IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th October 1878. A communication
from abroad by Casimir Faure, of Paris, France.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS."
[A communication from abroad by Casimir Faure, of Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of umbrellas and
parasols, and comprises the following novel features, namely:-
First. An arrangement whereby the umbrella or parasol may be opened or closed
by the action of one single finger of the hand which holds the said umbrella.or
parasol.
Secondly. Providing a second or lower frame which transmits to the ordinary
frame, namely, the one covered with silk or other material, the action of the
stretchers.
Thirdly. A runner or fastening device fixed on the stick, and which is
independent of the action of the stretchers.
In order to cause my Invention to be clearly understood, I have shewn in the
accompanying Drawing, as a specimen only, the skeleton of an umbrella provided
with the said improvements.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the skeleton of an umbrella constructed
according to my said Invention, and showing the same closed.
Figure 2 is a similar view, shewing the same open.
Figure 3 is a transverse section above the runner or fastening device, the arms of
the latter being down.
Figure 4 shows detached the lower part of an operating rod hereinafter
described.
Similar letters indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures.
a is a ring fixed upon the stick A, and to which is jointed the double or inter-
mediate frame b; c is a fixed ring to which the ordinary frame d is jointed. This
exterior frame serves as a support to the silk or other material. forming the
covering; e are the joints of the intermediate frame b, by which the latter is
C Dmire C21

page_text: attached to the ordinary frame; f is a movable ring or slide to the upper part of
which the stretchers g are jointed; h indicates the joints of the stretchers connecting
the latter with the intermediate frame; i is a forked rod jointed at one part to the
ring or slide f, and at another part to the rod j; k is a lever oscillating upon a
centre in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stick A; m is an
operating or traction rod jointed to one end of the lever ; n is a mortice in which
the lever oscillates. It will be seen that when the umbrella is open or closed the
points of attachment of the lever to the rods j and m are all that project from the
mortise n; o is a longitudinal groove in which slides nearly the whole of the rod
m; the said groove, and also the rod m, are of dovetail shape in transverse section
and the rod is thereby prevented from escaping from the groove; p is a stud
provided upon and near the lower end of the rod m; q is the end of the rod m,
which end is forked and is furnished on its inside face with a notch r; 8 is a flat
spring fixed in the bottom of the groove o; t is a stud attached to the outer free
end of the spring s, and projecting outside the groove even when the spring is
pushed back.
The umbrella or parasol may be provided only with these parts and without a
fastening runner, in which case the operation will be as follows, that is to say :-
The umbrella being held upwards in one hand the thumb of this hand presses
downward upon the stud p; the rod m descends and encounters at the bottom of
the groove o the flat spring 8, and when the extremity of the spring s is in front of
the notch r, it enters the latter, and the rod m is thus prevented from rising so
long as no pressure is applied to the stud t; the stem of the latter cannot prevent
the descent of the rod m, as the end of the said rod is forked, and the said stem
lies within this fork when the rod descends (see Figure 4). It will be seen that the
one movement of pushing back the spring 8, out of the notch », causes the return of
the stud p and rod m to their original position. In order to secure effective
action the extent of movement of the rod m should not exceed 0m 05, consequently
the ends of the lever k and also the ring or slide ƒ would move the same distance;
the jointed connections h of the stretchers g connecting the latter with the double
frame bare at a distance of 0m 05 from the ring a; the upper ring c is placed
at a distance of 0m 05 from the previous one, and the joints e connecting the
double frame with the outer frame are placed at a distance of 0 10 from the ends
of the latter.
Under these conditions the action of the thumb drawing down the stud p causes
the lever to descend, and one of its arms pushing by the aid of the rods i and j
the ring or slide f causes the stretchers g to rise and the double frames to extend
from the stick at an angle of about 0m 60. These double frames at the same time
cause the exterior frame with the silk or other covering to extend with an elegant
curve, instead of being about horizontal as would be the case if only one jointed
frame were employed with the stretchers at a short distance from the stick, as they
must be placed in order to extend the umbrella with a very small longitudinal
displacement of the stretchers.
Under these conditions the jointed connections of the stretchers with the second
frame permit a very slight movement of the stretchers to effect the opening of the
umbrella, and by reason of the jointed connection of this complemental frame near
the extremity of the ordinary frame the umbrella is equally well spread out as if
the stretchers were connected directly to the ordinary frame in the usual position.
The required traction in opening necessitates only a trifling effort; and the
umbrella is very firm when open, offering great resistance to wind.
To close the umbrella it is only necessary to press upon the stud t; the rod m
being then released from the spring a rises immediately under the rocking action
of the lever k produced by the weight of the frames acting upon its upper arm
which turns on its pivot and falls into the mortice n; the ring / descends, and
brings the stretchers and frames parallel with the stick.
I may add to an umbrella constructed as above described an annular piece or
tube which remains fixed to the stick, the lower part of the said tube being at a

page_text: short distance from the stud p. This tube consists of a ring u, upon which a
runner slides. A spiral spring is placed within the runner and surrounds the
said tube in the usual manner; arms z are jointed near the top of the tube, and
between these arms there are pieces of some textile fabric, parchinent, leather or
other suitable material goffered or plaited radially; a small spring w provided
with a spur or claw and fixed on the stick holds the runner when it has been
depressed, which is effected by pressing with one finger upon its upper part; its
upper edge being then below the jointed connections of the arms 2, the latter are
no longer retained parallel with the stick and spread out with the covering
material between them, and the frame of the umbrella being no longer confined
within the arms z is free to extend or open when the stud is pressed.
It will be seen that the rodm passes through the said tube, which would hold it
in the groove even if the form given to the latter did not effect this object.
As regards the closing this is effected as hereinbefore described by simply
pressing upon the stud t, then if the spur or claw of the spring wis disengaged
from its notch the runner will rise by the action of the spiral spring raising the
arms z, which will confine the extremities of the umbrella.
Notwithstanding the advantages resulting from the use of this runner it may be
replaced by any other kind of runner, or a runner may be dispensed with altogether,
the umbrella naturally remaining closed so long as the traction stud is not operated,
the traction rod moreover being unable to escape from its groove by reason of the
form in which the latter is made.