Improvements in and relating to Umbrellas and the like, and to Cases therefor.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 9th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 29th Oct., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Umbrellas and the like,
and to Cases therefor.
We, CHARLES WILLIAM BLUEMEL, ERNEST ADOLPHUS BLUEMEL, and FRANK
HENRY BLUEMEL, trading as C. W. Bluemel & Bros., of the Crown Works, Globe
Road, E., in the County of London, Manufacturers of Cycle Accessories, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention has reference to unbrellas, entoutcas, sunshades and the like,
and is designed to enable the same to be conveniently reduced in length, so as
to cause them to occupy a much smaller space when not in use than do ordinary
umbrellas and the like. The invention further relates to cases for containing
the umbrellas or the like when so reduced in length.
An important feature of the invention consists in connecting the handle of
the umbrella to the stem thereof by a readily detachable joint, and providing a
chain or other suitable loose flexible connection which will allow sufficient play
to permit the fastening or unfastening of the joint, whilst obviating any risk of
the handle being lost by becoming entirely separated from the stem or stick of
the umbrella.
Another feature consists in making the tip or portion of the stem or stick at
the opposite end to the handle, so that it will telescope into the main portion of
the stem or stick, which latter is wholly or in part tubular.
A further feature of the invention consists in providing the case of the umbrella
with straps and so forming it that it can be readily attached to a bicycle frame or
to a hand bag for example.
According to one arrangement the joint between the handle and the stem of
the umbrella is formed of two metal portions secured the one to the stem and
the other to the handle. One of these metal portions has a screw-threaded nipple
projecting axially therefrom and entering a corresponding screw-threaded aper-
ture in the end of the other portion.
When the said two portions are screwed together they provide a rigid joint
between the stem and the handle, and yet one which can be easily unfastened
when required.
The loose flexible connection necessary to guard against loss of the handle,
whilst at the same time permitting fastening and unfastening of the screw joint,
consists conveniently of a chain connected at one end to the stem and at the other
end to a ring or collar secured on the handle so as to be free to turn thereon after
the manner of a swivel.
The tip of the umbrella is formed of metal and the adjacent part of the stem
is made tubular to receive the tip and to permit of its sliding or telescoping into

page_text: the stem. A spring button or catch on the inner end of the tip is adapted to
snap into a hole in the end of the stem in order to keep the tip in its outward
position. A pair of stops on the outer end of the tip serves to prevent the latter
being accidentally pushed completely into the stem.
The case to contain the umbrella instead of being of the usual form is wide
and flat so that it will readily accommodate the umbrella after the handle has
been removed and placed by the side thereof and the tip has been pushed back
into the stem. The said case may conveniently be formed of two strips of
japanned leather bound together along their edges and at one end, and provided
with a tongue or flap at the other end. The straps by which the case is secured
to the bicycle frame or hand bag for example, may be secured to the case near
the ends thereof.
Improvements in and relating to Umbrellas and the like,
and to Cases therefor.
We, CHARLES WILLIAM BLUEMEL, ERNEST ADOLPHUS BLUEMEL, and FRANK
HENRY BLUEMEL, trading as C. W. Bluemel & Bros., of the Crown Works, Globe
Road, E., in the County of London, Manufacturers of Cycle Accessories, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained, in and by, the following
statement:
-
Our invention has reference to umbrellas, entoutcas, sunshades and the like,
and is designed to enable the same to be conveniently reduced in length, so as
to cause them to occupy a much smaller space when not in use than do ordinary
umbrellas and the like. The invention further relates to cases for containing
the umbrellas or the like when so reduced in length.
An important feature of the invention consists in connecting the handle of
the umbrella to the stem by a readily detachable joint; and providing a
chain or other suitable loose flexible connection which will allow sufficient play
to permit the fastening or unfastening of the joint, whilst obviating any risk of
the handle being lost by becoming entirely separated from the stem or stick of
the umbrella.
Another feature consists in making the top or portion of the stem or stick at
the opposite end to the handle, so that it will telescope into the main portion of
the stem or stick, which latter is wholly or in part tubular.
A further feature of the invention consists in providing the case of the umbrella
with straps and so forming it that it can be readily attached to a bicycle frame or
to a hand bag, for example.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into
effect, we will describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying
drawings, which illustrate by way of example one method of carrying our inven-
tion into effect, and in which:-

page_text: Figure 1 shows our improved umbrella ready for use, that is to say with the
handie fixed in position on the stem and the tap drawn out or extended.
Figure 2 is a detached view, partly in section, of the handle and the adjacent
portion of the stem showing the means of connecting these parts.
Figure 3 is a detached view, partly in section,, and drawn to a larger scale,
showing the construction of the up and of that portion of the stem into which it
is adapted to slide.
Figure 4 shows our improved umbrella when reduced in length and placed
within its case; and
Figure 5,shows our umbrella and case applied to a bicycle.
The joint between the handle A and the stem 13 of the umbrella is formed of
two metal portions a, b, secured the one to the handle and the other to the stem.
The portion a has a screw-threaded nipple a projecting therefrom and entering
a corresponding screw-threaded aperture in the end of the portion b. When the
said two portions are screwed together they provide a rigid joint between the stem
and the handle, and one that can be easily unfastened when required.
The flexible connection consists of a chain 6* connected at one end to the stem
and at the other end to a ring or collar a² secured on the handle so as to be free
to turn thereon after the manner of a swivel.
The tip C of the umbrella is formed of metal and the adjacent part of the stem
is made tubular to receive the tip and to permit of its sliding or telescoping
into such part of the stem. In the construction shown in the drawings, the lower
end of the stem consists of a tube B¹ fixed to the main portion of the stem B;
but obviously we may make the whole of the stem in one tubular piece. A
spring button or catch c on the inner end of the tip is adapted to snap into a hole c*
in the end of the stem, in order to keep the tip in its outward position. One or
more stops on the outer end of the tip serve to prevent the latter being acci-
dentally pushed completely into the stem, and also serve to enable the said tip to
be grasped or held more securely by the hand when it is to be drawn out or
extended.
A collar or thickened portion c² is provided on the inner extremity of the tip,
which serves as a stop to come against the inturned edge 2 of the tube B' and to
hus prevent the said tip being entirely withdrawn from the tube; this collar
has a gap or groove in it which is engaged by a longitudinal rib or depression
formed in the tube 11, whereby the tip is prevented from turning in said tube.
When it is desired to reduce the length of our improved umbrella the tip is
pushed into the stem and the handle is unscrewed and placed at the side of the
umbrella as indicated in Figure 4, the use of the flexible connection obviating
the risk of losing the handle, whilst at the same time it permits the ready fastening
and unfastening of the screw joint.
The case D to contain the umbrella when reduced in length, instead of being
of the usual form, is wide and flat so that it will readily accommodate the umbrella
with the handle by the side thereof as shown in Figure 4. The said case may
conveniently be formed of two strips of japanned leather bound together along
their edges and at one end, and provided with a tongue or flap d at the other
end, which is adapted to be secured in its closed position by drawing its narrow
portion under the loop or strip d. Straps are provided by which the case
may be secured, for example, to a bicycle frame (as shown in Figure 5) or to a
hand bag or other article.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. An umbrella or sunshade having a removable handle and a telescopic tip,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. An umbrella or sunshade constructed substantially as described with

page_text: reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings for the purposes
specified.
ין
1
3. A case constructed substantially as described with reference to Figure 4 of
the drawings for use with the aforesaid umbrella or sunshade.
Dated this 9th day of September 1898.
1
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.