Improvements in Umbrellas and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1899-Accepted, 15th July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Umbrellas and the like.
I, WILLIAM HUMPHREY WHEATLEY, of the Firm of Wheatley & Mackenzie,
Engineers and Patent Agents, of 40, Chancery Lane, in the County of London,
England, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and a communication to me
from abroad by The Worcester Umbrella Company, of 44, Vine Street, Worcester,
Massachusetts, U.S.A., and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention is in that class of umbrellas in which the ribs are so jointed
that they may be folded into approximately one half their normal length, in order
that the umbrella may be more conveniently packed for storage and carriage.
The immediate object of this present invention, is to provide a strong and
serviceable umbrella of this class, in which provision is made for positively lock-
ing the rib joints when the umbrella is closed but not folded. By means of the
specified improvements one is enabled to produce very cheaply a folding umbrella
in which there are no loose parts to be lost or mislaid.
In the drawings annexed hereto, Figure 1 is an elevation of an umbrella
stick and one connected rib and stretcher, embodying the said improvements.
Figures 2 and 3 are detached, sectional, views of the rib joint and a portion of
the stretcher, the former view showing, in full lines, the joint as if free to be
folded, and the latter showing said joint as extended and locked.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a certain modification of the rib joint that is fully
explained hereinafter.
In these drawings a denotes the stick or handle of the umbrella, c the runner,
d the stretcher and e-e, the two sections of the rib.
Secured to the inner rib section (e) is a clip and hinged to said clip, at f,
is a clip or plate that is secured to the outer or free rib section e¹. The
stretcher dis hinged to clip at d. The clip e³ is formed with a projecting
portion that enters between the side walls of clip e, when the two rib sections
are in longitudinal alignment, as seen in Figures 2 and 3; the said projection h
being provided with a shoulder h¹ that abuts the inner top wall of clip e2 when
the rib sections are thus in alignment, as shown in the drawings.
The lower (inner) edge of the projection his formed with an angular or hook-
shaped portion 2. The said projection is of such length that it may at all
times swing freely past the pivot d that connects the rib and stretcher.
When the umbrella is opened for use the rib sections and stretcher assume
the positions shown in Figures 1 and 2, the ribs being then prevented from fold-
ing by the tension of the cloth cover..
When the umbrella is not in use, and the ribs and stretcher are folded down
against the stick a, in order that the umbrella may be carried in the hand as a
cane, the stretcher then lies along the inner side of the rib section el, as seen in
Figure 3, and when in this position, the hook 2 lies in a slot d in the stretcher
and abuts the end wall of said slot as plainly seen in Figure 3 of the drawings.
When in this last described position the otherwise free rib section e¹ is pre-

page_text: vented from swinging on the pivot f, the two rib sections being positively locked
in alignment with each other so long as the stretcher lies in close contact with
the rib section e¹. So soon however as the umbrella is partly opened and the
stretcher is swung away from said rib section e', the wall of slot 2 is moved out
of engagement with hook 2 and said section is then free to be folded over
upon its companion e.
It will now be understood that the ribs are held in their extended, or open,
position by the tension of the cloth cover and in their closed position by the
locking engagement of hook 2 with the wall of slot d, and it will also be noted
that no loose parts are required for the successful operation of my improved
joint.
Ordinarily, when closing an umbrella of this class, the hinged rib sections
remain extended, that is to say in alignment, and the stretcher slot / passes
freely over the hook h², but in order to render it both possible and safe to swing
the rib section e¹ into line with the section e, after the umbrella has been closed,
as explained, the top wall of the stretcher is preferably slitted as at thus
providing a spring tongued that may yield when pressed by the hook,
as seen in Figure 4, but which will spring in behind said hook the instant the
rib section eis in line with its companion section e.
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 folding umbrella, in combination, a two-part hinged rib, and a
stretcher pivoted thereto, the outer or free rib section being formed with a hook
adapted to enter a slot in the stretcher and abut the end wall of said slot when
the umbrella is closed, all substantially as specified.
(2) In a folding umbrella, in combination, a two-part hinged rib, and a
stretcher pivoted thereto, the outer rib section being formed with a hook adapted
to enter a slot in the stretcher when the umbrella is closed; the said stretcher
having a spring tongue the end of which engages the end of the rib section, all
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Hated this 20th dove of May 1900
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.