Improvements in the Joints of Umbrellas, Parasols, Umbrella-tents, and the like.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 29th June, 1889-Accepted, 31st Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Joints of Umbrellas, Parasols, Umbrella-tents,
and the like.
I, WILLIAM SAMUEL HART of 29 Coley Hill Reading in the County of Berks
Ironmonger, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the mode of attaching the wire ribs of the umbrella frame
to the ferrules or annular socket in which they work.
This attachment is usually made by a wire lying in a groove on the ferrule, which
wire passes through a hole in the end of each rib, and thus connects them altogether
and to the socket. This method is open to the serious objection that when the wire
breaks or gives way all the ribs are unfastened and the umbrella is useless.
By my improved plan each rib is fastened separately, and the failure of one fastening
does not prevent the use of the umbrella. In order to effect this, at the lower joint of
the umbrella I employ an annular socket with slots for the entrance of the ribs or
their terminals, and I form within each slot a separate cavity to receive the terminal
attached to the wire, or to receive the end of the rib itself and a small cross bar which
passes through a hole or hook at the end of the rib and detains it in its working
position in the slot.
In order to admit the cross bar or terminal referred to, I construct the annular
socket in two parts, which may be nearly equal in size and shape, the one forming the
lower part and the other the upper part or cover of the cavities before described.
The lower part is attached to the usual tube or ferrule whilst the upper is
detached and slips over the ferrule into its place being guided to its exact position
by small lugs which fit into recesses formed to receive them. The ferrule carries
also an outside tubular screw so placed as to receive a small annular nut which
screws down upon the loose half of the socket and holds it in place, thus fastening
the ribs also in postion for use. The slots are formed in the socket just so far as
is necessary to allow of the umbrella opening the required distance and no farther,
and being fitted exactly to the working end of the rib, afford it great support and
ensure correct action without slackness or lateral motion.
The terminals referred to are small pieces of metal having a head of any suitable
shape, as for instance globular, egg shaped or cylindrical to work in suitably shaped
cavities as a small hinge joint, each having a shank at right-angles to its length.
This shank is rivetted to the end of the rib while the head works in the cavity.
These terminals or cross-bars are formed by preference of some metal not easily
oxydised, so as to prevent corrosion.
I make the joint on the runner at the handle end of the umbrella similar to that at
the lower end of the umbrella, but the annular nut which holds the socket together
may if preferred be attached to the tube which contains the slot in which the spring
works. My invention is applicable to parasols, sunshades and folding tents constructed
on a rib frame.
Dated this 5th day of March 1889
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, E.C., Patent Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Joints of Umbrellas, Parasols, Umbrella Tents,
and the like.
I, WILLIAM SAMUEL HART of 29 Coley Hill Reading in the County of Berks,
Ironmonger 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 :-
This invention relates to the mode of attaching the wire ribs and stays of the
umbrella or parasol frame to the ferrules or annular sockets in which they work, and
is designed to reduce the diameter of the fittings while rendering them stronger more
durable and more servicable.
In the plan now described and which will be best understood by reference to the
accompanying drawings, each rib and each stay is so fastened as to be entirely
independant of every other rib and stay respectively.
In the method of fixing the ribs and stays now in common use a piece of wire
is employed as a thread to connect the ends of all the ribs to the joint, by passing
it through holes or eyes in the ends of the ribs, and then laying the wire in a
groove which is provided to receive it on the outer circumference of the fitting,
and twisting its ends to fasten it in position.
In my invention even if one wire be used, yet as shewn in Fig. 1, the wire is
so enclosed and fixed all over its circumference, that even if broken in one part,
the ribs are not thereby all loosened and dislocated, but the worst that can happen
is, the failure of one rib to act properly, the umbrella remaining still usable. This
is owing to the wire being placed in the annular covered groove or box A. B.
with transverse slits for the ribs to work in, the wire being held securely between
the screw-cap A, and the socket or receiver B, both forming together what I will
call the annular fitting or hinge joint C. The continuous ring or piece of wire
used as a fastening, need not be twisted at its ends, but may have one end left long
enough to project through the socket B, so as to prevent its turning in the groove
and releasing the rib, or a small bridge forming a stop, may be left in the groove
against which the ends of the wire ring may abut as shown in V Fig. 1, so as to
effect the same purpose.
Wires of these sorts are shewn by the letter Y and Z in Fig. 4.
But although I can employ as aforesaid a single piece of wire, or a wire ring,
to hold the ribs in the sockets, I prefer to fasten each rib separately. Fig. 1,
shews one method of effecting this, by constructing separate keys or cross-bars E
for each terminal eye, and by forming a corresponding recess F for the cross bar
to lie in, inside the annular socket B. Fig. 1 also contains an elevation of the
fitting C, shewing it attached to an umbrella. Fig. 2 shows an alternative and
preferable plan, namely the employment of small T pieces G, which in the case of
solid ribs could be forged from the solid wire of the rib, or otherwise fastened
thereto by any well known method, and in the case of U shaped ribs can be
attached thereto by pressing, brazing, rivetting or in any other well known way.
These pieces work in the recesses F F as shewn in O Fig. 4, and are much
stronger and more reliable than eyes for the working joint. They can be made of
brass or of some incorrodible metal if preferred, to avoid oxydation. Their extremities
may be cylindrical oval, egg shaped, or round as preferred, the recesses being
correspondingly shaped to receive them.
They may also be formed with loose keys or cross-bars if preferred, as shown by
letter H. The eyes in this case can be made any strength desired.
It will be readily understood that the annular enclosed socket A. B. is the foun-
dation and essential part of all the foregoing improvements, and that it can be
made with the recesses or cavities wholly formed in the lower part B, or partly
in the cap and partly in the socket B, or if preferred an intermediate cap or
washer X as in Fig. 3, can be employed, in which case A becomes a lock-nut only.

page_text: In lieu of being screwed on as shewn, A may be fixed with a bayonet joint, or
simply slipped on and secured by a transverse pin, screw, or rivet or in any other
well known way.
The receiver or socket B. may be fitted with separate cavities or recesses as in F
Fig. 4, for receiving the crossbars of the ribs, or it may have a continuous or almost
continuous annular groove, as shewn in lower half of V Fig. 1, with or without a
transverse bridge or bridges S so as to admit of a continuous or almost continuous
wire, or of separate pieces of wire being employed. With respect to the sliding
fitting for the ends of the stays nearest the handle of the umbrella, similar arrange-
ments can be made, and attached to a sliding tube P, as shown in Fig. 5.
In order that the screw-cap A may not be entirely removed or lost, a flange N can
be formed at the end of P, or a projecting swell M can be formed in the tube, so that
the cap A cannot pass beyond the space allotted to it.
This swell M would also assist in fixing the fitting C, which forms the joint for
the stays, to the said tube P, as the end of the tube P which passes through C
could be turned over so as to hold U firmly in place. Fig. 6 shows the top joint C
when formed with the T ends G, mounted on a stick and fitted with the ribs D, and
manifests how small and neat this fitting can be formed, and how close it enables
the ribs to fold on the stick, there being no projection beyond the actual thickness
of the wires.
The advantages attained by the foregoing improvements are as follows;
1. Increased strength and solidity.
2. Closeness of folding and consequently neatness of external appearances.
3. The danger of destruction of joint by rust removed.
4. No failure by untwisting of wire fastening.
5. No projection to destroy covering.
6. Impossibility of collapse of umbrella through failure of one part, any fracture
affecting one small part only.
7. Ease in effecting repairs.
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 umbrella or parasol fittings the uso of an annular socket with cap or cover,
and with or without a locknut as herein explained and set forth.
2. In umbrella or parasol fittings, the use of separate crossheads to hold the ribs and
stays in place, or of T pieces, with oval, round, egg shaped, or cylindrical ends,
forming terminals for the wires as herein explained and set forth.
Dated this 29th day of June 1889,
BROMHEAD
S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, E.C., Patent Agent.