MENTS IN UMBRELLAS
Year: 1882

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Jules Miniére at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th March 1882.
JULES MINIÈRE of Boulevard de Strasbourg 23, Paris, Manufacturer IMPROVE-
MENTS IN UMBRELLAS
•
My invention relates to umbrellas and parasols which can be closed by one hand,
and it consists in a new system of disengaging devices for the runners by means of
which the umbrellas or parasols are closed by one hand.
This system, in combination with the double helical springs already described,
constitutes an appliance which allows the automatic closing of umbrellas by means
of the hand which holds the handle, this closing being effected by the action of the
free ends of the stretchers upon the runner.
The distinctive features of this disengaging system consist in the peculiar
application of two small metallic pieces in the interior of the stick, under the
influence of a traction-wire and of a helical spring. These pieces are hinged inside
the stick to a strap or loop and are placed perpendicular to the axis of the stick
when the umbrella is open, so as to project with their free ends, one at the right
and the other at the left, through the two grooves provided in the stick.
The drawing annexed to this description will help to understand the arrangement
and action of the mechanism.
Figs. 1 and 2 show the two small metallic pieces upon which the runner rests,
when the umbrella is open. One of their extremities is perforated with a hole for
allowing the required motion, while the other extremity is rounded in order to
slide easily under the runner.
Figs. 3 and 4 show front and side view of a strap & formed by a metal blade bent
in the centre b. Between its two shanks m m' are pivoted the pieces a a¹ by a
pin or axle passing through the holes t t¹ and rivetted at each end. At its free ends
the strap has also two other holes 8 8¹ between which the disc g is enclosed. The
traction-wire is attached to the centre 6 of the strap..
Figs. 5 and 6 represent a flat metallic piece p, made T shaped and projecting
with its rounded head x into one extremity of the helical spring so as to fit exactly

page_text: :.
its internal diameter, while its base y rests on the pieces a a¹, thus serving as a
connection between the helical spring and the pieces a a'. It is so to say
independent of the totality of the system, for, while the strap d carrying the
pieces a a¹ and the helical spring is introduced into the stick froin the end, which
is provided with the movable ferrule, this piece p can only be introduced in the
stick between the two shanks m m of the strap through the two slots e e'. Its
thickness is nearly equal to the width of the slots between which it is working,
and the base y is from 4 to 5 millimetres longer than the diameter of the helical
spring which has the diameter of the stick. This intermediate piece enables the
helical spring to act with greater energy and regularity on the pieces a a¹, by
removing the friction of the spring, and it affords a greater leverage at the points
of contact with the pieces a a¹. The piece p may also have the shape of p¹ (Fig 7)
and p2 (Fig 8); in the case of p¹ the hollow portion of this piece receives the
extremity of the helical spring; in the case of p2 the helical spring penetrates into
the two notches ff¹. In all these three arrangements the helical spring holds and
directs the piece p.
Figs. 9 and 10. The pieces a a¹ are pivoted to the strap d which is operated by
the draw-wire F. The shanks m m¹ of the strap are partly introduced into the
helical spring R, one extremity h of which surrounds the top of the piece p. The
disc g serves to hold the other extremity of the helical spring, which is thus put in
compression from the beginning. Consequently the spring acts upon the pieces a a¹
tending to remove then from each other and to keep them in a straight line. The
piece (Figs. 5 and 9) may be replaced by a tube T (Fig 9bis) acting on the two
pieces a a¹. This tube has the same external diameter as the spring R and the
disc g. Another disc g' mounted loose between the shanks of the strap d, is
interposed between the spring R. and the tube T, the spring acting on the pieces a a¹
through this disc g¹ and the tube T. Such is the construction of the new organs
for disengaging the runner, the combination of which allows the automatic closing
of the umbrella with one hand.
P
Fig. 11. The hollow stick is provided at its upper portion with two longitudinal
slots e e diametrically opposite each other and about 18 millimetres long, through
which slots project the rounded extremities of the pieces a a', when they are
placed perpendicular to the axis of the stick. The lower ends of these slots are
rounded in order to leave more play 'to the pieces a a¹. In the lower portion of
the 'stick is a third slot n through which passes the bent extremity of the traction-
wire in order to engage with the movable ferrule. N is the fixed top-notch to
which the ribs are pivoted.
Fig. 12. The different organs described above are represented in their relative
positions in the interior of the stick A. The length of the traction-wire F is such,
that, when its bent extremity abuts against the top of the slot n, the two pieces
a a under the influence of the helical spring R are placed perpendicular to the
axis of the stick and project partly, one on the right and the other on the left,
through the slots e e¹. As shown by the drawing, the helical spring abuts with
one end against the disc g which is supported by the shanks of the strap, and acts
with the other end on the pieces a a' held in position by the slots of the stick. The
strap & has thus no fixed point inside the stick, where it is movable under the
influence of the traction-wire and of the helical spring.
Fig. 13. The runner C is shown in the position corresponding to the opened
umbrella. The tension of the umbrella covering, and the action of the double helical
spring described in my former patents, cause the runner to press upon the rounded
ends of the pieces a al which are entirely hidden in its interior. These pieces a a¹
resting on the slots e e¹ of the stick and retained at their pivoting centre by the
traction wire F, when in 'the 'extrenie position, cannot fall in the direction of the
down motion of the runner, to the pressure of which they oppose a considérable
resistance. In this way the opening position is perfectly fixed and secured.
The working of this system is very simple. One need only pull on the movable
ferrule with one or two fingers of the hand which holds the handle, and the strap-

page_text: transmits immediately the motion upon the two small pieces a a¹, the two rounded
ends of which recede into the stick by forming a larger or smaller angle; the
intermediate piece p has been raised (relatively to the wire) by the further
compression of the helical spring R. The runner is thus disengaged and allowed to
slide freely along the stick.
The abutment of the runner towards the fixed top-notch N is formed by means
of two very short screws v', which have broad heads and are fixed in the walls
of the stick, without projecting inside, so as not to interfere with the motion of the
helical spring R.
Fig 14 represents the whole of the system, when the umbrella is closed. In
this position there remains no obstacle to the motion of the runner.
As long as
the umbrella is closed the movable ferrule is kept in its position under the runner,
and as the traction wire remains always at the bottom of its travel, the two
pieces a a¹ remain hidden in the stick. But as soon as the runner is pushed for
opening the umbrella the strap d rises by the influence of the helical spring R,
thereby acting on the pieces a a³ which are at this moment forming an acute angle,
so as to cause the rounded extremities of these pieces to project again over the
stick for arresting the runner during its motion.
In reversing the arrangement of the system, that is to say, by placing the helical
spring under the pieces à a', the action remains the same, but the spring R would
then act on the heels of the pieces a a¹ and its effect would be less energetic, as the
lever arms are shorter.
It will be seen that the principal object of my inventions as described in my
patent specifications is always, to construct a mechanism or appliance for closing
umbrellas and parasols by one hand and keeping them closed, the free extremities
of the stretchers being joined to the runner.
The disengaging system is applicable to ordinary umbrellas as well as to parasols
and similar articles, the different parts may be made of any suitable material and
in various shapes and dimensions, and either one or the other of the modifications
described and illustrated may be used.
What I claim as my invention is:-
1. In combination with my system of umbrellas which are closed by one hand,
the above described system of disengaging apparatus for retaining the runner in
the position corresponding to the opened umbrella, and for allowing it to slide
along the stick, when it is desired to close the umbrella.
2. The disengaging apparatus, consisting substantially of two small pieces
forming a détent and subjected to the double action of a helical spring which, by
means of an intermediate piece tends to keep them in a straight line, thereby
causing them to project over the umbrella stick, and of the traction wire extending
inside of the stick down to the ferrule near the handle, upon which ferrule one
acts to cause the said small pieces or detents to recede into the stick, these pieces
being arranged in such a manner as to project over the stick and retain the runner
if the movable ferrule and the traction wire are free, but to allow the runner to
slide freely and to remain hidden, if the traction wire and the movable ferrule are
drawn towards the handle.
The whole substantially as described and illustrated.
In witness whereof I the said Jules Minière have hereunto set my hand and