UMBRELLAS
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Forster at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th June 1880.
JOSEPH FORSTER, of Vienna, in the Austro Hungarian Empire.
IN UMBRELLAS."
"IMPROVEMENTS
The Invention relates to umbrellas properly speaking, and to parasols, and
consists first in replacing the usual umbrella stick by a frame chiefly composed of
four bars, connected at their ends in such a manner that they can be placed and
fixed in the two following positions designated with a and b:—
a, the longitudinal axes of the four bars form a quadrilateral symmetrical to
its longest diagonal, and large enough to enclose a man's head with his hat on.
b, the axes of the four rods are approximately parallel to each other, and the
rods jointed together in pairs, so that the device may be used as a walking stick.
Position a takes place when the umbrella is spread open, and position b when
the umbrella is closed.
The Invention consists further in devices for obtaining the correct position or
shape of the roof (top rails) of the frame, and for joining together the various
parts.
The top joint of the umbrella frame is preferably formed as follows:-The
contiguous ends of the upper bars of the aforesaid quadrilateral are each provided
with a slit parallel to the axis of the bar for receiving an end piece, the slit part
being then covered by a short pipe and crossed by a pin.
The two end pieces are hinged to two parallel plates attached to the underside of
an ordinary rail disc and at right angles to the latter; the said disc from which the
elastic top rails radiate is mounted on a central pin as axis, the upper end of which
is provided with a conical screw thread.
The lower bars of the quadrilateral may be joined together as follows:-The
contiguous ends of the hollow metallic bars are again slit and each armed with
an endplate, the lower part of which is hinged to a connecting piece formed by

page_text: two parallel upright plates connected at the bottom, and provided with a downward
projecting screw for attaching a handle.
The lower portion of each end piece which enters between the said parallel
plates is cut out oblique, in order to allow the two bars a certain motion round
their hinges, this motion being limited inside by a pin passing through the centre
line of the connecting piece, and outside by two small wedges or plates laid across
the slot of the hinge piece (connecting piece) at the sides of the latter. For joining
an upper bar with a lower bar of the quadrilateral slits are also applied to the
adjoining ends of the said bars, for receiving a hinge piece which is pinned to the
upper bar. The lower end of the said hinge piece rests on one side against the
inside of the hollow bar, while the opposite side of the bar is open so as to allow
the lower bar to be turned on a pin passing through the lower half of the hinge
piece, the lower bar, and two cover plates which are attached by a second pin to
the upper bar. In order to retain the bars of the said quadrilateral in the required
position when the umbrella is open the two upper bars of the quadrilateral are
connected near their upper ends by two parallel flat cross bars, hinged at one end
directly to one bar and at the other end to a sleeve, capable of sliding on the other
bar and of being fixed in position between a spring and a pin.
For holding the bars of the quadrilateral together when the umbrella is closed
one of the lower bars is surrounded near its upper end by a ring shaped metal plate
bent so as to form a catch for a hook applied to the opposite bar. The said ring
plate is provided with a slot for a pin, which allows the ring to slide a short
distance on the bar but prevents it from turning, a spiral spring being also applied
to press upon the top of the ringplate.
I prefer to use eight elastic top raile, which radiato from the centre as usual, and
to support each rail when the umbrella is open, by a connecting rod attached at
the lower end to a metallic sleeve near the top of one of the lower bars which form
the quadrilateral in the following manner-Each of the said lower bars carries a
metallic sleeve, which can be moved up and down and fixed in the highest position
by an ordinary umbrella spring.
The top of the said sleeve is provided with a ring having an annular groove for
the reception of a wire, which passes through the perforated lower ends of the said
connecting rods.
To each sleeve are attached four connecting rods arranged in pairs, the two
connecting rods forming a pair, having two different lengths, depending on the
intended shape of the roof and diverging from the same point of the sleeve ring.
Instead of making the whole frame of metal it may be made of wood and metal
combined or of other suitable material.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Forster in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th December
1880.
JOSEPH FORSTER, of Vienna, in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
IN UMBRELLAS."
"IMPROVEMENTS
The object of my improvements in umbrellas and parasols is to replace the stick
commonly used in umbrellas by a peculiar combination of rods, which form a
specious quadrilateral when the roof is spread out, and thus to afford greater
protection to the person wearing the umbrella.
§1. The stick, which in ordinary umbrellas and parasols passes through the
centre of the roof and is held in the hand, is here replaced by a device in which
rods or bars A, B, C, D, (Figure 1) of strong material are so connected that they
can be placed in the two following positions, and fixed therein :-
1. The longitudinal axes of these rods enclose a quadrilateral, similar to that
in Figure 1, and which is large enough to give room for the head and hat of the
person wearing the umbrella.
2. The longitudinal axes of the rods are parallel as far as practicable, the rods
being placed in pairs side by side, so that the device may also be used as a stick.
The first position of these rods occurs when the roof of the umbrella is spread
out, as shown by Figure 1, where for the sake of clearness the front half of the
roof is supposed to have been removed.
The second position takes place when the umbrella is closed and may be used as
a stick.
With this arrangement of the rods is connected a peculiar device for placing the
skeleton or frame of the roof in its correct position. My improved umbrellas may
be constructed in a great variety of sizes, and the rods used in them may be made
of wood or other suitable material.
§2. The connection of the upper rods C and D (Figure 1), as shown in Figure 2
in longitudinal section, is as follows:-Z, in Figures 2 and 3, is a piece of metal
screwed at the top, and having attached to its sides the metal plates Y. Q is a
top notch identical with that of ordinary umbrellas, and having the 8 elastic
ribs attached to it; this top-notch may also be seen in Figure 4. It rests on the
plates Y, and is connected with the eight elastic ribs B (Figure 1).
Each of the rods C and D has at its upper end an incision to receive a metal
plate P similar to that shown in Figure 2.
A metallic tube R surrounds the end of the rod, and a rivetted pin passing
The other
from one side to the other connects the pieces P and R with the rod.
ends of the plates Pare held between the plates Y, and attached thereto by
rivetted pins, so that each rod can only move in one plane, the said pins serving as
pivots.
§ 3. The connection of the lower rods A and B, as shown in longitudinal section
in Figure 8, is as follows:-
.
Each of the rods A and B has at its lower end an incision to receive a metal
plate, I, similar to that shown in Figure 8. A rivetted pin passing from one side to
the other connects the pieces K and I with the rod, so as to form one solid whole,
K being a short metallic sleeve.
The projecting part of the plate I enters a metallic piece G, of the form shown
in Figures 8 and 9, and consisting of two parallel plates connected at the
bottom, a screw L attached to G, serves for fixing a handle of any convenient
shape.
Two strong pins p and q connect the plates I with the piece G in such a manner
that the rods A and B are only movable in one plane, the pins p and q serving as

page_text: A rivetted pin r and two small wedge-shaped pieces & and t, which are firmly
attached to G, serve to limit the motion of the rods A and B between two extreme
positions, one of which takes place when the umbrella is spread out and the other
when it is closed.
The piece G, as well the lower ends of the rods A and B, may be ornamented or
marked in any suitable manner. The two lower rods A and B may also be
connected by a hinge joint, in the following manner (Figure 18):-The rods A and
B bent or hooked at their lower ends are placed between two metal plates, of which
one (the front one) is shown in the Drawing, and designated with M. These two
plates are connected with each other by four rivetted pins a, b, c, d, the pins a and
b serving as pivots for the rods. A and B, while the pins c and d are stops for
limiting the motion of A, B, to that required for opening or closing the umbrella.
As a matter of course the rods are suitably recessed, so that the required motion is
not prevented by the pins c and d.
§ 4. The connection of the lower rods A and B with the upper ones C and D
(Figure 1) is shown by Figures 5, 6, and 7, the connection of the rods B and D
(Figure 1) being exactly like the connection between the rods A and C shown in
longitudinal section by Figure 5.
The rod C is armed with a metalplate X firmly connected with C by a rivetted
pin. The rods A and C have lateral incisions corresponding to the thickness of
the plate X, and shown in Figure 5.
The plate X projects into the rod A, and abuts on one side against its inner wall
when the rods are in the position represented by Figure 5, which position takes
place when the umbrella is closed. Two strong rivets m and n and two metal
plates H (Figures 6 and 7) connect these pieces in such a manner that the rods are
only movable in one plane, the pin n serving as a pivot, as shown by Figure 7. If
the rods are made of wood the ends to be connected must be armed with short
metal tubes or sheaths, which are connected with each other and treated in the
same inauner as has been described and shown for rods consisting of metal
tubes.
§ 5. In order to obtain the quadrilateral formed by the rods A, B, C, D, (Figure 1)
in the shape required when the roof is spread out, I use a special contrivance shown
by Figure 1 and 2, and constructed as follows:-Two metal bars U (Figure 2), the
front bar is, for the sake of clearness, supposed to have been removed, are connected
at one end with the rod C, and at the other end with a short sliding tube S by
means of rivetted pins serving as pivots.
For this purpose a metallic projection V is soldered to the tube or sleeve S.
When the umbrella is spread out, the sleeve S rests on an ordinary umbrella
spring F and abuts at the top against a pin T fixed to the rod D.
For fixing the rods in the second position, indicated in § 1, I apply a locking
device constructed as follows:-A piece of steel plate M surrounds the rod A near
its upper end, and is provided with a lateral slit c, d, Figure 10, through which a
pin is inserted into the rod A, said pin projecting a little over the piece M, and
preventing a turning motion of the latter, but allowing it to slide in the direction of
the rod as far as the length of the slit permits it.
The counterpart to M is a steel plate N bent round, as shown by Figures 12
and 13, and placed at a suitable height on the rod B, as shown by Figure 1.
A small spiral spring E (Figure 1) presses on M from the top.
§ 7. Each of the rods A and B is provided with a runner W (Figures 1 and 16),
to the top of which is fastened a metal ring O shaped, as shown by Figures 14
and 15.
The lateral annular recess (Figure 24) serves to receive the wire & (Figure 16),
by means of which the respective stretchers (Figures 16 and 1) for the ribs ẞ of the
umbrella frame are attached in pairs, as indicated by Figure 16, there being four
of the said stretchers attached to each ring O.
When the umbrella is spread out (as in Figure 1), each of the runners W sits on
an ordinary umbrella spring f attached to the rod A or B, as shown in Figure 1.

page_text: §8. The arrangement of the 8 elastic roof ribs B and of their stretchers is made
apparent in Figures 1 and 17, the latter Figure being a reduced plan view of
Figure 1.
§ 9. The possibility of spreading out and closing together the umbrella in a
suitable manner, without impairing the symmetric and pleasing shape of the roof,
depends on the geometrical relations between certain parts.
For the sake of brevity let the ribs which end in the points I of Figure 17 and
their corresponding stretchers be called ribs and stretchers of the system 1, while
all others are termed ribs and stretchers of the system 2, and adopt further the
following designations:-. The length of that portion of any of the ribs of the
system 1 which lies between the centre of the hinge h, Figure 1, and the point of
attachment of the said ribs to the top-notch Q.
2. The length of the corresponding stretcher from one of its two points of
attachment to the other.
and Dimensions analogous to those just described, but relating to the ribs
and stretchers of the system 2.
7. The distance of the centres of attachment of the lower ends of the stretchers
from the longitudinal axis of the runner W in Figure 16.
Q. An angle to be chosen at will between 6° and 20°, but preferably between 13°.
and 15°.
✓. One half of the angle formed by the longitudinal axes of the rods A and B
when the roof is spread out.
h. The distance between two planes which are perpendicular to the axis of
symmetry of the quadrilateral formed by the rods A, B, C, D, Figure 1, one of these
planes containing the centres of attachment of the ribs to the disc Q, Figure 1,.
while the other contains the centres of attachment of the lower ends of the
stretchers of the system 1 when the umbrella is spread out.
6. Half the distance between the two last mentioned centres of attachment when
the roof is spread out from one of the two sleeves W to the opposite one (Figure 1).
R. The radius of the circle in which the centres of attachment of the ribs to the
top notch Qare situated.
D. The distance of the ring O from the top notch Q when the umbrella is
completely closed.
If we calculate by means of the following formula, the auxiliary quantities :—
0.000 D

page_text: thereby pushing them against M and releasing the locking device. This done the
rods A and B can be placed in the position shown by Figure 1, in which the short
tube S (Figure 1) rests on the spring F. At this moment the roof is completely
spread out.
The umbrella can again be closed by depressing the spring F and placing the
rods and runners in their original position.
Claims -
1: The application of four rods connected with each other to replace the stick
used in ordinary umbrellas and parasols, and in such a manner that the said rods
may be placed and fixed in the following two positions designated with a and b:-
a. The longitudinal axes of the rods form a symmetric quadrilateral similar to
that formed in Figure by the rods A, B, C and D, and sufficiently large to give
room to the head and hat of a person.
b. The rods are placed side by side and close together in pairs so that they can
be used like a single stick.
2. The connection of the upper rods C and D, Figure 1, substantially as described
in § 2, and particularly the plates Y, the plates P, the central pin Z ending in a
screw, the sleeve R, also the pivots and rivetted pins, as illustrated by Figures
2 and 3.
3 The connection of the lower rods A and B, Figure 1, substantially as described
in § 3, and particularly the plates I, shaped in the manner illustrated by Figure 8,
the sleeve K and the pivots p and q; also the metallic piece G, the screw L, the
stop pin and the small wedges or detents 8 and t, substantially as shown in
Figure 9; also the connection of the lower rods A and B, illustrated by Figure 18,
and described in § 3 under lit. b, especially the plate M, the pivots a and b,
and the pins or rivets c and d.
4. The connection of the lower rods A and B (Figure 1) with the upper rods C
and D, substantially as described in § 4, in particular the plates Y and H (Figures
5, 6, and 7) together with the recesses in the rods and the pins m and n.
5. The device described in § 5, in particular the two bars U (Figure 2), the
sleeve S with the extension V, and the corresponding pivots, also the pin T and the
spring F.
6. The locking device described in § 6, and more particularly the pieces M and N,
illustrated by Figures 10, 11, 12, and 13, the helical spring E (Figure 1), together
with the guide pin projecting into the slit c, d, Figure 10, and secured to the
rod A.
7. The two runners W (Figures 1 and 16) with the rings O secured to the same,
and shaped as illustrated by Figures 14 and 15.
8. The combination of four stretchers secured in pairs to a ring piece O by means
of wire, substantially as illustrated by Figure 16.
9. The application of two different lengths of stretchers for an umbrella having
eight elastic ribs, also the application of stretchers having the lengths designated
with, and (§ 9), which may either be calculated accurately by the formulae given
in § 9, or approximately by any suitable method.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Forster, have hereunto set my hand and
scal, this First day of December, 1880.