Improvements in Umbrellas, Parasols, Sunshades, and like Articles.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 31st Dec., 1888
DI MULTICATION.
Improvements in Umbrellas, Parasols, Sunshades, and like
Articles.
I, WILLIAM Ross of No. Forty nine George the Fourth Bridge, Edinburgh, in the
County of Midlothian, North Britain, Umbrella Manufacturer do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This Invention, which relates to improvements in umbrellas, parasols, sunshades and
like articles, (hereinafter for the sake of brevity called umbrellas), has for its object
under one head to fix the umbrella either in the open or closed position without resort
to. any catch or retaining device attached to the stock or handle of the umbrella.
With this object in view a second tube is provided which slides within the runner and
over the stock or handle. The inner ends of the stretchers are attached to the runners
as is usual in an ordinary umbrella, but a second set of short stretchers is employed
whose upper ends are attached to the upper part of the inner tube and their lower
ends to the ordinary stretchers. On the inner tube two studs or stops are fixed, one
at the upper end corresponding to the open position of the umbrella, and the other at
the lower end, corresponding to the shut position thereof.. Another tube or ring is
also provided having a bayonet-like joint or an equivalent joint at its upper and lower
ends respectively, and which when turned in the upper direction fastens either upon
the upper.or lower stud or stop on the inner tube and thereby retains or holds the
umbrella either in the open or closed position.
Under the other head, the present improvements have also for their object to retain
the umbrella either in the open or closed position without fastenings either upon or
in the stock or handle, as well as to enable the umbrella to open itself automatically
and to retain it in the open position for which purpose a spiral spring is used. Under
this second head of improvements a second set of stretchers is also employed. The
lower end of the said spiral spring bears against a flange or equivalent stop upon
the lower end of the inner tube, and the upper part of the spring bears against
the top of the runner or outer tube. The spring is compressed between these points
027

page_text: ".
and therefore the natural tendency of the spring is to keep the umbrella open.
When shut the spring is compressed to its fullest extent and in connection with this
second head of the improvements, as well as in connection with the first head, a
tip-cap" or its mechanical equivalent is or may be employed for retaining the
umbrella in the closed position. This "tip-cap" may operate in the ordinary way,
or it may be connected with a spring the tendency of which is to draw the
"tip-cap" off the tips of the ribs, for which purpose the "tip-cap" is constructed
with a bayonet-like or an equivalent joint, by which, when turned in one direction,
it securely encloses the tips keeping the umbrella shut and when turned in the
opposite direction is released from the tips of the pulling action of the spring.
Dated this 21st day of January 1888.
ST. JOHN V. DAY,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Petitioner's Agent.

page_text: Articles..
I, WILLIAM Ross of 49 George the Fourth Bridge, Edinburgh, in the County of
Midlothian, North Britain, Umbrella Manufacturer 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 :-
My Invention, which relates to improvements in umbrellas, parasols, sunshades
and like articles (hereinafter for the sake of brevity called umbrellas) has for its
object, under one head, to fix the umbrella either in the open or closed position
without resort to any catch or retaining device attached to the stock or handle of
the umbrella. With this object in view a second tube is provided which slides
within the runner and over the stock or handle. The inner ends of the stretchers
are attached to the runners as is usual in an ordinary umbrella but a second set of
short stretchers is employed whose upper ends are attached to the upper part of
the inner tube and their lower ends to the ordinary stretchers. On the inner tube
two studs or stocks are fixed one at the upper end corresponding to the open
position of the umbrella, and the other at the lower end corresponding to the shut
position thereof. Another tube or ring is also provided having a bayonet-like joint
or an equivalent joint at its upper and lower ends respectively, and which, when
turned in the required direction, fastens either upon the upper or lower stud or stock
on the inner tube and thereby retains or holds the umbrella either in the open or
closed position.
Under the other head the present improvements have also for their object to
retain the umbrella either in the open or closed position without fastenings either
upon or in the stock or handle as well as to enable the umbrella to open itself
automatically and to retain it in the open position for which purpose a spiral spring
is used. Under this second head of improvements a second set of stretchers is also
employed. The lower end of the said spiral spring bears against a flange or equivalent
stop upon the lower end of the inner tube and the upper part of the spring bears
against the top of the runner or outer tube. The spring is compressed between
these points and therefore the natural tendency of the spring is to keep the umbrella
open. When shut the spring is compressed to its fullest extent and in connection
with this second head of the improvements as well as in connection with the first
head. A "tip-cap" or its mechanical equivalent is or may be employed for retaining
the umbrella in the closed position. This "tip-cap" may operate in the ordinary way
or it may be connected with a spring, the tendency of which is to draw the "tip-cap
off the tips of the ribs for which purpose the "tip-cap" is constructed with a bayonet-
ike or an equivalent joint by which when turned in one direction it securely encloses
the tips keeping the umbrella shut and when turned in the opposite direction is released
from the tips by the pulling action of the spring.
In order that my Invention may be properly understood and readily carried into

page_text: effect, I have hereunto appended two explanatory sheets of drawings in the several
Figures of which corresponding parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
Figure 1, of the annexed drawings is an elevation of a portion of an umbrella con-
structed in accordance with my present improvements shewing the several parts in the
shut position.
Figure 2, is a corresponding elevation shewing the several parts constituting my
improvements in the open position.
According to these improvements the runner A, has within it a long tube B. The
inner ends of the stretchers C, are attached to the runner A, in the ordinary manner
and a second set of stretchers D, is used, the upper ends of which are connected to
the upper end of the tube B, whilst their lower ends are connected to the stretchers (),
the joints at each end of the stretchers D. being hinged joints so that as the parts are
moved upwards and downwards over the handle or stock E, of the umbrella, the
several parts are capable of moving freely into their relatively changed positions.
Within the runner A, and outside the tube B, there is a tube F, formed with a
bayonet-like joint a, at its upper and lower ends respectively. This tube F, is
capable of being rotated through a small angle so as to engage the bayonet-like joints
with or disengage them from either of the retaining studs hereinafter described. On
the tube B, there is an upper stud b, and a lower stud c, with the upper of which,
namely the stud b, the upper bayonet joint a, of the tube F, engages when the
umbrella is in the open position and retains the umbrella in that position and with the
lower of which, namely the stud C, the lower bayonet-joint a, in the tube F, engages
when the umbrella is in the shut position and keeps it closed. By means of this
arrangement the placing of pins or the forming of holes in the stock or handle for
retaining the umbrella in the open or closed. position and the consequent weakening
of the stock or handle is dispensed with.
At Figure 3, of the annexed drawings I have shewn in elevation a portion of the
framework of an umbrella with my arrangements for retaining the same in the open
or closed position without the use of the tube F, carrying the upper and lower
bayonet-like joints a, hereinbefore described with reference to and shewn at
Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed drawings.
Figure 4, is an elevation of the same parts of the umbrella shewn at Figure 3, but
in the open position.
Figure 5, is an elevation partly in section shewing the "tip cap" arrangement for
confining or holding the tips of the ribs of the umbrella in the closed position and for
releasing them when required.
In Figures 3 and 4, the runner A, is formed with a long tube extending some
distance above and below the ring to which the inner ends of the stretchers C, are
united. Within the runner the tube B, is situated and it again surrounds the stock
or handle E.
This tube B, is preferably of such a length that when in the
open position of the umbrella its lower part is flush with or approximately with
the lower part of the runner A, as shewn at Figure 4. The lower part of the tube B,
is formed with an external flange and the upper part of the runner A, is formed
with an internal flange. Against these two flanges the ends of a spiral spring
marked H, bear. When in the shut position the spiral spring H, is compressed between
these flanges to its fullest extent as shewn at Figure 3, and the tendency therefore of
the spiral spring H, when the "tip-cap" is removed from the tips of the ribs is to
force the umbrella into the open position by elongating itself and moving the several
parts on which it acts into the position shewn at Figure 4, namely the open position
of the umbrella, in which position the reaction of the compressed spiral spring
maintains the umbrella. For the purpose of cushioning the blow produced by the
automatic opening of the umbrella, that is to say of preventing the extreme upper
part of the runner from striking hard against the upper ends of the ribs of the
umbrella or the metallic rim to which these upper ends of the ribs are attached, one
or more India-rubber or other elastic rings, are placed round the upper part of the
handle or stock so that the upper part of the runner strikes against these when
the umbrella is allowed to open automatically.

page_text: With regard to the "tip-cap " I, arrangement shewn at Figure 5, it is there shewn
as carried upon the lower part of the runner A, to which it is attached by a spiral
spring J, the tendency of which is to draw the runner I, off the tips K. The runner I,
is capable of being turned by the action of the thumb and finger round upon the runner A,
so that its upper edge may be brought underneath the projecting stud y, and this
maintains the "tip cap" I, in the position shewn at Figure 5, whereby it closes the
several tips K. When however it is desired to open the umbrella, the "tip-cap I,
is turned backwards until the recess z, is brought opposite to the stud Y in which
position the compressed spiral spring J, reacts and lifts the "tip-cap" I, off the
rib-tip K, thus leaving the umbrella free to be opened by the reaction of the
compressed spiral spring E.
"
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In umbrellas, parasols, sunshades and like articles the arranging of a tube B,
within the runner having stops or studs b, and c, therein respectively corresponding
to the open and closed positions of the umbrella, parasol, sunshade or like article,
and provided with a tube F, having bayonet-like joints a, for engaging with either
the stud b, or stud c, corresponding to the said opening or closed positions, the said
inner tube b, being connected to the stretcher C, by a second and shorter set of
stretchers D, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shewn
upon the annexed drawings.
2. In umbrellas, parasols, sunshades and like articles the arrangement for main-
taining the umbrella or like article automatically in the open position and consisting
of a runner having an elongated upper and lower portion on the upper portion of
which an internal flange or its equivalent is formed for receiving the pressure of the
upper end of a compressed spiral spring and within which runner there is a tube
having a flange or the equivalent thereof at its lower end for receiving the pressure
of the lower end of the said spiral spring, the upper end of the said inner tube being
connected to the ordinary stretchers by means of a second set of stretchers substan-
tially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shewn upon the annexed
sheets of drawings.
"
Dated this 20th day of October 1888
ST. JOHN V. DAY,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Applicant's Agent.