IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND SUNSHADES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Thomas Liley and Frederick Samuel Liley, both
of Noble Street, in the City of London, for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN UMBRELLAS AND SUNSHADES.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Thomas Liley and
Frederick Samuel Liley at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on
the 27th April 1882.
JOHN THOMAS LILEY and FREDERICK SAMUEL LILEY both of Noble Street in
the City of London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND SUNSHADES
"
Our Invention relates to an improved construction of self-opening or self-
expanding umbrella sunshade, or parasol which is simple in construction as it
consists of but few parts, is not unsightly or in anywise different in appearance
either when opened or closed from the ordinary umbrella, and which opens or
expands automatically in whatever position it may be held.
Our Invention consists essentially in an umbrella in which the distance between
the "notch" to which the stretchers are jointed, and the notch to which the ribs
are jointed, is increased in the act of opening the umbrella, and decreased in the
act of closing it (which is the reverse of an ordinary umbrella) and in which that
one of the two notches which is movable is acted on by a spring in such manner
as to open the umbrella.
According to one modification of the Invention, the "stretchers" instead of
being jointed to a “runner as usual, are jointed to a "notch" fixed to the stick
and the "notch" to which the ribs are jointed, is made movable towards and from
the "stretcher notch" and is operated in one direction by the stress of a spring
contained within the stick whereby the umbrella is opened automatically imme-
diately the runner (which is used only for closing the umbrella) is released. The
stick is composed of two parts, of which the top portion is the smaller, and slides
telescopically within the other which is made partly tubular to receive it. and,
together with the handle, constitutes the main portion of the stick. To the small
top portion, the "top notch" to which the ribs are jointed is fixed, and to

page_text: the top end of the tubular part of the stick the "notch" to which the stretchers
are jointed is fixed, and a powerful spiral spring is contained within this tubular
portion of the stick and tends to force the "top notch" away from the "stretcher
notch." When the umbrella is closed the "top notch" is close down to the
"stretcher notch" and when it is opened, the distance between them is about
the same as in an ordinary umbrella, the stretchers then standing at about right
angles to the stick as usual.
Instead of the spring being compressed and forcing the top notch upwards away
from the stretcher notch the spring may be extended and be applied to draw the
stretcher notch downwards away from the top notch the spring being contained
in the handle of the stick and connected with the stretcher notch by wires passing
through the stick which in this case is tubular but not telescopic, being made in
one piece.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Thomas Liley and Frederick Samuel Liley in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 27th October 1882.
JOHN THOMAS LILEY and FREDERICK SAMUEL LILEY both of Noble Street in
the City of London "IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND SUNSHADES."
Our Invention relates to an improved construction of self opening or self
expanding umbrella, sunshade, or parasol which is simple in construction as it
consists of but few parts, is not unsightly or in anywise different in appearance,
either when opened or closed from the ordinary umbrella, and which opens or
expands automatically in whatever position it may be held.
"
Our Invention consists essentially in an umbrella in which the "stretchers"
instead of being jointed to a runner as usual, are jointed to a "notch " fixed to
the stick, and the "notch" to which the ribs are jointed is made movable towards
and from the "stretcher notch" so that the power is applied to the ribs instead of
to the stretchers in the act of opening, (which is the contrary of the action in
ordinary umbrellas) the "rib notch" being operated in one direction by the stress
of a spring contained within the stick, whereby the umbrella is opened auto-
matically immediately the runner (which is used only for closing the umbrella) is
released.
In carrying out our Invention the stick is composed of two parts, of which the
top portion is the smaller and slides telescopically within the other, which is made
partly tubular to receive it and, together with the handle, constitutes the main
portion of the stick. To the small top portion, the "top notch" to which the
ribs are jointed is fixed, and to the top end of the tubular part of the stick
the "notch" to which the stretchers are jointed is fixed, and a powerful spiral
spring is contained within this tubular portion of the stick and tends to force the
top notch
away from the "stretcher notch." When the umbrella is closed
the "top notch" is close down to the "stretcher notch," and when it is opened tho
distance between them is about the same as in an ordinary umbrella, the stretchers
then standing at about right angles to the stick as usual.
"
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood we have illustratod
it in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the
umbrella open, and Figure 2 is a similar section of the umbrella closed.
A is the main portion of the stick and handle, the upper part containing the
spring being a metal tube or bollow cane or stick. B is the top part of the stick
(also made preferably of metal tube) of smaller diameter, sliding within part A,
and C is the strong spiral spring which is contained within the tubular part A and
is compressed therein by the part B. A stop or head a on part B limits the action
by coming against the neck of the "stretcher notch" and prevents the part B
coming wholly out from the part A. D is the "stretcher notch" brazed to the
top end of the part A, and E are the stretchers jointed thereto. F is the "top
notch" brazed or otherwise fixed upon the part B of the stick, and G the ribs
jointed thereto. The "notch" D is of smaller external diameter than the notch F
in order that the ribs may fold close against the stick when the umbrella is closed.
His a runner sliding upon the stick A and connected to the stretchers by wire
ties or connections I which are jointed to the stretchers E and to the runner like
the stretchers in an ordinary umbrella, their use however being for closing the
umbrella only, and as the only strain put upon them is one of tension, they need
not be rigid but may even be flexible. K is a common spring catch to retain the
runner and hold the umbrella closed. Immediately it is released therefrom the
spring C expands and moves the top notch F away from the stretcher notch D

page_text: thereby expanding the umbrella, which action will be readily understood from
the two figures. Instead of the spring being compressed and forcing the top notch
upwards away from the "stretcher notch," the spring may be extended and be
applied to draw the stretcher notch downwards away from the top notch, the
spring being contained in the handle of the stick and connected with the stretcher
notch by wires passing through the tubular stick.
Having described the nature of our invention and the manner of performing
the same, we declare that what we claim as our Invention to be protected by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is :-
1st. A self opening or expanding umbrella in which the distance between the
notch to which the stretchers are jointed and the notch to which the ribs are
jointed is increased in the act of opening, and decreased in the act of closing
the umbrella, that one of the two notches which is movable being acted on by a
spiral spring in such manner that it is moved away from the other, and the umbrella
is opened by the power of the spring, substantially as specified.
2nd. In an umbrella or sunshade, the combination with a telescopic stick of the
stretchers and stretcher notch fixed to the upper end of the fixed part of the stick
itself, and of the ribs and rib notch fixed to the upper or movable part of the
stick, and of the spiral spring contained within the stick and acting upon the part
to which the-ribs-are-jointed, substantially in the manner and as hereinbefore
described and shown-in-the-drawings-for the purpose specified.
3rd. In an umbrella or sunshade the combination of the telescopic stick the
stretchers and stretcher notch fixed to the upper end of the fixed part of
the stick the ribs and rib notch fixed to the upper movable part of the stick,
the spring contained within the stick and acting on the upper part thereof, the
runner and its connectious with the stretchers, the whole arranged to operate,
substantially as shown and described.
4th. In an umbrella or sunshade, the combination with a non-telescopic tubular
stick, of-the-ribs-and-rib_notch fixed upon the stick, the stretchers and stretcher
notch sliding upon the stick, and of a spring contained within-the-handle-and-
connected with the stretcher notch so as by its tension to move the stretcher
notch away from the rib notch and open the umbrella (the relative arrangement
of the ribs and stretchers being otherwise as described and shown in the drawings)
substantially as herein specified.
In Witness whereof we the said John Thomas Liley and Frederick Samuel
Liley have hereunto set our hands and seals this twenty seventh day of
October. A.D. 1882.
JOHN THOMAS LILEY
(L.S.)
FREDERICK SAMUEL LILEY
(L.S.)