IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLA FURNITURE
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Brimley Cox, of North Audley Street, in the
County of Middlesex, Umbrella Maker, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN UMBRELLA FURNITURE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Brimley Cox at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th October 1880.
BENJAMIN BRIMLEY Cox, of North Audley Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Umbrella Maker. IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLA FURNITURE"
tt
This Invention relates to certain improvements in umbrella furniture, whereby
the use of springs for retaining the ribs in position, whether open or closed, is
dispensed with, and simplicity and economy of manufacture are ensured. The
stick moreover remains unimpaired in strength, as there is no necessity for making
slits or cuts in it for the reception of the springs hitherto so generally used.
These important advantages I obtain by mounting the tip-cup upon the runner
(instead of upon the stick) in such a manner that it serves by a simple lock action
to hold the tips of the ribs securely in place when the umbrella is closed, and retain
them firmly in position when they are extended.
The tip-cup is formed with a curved rim, as usual, for receiving and retaining
the ends of the ribs, and it has also an inner cylindrical flange which lies against
and slides upon the runner. Its upward movement on the runner is limited by a
band of metal brazed thereon. The tip-cup is slotted vertically to allow of its
passing freely over a projecting stud or guide piece formed on the runner, and it
has also a notch cut in the inner cylindrical flange, which works upon the runner
for the purpose of engaging with a stud or stop piece formed on the runner. This
stud or stop piece serves (in conjunction with the band of metal before mentioned)
to limit the extent of the upward and axial motion of the tip cup upon the runner;
and it may be so placed as to allow of the axial rotation taking place, if preferred,
in one direction only. The runner is slotted longitudinally to permit of its passing
over a projecting pin in the top of the stick.
The action of this apparatus is as follows:-When it is wished to secure the
umbrella in the closed position the tips of the ribs are pressed closely around the

page_text: A
runner, and the tip-cup is pushed up so as to enclose and hold them in place.
slight axial motion is then given to the tip cup, and its unslotted portion being
brought over the projecting stud or guide piece on the runner all chance of the
ribs escaping from the tip-cup is avoided.
In order to open the umbrella it is only necessary to turn the tip-cup in the
reverse direction until its vertical slot coincides with the projecting stud or guide
piece, when it may be drawn down and the ribs liberated.
It will then merely be necessary to push up the tip cup and runner to the
required height, when the lower edge of the tip cup will be just above the level of
the projecting pin in the top of the stick. On imparting to the tip-cup the same 1
axial motion as before it will engage with the said pin and retain the ribs in their
extended position. This arrangement obviates the necessity for inserting the
gloved hand within the folds of the umbrella previous to opening the same, and the
risk of soiling the glove or cuff is thereby avoided.
If desired additional stop pins may be inserted at other points in the stick so
that the umbrella may be held partially open.
In order to allow of the stretchers lying closer against the stick it may be
necessary to bend the ribs at the points where they rest on the notch of the
runner when in the closed position, or the said notch may be deeply slotted.
By employing these or similar means it will be possible to bring the tips of the 2
ribs closely against the runner and within the grip of the tip-cup.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Benjamin Brimley Cox in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th April 1881.
BENJAMIN BRIMLEY Cox, of North Audley Street, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLA FURNITURE."
The
This Invention relates to certain improvements in umbrella furniture whereby
the use of springs for retaining the ribs in position, whether open or closed, is
dispensed with, and simplicity and economy of manufacture are ensured. The
stick moreover remains unimpaired in strength, as there is no necessity for making
slits or cuts in it for the reception of the springs hitherto so generally used. These
important advantages I obtain by mounting the tip cup upon the runner instead of
upon the stick in such a manner that it serves by a simple lock action to hold the
tips of the ribs securely in place when the umbrella is closed, and retain them
firmly in position when they are extended. The tip cup is formed with a curved
rim as usual for receiving and retaining the ends of the ribs; and it has also an
inner cylindrical flange which lies against and slides upon the runner.
Its upward
movement on the runner is limited by a band of metal brazed thereon.
tip cup is slotted vertically to allow of its passing freely over a projecting stud or
guide piece formed on the runner; and it has also a notch cut in the inner
cylindrical flange which works upon the runner, for the purpose of engaging with
a stud or stop piece formed on the runner. This stud or stop piece serves (in
conjunction with the band of metal before mentioned) to limit the extent of the
upward and axial motion of the tip cup upon the runner, and it may be so placed
as to allow of the axial rotation taking place, if preferred, in one direction only.
The runner is slotted longitudinally to permit of its passing over a projecting pin
in the top of the stick. The action of this apparatus is as follows:-When it is
wished to secure the umbrella in the closed position the tips of the ribs are pressed
closely around the runner, and the tip cup is pushed up so as to enclose and hold
them in place. A slight axial motion is then given to the tip cup, and its unslotted
portion being brought over the projecting stud or guide piece on the runner all
chance of the ribs escaping from the tip cup is avoided. In order to open the
umbrella it is only necessary to turn the tip cup in the reverse direction until its
vertical slot coincides with the projecting stud or guide piece, when it may be
drawn down and the ribs liberated. It will then merely be necessary to push up
the tip cup and runner to the required height, when the lower edge of the tip cup
will be just above the level of the projecting pin in the top of the stick. On
imparting to the tip cup the same axial motion as before it will engage with the
said pin and retain the ribs in their extended position. This arrangement obviates
the necessity for inserting the gloved hand within the folds of the umbrella previous
to opening the same, and the risk of soiling the glove or cuff is thereby avoided.
If desired additional stop pins may be inserted at other points in the stick so that
the unbrella may be held partially open. In order to allow the ends of the ribs
to be well received within the tip cup and to lie flat on the runner I bend the ribs
in two ways, thus allowing them to pass over the notch and the ends of the ribs to
lie flat against the runner.
Having thus far described the nature of the said Invention I will now proceed
(by reference to the accompanying Drawings) to further and particularly describe
and ascertain in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in
practice

page_text: Fig. 3, sectional view, in plan, of runner ready to allow of umbrella being opened.
Figs. 4 and 5, views of runner and tip-cup; Fig. 4 showing when locked, and
Fig. 5 unlocked.
Fig. 6, sectional view of runner; Fig. 7, sectional plan of tip cup.
A is runner, on which is brazed or formed the rim B, said rim having a stop
piece C formed thereon. At the lower part of runner is a projecting piece D with
a slot in same so as to engage in pin E when umbrella is opened. The tip cup F
is provided with slot G, and also a rim for a certain part of its circumference, to
allow of the axial action. The action is as follows:-When the umbrella is closed,
as in Fig. 1, the rim of the tip cup F rests on the projecting piece on the runner A.
To open the umbrella the cup F is partially turned till the slot G comes over the
projecting piece D, and the tip cup F is then drawn down, releasing the ends of
the ribs. The tip cup F with runner is then forced up, causing the umbrella to
open, and when the slot in the projecting piece D engages in the pin E at the top
of the stick the tip cup F is again partially turned and same passes over the pin E,
and thus securely holds same, and the projecting flange resting against the projection
on the runner the umbrella is kept open. To close the umbrella a similar action
takes place as in opening the umbrella. In order that the ends of the ribs H of
the umbrella may lie flat on the runner I form a double bend I at the end of the
stretcher so that the ribs H pass over the notch K of the runner, and thus the ribs
lie flat against the runner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or put in practice, I
hereby declare that I claim the Invention of "Improvements in Umbrella Furniture,"
substantially as hereinbefore set forth and described, wherein the following are
important points or features:-
(1.) The spring generally used for retaining the umbrella in position is dispensed
with, which admits of the use of,-
(2.) The combination of runner and tip cup, substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore set forth and described.
(3.) The tip cup being placed on the runner keeps umbrella in position when
open or closed by the lock action, substantially as hereinbefore set forth and
described.
(4.) The ribs bent in two ways, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Brimley Cox, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness,
T. MORGAN,
21, Cockspur Street,
Charing Cross.
BENJAMIN BRIMLEY COX. (L.S.)