Improvements in Umbrellas, Parasols, Sunshades, and like Articles.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 29th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Umbrellas, Parasols, Sunshades, and like
Articles.
I, WILLIAM ROSS, of No. 49 George the Fourth Bridge, in the City and County
of Edinburgh, North Britain, Umbrella Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in umbrellas, parasols, sunshades and
analogous articles and hereinafter for the sake of brevity called umbrellas. The
Invention consists in the first place of improved mechanical arrangements for fixing
umbrellas either in the open or closed position and consists of a pin attached to a ring
coupled to the runner of the umbrella by means of a spring, the tendency of which
spring is to draw the ring against the exterior of the runner and to force the pin
attached to it through a hole in the runner and thence into a hole in the stock or
handle of the umbrella and having entered which hole the pin maintains the umbrella
either in the open or closed position. A stud is or may be placed in the upper or
lower part, or both, of the stock or handle of the umbrella against which the runner
rests when the complete open or closed position of the umbrella has been attained so
that the aforesaid pin carried by the ring is thereby accurately adjusted to enter either
of the aforesaid holes.
In place of attaching the pin to the ring as aforesaid the pin may be fixed in the
handle or stock of the umbrella in the position of each of the holes hereinbefore
described and in this case a slot or groove is made in the runner to enable it to pass
sufficiently over the pin whilst a hole is formed in the ring for catching on to either
of the pins fixed as aforesaid.
The retaining ring or catch or its equivalent may be operated by applying the
thumb or finger thereto or a sliding collar may be applied to the runner for raising
it with its pin out of the holes in the stock or handle when it is required to open or
close the umbrella or to lift the ring off the pins fixed in the stock when requiring to
perform a similar function.

page_text: The ring hereinbefore described for carrying the pin for catching into a hole in the
stick or for containing a hole for catching upon a pin fixed in the stick may be
dispensed with in which case the pin or hole is carried in or by the spring.
The spring hereinbefore referred' to may either be a long flat spring lying length-
wise with the runner or it may be a circular or more or less elliptical spring, the
tendency of which is to press close against the runner when in its normal condition so
that the tendency of the circular or elliptical spring to press the pin into one of the
holes in the stock or handle or to press the hole in itself upon one of the pins fixed in
the stock or handle for retaining the umbrella in the open or closed position. Instead
of making the runner attachment to act by means of springs as hereinbefore described,
the attachment may be made in the form of a ring capable of rotating upon the
runner and in such way that the lower edge of the said ring rests upon the upper pin
in the stock or handle of the umbrella when open and the lower edge rests upon the
lower pin in the said stock or handle when the umbrella is closed. The ring has a
groove or channel formed through it as also has the runner to allow the said ring
and runner to pass over the aforesaid pins in the act of opening or closing the
umbrella.
Another improvement for retaining the umbrella either in the open or closed
position consists in forming the ring to which the upper ends of the ribs are attached
with a horizontal slot therein into which a stop fixed into the stock or handle of the
umbrella enters. This enables the entire umbrella to be capable of rotating partially
upon the stock or handle so that when the umbrella is moved either into the open or
closed position the retaining pin or stop for maintaining it in that position rests
against the runner and prevents the umbrella from being opened or closed until the
parts are turned back into the position which enables the slot or groove in the runner
to slide over the retaining pin.
Instead of forming the ring to which the upper ends of the ribs are attached with
the slot and providing a stop for acting therein as herein last described the slot and
the stop may be dispensed with.
A further feature of improvement consists in dispensing with the necessity of fixing
pins or studs or forming holes in the stock or handle of the umbrella for retaining it.
in the open or closed position. This is effected by forming the inner joint of the
stretchers with a short piece jointed thereto the joint being of the shoulder type so
that the two parts thereof lie hard together when the umbrella is in the open position.
The short pieces are maintained in their proper position relatively with the runner
by means of a ring sliding and turning upon it with a spiral slot, the said spiral slot
being formed with a short horizontal slot at each end corresponding with the open and
closed positions of the umbrella. The said ring may be formed as a tip-cap for holding
the tips of the ribs when the umbrella is shut."
Another improvement consists in enabling the umbrella to open automatically when
the tip-cap or other means used for keeping it shut is released. This automatic
arrangement consists of tolescopic tubes within which thero is contained a spiral
spring. The upper end of this spring is fixed into the upper telescopic tube or to a
tube or runner attached thereto and the lower end thereof is fixed to the outer part
of the handle of the umbrella or to the lowest telescopic tube. The tondency of the
spring is to maintain the umbrella in the open position by forcing the telescopic tubes
outwards from each other or upwards along the stick over which they slide. To shut
the umbrella the hand is applied to the upper telescopic tube which together with the
other telescopic tubes are then slid downwards and the spring thereby compressed.
The umbrella is then fastened in the closed position by means of a tip-cap or its
equivalent and when this is released the reaction of the compressed spring instantly
forces the umbrella into the open position.
Another improvement consists in forming the upper or inner ends of the ribs of
umbrellas with balls after the manner of the balls usually formed in the outer ends
of such ribs so that in lieu of the holes ordinarily formed therein for fixing the ribs
by means of a wire to the stock or handle the ribs are according to this improve-
ment attached by ball joints. The ball at the inner end of each rib passes to the

page_text: interior of an annular hollow formed on the stock or handle and having a more or less
circular section corresponding with the shape and size of the balls. This annular
hollow is formed by means of a recessed flange on the stock or handle and a similar
recessed flange formed on a tip-piece which is attached by means of a screw or
otherwise to the stock or handle. The lower recess flange has narrow openings
formed in it corresponding to the number of ribs and so shaped as to allow the ribs
to move hinge-wise therein on the balls enclosed as hereinbefore described within the
annular recess.
In lieu of forming the ribs with ball joints at their upper ends as hereinbefore
described a hook may be formed on each such end which catches into a recess flango
or a ring or an internally projecting flange on tho stock or handle, the hooks being
kept in their places by an outer cap-pièce.
Another improvement consists in dispensing with the holes ordinarily formed in the
inner ends of the stretchers for attaching them to the runner and in forming the inner
ends of the said stretchers with either balls or hooks which are attached to the runner
by means of annular recess flanges like those hereinbefore described for attaching
the upper ends of the ribs to the stock or handle.
Dated this 30th day of December 1887.
ST. JOHN V. DAY,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Petitioner's Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Umbrellas, Parasols, Sunshades, and like
Articles.
I, WILLIAM ROSS of No. 49 George the Fourth Bridge, in the City and County of
Edinburgh, North Britain, Umbrella Manufacturer 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 improvements in umbrellas, parasols, sunshades and
analogous articles (and hereinafter for the sake of brevity called umbrellas). This
Invention consists in the first place of improved mechanical arrangements for fixing
unbrellas either in the open or closed position and consists of a pin attached to a
ring coupled to the runner of the umbrella by means of a spring, the tendency of
which spring is to draw the ring against the exterior of the runner and to force
the pin attached to it through a hole in the runner and thence into a hole in the stock
or handle of the umbrella and having entered which hole the pin maintains the
umbrella either in the open or closed position. A stud is or may be placed in the
upper or lower part or both of the stock or handle of the umbrella against which
the runner rests when the complete open or closed position of the umbrella has been
attained so that the aforesaid pin carried by the ring is thereby accurately adjusted to
enter either of the aforesaid holes.
In place of attaching the pin to the ring as aforesaid, the pin may be fixed in the
handle or stock of the umbrella in the position of each of the holes hereinbefore
described and in this case a slot or groove is made in the runner to enable it to pass
sufficiently over the pin whilst a hole is formed in the ring for catching on to either
of the pins fixed as aforesaid.
The retaining ring or catch or its equivalent may be operated by applying the
thumb or finger thereto or a sliding collar may be applied to the runner for raising
it with the pin out of the holes in the stock or handle when it is required to open or
close the umbrella or to lift the ring off the pins fixed in the stock when requiring to
perform a similar function.
The ring hereinbefore described for carrying the pin for catching into a hole in
the stock or for containing a hole for catching upon a pin fixed in the stock may be
dispensed with in which case the pin or hole is carried in or by the spring.
The spring hereinbefore referred to may be either a long flat spring lying length-
wise with the runner or it may be a circular or more or less elliptical spring, the
tendency of which is to press close against the runner when in its normal condition
so that the circular or elliptical spring presses the pin into one of the holes in the
stock or handle or presses the hole in itself upon one of the pins fixed in the stock or
handle for retaining the umbrella in the open or closed position. Instead of making
the runner attachment to act by means of springs as hereinbefore described the
attachment may be made in the form of a ring capable of rotating upon the runner
and in such way that the lower edge of the said ring rests upon the upper pin in the
stock or handle of the umbrella when open and the upper edge rests upon the lower
pin in the said stock or handle when the umbrella is closed. The ring has a groove or
channel formed through it as also has the runner to allow the said ring and runner
to pass over the aforesaid pins in the act of opening or closing the umbrella.

page_text: Another improvement for retaining the umbrella either in the open or closed
position consists in forming the ring to which the upper ends of the ribs are attached
with a horizontal slot therein into which a pin fixed into the stock or handle of the
umbrella enters. This enables the entire umbrella to be capable of rotating partially
upon the stock or handle so that when the umbrella is moved either in the open or
closed position the retaining pin or stop for maintaining it in that position rests
against the runner and prevents the umbrella from being opened or closed until the
parts are turned back into the position which enables the slot or groove in the runner
to slide over the retaining pin.
Instead of forming the ring to which the upper ends of the ribs are attached with
the slot and providing a stop for acting therein as herein last described, the slot and
the stop may be dispensed with.
In order that my Invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect, I have hereunto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings in the several
Figures of which corresponding parts are indicated with the same letters of reference,
and of which Figure 1, is an elevation and Figure 2, a transverse section of the first
arrangement for holding the umbrella either in the open or closed position. This
consists of a pin a, fixed into the ring b. The ring b, is attached to a spring c, which
spring c, is attached at its upper end to the runner d. The tendency of the spring e,
is to press backwards or outwards in the direction of the arrows shewn in Figures 1
and 2, and therefore to draw the ring b, against the handle or stock of the
umbrella A, therefore as the holes are placed in the stock corresponding to the open
and closed positions of the umbrella, the spring c, draws the ring b, and the pin a,
into the said holes and retains the umbrella in either of the said open or closed
positions.
1
In ace of using a pin a, to enter the holes in the handle or stock A, the ring >>,
may be formed with a hole in it which would pass over and retain itself upon pins
fixed into the handle or stock and corresponding to the open and closed position of
the umbrella. This arrangement is shewn in Figures 3 and 4, of which Figure 3,
is an elevation of a part of the handle or stock of the umbrella with the runner d,
and its attachments shewn thereon, and Figure 4, is a transverse section of the
same. The runner d, in this case is formed with a longitudinal slot e, throughout its
length to enable it to pass freely upwards and downwards over the pins a, fixed in
the handle or stock. By pushing the ring b, by the thumb or finger in the direction
of the arrow shewn at Figure 4, the hole in the said ring is disengaged from either
of the pins a, thereby allowing the umbrella to be freely opened or closed, and
correspondingly by withdrawing the pressure from the thumb or finger from the
said ring, the spring c, draws the ring b, and therefore the hole in it upon or over
one of the pins a, and thereby retains the umbrella either in the open or closed
position.
Figure 5, is an elevation and Figure 6, a transverse section corresponding to
Figures 3 and 4, but shewn at right angles to the position of the said Figures 3
and 4.
In place of using a flat spring e, for operating the ring b, as hereinbefore
described and shewn at Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, such fat spring e, may be dispensed
with and the ring b, of itself made an elastic or spring ring. This is effected in the
manner shewn in elevation at Figure 7, and in horizontal section at Figure 8. The
ring, has its ends either soldered, rivetted or otherwise attached to the runner d, as
shewn at Figures 7, and S, and being larger than the runner, when the thumb and
finger are applied at opposite sides to the ring b, it becomes bent into the shape
shewn in dotted lines at Figure 8, which has the effect of cither withdrawing the
pin 4,
out of the hole in the handle or stock and thereby allowing the umbrella to
be opened or closed, whilst the elasticity of the said ring causes it to return to its
normal shape when the pressure of the thumb and finger is withdrawn and to draw
the pin a, into one of the holes in the stock corresponding to either the open or
closed position of the umbrella and to retain the umbrella in that position.
In place of using a ring a, either a rigid ring as hereinbefore described and

page_text: shewn at Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, or an elastic ring as shewn at Figures 7 and 8,
for holding the pin a, or for containing a hole to catch upon pins fixed in the handle
or stock the ring b, may be dispensed with and the pins a, fixed into the flat
spring c, or the hole for catching on the fixed pin a, formed therein. These
arrangements are shewn at Figures 9 and 10, which are respectively elevations
shewing a portion of the lower part of the runner d, removed.
In Figure 9, the pin a, is fixed into the lower part of the spring e, which forces it
into holes in the stock or handle corresponding to either the open or closed positions
of the umbrella.
In Figure 10, a hole is made in the lower part of the spring c, and the tension of
the spring c, forces the said hole over the pin a, fixed in the stock or handle also
corresponding to the open or closed positions of the umbrella.
At Figure 11, I have shewn in elevation a runner d, with a moveable ring f, upon
it for the purpose of retaining the umbrella either in the open or closed position.
The runner d, has a slot e, throughout its length to enable it to pass freely over the
studs a, fixed in the handle or stock of the umbrella and corresponding to the open
or closed positions thereof. The moveable ring f, is also formed with a parallel
enlargement g, constituting a channel throughout its length so that when the ring f
is turned round upon the runner d, into the position which brings the channel g,
opposite and coincident with the slot e, it also together with the runner d, slides
freely upwards and downwards over the pins a. With this arrangement, when the
umbrella is in the open position, the ring f, is by the application of the thumb and
finger turned through a short distance upon the runner d, until the lower edge of the
said ring f, rests upon the upper pin a, thus retaining the umbrella in the open
position; and correspondingly when the umbrella is in the closed position the said
ring f, is similarly turned round until its upper edge rests upon the lower pin a, thus
retaining the umbrella in the closed position.
In place of forming the runner with retaining catches, bayonet-like-joints or a ring
movable axially about it for retaining the umbrella in the open or closed position
as hereinbefore described or according to the arrangements described in my previous
specification No. 17006 A.D. 1887, the umbrella may be fixed in the open or closed
position by making the handle or stock capable of being rotated through a short
distance or angle within the umbrella. This arrangement is shewn in elevation of a
portion of an umbrella at Figure 12. In this Figure, the ring k, to which the upper
ends of the ribs are attached is formed with a horizontal slot 1, in it. Through this
slot 1, a pin m, passes and is fixed into the handle or stock of the umbrella. This slot
admits of the handle or stock A, being turned backwards or forwards through the
slot 1, in an angle or distance corresponding to the length of the slot less the diameter
of the pin m. When therefore the umbrella is either in the open or closed position
the handle or stock is easily moved round or through the said angle or distance by
applying one hand to the handle or stock and the other to the upper part of the
umbrella, or by holding the handle or stock stationary the upper part of the umbrella
may be moved through the same angle or distance upon the stock or handle. In this
case the runner is formed with a longitudinal slot e, through it to enable the said
runner to pass over the pins a, fixed in the handle or stock corresponding to the open
or closed positions of the umbrella, and when the handle or stock and umbrella proper
are turned round or moved through the aforesaid angle or distance either in the open
or closed positions, then the lower edge of the runner d, resting upon the upper pin a,
retains the umbrella in the open position and the upper edge of the said runner resting
upon the lower pin a, retains the umbrella in the closed position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The arrangement for retaining umbrellas either in the open or closed position
shewn at Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed sheet of drawings and operating substantially
as hereinbefore described.

page_text: 2. The arrangement for retaining umbrellas in the open or closed position shewn
at Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the annexed sheet of drawings and operating substantially
as hereinbefore described.
3. The arrangement for retaining umbrellas in the open or closed positions shewn
at Figures 7 and 8 of the annexed sheet of drawings and operating substantially as
hereinbefore described.
4. The arrangements for retaining umbrellas in the open or closed position shewn
at Figures 9 and 10 and operating substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. The arrangement for retaining umbrellas in the open or closed positions by
means of a short tube or ring capable of rotating upon the runner, the said runner
and ring being respectively formed with a slot and channel therein for passing over
the fixed pins a, and operating substantially as hereinbefore described.
6. The arrangement for retaining umbrellas either in the open or closed positions
wherein the partial rotation of the handle or stock within the umbrella or the rotation
of the umbrella on the handle or stock causes either the lower or upper edge of the
runner to rest upon retaining pins fixed in the handle or stock substantially as herein-
before described.
ST. JOHN V. DAY,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Applicant's Agent.