Improvements in Umbrellas.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 1st Jan., 1897-Accepted, 13th Mar., 1897
Improvements in Umbrellas.
I, RUFUS WAPLES Jr. of 505, Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, in the County of
Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Banker, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in umbrellas and the object of the
invention is to provide an umbrella canopy supported by ribs and stretchers or
braces which is capable of being compactly folded and introduced into a tubular
stick. Another object of the invention is to provide a device whereby the canopy
may be expeditiously locked in an open or in a closed position upon the stick and
whereby the umbrella canopy when closed may be likewise held in a compact
form suitable for introduction into a hollow stick of the proportions of an ordinary
canc.
In carrying out the invention the tubular stick is fitted with a detachable bead
and the ferrule end is formed with a reduced portion. The open end of the body
of the cane is provided with a slot in which is removably mounted a stud provided
with a chain or its equivalent attached to its outer end. The canopy may be said
to consist of a cover of the ordinary kind and a flexible sleeve which at its upper
eud is attached directly to, or is indirectly connected with, the said cover the cover
at its centre having an opening therein for the passage of the stick. A stay plate
is introduced preferably on the inside of the flexible sleeve and is attached thereto
at or near its upper end by means of stitching or otherwise, the said plate extending
below its lower end or runer and above the upper point of attachment of the said
sleeve to the said stay plate the sleeve being free to move on the plate. This stay
plate extends upwards through the opening in the cover and preferably two other
short stay plates are likewise employed at the upper portion of the sleeve extending
from a flexible attachment to the stay plate first mentioned a short distance within
the cover, outward through the opening in the umbrella cover a length corre
sponding to that of the said plato. The upper or outer ends of the said plates are
connected by a ring or its equivalent. Each stay plate is visible through an
opening made in the upper part of the sleeve near the top and upon this visible
portion of each of said stay plates two ribs are pivoted the ribs of each pair
extending tangentially from the sleeve in diametrically opposite directions whereby
adjoining ribs of adjoining pairs will be made to cross one another and the pairs
are so attached to their stay plates that they will not be in the same horizontal
plane. The cover is secured to the ribs in the usual manner except around the
centre opening; here the cover is secured to the stay plates a short distance above
the points where the ribs are pivoted to the stay plates. This makes the cover
emooth and prevents strain against the ends of the ribs when the canopy is closed.
It is obvious that when the umbrella is opened a compression will be exerted by
the ribs tending to move the stays to which they are pivoted towards the ferrule
and to overcome this tendency the lower end of each short stay is secured to the stay
plate. This is preferably accomplished by a flexible strip also secured to the long
stay at a point which will be just above the upper end of the slide when the latter
is in position to hold the canopy expanded. The lower ends of these flexible

page_text: connecting strips secured to the stay plate also serve as a stop for the slide when
pushed as far up the long stay as it should go to engage a latch to be hereinafter
described.
.
.
The stay plate in addition to serving as a support for one pair of ribs is likewise
adapted as a guide for the slide which is secured to the lower end of the flexible
sleeve or runner by sewing or otherwise, and two short stay plates are also secured
to the bottom portion of the sleeve or runner at predetermined distances apart, the
locations of the lower stay plates and the slide being substantially below those of
the upper stay plates. A pair of rigid stretchers or braces is pivotally attached
to each lower stay plate and to an offset from the upper portion of the slide, which
stretchers are arranged in the same order as tho ribs, a stretcher being adapted to
be pivotally connected with each rib in the manner cominon to umbrellas. These
stretchers or braces are pivoted together in pairs at the centre tangentially to the
stick and the stretchers of each pair extend in diametrically opposite directions
from the common pivot to the ribs. At a point near the upper and of the longer
stay plate a spring is secured adapted to support the slide when the umbrella has
been opened by forcing the slide towards the ferrule of the stick as in ordinary
umbrellas and the chain is attached to the lower end of this longer stay plate and
said plate is provided with an opening near its lower end to receive a stud or pin
secured upon a spring plate attached to the lower end of the slide and projecting
therefrom adapted to lock the umbrella in a closed position on its stick and in the
said spring plate a wedge-shaped opening is made and one end of a cord or band is
secured to this plate said band being passed around the lower end of the sleeve or
runner and thence through the said opening in the spring plate whereby by drawing
the band tightly around the sleeve or runner the latter inay be bound securely to
the cane and when the canopy is removed from the stick its ribs may be tied close
together by passing said band around them and held in that position by pushing
the band downward in the contracted portion of the opening.
In placing the umbrella covor on the stick the stick is introduced into the lower
end of the sleeve or ruuner and then passed outward through the opening in,
the cover until the ring of the stay plates clamps the reduced or ferrule end of the
stick. The cap having been removed to draw the umbrella canopy out from the
canc the stud is then entered into the opening at the mouth of the stick and
the cover is again placed in position whereby such tension is exerted on the longer
stay plate as to hold the canopy firmly in position.
If desired the umbrella may now be carried in closed position the stud on the
spring plate being made to enter the opening in the stay plate. When the umbrella
is to be opened the spring plate is disconnected from the stay plate and the runner
is pushed upwards its slide moving upon the longer stay plate until when the ribs
and braces have been forced upward sufficiently to spread the cover and the guide
sleeve has been crimped upon the stick and main stay said slide will engage with
the spring and will hold tho cover in its elevated position. When the umbrella is
not required the canopy may be entirely removed from the stick, closely folded,
tied at its larger eud, and introduced into the body of the stick, whereupon tho
head is screwed to place and the stick may be used as an ordinary caue.
If in
practice it is found desirable a cap may be made to cover those portions of the
upper stay plates exposed above the cover.
.
Dated this 21st day of April 1808
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Umbrellas.
I, RUPUS WAPLES Jr. of 505, Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, in the County of
Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Banker, 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 aud by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in umbrellas, and especially to umbrellas
of the kind described in Letters Patent dated July 3, 1893 No. 13,001; the object
of the invention being to provide an umbrella canopy supported by ribs and
stretchers or braces of metal or like material and capable of being compactly
folded and introduced into a tubular cane which when the unbrella is expanded
or opened will constitute the stick therefor. Another object of the invention is to
provide a simple device, whereby the canopy may be expeditiously locked in an
open or in a closed position upon the stick, and whereby the umbrella canopy
when closed may be held in a compact form, suitable for introduction into a hollow
stick of the proportions of an ordinary cane.
The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several
parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a partial vertical section through the canopy of the umbrella,
illustrating it in position upon a cane stick, the stick being shown as broken at a
point in its length and partially in section, the said section being taken practically
on the line 1-1 of Figure 2;
Figure 2 is n borizontal section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of
Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a section through the canopy proper, illustrating the ribs and
stretchers in side elevation, likewise the flexible sleeve connected therewith,
together with the means for tying the canopy when in closed form; and
Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the lower part of the flexible
sleeve or runner, one of the stay plates attached thereto, and a portion of two
stretchers connected with the said plate.
In carrying out the invention the stick. A that is employed as a support for the
canopy, its stretchers and ribs, is tubular and is shaped as a cane, being intended
for use as such. The said cane is fitted with a detachable head A', which is usually
screwed thereon, but may be otherwise secured to the body, and the ferrule end is
formed with a reduced portion.
The open end of the body of the cane is provided with a slot 10, in which a
stud 11, is removably mounted, the said stud being provided with a chain 12, or its
equivalent, attached to its outer end. The canopy may be said to consist of a
cover 13, which is made of any material usually employed for that purpose in an
ordinary umbrella, and a flexible sleeve 14, which at its upper end is attached
directly to, or is indirectly connected with the said cover, the cover at its centre
having an opening therein, for the passage of the stick A.
A stay plate 16 is introduced preferably on the inside of the flexible sleeve 14,
and is attached thereto at or near its upper end by means of stitching, or otherwise,
the said plate which is made of greater length than. the said sleeve, extending
below its lower end or runner, and above the upper point of attachment of the said
sleeve to the said stay plate, the sleeve being free to move on the plate.
This stay plate 10 extends upward jthrough the opening 15 in the cover a

page_text: predetermined distance beyond the same, as shown in Figure 1, and preferably two
other stay plates 16* are likewise employed at the upper portion of the sleeve as
shown in Figure 2; which stay plates 16 are however inuch shorter than the
plate 16, extending from a flexible attachment to the stay plate 16 a short distance
within the cover outward through the opening in the umbrella cover a length
corresponding to that of the said plate 16, and the upper or outer ends of the
plates 16 and 16" are connected by a ring 17, or its equivalent.
Each stay plate 16 and 16" is visible through an opening 18 made in the upper
part of the sleeve near the top, and upon this visible portion of each of said stay
plates two ribs 19 are pivoted, the ribs of each pair extending tangentially from
the sleeve in diametrically opposite directions, whereby adjoining ribs of adjoining
pairs will be made to cross one another, and the pairs are so attached to their
stay plates that they will not be in the same horizontal plane.
The cover is secured to the ribs in the usual mauuer except around the centre
opening; here the cover is secured to the stay plates a short distance above the
points where the ribs are pivoted to the stay plates.
This makes the cover
smooth, and prevents strain against the ends of the ribs when the canopy is
closed.
It is obvious that when the umbrella is opened a compression will be exerted by
the ribs 19, tending to move the stays 16 to which they are pivoted, toward the
ferrule, and to overcome this tendency the lower end of each short stay 16 is
secured to the stay plate 16. This is preferably accomplished by a flexiblo
strip 16, also secured to the long stay 16, at a poiut which will be just above the
upper end of the slide 20 when the latter is in position to hold the canopy expanded.
The lower ends of these flexible connecting strips 16 secured to the stay plate 16,
also serve as a stop for the slide 20, when pushed as far up the long stay as it should
go to engage a latch to be hereinafter described.
The stay plate 16, in addition to serving as a support for one pair of ribs, is
likewise adapted as a guide for the slide 20, the said slile being secured to the
lower end of the flexible eleeve or runner 14 by sewing or otherwise, as shewn in
Figure 1, and two short stay plates 21 (Figure 4) are also secured to the bottom
portion of the sleeve or runner at pre-determined distances apart, the locations of
the lower stay plates and the slide 20 being substantially below those of the upper
stay plates 16 and 16.
A pair of rigid stretchers 22 is pivotally attached to each stay plate 21 and to
an offset 23 from the upper portion of the slide 20. The stretchers 22 are arranged
in the same order as the ribs 19, a stretcher being adapted to be pivotally connected
with each rib in the manner common to umbrellas. The stretchers are constructed
of the same material as ordinary umbrella stretchers, although any other equivalent
material may be used. These stretchers 22 are pivoted together in pairs at the
centre tangentially, to the stick, and the stretchers of each pair extend in
dianetrically opposite directions from the commnou pivot to the ribs. At a point
wear the upper end of the longer stay plate 16 a spring 25 is secured, adapted to
support the slide 20 when the umbrella has been opened by forcing the slide
toward the ferrule of the stick, as in ordinary umbrellas and the chaiu 12 is
attached to the lower end of this longer stay plate which is provided with an
opening 20 near its lower end to receive a stud or pin 27, secured upon a spring
plate 28, attached to the lower end of the slide and projecting therefrom, adapted
to lock the umbrella in a closed position on its stick, and in the said spring
plate 28 a substantially wedge-shaped opening 29 is made, as shown in Figuro 3,
and one end of a cord or band 30 is secured to this plate, said band being passed
around the lower end of the sleeve or ruuner, as is also shown in Figure 3, and
thence through the said opening 29 in the spring plate, whereby by drawing the
band 30 tightly around the sleeve or runner, the latter may be bound securely to
the cane, and when the canopy is removed from the stick its ribs may be tied close
together by passing said band around them, and held in that position by pushing
the band downward in the contracted portion of its opening 29.

page_text: In placing the umbrella cover on the stick, the stick is introduced into the lower
end of the sleeve or runner 14, it serving as a guide, and the eine is then pussel
outward through the opening in the cover until the ring 17 of the stay plates 16.
and 16" clamps the reduced or ferrule end of the stick. The cap or cover A' having
been removed to draw the umbrella canopy out from the cane, the stud 11 is then
entered into the opening 10 at the mouth of the stick, and the cover A' is again.
placed in position, whereby such, tension is exerted on the longer stay plate 16 ns.
to hold the canopy firmly in position.
If desired the umbrella may now be carried in closed position, the stud 27 on the
spring plate 28 being made to enter the opening 26 in the stay plate. When the
umbrella is to be opened, the spring plate is disconnected from the stay plate an
the runner is pushed upward, its slide 20 moving up in the longer stay plate 16,.
until, when the ribs and stretchers have been forced upward sufficiently to spread the
cover, and the guide sleeve has been crimped upon the stick and main stay, said
slide will engage with the spring 25 and will hold the cover in its elevated
position.
I desire it to be distinctly. understood that any other form of catch may be
employed to support the runner when the umbrella has been opened or closed.
When the umbrella is not required, the canopy may be entirely reinoved froin
the stick, closely folded, tied at its larger end and introduced into the bo.ly
of the etick, whereupon the head is screwed to place, and the stick may be used as
an ordinary cane. If in practice it is found desirable a cap 31 may be made to.
cover those portions of the upper stay plates exposed above the cover.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invon-.
Lion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I doclare that what [
claim is,
1. An umbrella cane constructed in substantially the manner herein set forth.
2. In an umbrella, the combination of a stick, a flexible runner adapted to fit
said stick, a main stay plate secured to said runner, extending longitudinally of tho
stick and provided at opposite ends with means for securing it to the ends of the
stick, ribs connected with the main stay plate, and stretchers secured at their outer-
ends to the ribs and adjustably secured at their inner ends to the main stay plate,
substantially as set forth.
3. In an umbrella, the combination of a stick having a shoul.ler adjacent to one
end, a flexible sleeve secured to a ring at one end to engage said shoulder, stay
plates secured to the end of the said flexible sleeve adjacent to said ring and
suitably spaced apart, one of said, stay plates being a maiu stay plate and being-
secured at its opposite end to the other end of the stick, ribs pivoted to said stay
plates, and stretchers having their iuuer euds adjustably connected to said main
stay plate, substantially as set forth.
4. In an timbrella, the combination of a stick, a flexible sleeve adapted to fit
said stick, a main stay plate secured to one side of the said Hexible sleeve and
having at opposite ends means for securing it to the opposite ends of the stick, other
stay plates secured at various points around the flexible sleeve at the upper and
lower parts thereof independent of the main stay plate, a slide on the main stay-
plate adjacent to the lower stay plates, ribs pivoted to the upper stay plates and
to the upper part of the main stay plate, stretchers secured at their outer ends to the
ribe and pivoted at their inner ends to the lower stay platos and to the slide on
the lower part of the main stay plate, a connection between said slide and said.
lower stay plates, and means for securing said slide to the main stay plate when
in its upper and lower positions, substantially as set forth.
5. In an umbrella cane, the combination of the cover, the ribs, a flexible.
collapsible runner through which the cane may be introduced, and the rigid
stretchers connected at their outer ends to the ribs and at their inner ends in
pairs to the flexible collapsible ruaner, the stretchers of each pair being-
oppositely disposed, whereby they will stay each other in position upon the runner,.

page_text: and means by which the stretchers may be secured in open position, substantially
as set forth.
6. The combination, in an umbrella, of the cover, ribs and stretchers, and
a guide sleeve by which to aid in inserting the cane for use as an umbrella stick,
such guide sleeve being secured at, its inner end to the centre of the cover and
extended thence to the stick end of the stretchers, whereby when the umbrella is
opened the guide sleeve will be crimped between the stretchers and ribs, substantially
as set forth.
.7. In an umbrella substantially as described, the combination of the cover, ribs
and stretchers, and the guide sleeve secured at its inner end to the centre of the
cover and connected substantially at its lower end with the inner ends of the
stretchers or braces, whereby when the umbrella is open the sleeve will be crimped
between the stretchers and the ribs, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 1st day of January 1897.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.