Improvements in Umbrellas.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Feb., 1899-Accepted, 11th Mar., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Umbrellas.
I, JACOB HENRY FLEISCHI, Manufacturer, of 2, W. 121st Street, New York, in
the State of New York, United States of America, 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:—
My invention relates to joints for umbrellas which are employed for connecting
the ribs or spreaders to the crown or slide, and my invention has for its objects to
produce a construction of joint which will permit substantial reduction in the
diameter of the crown and the slide, without sacrificing strength or durability of
the connection, and also to construct the joint so that the stability of the structure
as a whole will be increased and the tendency of the frame to rotate or yield
circumferentially upon the rod or staff will be effectually overcome.
To accomplish the first object of my invention, I form the part to which the rib
or spreader is connected, that is to say the crown or slide, with an annular trans-
verse offset and a circumferentially longitudinal flange, and in which are formed
notches or recesses to receive ribs or spreaders, and upon the side of the end of each
spreader or rib is provided a cross-head which will lie within and conform to the
flange. The cross-head or projection has the form of a segment of a ring, the
outer face of which conforms to the inner surface of the flange, while the inner
face conforms to the rod or staff upon which the crown is mounted, or to the.
sleeve forming part of the slide. In other words, the inner and outer surfaces
of the cross-head are made concentric with the staff, and the cross-head constitutes
a segment of an annulus which fits the annular space within the flange.
To accomplish the second object, namely, to give an increased transverse bearing
for the parts when the umbrella is open, the top or upper surface of the cross-head
is similarly formed on a segment of an annulus, which, when the umbrella is
open, will fit snugly but not tightly in the space between the rod or staff and the
flange. Hence, when the umbrella is opened, there is no room for any material
lateral play of the parts. In connection with this feature of my invention I also
prefer to have the end of the rib or spreader abut against the rod or sleeve and
thus increase the bearing and form a stop for limiting the opening.
Inasmuch as the construction of the crown and slide and the parts, to wit, the
ribs and spreaders to be respectively jointed thereto, may be identical in con-
struction, so far as concerns the features of my present invention, I will simply
describe my invention as a means for connecting the hinging part, which may be
either a rib or a spreader, to an annular part, which may be either the fixed crown
or the like, and for convenience illustrate it as applied to the ribs and crown.
In the accompanying drawings:-
:
Figures 1 and 2 are horizontal sections through the rod or staff of an umbrella
and the crown mounted thereon, respectively showing the jointed parts folded and
extended.
Figure 3 is an axial section of the same, one of the jointed parts being folded
and the other extended

page_text: Figures 4 and 5 show by end and side views, the form which is given to the end
of the connected part.
1 represents the annular part, e.g. the crown, which is mounted upon or sur-
rounds an inner cylindrical portion 2, e.g. the rod upon which the crown is mounted
The portion 1 is shaped to provide the transverse annular offset 3 in which the
cross-heads on the hinging parts work and a longitudinal annular flange 4 by
which said cross-heads are retained. Both the longitudinal flange 4 and a portion
of the transverse offset 3 are slotted as shown at 5 (Figures 1, 2 and 3) in order
to receive the ribs which may swing outward in the slots 5 thus formed, for opening
and closing the umbrella. 6 represents the ribs which are preferably formed with
reduced necks 7 and with cross-heads 8. The necks 7 fit the slots 5, and a cross-
head 8 may be limited in transverse dimensions to that of the hinging portion C,
so as to be readily made integral therewith from a rod. As shown in Fig. 1, the
inner surface 8" and the outer surface Sb of a cross-head S, are formed in ares
concentric with the rod 2. In other words the cross-head or enlargement 8 is a
segment of an annulus which substantially fits the space provided by the offset 3
and flange 4. By referring to Figure 2, it will be seen that the other two faces 8°
and 8d of the cross-head 8 are formed similarly to the faces 8" and 8b, so that
when the rib 6 swings out to open the umbrella, the cross-head 8 in this position.
likewise constitutes a segment of an annulus fitting the space between the rod 2
and the flange 4, and thus giving an increased transverse bearing which affords
the necessary lateral stability to the rib.
From Fig. 3 it will be observed that the rib 6 has the cross-head 8 secured to
the inner side of one end, and that the rib 6 approximates in thickness the
depth of the slot 5, and hence all the ribs will lie within the diameter of the
annular portion of the joint. A further advantage of attaching the cross-head
to the inner lateral face of the rib is that it permits the rib to lie in a slot-formed
for the most part in the outer flange while the cross head engages on the inner face
of said flange when the rib is folded. A further advantage of so attaching the
cross-head to the rib is that it permits the end. 6 of the rib to abut against the
cylindrical member 2 when the rib is extended, thus increasing the bearing of the
parts and forming a stop to limit the outward movement of the rib and greatly
strengthening the umbrella against a tendency to reverse, and avoiding the use
of transverse pins generally employed for limiting the outward movement of
the ribs. A cap 9 is secured in position above the joints to hold the parts in
place.
As will be seen from the drawing, the cross-heads which are formed segmentally
in two directions abut when in place, so that together they form a complete ring
in the flange member, and their ends are of such shape that when the ribs are
spread, the segmental cross-heads abut squarely and thus greatly stiffen the
frame. That is to say, the ends of the cross-heads are formed on radii of the
annulus on which the T-head is formed. Said ends, therefore, are beveled or in-
clined, and this adapts them to meet to form a complete ring.
It will be understood that the present demands of the trade are for tight-rolling
umbrellas, and decrease in the dimensions of old constructions has only been made
by the manufacturers at the expense of strength and durability. With my im-
proved construction of joint for the hinging parts of umbrellas, the transverse
dimension of the parts when folded is reduced to a minimum, but strength and
durability are retained. The main feature from which these results are obtained
is the construction of the cross-head in the form of a segment in two directions.
It will be understood that a segment will permit the construction of a very much
smaller annular space to receive it than would a straight cross-head which lies
tangentially to the inner circular wall of the space. Incidental to the same
construction is also the increase of transverse bearing upon the parts, and therefore
the strengthening of the frame against twisting.
For similar reasons, my im-
proved construction of hinging connection is superior to a ball-and-socket joint,
as it will be understood that greater transverse dimension of parts and greater

page_text: stability or rigidity are obtainable within a given diameter of crown or slide than
are obtainable with ball-and-socket joints.
For convenience I have described my invention with reference to the crown and
ribs only, but obviously the same general construction is equally applicable to
connecting the spreaders to the slide, and I therefore desire it to be understood
that I do not limit my invention to the use disclosed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In a joint for umbrellas, the combination of the flanged annular member 1
provided with radial slots, and the swinging members 6 having cross-heads 8
each in the form of a segment of an annulus and engaging the flange of the annular
member, the segments meeting and together forming a complete annulus; sub-
stantially as and for the purpose explained.
2. In a joint for umbrellas, the combination of the slotted annular member 4,
the swinging members 6 working in the slots, and the cross-heads 8 of segmental
annular form both as to the position assumed when the umbrella is folded and
when it is spread; substantially as and for the purpose explained.
3. In a joint for umbrellas, the combination of the flanged and slotted annular
member 1, the inner member 2 forming therewith an annular space, swinging
members 6 working in the slots of member 1 and carrying segmental annular
cross-heads fitting the annular space when the umbrella is spread, and providing
an increased transverse bearing; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a joint for umbrellas, the combination of the annular member slotted to
receive the swinging members, and the cross-heads located on the sides at the ends
of the swinging members, whereby the swinging parts may be made to lie closely
to the rod or staff, as explained.
5. In a joint for umbrellas, the combination of the flanged annular member 1,
slotted substantially as shown, the swinging members 6 fitted to the slots in the
annular member 1, and the cross-heads S located at the sides of the ends of the
swinging members, engaging the flange of the member 1, and in position to permit
the end of the swinging member to abut against the rod or staff when the umbrella
is open; substantially as set forth.
6. In a joint for umbrellas, the combination of the annular member 1 and the
swinging members 6 fitted in said annular member by means of cross-heads each
forming a segment of an annulus, both as to its folded and spread position, and the
ends of the cross-heads being bevelled as shown in order that they may come
together squarely when the umbrella is spread; substantially as herein explained.
Dated this 20th day of Wahmawy
1000
BOULT & WADE.
Agents for the Applicant.