IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-OPENING UMBRELLAS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Grant, of the City, County, and State of New
York, United States of America, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SELF-OPENING UMBRELLAS." A communication by John W. Watson, of the
City, County, and State of New York, United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Grant at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th April 1882.
WILLIAM GRANT, of the City, County, and State of New York, in the United
States of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF OPENING UMBRELLAS."
A com-
munication by John W. Watson, of the City, County, and State of New York,
United States of America.
In the accompanying Drawing, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a part of an
umbrella to which my Invention has been applied, the umbrella being shown open;
Figure 2 is a sectional view of the umbrella frame closed; Figure 3 is a plan view of
the upper movable runner, the handle and sleeve being shown in section; Figure 4
is a plan view of the collar that carries the rods, the handle being shown in section;
Figure 5 is a diagram to illustrate the movement; Figure 6 is a cross section of a
pair of stretchers taken through the line x, x, Figure 2.
The object of this Invention is to make a self opening umbrella. I provide a
runner that traverses the umbrella stick in the usual manner with stretchers from
the runner to the ribs. In addition thereto I have a secondary runner having
secondary stretchers extending to the ribs. The secondary runner surrounds and
moves upon the exterior of the stick runner. With the two runners I connect
springs in such a manner that they will be contracted or put under tension by the
act of closing the umbrella, that is, by pulling the stick runner down towards the
handle in the usual inanner; but when the stick runner is released the force of
the springs will carry the stick runner back to the opposite end of the stick, and
thereby spread the stretchers and automatically open the umbrella. The Invention
consists in the peculiar construction of parts by which the above results are
accomplished, and which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

page_text: A represents the stick of an umbrella to the upper end of which is attached
the stationary runner B; to the stationary B are hinged the inner ends of the
ribs C, to the middle parts of which are hinged the outer ends of the stretchers D;
the inner ends of the stretchers D are hinged to the runner E which slides up and
down upon a sleeve F placed upon the stick A. To the runner E are attached the
lower ends of four, more or less, rods G, the upper ends of which are attached to the
collar or ring sliding upon the stick A Upon the rods G are placed spiral
springs 1, the upper ends of which rest against the collar H. The lower ends of
the spiral springs I rest against lugs J formed upon the upper end of the sleeve F,
and which are perforated for the passage of the rods G, the lugs J thus serving as
guides to the rods G and as supports for the ends of the springs I.
To the outer parts of the stretchers 1) are attached the outer ends of the
stretchers K, the inner ends of which are hinged to lugs on the runner L formed
upon or attached to the sleeve F a little below its middle part. Upon the outer
ends of the stretchers K are formed hooks & which are hooked into notches in the
forks at the outer ends of the stretchers D, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The
outer parts of the sides of the stretchers D adjacent to the stretchers K havo
longitudinal grooves d formed in them, as indicated in Figures 2 and 6, to receivo
the stretchers K, and allow the stretchers D, K, to come close together and tho
umbrella to fold compactly.
Upon the lower end of the sleeve F is formed, or to it is attached a shoulder or
collar with which engages when the umbrella is closed the spring catch N
attached to the lower part of the stick A to lock the said umbrella closed, and
which is operated to release the sleeve F by pressing its lower end inward.
With this construction when the sleeve F is released from the catch N, the
springs I tend to force the rods G and with thein the runner E and the inner ends
of the supplementary stretchers D upward, and the sleeve and with it the inner
ends of the stretchers K downward. The attempted movement of the inner ends
of the stretchers I), K, from each other would cause the connected outer ends of
the said stretchers to move outward in the direction of the arrows 1 if the said
outer ends were left free. But the outer ends of the stretchers D, K, are hinged to
the ribs C, so that the said outer ends can only move in the arcs of circles having
their centres at the hinging points of the said ribs C, as indicated by arrow 2,
which movement causes the sleeve F and its attachments to slide up the stick A
opening the umbrella. The umbrella is closed by drawing the sleeve F downward
until the collar M. meets and engages with the lever catch N.
Having now fully described my Invention and the manner in which the samo
may be performed, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,―
1st. A self opening umbrella, made substantially as herein shown and described,
with secondary runner, secondary stretchors, and springs carried with the two
runners, as set forth.
2nd. In an umbrella, the combination with the stick A, the ribs C, the stretchers D,
and the runner E of the rods C, the springs T, the runner L, and the secondary
stretchers K, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the umbrella
will be opened automatically when the main runner is released, as set forth.
3rd. In a self opening umbrella, tho combination of the rods G, and springa 1,
with the two runners E, L. sub. as herein shown and described, whereby the said
runners will be forced apart and the ribs extended by the tension of the said
springs, as set forth.
4th. In a self opening umbrella, the combination with the spring carrying rods G
of the collar H, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the upper
ends of the said rods are supported from the umbrella stick and held in place, as
set forth.
5th. In a self opening umbrella, the combination with the springs I, the collar H,
the rods G, and the runner E of the lugs J formed upon the runner sleeve F,
substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the said springs are held
against the pull of tho said rods, as set forth.

page_text: 6th. In a self opening umbrella, the combination of the two sets of stretchers D, K,
with the two runners E, L, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the
ribs will be extended by moving the runners from each other, as set forth.
7th. In a self opening umbrella, the combination with the stretcher K provided
with the hooks of the stretcher D having its outer forked end notched, and
provided with longitudinal groove d, substantially as and for the purpose sot forth.
8th. In a self opening umbrella, the stretchers & made with hooks & and fitted
into notches in the forks of the stretchers D at their outer ends, whereby the two
sets of stretchers can be readily connected, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Grant, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this 17 day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
WILLIAM GRANT. (L.S.)