Improvements in Umbrellas and the like.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 10th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left. 8th Apr., 1892-Accepted, 21st May, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Umbrellas and the like.
I, ROBERT EDWIN Moss. of 11 Beecher Terrace, Philip Lane, Tottenham, in
the County of Middlesex, Umbrella Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
11
"
Several attempts have been made of late years to produce an umbrella which
when folded will present a neat and compact form, but after short use it has
invariably been found to assume a more or less bulky shape particularly at the
joints of the stretchers and ribs and at the joints of the stretchers and runner.
The object of my invention is to produce an umbrella which has an even and
gradual taper throughout its entire length and in which the junctions mentioned
above will not be observable. For this purpose 1 employ a runner preferably of
the usual tubular form provided with the customary notch, but the "notch
portion of the runner instead of being in the form of an annular flange or projection
of larger diameter than the tubular portion is merely a continuation in the same
straight line of the tubular portion and is of very little larger diameter; by
employing a runner provided with a "notch" of this form something like ths of
an inch in diameter is saved. Instead of employing the usual parallel stretchier I
prefer to form it of a gradual taper which allows the ribs to fit more closely and
compactly than is the case at present for it frequently happens in closing an
umbrella the lower portion of the rib is pulled out of the channel of the stretcher in
which case a considerable increase in the bulk of the umbrella at this particular
point is observable; by forming the stretchers in a tapered form the ribs lie more
snugly in the channel and there is less likelihood of their slipping out but if they
do the tapered stretchers and ribs considerably decrease the bulk at this particular
part.
Paragon ribs as ordinarily employed are fluted throughout their entire length,
but I prefer to insert a thin piece of wire or the equivalent in the channel of the
flute at or about the portion lying against the runner, which has the effect of
giving the rib increased strength and stability; the flute is then turned over so as
to enclose the piece of wire and this portion of the rib although it has the same
substance as the rest is circular in shape and smaller in diameter and consequently
if it should slip out of the stretcher channel it will ride more easily and take up
less space than the ordinary fluted rib.
Hitherto there has invariably been an enlargement at the junction of the
stretcher and rib which materially increases the bulk of the umbrella when closed;
to obviate this defect the rib is preferably sunk at this particular part and is
bound over by a lap and both lap and the sunk portion of the rib are preferably
perforated to allow the stretcher to be jointed in the usual manner. The sunk
portion of the rib being covered by the lap the outward appearance of the rib is
that of a parallel straight line, and the enlarged portion at the junction of each
stretcher and rib is got rid of, which makes a considerable difference in the bulk of
the umbrella when closed. The blades of the ribs are usually spread and are
consequently of greater diameter than the body of the rib; I however prefer to
form the blade of the same width and in the same straight line as the body of
the rib.
The ribs and stretchers formed in accordance with my invention fit when closed
tightly against the stick throughout their entire length from notch to tip.
wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise details

page_text: mentioned above as obvious modifications may be made without departing from the
spirit of my invention,
Then of Tune 1901
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Umbrellas and the like.
1, ROBERT EDWIN Moss, of 11 Beecher Terrace, Philip Lane, Tottenham,
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 :-
The object of this invention is to reduce the bulk of umbrellas and the like and
to construct them so that they will be of gradually tapering form throughout their
length and it will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings
in which
Fig. 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section, showing portions of an
umbrella constructed according to this invention the rib there shown being repre-
sented as partly
* open or away from the stick.
Fig. 1 is detached portion of one of the ribs.
Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the same parts with the rib closed against the
stick.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the improved manner of shaping the stretcher
and runner.
Fig. 4 is an elevation showing the same parts as are shown in Fig. 3 and as seen
from a point 90 degrees farther round the stick.
Fig. 4 is an elevation of the lower portion of one of the stretchers.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the manner of jointing the stretchers to
the ribs.
Figs. 3, 4, 4 and 5 are drawn to a larger scale than Figs. 1, 1 and 2.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
A is the stick, B the runner, C one of the stretchers, and D one of the ribs.
The stick A and top-notch (not shown in the drawings) may be of ordinary
construction.
The runner B at the upper part is only slightly larger than at its lower part and
to secure this it is pierced as at b so as to accommodate the ends of the stretchers C
which are jointed thereto.
Ordinarily the runner at its upper part is provided with a number of radial
saw-cuts to receive the flattened ends of the stretchers and said runner must of
necessity be of considerable thickness as by being so cut through it would not be
strong enough to be made thin.
To enable me to reduce the over-all diameter of the runner form it with
perforations as shown and still maintain the strength by the continuous
portion and instead of compressing or flattening the lower ends of the
stretchers as is usual I keep them of substantially the same width and bend or
ollow them out ate where they pass across the portion of the runner.
channel of each of the stretchers C is filled in or not at the lower part where it is
jointed to the runner B as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 so as to provide the necessary
stability.
The
Each of the stretchers C tapers from top to bottom by gradually reducing the
depth of the edge webs e as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 so that should the rib, a
portion of which is received by the stretcher in the ordinary manner when the
umbrella is closed, he turned out of it and rest across the edges of the stretcher
the increase in the thickness of bulk will be minimized, while the rib will not catch
or remain upon the edge of the stretcher.

page_text: Each of the ribs D at its point of connection with the appropriate stretcher is
bent inwards as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 1 and is surrounded
by a metal sheath E which besides covering the adjacent outer surface of the rib
is also turned into its channel and extends at its inner part as at e Fig. 5 farther
along than at its outer part so as to provide the maximum amount of strength
without appreciably adding to the bulk of the umbrella radially from the stick.
By thus bending the rib the outer surface of the sheath E forms substantially a
continuation of the line of the rib farthest from the stick. The interior of the
sheath E may if desired be filled-in solid. The pin F by which the rib D is
pivotted to the stretcher C passes through the stretcher, the sheath E and the rib
and thus by avoiding the necessity of passing the pivot under the rib as is usually
the practice, another reduction in bulk is effected by the omission of the lugs or
"gets" usually provided to pass the pin through, the sheath E in this construction
serving to strengthen the rib at the part where without it the presence of the hole
might make it too weak. Or instead of the hole through the rib a small notch
may be made in it to allow the passage of the pin F which would pass through holes
in the sheath E as before.
.
At the part where each of the ribs crosses the runner B or comes in contact with
the runner-joint of the stretcher C when the umbrella is closed, the channel of the
rib is closed in so as to form a tube a piece of wire G being introduced as a core
into this part of the rib to strengthen it. As the external diameter of the rib at
this tubular part is less than the thickness or depth of the rib measuring from its
rounded back over its edge webs the rib will lie closer to the stick than it would if
of channel form throughout its length.
The ribs D are all bent at the parts D' at which they cross the runner B as shown
in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 so that their free ends may lie close to the stick as shown in Fig. 2
when the umbrella is closed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is,
1. In an umbrella or the like a runner pierced or perforated as at substantially
as and for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In an umbrella or the like the combination with a pierced or perforated runner
such as B of a stretcher such as C bent or recessed as at c substantially as and for
the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In an umbrella or the like a tapered stretcher substantially as and for the
purpose described.
4. In an umbrella or the like the bending and sheathing of the ribs at the parts at
which they are connected to the stretchers substantially as and for the purpose
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 7th day of April 1892.
ROBI. E. MOSS.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.