Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 14th July, 1886.
Complete Left, 2nd Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 5th Apr., 1887.
I, LIONEL HARVEY PEARCE, of Coalburne Brook, Stourbridge, in the County of
Worcester, Artist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
According to the usual mode of constructing umbrellas, the outer extremities of the
ribs point upwards when the umbrella is closed and used as a walking stick. These
ribs, unless secured by means of a band to the stick, have a tendency to gape apart;
and in the case of a sun-shade the outer edge of which is ornamented with lace, the
trimming hangs in the reverse direction to the detriment of its ornamental appearance.
The object of this invention is so to construct an umbrella or sun-shade that when
closed, the handle of the stick being upwards, the outer extremities of the ribs point"
downwards.
In an umbrella or sun-shade constructed according to my improved method, each
rib is formed in two parts, an inner and an outer one, these being jointed together
about midway of the total length. The inner part or arm is by preference formed of
channel metal, such as is usually employed in what are known as "Paragon" frames;
whilst the outer part or arm may be formed of cylindrical wire rod. The outer arm
is provided with an extension or tail-piece projecting inwards beyond the point of
attachment of the outer arm to the inner arm, this tail-piece being housed, when the
umbrella or sun-shade is in the open position, within the hollow of the channel metal
of, which the inner arm is composed, longitudinal rigidity being thus afforded to the
rib. The stick is provided with a sliding socket of the usual kind, the shut rods
extending therefrom being connected to the tail-pieces formed on the inner extremities
of the outer parts or arms of the ribs.
The umbrella or sun-shade when open presents the ordinary appearance. During
the process of closing the same, the inner part or arm of the rib folds against the stick
in the usual manner, whilst the outer part or arm of the rib folds in the reverse
direction and closes upon the inner arm. In an umbrella or sun-shade constructed on
this principle, when the apparatus is open the cover is outwards; but when closed the
lining, which may be of an ornamental character, is exposed, the cover being
meanwhile protected from wear.

page_text: For the purpose of securing the folds of the fabric neatly and compactly together
when the umbrella or sun-shade is closed, a ring may be slipped over the same, this
ring being attached by means of a cord to the handle. The cord may be passed
through an eye formed on the sliding socket, with the result that, upon the umbrella
or sun-shade being opened, the retaining ring is carried up with the sliding socket,
whence it hangs pendent within the covered dome of the apparatus.
With a view to increasing the distance between the point of the stick and the outer
extremities of the ribs when the umbrella or sun-shade is closed, the socket, which
under ordinary circumstances is rigidly secured to the stick, may be arranged to slide
a short distance thereon towards the handle during the operation of closing. If the
sun-shade be used as a walking-stick, any trimming about the outer edge is by these
means raised further from the ground. Upon commencing to open the apparatus, the
upper socket slides along the stick in the opposite direction until it meets a stop, the
extension of the ribs thereupon ensuing.
1006
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Umbrellas and Sunshades.
I, LIONEL HARVEY PEARCE, of Coalbournebrook, Stourbridge, in the County of
Worcester, Artist, 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 :-
According to the usual mode of constructing umbrellas, the outer extremities of the
ribs point upwards when the umbrella is closed and used as a walking-stick. These
ribs, unless secured by means of a band to the stick, have a tendency to gape apart;
and, in the case of a sunshade the outer edge of which is ornamented with lace, the
trimming hangs in the reverse direction to the detriment of its ornamental appearance.
This invention relates to an improved method of constructing umbrellas or sunshades
which when closed have the outer extremities of the ribs folded towards the point of
the stick.
And in order that my invention and the mode of carrying it into effect may be fully
understood, I will proceed to describe the same with the aid of the accompanying
drawings whereof Figures 1 and 2 represent an umbrella-frame in its closed and
open positions respectively; whilst in Figure 3, the various parts of the apparatus are
represented in an intermediate position. The covering, as also the lining, if any, are,
for the sake of distinctness, omitted from the drawings. To the stick a is secured a

page_text: socket b of the usual kind and to which the inner extremities of the ribs c are attached
in the ordinary manner. The stick is also furnished with a sliding socket 1 of the
usual kind and to which the inner extremities of the struts d are attached in the
ordinary manner. Each rib consists of two parts, an inner part c and an outer one c¹ ;
these being jointed together about midway of their total length at the point e². The
inner part or arm c is, by preference, formed of channel metal, such as is usually
employed in what are known as "Paragon" frames; whilst the outer part or arm c¹
may be formed of cylindrical or other solid wire rod. Each outer arm c¹ is provided,
beyond the pivot c², with an extension or tail-piece c³, to which the outer extremity of
the strut-rod d is attached. When the apparatus is in the open position, as represented
in Figure 2, the tail-piece c³ is housed within the trough of the channel metal of which
the inner arm e is composed, rigidity in a longitudinal direction being thereby afforded
to the rib.
The umbrella or sunshade when open, as shewn in Figure 2, presents the ordinary
appearance. The action during the process of closing is as follows:-The inner
arms c of the ribs pivotting upon the fixed socket fold against the stick a in the
usual manner. The outer arms of the ribs turning on the pivot c² fold in the
reverse direction and close upon the inner arms c, as indicated in Figure 1; the
struts d becoming tension rods and serving to turn the arms c³, c² about their pivots c²
in the manner described. The tail-piece may extend somewhat beyond the point d²
at which the rod d is connected, and may be arranged to fold into the hollow of
that rod or between the checks d³ formed thereon. This construction affords
longitudinal rigidity between the parts d and c when the apparatus is closed. Instead
of forming the cheeks d³ on the struts d it will be obvious that the tail-piece e³ may
be provided with projections suitable for engaging with the strut d or with the inner
arm c of the rib or with each of those parts respectively.
In an umbrella or sunshade constructed as herein before described, when the
apparatus is open the cover is outwards; but when closed, the lining (which may be
of an ornamental character) is exposed, the cover being meanwhile protected from
wear. When closed, the folds of the fabric may be neatly secured by means of a
band, or in any known manner. For this purpose, I prefer, however, the following
improved means, the same being more particularly appropriate for ladies' parasols.
An ivory or other ring e, circlet of beads or oquivalent device suitable for enclosing
the folds of the fabric when the apparatus is closed, is attached to the stick a by means
of a cord e¹ which passes through an eye e upon the sliding socket or ferrule and
is secured at a point e towards the handle and beyond the extreme position of the
sliding socket or ferrule . When the parasol is closed, the retaining ring e encircles
the frame and covering, but is prevented by the cord e¹ from escaping or from slipping
below its proper position. When it is desired to open the parasol, the ring e is either
drawn towards the handle, or, if sufficiently heavy and fairly loose, will fall against
the hand holding the parasol upon the latter being held erect; that is to say, with the
points of the ribs upwards. The ribs being now released from the retaining ring, the
sliding socket may be raised and the parasol fully extended, the eye e² slipping on
the cord e¹ and finally carrying the ring e to a position within the dome of the parasol
as indicated in Figure 2. In the reverse operation of closing the parasol, the retaining
ring falls or is drawn against the hand grasping the handle; and upon the ferrule or
opposite end of the stick being turned downwards, the retaining ring slips down
outside the fabric, the folds whereof it neatly embraces.
In instances where the umbrella or sunshade is used as a walking-stick and where
it is desired to afford more space between the points of the ribs and the ground, either
for the addition of deep lace or for other reasons, the socket ', instead of being rigidly
secured to the stick a, may be arranged to slide a short distance thereon towards the
handle during the operation of closing; the catch for engaging the sliding socket b¹
being shifted a corresponding distance towards the handle. Upon commencing to
open the apparatus, the upper socket slides along the stick in the opposite direction ;
that is to say, away from the handle, until it meets a stop with which the stick is
provided, the extension of the ribs thereupon ensuing.

page_text: Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim:
First Constructing umbrellas and sunshades with ribs formed in two parts
hinged together and arranged to fold in opposite directions, means being provided for
stiffening and affording longitudinal continuity to the ribs when in the open or
extended position, substantially as described.
Secondly-In an umbrella or sunshade-frame, the combination of a rib mounted
at one end on a fixed pivot and jointed midway or thereabouts, with a strut pivotted
at one extremity to a socket sliding upon the stick, and at the other to a tail-piece
formed by prolonging the outer portion of the rib inwards, the said tail-piece engaging
with the inner portion of the rib when the apparatus is fully extended, the whole
arranged and operating substantially as described.
Thirdly-In an umbrella or sunshade constructed in such a manner that the outer
extremities of the ribs fold towards the point of the stick, arranging the socket
whercon the ribs are pivotted to slide upon the stick towards the handle during the
operation of closing, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Fourthly For use with an umbrella or sunshade of the kind herein referred to,
the improved means, substantially as herein described, for retaining the folds of the
fabric when the apparatus is closed, and consisting of a ring attached by means of a
cord passing through an eye on the sliding socket and fastened to the stick, the said
ring surrounding the body of the fabric when the apparatus is closed and being carried
up into the dome thereof when the same is opened.
Fifthly-The improved umbrella or sunshade hereinbefore described.