Improvements in and connected with Parasols and the like for Use with Cycles and for similar purposes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Oct., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 7th July, 1899-Accepted, 12th Aug., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Parasols and the like for Use
with Cycles and for similar purposes.
I, THOMAS JAMES, of Northgate, Darlington, in the County of Durham,
Engineers' Factor and Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to parasols or umbrellas for use with cycles and for
similar purposes and has for its object to provide a parasol or umbrella and
means for attaching or supporting same upon the cycle, motor car or other
vehicle to which it is fitted whereby the said parasol and fittings shall be of
small weight and readily moved into and out of position for use and occupy but
small space when closed and out of use.
To this end and according to my invention I provide a curved or vertical
telescopic supporting tube or standard supported from the rear of the cycle
saddle or frame as the case may be and connected to and adapted to support
through the medium of a hinged part and connecting springs a horizontal rod
adapted to be folded down against the curved or vertical telescopic part when
out of use, this horizontal rod supports a swivelling, and sliding or adjustable
connection upon which the outer frame or ribs of the parasol are hinged and
supported, the stretcher ribs being attached to a short handle or stem removable
from and adapted to be connected to the said adjustable part by a spring catch,
screwed or bayonet joint when the parasol is open and in use and detached
therefrom when it is closed the usual long stick or handle of the parasol being
dispensed with.
In such a construction applicable to a bicycle the vertical telescopic standard
or support is mounted upon the supporting lath, springs or underframe of the
saddle by suitable clamps and is arranged at such distance from the saddle as
not to interfere with the movements of the rider. This telescopic part may
consist of two or more sliding tubes and the upper or smaller tube has a sliding
rod therein pressed outwardly by a spring arranged within the tube. To this
spring pressed rod is hinged by a short connection the horizontal rod whose end
extends a short distance beyond same and is connected by a spring of suitable
strength to the upper section of the tubular standard so as to normally keep the
said rod in a position more or less horizontal. Upon the horizontal rod is
arranged the connection to the parasol which connection is adjustable upon the
rod by a set screw or the like and has a swivelling joint between it and that
part which supports the outer ribs of the parasol; the ribs are mounted and
hinged in the usual manner. The usual long handle is as described dispensed
with and a handle is formed upon or in one with what would be the sliding
part in an ordinary parasol or umbrella and to which part the stretcher ribs are
connected and the handle or stem is adapted to be insérted within or connected
to the central portion supporting the outer ribs by a spring catch carried by
the said handle or stem and engaging a slot or projection in or upon the said
D
077

page_text: central part a movable lever or similar connection being provided upon the stem
for retracting and releasing the catch when it is desired to close the sunshade
or parasol or this connection may as described be made by a screwed, bayonet
joint or the like.
A cord is or may be attached to one of the parasol ribs and is of sufficient length
to be tied or otherwise secured to the handle bar or adjacent part so as to
keep the parasol steady when open and guide it to the desired position; steadiness
is further assured by the tension of the spring at the junction of the vertical and
horizontal supports.
In operation, assuming the parasol to be open and in position for use.
For
closing same the catch is released and the stem brought downwards causing the
parasol to collapse, the horizontal rod is then folded down vertically against the
telescopic standard which is or may be collapsed and the material of the parasol
is folded and secured thereto by the steadying cord referred to or suitable clips
are provided for securing same in a compact manner together with the folded rods.
Dated this 6th day of October 1898.
PRYOR & HARVEY,
Agents.
Improvements in and connected with Parasols and the like for Use
with Cycles and for similar purposes.
I, THOMAS JAMES, of Northgate, Darlington, in the County of Durham,
Engineers' Factor and Merchant, 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 parasols or umbrellas for use with cycles and for
similar purposes, and has for its object to provide a parasol or umbrella and
means for attaching or supporting same upon the cycle, motor car or other
vehicle to which it is fitted, that will be of small weight and readily moved into
and out of position for use and occupy but little space when closed and out of
usc.
To this end and according to my invention I provide a curved or vertical
telescopic supporting tube or standard supported from the rear of the cycle
saddle or vehicle frame and united to and adapted to carry, through the medium
of a hinged part and connecting springs, a horizontal rod capable of being
folded down against the standard when out of use, this rod serving to support
a swivelling and sliding or adjustable connection upon which the outer frame
or ribs of the parasol or umbrella is or are hinged and supported, while the
stretcher ribs are attached to a short handle or stem removable from and
arranged to be connected to the said adjustable part when the parasol or umbrella
is open and in use, and detached therefrom when it is closed; the usual long
stick or handle of the parasol or umbrella being dispensed with.
In order that my invention may be fully understood and carried into practice
I have illustrated its application, by way of example, to a lady's bicycle in the
accompanying drawings to which I will refer in the following description. In
these drawings, Fig. 1 is a general side elevation showing the parasol or
umbrella and supporting means in the open or operative position; and Fig. 2
is a similar view indicating the closed position, only so much of the cycle being
represented in this view as is necessary for elucidation. Figs. 3 and 3* show
in central vertical section and on a larger scale the same as Fig. 1, but with

page_text: parts broken away; and rigs. 4 and 4 are elevations at right angles or certain
parts illustrated in these figures.
The same reference letters and numerals designate like parts in all the figures.
A is a vertical telescopic standard which is supported at the saddle B and at
such a distance therefrom as not to interfere with the movements of the rider.
The support may be accomplished in any suitable way, but I find it very con-
venient to use, as illustrated, a screw clamp C fixed to the spring b of the saddle
and disposed to grip and release the lower end of the standard.
The standard A consists of three tubes a, a¹, a² and a rod a³, the tubes a¹, a³
being designed to slide backwards and forwards within the tubes a, a respec-
tively and the rod a³ within the tube a². The extent of the insertion and
withdrawal of the tubes a', a³ is determined by stops at, a, situated at the
required distance apart inside both the tubes a, a, and another stop a³ secured
around each of the tubes a1, a2 for co-acting with the stops a', a as will be seen
from Fig. 3. In the extended position of the standard A, the tube a¹ is locked
to the tube a, and the tube a to the tube a¹ by screw clamps a, a, one being
fastened to the upper end of each outer tube split thereat to give resiliency.
The vertical movements of the rod a³ are controlled by a spring a' arranged,
as shown in Fig. 3, within the tube a² so as to normally press the rod a³ out-
wardly.
D is a rod that can slide to and fro in a sleeve d by which it is hinged to the
upper extremity of the rod a³ in appropriate fashion. The normal position of
this rod is more or less horizontal, and this is maintained by a screw d' at the
sleeve and by a spring of adequate strength fastened at one end to a lug
on the rod D and at the other to a lug on the tube a².
The function of the rod D is to carry the parasol or umbrella E which is
suspended from it by a swivelling connection F comprising a sleeve f, a head
be fixed in the desired sletve f is arranged to slide along the rod D and
be fixed in the desired position by a screw f³. To the sleeve is hinged the
head f which is joined by a stud fi to the socket f2 furnished with a flange f
notched at intervals, and grooved to receive, and have the outer ribs e, e of the
parasol or umbrella E secured in the ordinary manner. The stud f is arranged
to permit the free revolution of the socket while preserving the junction. f
is a short stick tightly fitted in the socket f2 for the purpose presently explained.
As mentioned before, I do not fit the usual long stick to the parasol or
umbrella, but in its place adopt a short socket-handle G which corresponds with
the part that carries the stretcher ribs in a parasol or umbrella as at present
constituted and slides on the stick to open or close it. As shown in Fig. 3*,
the stretcher ribs e¹, el are connected as customary to a ring g on the handle G
which is adapted to co-act with the stick f so that when it is fitted over same
the parasol or umbrella E is opened and retained open, whereas, when dis-
placed, closure occurs. Preferably, the stretcher ribs e, el are, as indicated in
Fig. 3*, fitted more nearly horizontal than is at present the practice because
by this plan additional head-room is given and the parasol or umbrella retained
open without the aid of catches, though if deemed necessary, a spring catch may
be applied to the stick f to engage a slot in the handle G in much the same
way as in existing parasols or umbrellas to ensure maintenance of position.
Í recommend the use of the handle G and stick fe as they are simple and work
well, but as will be obvious the purpose served by them may be attained by
equivalent devices. For instance, the stick f6 may be part of the handle Ğ
and arranged to be inserted in and connected to the socket f2 by a spring catch
carried by the stick f6 and engaging a slot or projection in or upon the said
socket, a movable lever or similar part being provided upon the stick fo for
retracting or releasing the catch when it is desired to close the parasol or
umbrella; or the connection between the socket fa and the part uniting with the
stretcher ribs e¹, e¹ may be made by a screw joint, a bayonet joint or the like.
It is advantageous to attach to one of the ribs e, e, e¹, e¹, a cord e of sufficient

page_text: length to be secured to the handle bar H or other appropriate part and thereby
keep the parasol or umbrella when open steady either directly over the rider
or at an angle to shield the face or back, the hinge at the sleeve d and the
connection respectively admitting of the inclination and the revolution of the
parasol or umbrella to vary the position or the attachment of the cord e². Sta-
bility is further assured by the springs a' and d² which absorb any vibration
that may be imparted to the standard A.
As previously stated, Fig. shows the position in use. However, assuming
it is required to close the parasol or umbrella, then the cord is unloosed from
the handle bar H; next the handle G or equivalent part (depending on the kind
of joint adopted) is disconnected from the connection F whereupon the parasol
or umbrella can be shut up; next the rod D is folded down vertically against
the standard A which is collapsed by slacking the screws of the clamps a, uº;
and lastly the parasol or umbrella is folded around the standard and secured
by winding the cord e², all as indicated in Fig. 2.
Of course the standard A need not be collapsed, but only the parasol or umbrella
shut and the rod D folded down; or the whole can be displaced by slacking the
clamp C.
For retaining the parasol or umbrella in the shut position around the standard A
suitable clips may be provided instead of winding the cord e².
The various metal parts, with the exception of the springs, are preferably
constructed of aluminium or other light metal.
I have specially described my invention in regard to a cycle, though as already
specified, it is otherwise applicable as will be obvious without further description
or illustration.
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. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the im-
provements in and connected with parasols or umbrellas and the like for use
with cycles and for similar purposes, substantially as herein before set forth and
as shown in the accompanying drawings.
2. In parasols or umbrellas for use with cycles and for similar purposes and
in means for attaching or supporting same, the combination of a telescopic
standard, a rod hinged thereto and maintained in a more or less horizontal.
position by a spring, a swivelling connection adjustable on said rod and having
connected to it the outer ribs of a parasol or umbrella whose stretcher ribs are
fastened to a short handle co-operating with the said connection, the whole
being arranged and adapted for operation substantially as described in reference
to the accompanying drawings.
3. In parasols or umbrellas for use with cycles and for similar purposes, the
combination of a swivelling connection having the outer frame or ribs connected
thereto, with a short handle to which the stretcher ribs are attached, the arrange
ment and operation being substantially as set forth.
4. In means for attaching or supporting parasols or umbrellas for use with
cycles and for similar purposes, the combination of a telescopic standard having
a terminal spring-supported rod and another rod hinged to the said rod and main-
tained more or less horizontal by a spring, substantially as described in reference
to the accompanying drawings.
1000
Daten this yen day
For the Applicant,
J. A. HARVEY,
Chartered Patent Agent, 3, St. Nicholas' Buildings, Newcastle-on-Tyne.