Improvements in or relating to Umbrellas, Parasols, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Umbrellas, Parasols, and the like.
I, ERNEST FLUDE of No. 55 Charles Street Leicester in the County of
Leicester Umbrella Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to umbrellas, parasols and the like, and consists of
the hereinafter described means of securing the stretchers to the ribs forming the
frame thereof; at the joint, and pivoting the stretchers to the forked ends of
strengthening bits, without piercing the ribs at the points where the stretchers
are connected to the ribs for opening and closing the frame, thus I produce a
stronger rib at the point most desired, than is now made.
I also provide a suitable tube runner having special slots cut therein to receive
the runner notch ends of the stretchers, and the tips of the ribs.
To carry out my invention the ribs and stretchers are made of trough- wire
drawn out to the desired sections and of the desired length, the joint or pivotal
end of the stretchers are secured by pins through holes in the upturned sides of
the strengthening bit, such strengthening bit consisting of a rectangular piece of
steel, bent round to the size and section of the inner face of the ribs, the side
edges of such strengthening bits are hollowed out so that when placed and
secured in the ribs, upon pressing the edges of the ribs opposite thereto inwards,
into the said hollow parts or spaces of the strengthening bits, the joint is secure
and cannot shift any way. The tops of the ribs are then secured in the usual way
to the top notch, and the runner ends of the stretchers secured by wire in an
annular groove in a solid tube runner notch, and the end of each rests in deep
narrow cut slots made in the centre of wider slots in the runner notch made
to receive the ribs, so that they lie well within and through the said runner
notch on to the tube runner instead of over the notch as is now the case.
The shoulders of the joint ends of the stretchers fit nearly up to the free ends or
fork of the strengthening bits; and the said stretchers though of a smaller section
to the corresponding section of the ribs, the trough of one lies within the trough of
the other, and in the reverse way to what is now the case, by this means I am
enabled to get a closer folding of the frame perfectly flat to the stick.
The tube runner is made of a suitable size and shape with the wide, and narrow
deep cut slots in the wider or notch end thereof and can be employed upon an
ordinary solid wood stick without forming a shoulder, and a tip cup pressing
against it and sliding on the stick to hold the ribs closed. The said tube runners
are made to fit both short and long stretchers, and in the latter case a tip cup
slides thereon.
Daul L 100s
W. BESTWICK MAXFIELD,.
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Umbrellas, Parasols, and the like.
I, ERNEST FLUDE of No. 55 Charles Street Leicester in the County of
Leicester Umbrella Manufacturer 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 has reference to umbrellas, parasols and the like, and consists of
the hereinafter described means of securing the stretchers to the ribs forming the
frame thereof; at the joint and pivoting the stretchers to the forked ends of
centre or strengthening bits, without piercing the ribs at the points where the
stretchers are connected to the ribs for opening and closing the frame.
That my invention may be well understood I have annexed a sheet of drawings
in which:
:
Figure 1 shows a rib and stretcher secured in accordance with my invention.
Figure 2 a modification of same having the fork extended beyond the cramp to
prevent the stretcher forcing out the bit in its forward action, or position as seen
in Figure 5.
Figure 3, the centre, strengthening or connecting bit as employed in Figure 1.
Figure 4, the bit as employed in Figure 2.
In both Figures 3 and 4 the bit is shown ready shaped to fit in the trough of
thé rib.
Figure 5 is a side view of the rib and stretcher, showing the hollows a', and the
stretcher turned towards the top of the rib.
Figure 6 is a partly sectional view of the rib stretcher and centre, strengthening
or connecting bit C, and
Figure 7 a view of the tube runner D.
To carry out my invention the ribs A, and stretchers B, are made of trough
wire and the ribs drawn out to the different sections, a, a, as in my former
Patent No. 3630 of 1891, except that the section of the rib is larger than that of
the stretcher, and of the desired length; the joint or pivotal end of the stretchers
are secured by pins in holes a³ in the turned up sides of the centre or strengthening
bit C, such strengthening bit consisting of a rectangular piece of steel is bent
round to the size or section of the ribs, and secured in its place by cramping, and
also by pressing the edges of the rib next thereto inwards, a', so that the said bit
is secured from shifting in any way..
The tops of the ribs are then secured in the usual way to the top notch, and the
runner ends of the stretchers secured by wire in an annular groove in a solid tube
runner notch of any well known kind, but preferably the one shown in Figure 7
of the drawings. It will be observed in Figures 1, 2 and 6 that the shoulders of
the joint ends of the stretchers B fit nearly up to the free ends or fork C', of the
centre bits C, and the said stretchers lie well within the trough of the rib, and in
the reverse way to those now made, consequently I am enabled to obtain a closer
folding of the frame perfectly flat to the stick, and I am also enabled to produce
a stronger rib, at the point most desirable, that is, at the point where the stretcher
is usually connected to the rib or git, than is possible by piercing the rib as is now
the case. The tube runner D Figure 7 is made of a suitable size and shape with
the wide, and narrow deep cut slots d, d', in the wider or notch end thereof, so
that both the ends of the stretchers and ribs lie therein one above the other, this
-tube-runner-can-be-employed upon an ordinary solid wood stick without forming a
shoulder thereon, the tip cup d², slides on the barrel of the runner to hold-the-ribs.
closed, said tube runners are made in suitable lengths to fit both short and long
stretchers.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A stretcher having its joint end pivotally connected to the fork of a centre,
strengthening or connecting bit, the latter secured in the trough of the rib by
cramping, and arranged substantially as described.
2. In a rib of an umbrella, parasol and the like the employment of a strengthen-
ing bit having the joint end of a stretcher connected thereto, the latter fitting in
the rib in the reverse way (by the smaller section lying in the trough of the
larger section thereof;) without piercing the rib, and in combination therewith a
tube runner having deep and narrow cut slots, and a tip cup sliding thereon, all in
the manner and for the purpose as bereinbefore described and set forth.
3. The herein described improvements in or relating to umbrellas, parasols and
the like as set forth in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1896.
W. BESTWICK MAXFIELD,
Registered Patent Agent,
19 Bowling Green Street, Leicester, Applicant's Agent.