An Umbrella Opening Automatically.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 11th Dec.,
1897
An Umbrella Opening Automatically.
We, CARL WORRING and AUGUST KORTENBACH both owners of the Firm Kortenbach &
Rauh, Umbrella and Parasol Furniture Manufacturers of Weyer, Rheinland,
Germany. 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 :
With the hitherto known umbrellas opening automatically, the spring which gives
the necessary impulse for the opening of the umbrella is placed in the runner or in
the stick or it is fixed around the stick. Owing to this kind of construction the
parts are somewhat complicated, comparatively heavy and when shut, the umbrella
has a bulky appearance.
The present fashion, on the contrary, necessitates thin, light and easy opening
umbrellas. These qualities are found in the new construction which forms the
subject of the present invention represented by Figs. 1-3 of the annexed drawing.
In the runner a, below the joining point a of the stretchers b a second joining
point a² is arranged, to which springs are fixed, in preference spiral springs c,
connected on the other hand with the hinge-pegs b¹ joining the stretchers b to the
ribs d.
These springs are arranged in such a way that, when the umbrella is open they
are still slightly stretched. When the runner a is drawn downward to shut the
umbrella the spiral springs c which are movable between the runner a and the
stretchers band ribs d constantly stretch (shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1) that is to
say, proportionnaly with the gradual diminution of the angle w formed by the
stick e and the spiral springs c, and the hinges b¹ are brought towards the stick e
whilst the runner a descends more and more. In the shut position (Fig. 2) where
the angle w is almost nought, the spiral springs c consequently bear the greatest
strain and are placed, by making use of stretchers of U shaped section or any similar
shape, in the hollows of these stretchers. This shut-position is thus obtained by a
catch f. As soon as this catch is disengaged, the spiral springs c cause the runner a
and the branches b, d to spring into the open position, whilst the shock, besides
being lessened by the gradual diminution of the force of the springs is also attenuated
by the elastic shoulder g.
Owing to the point a¹ a² b¹ supporting one another the cover of the umbrella is
very much stretched out in every side and offers a great solidity, whilst in its shut
position the spiral springs c fixed in the stretchers are not in the least detrimental to
the elegance and lightness of the umbrella, and they form the simplest construction
imaginable.
The open position may usefully be chosen at such a height that the dead point is
placed above the stretchers b to dispose of the greatest possible free space in the
interior of the umbrella when it is open.
It is evident that, to arrive at this result the number of spiral springs c is out of
consideration and they can be connected on the outside to any point of the stretcher b
or in proximity of the hinge b' with the ribs d, or jointed pieces may be intercalated
as intermediary pieces; the connecting point 2 of the springs c may also be
differently arranged.

page_text: In the present case the interior point of connection of the spiral springs c is made with
a ring fastened to the runner a, the shoulder of which is provided with radial slits and a
groove in which a steel wire-ring is fixed, upon which the spiral springs are slipped.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
An automatic-opening umbrella, distinguished by the arrangement of springs
(spiral springs) stretching from the runner to any point whatever of the stretchers or
of the ribs or to the connecting point of both, these springs when then the umbrella
is shut that is to say when the runner is pulled downward, stretch automatically so
that this tension of the springs, causes the automatic opening of the umbrella, the
catch of the runner being disengaged.
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