Improvements in or relating to Umbrellas.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1891-Accepted, 4th July, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Umbrellas.
A communication from abroad by ANSON GARDNER, of Norwich, in the County of
New London, and State of Connecticut, United States of America, Gentleman.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil 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 is in the class of umbrellas that may be folded and packed into
small space, for transportation, the object of said invention being to provide a
simple and inexpensive form of lock that shall serve to hold the ribs in their open
or extended position except at such times as it is desired to fold the umbrella, when,
by a simple operation hereinafter described said lock may be removed and the ribs
doubled back upon themselves to reduce, by about one half, the length of said
umbrella.
To more clearly explain the said invention a sheet of drawings, illustrating the
same, is annexed hereto,
Figure 1 being a view of a complete rib with stretcher attached and
Figure 2 an enlarged side view of the joint and parts of the connected rib and
stretcher, the joint being shown as locked.
Figure 3 is a similar view of the same parts with the joint opened.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal, sectional, view of the joint and
Figure 5 a top view of that portion of the rib which forms the locking bolt and
which contains the spring that actuates said bolt.
Figure 6 illustrates a modification of said invention in which a slightly different
bolt mechanism is employed.
1
In these drawings and denote the two sections which form the hinge of the
two-part rib, said sections being connected by a pintle or pivote and provided with
lateral wings d, to which the stretcher e is riveted and between which the locking
bolt passes when the umbrella is opened. The rib section is secured rigidly in
the hinge section a but the companion rib section has a limited longitudinal
movement in and through hinge section b, in the joint illustrated in Figures 1 to 5.
The inner end of section is pinched together as at 2 so that it may enter between
wings d when the umbrella is opened and so serve as a bolt to lock the two rib
sections (-) in alignment. The rib, as illustrated, is of the form known as the
"Paragon" rib and is struck or rolled up from sheet metal.
Within the space thus provided in the rib is a spiral spring i one of whose ends
abuts the pinched end of rib ', the opposite end of the spring being held against
endwise movement by a lip & bent inward on hinge section b.
The spring i thus acts with a constant tendency to force rib to the left hand,
as shown in the drawings, and to cause the pinched end of said rib to enter
between wings d when the umbrella is opened. To prevent rib section from
moving through hinge section b too great a distance, the said rib is squeezed or
"crimped" together just beyond the described lip k, thus providing a stop that
may engage said lip and limit the forward movement of the rib section.
When it is desired to close an umbrella having jointed ribs of the form described,
it is only necessary to seize the free ends of sections and pull them outward
against the force of springs. This withdraws ends ² of said ribs from between
the wings d and the ribs may then be folded into one half the length which they
assume when the umbrella is in use.

page_text: It will thus be seen that the rib section h¹, by reason of its longitudinal movement
in the hinge section b, serves the purpose of a bolt to lock the complete rib in its
open or extended position. In Figure 6 is shown a modification of the above
described invention, in which a separate, sliding, bolt m is used, the rib section
being secured rigidly in the end of hinge section, and a spring n being provided
to actuate said bolt. Said bolt is formed with a lateral projection m' which may
be reached by a finger to withdraw the bolt when it is desired to fold the
umbrella.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is :-
In a folding umbrella, a rib jointed midway of its length in combination with
a stretcher hinged thereto as set forth; one of said rib sections being arranged
to interlock with the companion section in the manner and for the purpose
specified.
Dated the 1st day of June 1801
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.