Improvements in the Construction of Umbrella Frames.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 23rd June, 1893-Accepted, 29th July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Umbrella Frames.
I, FREDERICK GILES of Fawkner Street, South Yarra, in the Colony of
Victoria, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature_of_this_invention_to_be_as_
follows:
"and
This invention consists of an improvement in the construction of umbrellas, and
refers to those portions which are known in the trade as the "notch piece
the runner "and also to the method of connecting the ribs to those two parts
and the manner of shaping the ends of such ribs. The usual way of affixing the
ribs to the "notch piece" is by passing a wire through an eyelet, formed in the
head of each rib hingewise and by passing the wire around and in an external
annular groove formed in the "notch piece" for securing same. The ends of the
wire are then twisted to prevent their coming unloose. The same form of con-
struction is applied at present to the junction of the "runner
stay ribs.
"
"
piece and the
Now my invention consists in forming the "notch piece in the shape of a
ferrule, swelling out at its top so as to contain an inner annular passage or channel,
and provided on the outer rim of the said annular channel with slots which are
cut in a direction parallel with the umbrella stick. These said slots are for the
purpose of receiving the specially formed heads of the ribs, which in my invention
are made as follows:-
At the top of each rib I terminate the rib in the shape of a disc or double
flattened ball thus leaving, practically speaking, a solid disc attached by a narrow
neck to the rib.
The method of articulating a rib to a groove in the notch piece is by twisting
the rib a quarter revolution and putting the narrow portion of the disc through
the slot and into the annular channel in the said notch ferrule, when by releasing the
twist on the rib the disc will turn in the annular channel and present its full
diameter against egress from the said slot and thus form an articulation.
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The method of constructing the "runner piece and the stay ribs to same is
exactly similar to that above described.
Amongst other advantages which my form of construction presents is that any
one or more ribs may be removed and repaired or replaced by others without
interfering with the articulation of the other ribs.
If preferred a solid ball may be used in place of the disc and a circular opening
arranged in the bottom of the slot to admit same, but I prefer the disc and slot as
described.
In order that the invention may the more properly be understood I attach hereto
a drawing in which "A" is the "notch" piece, "B" is the disc at the head of the
ribs "C" whilst "D is the stick of the umbrella.
"
It is my intention at a later date to deposit specifications and drawings more
fully describing and defining my invention and its modus operandi.
Dated thie 17th day of April 1893
FREDERICK GILES.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Umbrella Frames.
I, FREDERICK GILES of Fawkner Street, South Yarra, in the Colony of
Victoria, Engineer, 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 improvements in the construction of the frames,
or mechanism, of umbrellas and analogous constructions, such as parasols, rain-
shades &c. and applies to those portions known as the "notch-piece" and the
particularly, and to a lesser degree to the elbow and it also applies to
the manner of connecting the stretchers and ribs at those parts and the shaping of
the ends of such stretchers and ribs.
"runner
66
"
"
,,
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or the
The usual way of affixing ribs or stretchers to either the "notch-piece
runner is by passing a wire through an eyelet formed in the head of each rib
or stretcher hinge-wise, and by passing the said wire in and around an external
annular groove formed in the notch-piece" or runner for securing same; the
ends of the wire are then twisted together to prevent their coming loose.
Now my invention consists in forming the "notch-piece
cylinder, swelling out at its top, so as to contain an inner annular passage or
channel, and provided on the outer surface of the said annular channel with slots
cut in a direction parallel with the umbrella stick. These said slots are for the
purpose of receiving the specially formed heads of the ribs and stretchers which
in my invention are as follows:-
in the shape of a
I terminate each rib and stretcher at its top in the shape of a disc, or circle, of
metal with its flattened surfaces towards the silk and the stick, and thus leaving,
practically speaking, a solid disc attached by a narrow neck to the rib or stretcher.
The construction of the "runner-piece" and the stay ribs to same, is similar to that
above described, except that I prefer to make the slots slightly more elongated than
those in the "notch-piece," and also, instead of making a narrow neck at the
junction of the stretcher and disc, I prefer to make the stretcher, at that locality,
as much as possible of a square section, but such alteration is merely preferable, but
not arbitrary.
The articulation of the stretcher to the rib may be of similar construction to
those parts above described. In the ordinary forms of construction the twisted
ends of the hinge-wire and sharp edges of the "notch-piece "frequently cut the
silk covering of the umbrella, but in my construction the surface presented to the
silk is round and smooth, and amongst other advantages which our construction
above described presents is the fact that any one, or more, of the ribs or stretchers
may be removed independently of the others and replaced without interfering with
the articulation of the other ribs and in a very much shorter space of time than is
necessarily absorbed in repairing ribs or stretchers constructed on the present
principle, besides which it is not necessary with my invention to knock off the cap
piece or undo the silk at the notch, as is done at present when repairing or
replacing a rib.
In order that the invention may be the more properly understood, reference may
be made to the accompanying drawings, in which-
Figure 1 shews an elevation of my improvements, partly in section, and
Figure 2 shews an elevation of the articulation of a stretcher with a rib.
Figure 3 is a plan of Figure 1.
Figure 4 an alternate way of constructing the head of a rib or stretcher.
Figure 5 shews an alternate way of constructing the slots in the "notch-piece"
or runner," "whilst
66
Figure 6 shews an attachment piece for repairs.

page_text: In these drawings "A" is the "notch-piece" mounted on the umbrella-stick "B"
and having its top widened out so as to form an annular channel "C" into which
slots "D" are cut. "E" is the rib having the flattened disc "F" at its head and
is shewn in the position it takes prior to its entering the slot "D." "G" is a
rib shewing the position of the head or disc "F" when the articulation is
completed.
A glance at Fig. 3 (which is partly in section) will shew a plan of the position
assumed by the rib "G." "H" is the runner (see Fig. 1) which is practically
identical in construction (so far as our improvements go) with the "notch-
piece" "A." "I" is a stretcher, whilst "K" (Fig. 2) illustrates a joint by which
the stretcher "I" and rib "E" may be articulated together, but I do not
necessarily use this form of a joint.
Referring to Fig. 4 "L" is an alternate shape for the head of either a rib or a
stretcher; whilst in Figure 5 an alternate way is shewn of constructing the
slot "D" which-consists-in-cutting a circular passage "M" in and under the end of
each slot so as to enable the head of a rib or stretcher to be constructed in the shape
of a sphere, but I do not consider this construction so advantageous as the disc "F"
and straight slot "D."
16
Should a head or disc as "F" break off through wear, or other cause, from the
ribs "E" or stretchers "I" the construction Q" (Fig. 6) may be attached to the
broken end of the rib or stretcher either by soldering or compression, and
the rib "E" or stretcher "I" replaced in position at a minimum of cost.
The modus operandi of my invention is as follows-
I articulate the rib to the groove in the "notch-piece" by twisting the rib until
the narrow portion, or edge, of the disc is in front of the slot. The disc is then
introduced, edge-wise, through the slot and into the annular channel in the said
"notch-piece.' The twist on the rib is then released and the disc will turn in the
said annular channel and present its full diameter against egress from the said slot,
and an articulation will be formed.
Any convenient gripping instrument may be employed for holding and twisting
the rib or stretcher, but I prefer for this purpose to use a short rod, or ring, of
metal with a hooked end shaped in such a manner as to engage with the rib or
stretcher and form a grip for turning same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is―
1. In umbrella frames-constructing the "notch-piece" so as to contain an inner
annular chamber into which vertical slots are cut in such a manner as to permit a
dise or similarly shaped head of a rib to be entered edgewise and turned cross-wise
for the purpose of forming an articulation substantially as set forth.
2. In umbrella frames-constructing the "runner" piece so as to contain an inner
annular chamber into which vertical slots are cut in such a manner as to permit a
disc or similarly shaped head of a stretcher to be entered edgewise and turned cross-
wise for the purpose of forming an articulation substantially as set forth.
3. In umbrella frames-constructing the head of a main rib or a stretcher in the
form of a disc in such a manner as to enable the disc to form an articulation when
introduced in position in a slot, and annular channel provided for the purpose in a
notch-piece or runner as and for the purposes set forth.
4. In umbrella frames-the alternate construction of forming the head of the
rib or stretcher in a T shape substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
5. In umbrella frames-the alternate construction of the "notch-piece" and
runner" in which the slot terminates in a circular opening in such a manner as to
permit a spherical head of a rib or stretcher to be introduced into an annular
channel formed in the "notch-piece" or "runner for the purposes of articulation,
substantially as set forth.
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6. In umbrella frames-articulating the stretcher to the rib by means of a disc

page_text: and a slotted recess formed in a connecting piece affixed to the said rib, substantially
as and for the purposes herein set forth.
7. In umbrella frames-a clip piece as "0" terminating in a disc, spherical or
cross head and constructed in such a manner as to be easily attachable to the
broken end of a rib or stretcher substantially as and for the purposes described and
as illustrated on the accompanying drawings,
Dated this 5th day of June 1893.