IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, OWEN JONES, of 18 Southampton Street, Bloomsbury Square, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention för
"IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS "
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to umbrellas and parasols, and comprises various improve-
ments hereinafter set forth.
One object of my said invention is to diminish the size or bulk of the umbrella
or parasol at that part where the ribs are connected with the rib-holder, and to
accomplish this result without making the stick in two parts. For this purpose
I reduce the diameter of the stick at this part and fit thereon a metal tube or
sleeve. This tube or sleeve is slightly tapered, and its larger end is made of such
diameter that it will pass freely over the end of the stick; the remaining portion
of the tube or sleeve is cut or divided longitudinally at two or more places so that,
when the stick is thrust into the said tube or sleeve, the latter will open or expand
sufficiently to enable it to pass freely over the end of the stick and will then
contract and closely fit the reduced part thereof.
The rib-holder is formed on, or attached to, this tube or sleeve, and the small end
of the latter is screw-threaded so that after the silk or other cover is put on a nut
or ferrule can be screwed upon the said tube or sleeve to firmly secure the same in
place upon the stick. Or the small end of the tube or sleeve is made without.
screw-threads, and instead of the nut, a ring or ferrule is placed thereon and
secured to the stick by a pin or other suitable means.
I prefer to form the rib-holder in two parts, which are notched for the reception
of the ribs, and one of which is made with a circular groove or channel for the
ring or wire that secures the said ribs in the holder. This groove or channel is 80
formed that the ring or wire when in place will be encircled or enclosed by a portion
of the holder. The other part of the said holder constitutes a cap for retaining the
said ring or wire in position in the said groove or channel. The ribs are so fitted
in this holder and secured therein by the ring or wire that, although the said ring
or wire should break, the ribs cannot become detached or displaced. When this
form of holder is used, the silk or other cover is put on and secured to the said cap.
I provide in the manner hereinafter set forth for holding the free extremities of.
the ribs closely against the stick, when the umbrella or parasol is closed, that is to
say I make the handle of the stick slightly larger in diameter than that part
Cn
ハブラ

page_text: thereof which is enclosed by the ribs when the umbrella or parasol is closed, and
I form in the handle of the stick as many notches or recesses as there are ribs.
The free extremities of the ribs are adapted to fit into these notches or recesses.
Upon the handle of the stick a ring or annular piece provided with similar notches
or recesses is fitted with a capability of partial rotation in either direction; this
ring can be adjusted either so that its notches coincide with those in the stick, or
so that it covers the said notches in the stick in such a manner as to retain the
ends of the ribs therein. A pin is passed through a slot in the said ring or annular
piece and fixed in the stick to prevent the displacement of the said ring or annular
Or other suitable
piece, while permitting its movement to the requisite extent.
means may be provided for this purpose.
In some cases I fit the said ring or annular piece to slide longitudinally to and
fro upon the stick, so that it can be adjusted to cover or uncover the notches. Or
instead of forming the notches in the stick, I make the ring or annular piece of
sufficient thickness to permit the formation therein of recesses or cavities to receive
the ends of the ribs, and I fit this ring or annular piece to slide longitudinally to
and fro upon the stick.
The aforesaid notches, recesses or cavities are so arranged that when the umbrella
or parasol is properly closed, the ribs will be held at uniform distances apart
thereby greatly improving the appearance of the umbrella or parasol. The said
notches inoreover serve to retain the ribs in position while the umbrella or parasol
is being folded or rolled up."
To still further improve the appearance of the umbrella or parasol and diminish
its bulk when closed, I make the runner with longitudinal grooves or channels into
which the ribs will enter when the umbrella or parasol is closed. The sides of
these grooves or channels may be bevelled or inclined to ensure the entrance of the
ribs therein. When the runner is thus formed, it also serves to hold the ribs in
place while the umbrella or parasol is being folded or rolled up.
Dated this 21st day of December 1886.
HASELTINE, LAKE & CO.,
For the Applicant. .

page_text: Improvements in Umbrellas and Parasols.
I, OWEN JONES, of 18 Southampton Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
My invention relates to umbrellas and parasols, and has for one of its objects to
improve their shape by diminishing their diameter or bulk at that part where the
ribs are connected with the rib holder, and to accomplish this result without
making the stick in two parts.
My said invention is, moreover, designed to facilitate the attachment of the ribs
to the rib-holder and to prevent their accidental detachment therefrom by reason
of breakage of the ring or wire which secures them thereto.
Another object of my said invention is to provide for confining the free ends.of
the ribs and keeping the same equidistant from each other when the umbrella or
parasol is closed.
My said invention, moreover, comprises various improvements hereinafter set
forth.
In the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of one form of my improved umbrella, the
cover being removed.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the same, drawn to a reduced scale.
Figures 3 to 9 inclusive are different views hereinafter described, showing parts
of the said umbrella detached:
Figures 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 are different views hereinafter described
showing modifications of my invention.
Figure 17 is a sectional elevation showing part of another form or modification.
of my improved umbrella.
Figures 18, 19 and 20 are different views, hereinafter described, showing parts
of the same detached.
Figures 21, 22 and 23 are sectional elevations showing further modifications of.
iny said invention.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
a is the stick; b, b are the ribs; c is the runner; d, d, are the stretchers which
connect the ribs with the runner.
In the umbrella shown in Figure 1, the stick is slightly reduced in diameter so
as to form shoulders a*, a*, and is made taper from each of the said shoulders to
the part a. A metal tube or sleeve e, which is tapered internally from each of its
extremities to. the part e¹, is fitted upon the stick between the said shoulders a*.
Figure 3 is a. side elevation of this tube and Figure 4 is a transverse section of the
same on the line x, x, Figure 3. The end e³ of the tube e is made of such internal
diameter that it will pass freely over the part a³ of the stick, and the said tube is
cut or slit longitudinally as at ea so that, when the stick is thrust into the tube,
the latter will open or expand sufficiently to enable it to pass freely over the
part a', and will then contract and closely fit the reduced part of the stick,

page_text: f is a part of the rib-holder, which is made in two parts as and for the purpose
hereinafter described. The part fis formed integrally with the tube e.
This part
of the rib-holder is made with notches f¹ into which the ribs bare inserted, and
with an annular groove or channel f' for the reception of the ring or wire g which
secures the said ribs to the rib-holder. h is a ring or annular piece which
constitutes the other part of the rib-holder, and which is made with notches h³ to
correspond with those in the part f. This ring or annular piece is fitted upon
the part of the tube e and abuts against the part f so that it retains the ring or
wire 9 in place in the groove or channel f³.
This groove or channel, instead of being formed in the periphery of the rib-
holder, as in umbrellas heretofore constructed, is formed in one end of the part f
so that the ring or wire, when in place, will be encircled or surrounded by the
outer flange f³ of the part f, that is to say, the said ring or wire will be enclosed
within a space or cavity between the adjacent ends of the two parts of the rib-
holder. It is obvious that the said groove, channel or cavity may be formed in
either of the adjacent ends of the two parts of the rib-holder, or partly in one and
partly in the other of the two parts.
The silk or other cover is attached by means of a cord or otherwise, to the
annular piece h either before or after the latter is placed upon the tube e.
The part e of the tube e is screw-threaded externally, and a nut or ferrule i is
screwed upon the said tube after the annular piece has been placed thereon, the
said tube is thereby contracted and secured tightly upon the stick; the ferrule i,
at the same time, presses the part h of the rib-holder into close contact with the
part f thereof.
A lip is formed on the ferrule i to serve as a protection for the cover at the
part where it is secured iupon the annular piece h, and thus diminish the wear and
tear of the said cover at this part.
By making the rib-holder in the manner above described, I provide for
facilitating the attachment of the ribs to the said holder and for preventing their
accidental detachment therefrom, and thus avoiding the consequent liability to
injury. of the cover by the said ribs; because, should the said ring or wire break,
it cannot expand or become displaced sufficiently within the groove or channel f to
permit the withdrawal or escape of a rib between the two ends of the said ring or
wire where broken. Moreover, by the improved construction of the rib-holder and
other parts as above described, I provide for facilitating the removal of the cover
from the frame and its replacement thereon:
Figures 5 and 6 show respectively in side elevation the part h of the rib-holder
and the nut or ferrule i.
For securing the ribs to the rib-holder, I prefer to use a ring made of a metal
rod or piece of wire bent into the form of a circle so that its ends either abut
against each other, as shown in Figure 4*, or overlap each other, as shown in
Figure 4b; both of which Figures are plans drawn to an enlarged scale.
The peculiar formation of my rib-holder enables me to use a ring of this kind
very advantageously, as I can pass the said ring through the ribs and make its
ends abut against or overlap each other before fitting it into the grooves or channel
in the rib-holder. With the rib-holders heretofore constructed the use of such
rings is undesirable, by reason of the liability to expansion or opening of the said
rings and the consequent escape of the ribs from the rib-holder. It has, therefore,
been customary to secure the ribs to the rib-holder by means of a piece of wire
which is contracted by twisting together the ends thereof to make it fit into the
groove.
°
I prefer to make the said ring of hardened or tempered steel so that it will not
be liable to breakage and will be very durable. Its ends do not require to be
united like the wires ordinarily used for a similar purpose, because, by reason of
the peculiar formation of the rib-holder as above described, there is no liability to
accidental displacement or opening of the said ring.

page_text: "
The frames which I prefer to employ in my improved umbrellas or parasols are!
those wherein the ribs and stretchers are U-shaped in transverse section, and which
are well known as Fox's Paragon" frames or "Fox's Lock-rib" frames.
The : runner. c, of which Figure 7 is a side elevation and Figure 8 an end
elevation, is provided as usual with notches c! for the reception of the ends of the
stretchers d.. It is, moreover, according to my present invention, provided with
longitudinal grooves or channels c² for the reception of the ribs b; when the
umbrella is closed, as shown in Figure 1. The sides of these grooves or channels:
may, if desired, be bevelled or inclined to more effectually ensure the entrance-of
the ribs therein.
The ends of the stretchers. d are flattened or compressed and secured, in the-
ordinary manner, by means of a wire-k, which is inserted in the peripheral
groove in the runner.c When the umbrella is closed, the flattened ends of the
stretchers extend partly within the ribs b and the said. ribs lie partly within the
stretchers d, as shown in Figures 1 and 7º, the last named Figure showing, in side
elevation, the runner and parts of a rib and stretcher connected therewith.
A runner formed as above described holds the ribs in place when the umbrella is:
closed, and assists in preventing twisting of the said ribs around the stick while the
cover of the umbrella is being rolled or wound thereon.
In some instances, I make the "notch" or wire-holding part of the runner of.
such diameter that the ribs do not extend beyond the periphery thereof when the
umbrella is closed. A runner thus made is shown, in end elevation, in Figure 14..
In the modification of my invention shown in Figure 17, the stick a is made
with a taper part a', and the tube e is made to fit this taper part of the stick but
is not cut or slit as above described. The said tube is fitted tightly upon the stick
and is secured thereon by means of a rivet m passed through the said tube and
stick. The part h of the rib-holder and the ferrule i are secured upon the stick by
means of rivets m³, m³ in a similar manner to the tube e. The construction of the
two parts of the rib-holder and the manner of securing the ribs therein are similar
to those above described, but the slots or notches f' extend through the substance.
of the tube and a groove or recess a³ is formed in the stick to permit the insertion
of the ribs into their places in the rib-holder. Or a series of notches or cavities
may be formed in the stick for this purpose. Figures 18, 19, and 20 show
respectively, in side elevation, the tube e, the part h and the ferrule i.
In the modifications of my invention shown in Figures 21 and 22, I provide for
strengthening the stick. of an umbrella made as shown in Figure 17, at that part
where the ribs are connected with the rib-holder. For this purpose I make the
tube e with an extension e' upon which fits the part h. In Figure 21, the tube e
is secured by means of a rivet m, and the part h is placed upon the said tube and
is held thereon by the ferrule i which is secured upon the stick by means of a
rivet m². In Figure 22, the part is made with an extension h2, upon which fits
the ferrule i, and the said tube, the part h and the ferrule i are all secured upon
the stick by means of the rivet m³.
I sometimes make the part h of the rib-holder integrally with the ferrule i, as
shown in Figure 13 or in Figure 23.
It is obvious that I may, if desired, dispense with the. tube e and simply make
the rib-holder in two parts which are secured upon the stick in any suitable
manner, and which are so formed that, when placed end to end as above described,
they will have a space between them for the reception of the ring or wire that
secures the ribs to the holder.
Another part of my invention relates to the means for confining the free ends of
the ribs when the umbrella is closed.
In umbrellas as heretofore constructed with devices for this purpose, no pro-
vision is made for keeping the ribs equidistant from each other or for preventing
twisting of the said ribs around the stick while the cover is being rolled or wound
thereon. Consequently the ribs frequently, assume such relative positions, when

page_text: the umbrella is closed, that. their free ends are at unequal distances apart, or are
gathered in clusters or groups, thereby giving an inelegant appearance to the
umbrella..
By my invention I provide for retaining the ribs at equal distances apart when
the umbrella is closed, and for preventing the twisting of the said ribs around the
stick. These results are, in some measure, attained by the construction of the
runner in the manner above described, but I prefer to employ the means herein-
after described, that is to say:-I form equidistant notches or cavities in a
projection on the stick or in a ring or annular piece fixed thereto or fitted to slide
longitudinally thereon, so that, when the umbrella is closed, the free end of each rib
will fit into one or other of the said notches or cavities. And I provide means
whereby the ends of the said ribs may be retained within the said cavities. In the
umbrella shewn in Figure 1, the handle of the stick is made slightly larger in
diameter than that part thereof which is enclosed by the ribs when the umbrella
is closed, and notches or cavities a³ are formed in the said handle, one for each ef
the ribs b. These notches or cavities are of such shape that the free ends of the
said ribs will fit easily therein as shown in Figure 1. Upon the said handle is
fitted a ring or tubular piece 7, which is shewn in side elevation in Figure 9. This
ring or tubular piece is provided with notches or slots a corresponding in width
and number with the notches or cavities a³, and is secured upon the stick by
means of a screw n passing through a slot in the piece 7 so that the said piece is
capable of partial rotation upon the stick, and can be adjusted either so that its
notches coincide with those in the stick, or so that the solid parts between its
notches cover the notches in the stick, as shewn in Figure 2, and thus retain the.
ends of the ribs therein.
In some cases, I make the said ring or tubular piece without notches and form
therein a slot ³, as shewn in Figure 10, this piece is fitted to slide longitudinally
upon the stick, so that it can be adjusted to cover or uncover the notches in which
the ends of the ribs are held. If the piece is turned so as to bring the screw n
into the part * of the slot 13, the said piece will be retained in position to cover
the notches or cavities a³.
Figure 11 is a sectional elevation, and
Figure 12 an end elevation, showing a modification of my invention wherein,
instead of forming the notches in the stick, I thicken one end of the ring or
tubular piece and form therein notches or cavities to receive the ends of the
ribs; this ring or tubular piece is fitted to slide longitudinally upon the stick.
The aforesaid notches or cavities are so arranged that, when the umbrella is
properly closed, the ends of the ribs will fit into the said notches or cavities and
thus be held at uniform distances apart; therefore the appearance of the umbrella
will be greatly improved as compared with those provided with the devices
ordinarily employed for confining the ends of the ribs, and the ribs will be retained
in position so that they cannot be twisted while the cover is being rolled or wound
upon the stick.
I sometimes provide means for retaining the piece in position at either
extremity of its movement. For instance, I secure to the stick a a spring o formed
or provided with a projection o¹, and I make the piece with indentations 15 as
shewn in Figure 15, or with holes 1 as shewn in Figure 16, both of which figures
are transverse sections. When the piece is adjusted to either extremity of its
movement, the projection o¹ will enter one or the other of the said indentations or
holes. A recess a³ is formed in the stick a to permit the compression of the said
spring in the adjustment of the piece l. It is obvious that this device is also
applicable in cases where the piece is fitted to slide longitudinally upon the stick.
If desired, I form or fix upon the slit tube e a rib-holder having the usual
peripheral groove or channel for the reception of the wire that secures the ribs
thereto. I am thus enabled to diminish the bulk of the umbrella at this part;
prefer the construction herein before described.
but

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it understood
that I claim :-
First. An umbrella or parasol wherein the rib-holder is made in two parts and
the ring or wire which secures the ribs thereto, is enclosed within a space between
the adjacent ends of the said parts.
Second. An umbrella or parasol wherein the stick is reduced in diameter as
above described and has fitted and secured thereon a slit tube or sleeve upon which
the rib-holder is formed or fixed, for the purpose above specified.
Third. The combination of parts comprising the tube or sleeve having one
portion of the rib-holder formed integrally therewith, the detachable part of the
rib-holder, and the ferrule, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Fourth. The modification of my invention wherein the detachable part of the
rib-holder is formed integrally with the ferrule, substantially as described with
reference to Figure 13 or to Figure 23 of the drawing.
Fifth. The employment, for securing the ribs in the rib-holder or the stretchers
in the runner, of an annular piece the ends of which either abut against, or overlap,
each other, as above specified.
Sixth. The improved runner formed with the additional or supplementary
notches for the reception of the ribs when the umbrella or parasol is closed,
substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Seventh. The employment, in an umbrella or parasol, of a device which, while
confining the free ends of the ribs, keeps the same equidistant from each other, as,
and for the purpose, above specified.
Eighth. The employment, in an umbrella or parasol, of a ring or tubular piece
fitted to rotate or to slide longitudinally, or both, upon the stick, in combination
with equidistant notches or cavities formed in the said stick or in a ring or annular
piece fitted thereon, for the purpose above specified.
Ninth. The modification of my invention which consists in forming the notches
or cavities in a longitudinally sliding ring or tubular piece, as, and for the purpose,
specified.
Tenth. The improved umbrella constructed substantially as described with
reference to either of the forms or modifications illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.