IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FRAMES FOR UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Gabriel Emile Charageat, of 2, Rue Sainte Appoline,
Paris, in the Empire of France, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF FRAMES FOR UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS."
Sealed the 2nd February 1864, and dated the 6th August 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Gabriel Emile Charageat
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th August 1863.
I, GABRIEL EMILE CHARAGEAT, of 2, Rue Sainte Appoline, Paris, in the
Empire of France, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FRAMES FOR UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS,"
to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in cutting lengthwise thin bands of steel, in passing
them through a drawing or shaping frame (filière) prepared for this purpose,
and so imparting to the steel band a double parallel body, by preference round
or tubular, united at the middle of the breadth of the band, the two longitudinal
tubes are thus secured, while at the same time each preserves its own distinct
and natural action. The employment of ribs composed of two distinct bodies,
and united by a simple thickness of metal, necessitates some modifications
being made in the ordinary fittings of umbrellas and parasols, which are as
follows: To unite the ribs to the "nut," I twist each at the upper part to
bring it perpendicular with the rest of the rib, and the top may be jointed in
the ordinary manner; but I prefer to employ a small piece of metal cut with

page_text: two small tenons, and rivetted after they are placed in apertures formed
between the two, and held between tubes or cylinders which form the rib, the
end of the rib is then compressed to receive a tip or end of metal, or other
material. In order to lengthen or shorten the handle, I place one end of a
tube somewhat smaller than the "nut" tube in the latter, the upper end
being provided with a piece of split metal to act as a spring, in such manner
that it fits accurately the "nut" tube. I then compress the end of the large
tube on the smaller, and in such manner that the smaller may be moved in
the larger, but without withdrawing the fitting therefrom.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Gabriel Emile Charagent in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 5th February 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GABRIEL
EMILE CHARAGEAT, of 2, Rue Sainte Appoline, Paris, in the Empire of
France, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
I'atent, bearing date the Sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Gabriel Emile Charageat, Her special licence that I, the said
Gabriel Emile Charageat, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such,
others as I, the said Gabriel Emile Charageat, my executors, administrators
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FRAMES FOR
UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, tho said
Gabriel Emile Charageat, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Gabriel Emile Charageat do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is

page_text: to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention consists in cutting lengthwise thin bands or strips of steel, in
passing them through a drawing or shaping frame, and so imparting to them
a double parallel body, by preference round or tubular, united at the middle of
their breadth, in order to render the two longitudinal tubes firm or solid.
Figures 1, 2, and 3, of the accompanying Drawings, are views in transverse
section of ribs for umbrellas and parasols made according to my Juvention,
the shape, however, may be altered without departing from my Invention.
The employment of ribs composed of two distinct parts united by a thickness
of metal necessitates some modifications being made in the fittings for the
forks or supports, as well as the ends and the heads uniting the ribs to the
nut fixed on the handle. The end a' of the rib a, Figure 4, may be fixed to
the nut by a simple tenon made between the two tubes after having slightly
rounded the rib, so that its end may with facility enter the nut; but I prefer
the mode indicated at Figure 5, which consists of a tenon composed of a band
of metal b, the ends of which I submit to pressure under a tool, which causes
it to assume the form or shape of the rib; then I fold the tongue with a tool
constructed for that purpose, taking care to preserve a hole or collar o' for the
passage of the wire which holds the ribs to the nut. To fix the tenon b to
the end of the rib, which it conceals on each side as in a pincers, I pass a pin
through the whole and rivet it, whereby a solid and perfect connection is
obtained. The same plan may be adopted with equal facility for the forks.
In jointing the forks with the middle of the ribs, I place between the two
lateral tubes a small metal plate c, and provided with two tenons, as shown at
Figure 6; the tenons are rivetted after being placed in holes formed between
the two longitudinal cylinders of the rib a; this method of fitting being
substituted for the solder usually employed on the rib has the advantages of
being stronger, also avoiding the use of acid and heat, the ribs do not become
deteriorated or broken at the joints, as is often the case in umbrellas and
parasols of the ordinary construction. Moreover by the use of this joint there
is no external projection, the rivet may be completely concealed from the fork,
which in the ordinary manufacture is one of the great causes for wear to tho
silk. For the lower end of the rib, or that at the contrary end to the nut, I
can compress the end of the rib by bringing together the two tubes, which
are thus made conical to receive a tip of metal or other material. But my
new form of rib enables me to produce a tip which adapts itself firmly without
any external projection; this tip d, Figure 7, is turned, then stamped to any

page_text: desired shape. I obtain a depression, which gives to its base a form suitable
to the rib, in such manner that it is afterwards sufficient to make two rods
parallel to one another, and at a suitable distance apart, to correspond
with the two cylinders which form the rib, and to insert them there by a slight
pressure; this result is much more satisfactory, as in spite of the extreme
fineness of the ribs the ends fit in such manner as not to leave the slightest
projection, and at the same time to appear as if the lip formed part of the rib.
These improvements are applicable to the fittings of umbrellas and parasols
where the handle has to be lengthened, especially when the parasols are open,
with the facility of shortening the handle when the parasol is closed. For
this purpose I make use of the arrangement shown at Figures 9, 10, and 11.
The tube has inside four ridges parallel to one another, and projecting
internally. This tube is easily made on a mandril carrying four grooves of
the dimension it is desired to give to the ridges; it is placed on the tube f,
which has exactly the form of the mandril on which the tube e is drawn,
in such manner that the ridges of one take into the grooves in the other. By
this means I do not increase the weight, and the fittings are much simplified.
A spring g, Figures 8 and 9, is fixed and held by its own tension in the two
grooves of the tube f, two other grooves are also formed on the tube e, they
receive the head of the spring g, as well as the small claw g of the said
spring. This claw forms a double stop in the tube f, but a slight chanfrin
allows it to escape when the two ends of the tubes are pressed to cause them
to re-enter the one into the other. The head g³ of the spring 9 is rounded on
two sides, in such manner as to allow the neck of the fork to pass for closing
and opening without abutting against the said spring 9, which, however,
carries a slight face to keep it in the groove of the tubo f, and at the same
time forming a stop for the lengthening of the two bars. This same spring g
takes into a third groove in the tube e, and which tends to retain the two
tubes as well as the fitting closed; but in order that this stop shall not opposo
itself to the lengthening out of the two rods when it is desired to open the
fitting, I place a small helical spring at the end of the rod f, which abuts
against a portion of the rod h soldered to the extremity of the tube e, in such
manner that as soon as the spring g is pressed, the helical spring drives the
tube fa certain distance, which may be varied as desired, and the rod opens
by the drawing or tension exercised as the silk of the umbrella or parasol
opens. This part of the smaller tube which I solder to the tube e is to facili-
tate the fitting of handles by avoiding a too large passage, which weakens
them, and does not admit of making them of the desired diameter. The tubes
may be embellished or ornamented in any desired manner as taste may dictate.

page_text: I have described this last part of my Invention with reference to tubes running
one within the other as applicable to the handles of parasols, but they are
equally applicable to umbrellas, by varying the size and increasing the strength
when so used.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim, the improvements
in the construction of frames for umbrellas and parasols, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, T, the said Gabriel Emile Charageat, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the First day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
G. E. CHARAGEAT. (L.B.)