow handle and telescopic point as above described, the mode
of opening and closing and maintaining the article in either of these positions,
identified with the same operation in the case of an ordinary umbrella, as herein
set forth.
4: The outside simple or double clip or fastening for keeping the telescopic
point extended as herein set forth and shewn.

page_text: The system of constructing the hollow extreme end viz-ground end of.
the umbrella without opening or slot inside the umbrella and thereby preventing
the entrance of rain as herein set forth.
Dated this 24th day of Alarch 1900.
NELSON FOLEY.
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents, 55, Market Street, Manchester.