IMPROVE- MENTS IN UMBRELLA AND PARASOL FRAMES
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Willis at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st May 1883.
JAMES WILLIS of Rosendale Bournemouth in the County of Hants " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN UMBRELLA AND PARASOL FRAMES "
This Invention has for its object improvements in umbrella and parasol frames.
Heretofore in some cases umbrella and parasol frames have been made with
springs at the joints where the stretchers are jointed to the ribs-the action of
which springs tended to keep the umbrella or parasol either opened or closed
without its being necessary to use spring catches carried by the stick.
According to my invention I form the spring joint in the following manner.
The ribs I employ are of a hollow section preferably of a trough form. I fix to the
rib at a distance above the joint one end of a stout spring the free end of the
spring I make beyond the joint and of such a width that it can enter the hollow
or trough of the rib-the stretcher end I make three fork. The end of the
central prong of the fork I cause to bear against the spring-the end of the prong
is made square cornered so as to act as an eccentric after the manner of the blade
of a spring knife. When the umbrella or parasol is open the springs tend to turn
the stretchers in a direction to move the runner upwards along the stick and so
hold it up to a stop and when the umbrella or parasol is being closed it tends to
turn the stretchers in the opposite direction and so to move the runner downwards
and keep the frame closed.
To fix the end of the spring to the rib I make it near its end with side
projections to rest upon the edges of the trough or hollow wire of which the rib is
formed whilst the extremity of the end goes into the trough and is held there by
the sides of the trough being bent inwards so as to nip and hold it.
In place of the above construction I in some cases place into the trough or
hollow of the rib an arched spring the central part of which is made to bear
against the end of the central prong of the three fork stretcher whilst the ends of
[Price 6d]

page_text: the spring rest on the bottom of the trough and in order to prevent the spring
from moving endwise I extend the middle bit or git along the sides of the rib and
form it at its ends with pieces to be bent over into the interior of the rib and
form stops to prevent the spring from moving end wise out of its place.
In order also to reduce the diameter of umbrellas or parasols when they are
closed I employ as heretofore what are known as lock rib frames and the outer
ends of the ribs I flatten out from just above the tips to where the ribs lie over the
runner. The stretcher ends I also spread somewhat or open out so that the rib
ends may easily enter into them.
In this way the flattened portion of the ribs is allowed to lie against the runner
notch.
The usual mode of attaching the cover to the frame at the tips is so insecure
and defective that in the ordinary wear the sewing often gives way owing to the
friction of the hand because it projects so much from the neck of the tip and the
cover on that account frequently breaks away from one or more of the tips in the
ordinary wear of an umbrella-in other cases the cover is often torn at the sides
of the tip where it is sewn at the sides of the seam.
To remedy this I make the tips separate from the ribs-I take a piece of
somewhat flattened trough steel and at intervals of about 3/8 of an inch apart make
in it two holes side by side (one on each side of its central longitudinal line)-I
then cut it into lengths at a point intermediate of the pairs of holes. Into each
length I introduce a thin wire longitudinally of the trough and close in the sides
of the trough at its two ends so as to nip the wire.
The central part of the length of the trough where the perforations above
mentioned are made and which forms the neck of the tip is left somewhat flattened
out so as to form an open cavity on the side furthest from the stick large enough
for a portion of the seam at the tip end of the cover to be drawn into it by the
sewing. The inner part of the neck next the stick, is made of a somewhat
flattened or broad semi circular form so that the sewing thread being passed from
hole to hole forms a soft projecting surface to bear against the stick and keep it
from being rubbed by the tip in the manner described in the Specification of a
former Patent granted to me N° 1413 in the year 1882.
Although the sewing is thereby done entirely through the seam i.e. through four
thicknesses of the material the projection from the neck of the tip is very con-
siderably less than by the present method and is further saved from friction by the
extra projection given to the outward part of the head of the tip as presently
described.
To form the head a metal cap is set on in the usual way to the end of the tip
and is then pressed once or twice between a pair of dies to form a globular head
the side of which next the stick is curved to a much larger radius than the
opposite side of the head so that it corresponds with the curvature of the neck on
the side next the stick and is made level or nearly so with the neck by which it
will not scratch or injure the stick either in the wear or by the twisting of the
ribs on rolling up the umbrella tightly. I also make the total thickness of the
head equal to the diameter of the ordinary globular head consequently the
projection from the outer side is considerably increased.
The wire extends from the opposite end of the tip and is inserted into the end
of the rib previously closed over or shaped to fit it. This end of the wire I also
make with a web or fin projecting from it to enter a narrow slit left to receive
it-in this way the tip ends are prevented from turning. To apply similar tip
ends to solid wire ribs instead of closing the ends of the perforated piece of trough
wire above mentioned on to a separate piece of wire I reduce the diameter of the
end of the wire rib and close on to this reduced portion of the wire rib the ends of
the above mentioned perforated piece of steel and in other respects form the head
in the way above described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Willis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st November
1883.
JAMES WILLIS of Rosendale Bournemouth in the County of Hants
MENTS IN UMBRELLA AND PARASOL FRAMES
"
21
IMPROVE-
This Invention has for its object improvements in umbrella and parasol
frames.
Heretofore in some cases umbrella and parasol frames have been made with
springs at the joints where the stretchers are jointed to the ribs-the action of
which springs tended to keep the umbrella or parasol either opened or closed
without its being necessary to use spring catches carried by the stick.
According to my invention I form the spring joint in the following manner :-
The ribs I employ are of a hollow section preferably of a trough form. I fix to
the rib at a distance above the joint one end of a stout spring the free end of the
spring I make to project beyond the joint and of such a width that it can enter
the hollow or trough of the rib. The stretcher end I make three forked. The
end of the central prong of the fork I cause to bear against the spring. The end
of the prong is made square cornered so as to act as an eccentric after the manner
of the blade of a spring knife. When the umbrella or parasol is being opened the
springs tend to turn the stretchers in a direction to move the runner upwards
along the stick and so hold it up to a stop and when the umbrella or parasol is
being closed it tends to turn the stretchers in the opposite direction and so to move
the runner downwards and keep the frame closed.
To fix the end of the spring to the rib I make it near its end with side pro-
jections to rest upon the edges of the trough or hollow wire of which the rib is
formed whilst the extremity of the end goes into the trough and is held there by
the sides of the trough being bent inwards so as to nip and hold it.
Figure 1 of the annexed drawing is a side elevation of a joint of this construction
connecting a rib of an umbrella with a stretcher. Figure 2 is a longitudinal section
of the same. Figures 3 show the parts separately.
A is a portion of the rib. B is a git fixed upon the rib. C is the three forked
stretcher. D is the spring attached to the rib. D¹. D'. are two side projections
upon the spring which rest upon the edges of the trough rib. D³ is a tail or
projection which is received into the interior of the trough and fixed there by
nipping.together the two sides. The Square end of the central prong of the fork
stretcher is clearly seen in the figures; the spring D bearing upon it tends as the
umbrella is closing to press the tips of the ribs inwards towards the stick: Also as
the umbrella opens the spring tends to move the runner upwards upon the stick
and to retain it independently of any catch. This arrangement is applicable
either to the lock rib frame where as is shown in the drawing the rib is received
into the hollow of a broad trough form stretcher or to the ordinary paragon
stretcher.
In place of the above construction I in some cases place into the trough or
hollow of the rib an arched spring the central part of which is made to bear
against the end of the central prong of the three forked stretcher whilst the ends
of the spring rest on the bottom of the trough and in order to prevent the spring
from moving end wise I extend the middle bit or git along the sides of the rib and
form it at its ends with pieces to be bent over into the interior of the rib and form
stops to prevent the spring from moving endwise out of its place.
Figures 4. 5 and 6 represent a joint connecting the rib of an umbrella or parasol
with a three forked stretcher in which a spring of arched form is employed. As

page_text: in the former figures A is a portion of the rib; it has a git A¹ upon it which in
this case is long so that its two ends (which are turned inwards into the interior
of the trough) serve as stops to keep the spring D in its place.
The three pronged stretcher C is somewhat differently formed from that in the
figures previously described. The spring as before holds the tips of the ribs
inwards towards the stick when the umbrella or parasol is closed and holds the
runner up when the umbrella or parasol is opened.
In order to reduce the diameter of umbrellas or parasols when they are closed I
employ as heretofore what are known as lock rib frames and the outer ends of the
ribs I flatten or spread out from just above the tips to where the ribs lie over the
runner. The stretcher ends I also spread somewhat or open. out so that the rib
ends may easily enter into them.
In this way the flattened portion of the ribs is allowed to lie against the runner
notch.
The Figures 7 represent the outer end of one of the ribs flattened to the form
which I adopt. Such ribs have heretofore in some cases been employed but.not
so as to rest against the runner notch. Figures 8 shew the stretcher which I
employ together with the rib shown by Figures 7; it is of trough like form and
adapted to receive the rib within it as usual in a lock rib frame, but its form at
the end which is jointed to the runner is novel. Here the trough of the stretcher
is opened out and the sides are reduced in height to enable the stretcher to receive
the flattened end of the rib and to allow of this part of the rib resting against the
runner notch. Figure 9 shews the positions of these parts when the umbrella or
parasol is closed. The runner is marked E and a portion of the stick is
seen at F.
It will be seen the flattened portion of the rib comes in contact with the runner
notch and it is permitted to do so by the form which has been given to the end of
the stretcher.
so insecure
The usual mode of attaching the cover to the frame at the tips
and defective that in the ordinary wear the sewing often gives way owing to the
friction of the hand because it projects so much from the neck of the tip and the
cover on that account frequently breaks away from one or more of the tips in the
ordinary wear of an umbrella. In other cases the cover is often torn at the sides
of the tip where it is sewn at the sides of the seam.
To remedy this I make the tips separate from the ribs. I take a piece of some-
what flattened trough steel and at intervals of about 5% of an inch apart make
in it two holes side by side (one on each side of its central longitudinal line) I
then cut it into lengths at a point intermediate of the pairs of holes.
Figures 10 shew a piece of paragon steel wire perforated in the manner described
above to prepare it to be made into tips to be secured upon the ends of umbrella
or parasol ribs.
It will be seen that the trough is flattened or opened out somewhat at the places
where the holes are formed.
Into each length I introduce a thin wire longitudinally of the trough and close
in the sides of the trough at its two ends so as to nip the wire.
Figures 11 shew the perforated tip piece with the wire inserted into the
interior of the trough and the trough closed in at its two ends so as to nip the
wire.
The wire extends from the opposite end of the tip and is inserted into the end
of the rib previously closed over or shaped to fit it. This end of the wire I also
make with a web or fin G projecting from it to enter a narrow slit left to receive
it in closing the end of the rib. In this way the tip ends are prevented from
turning. The rib with the tip upon it is shown by Figure 12. To apply similar
tip ends to solid wire ribs instead of closing the ends of the perforated piece of
trough wire above mentioned on to a separate piece of wire I reduce the diameter
of the end of the wire rib and close on to this reduced portion of the wire rib the
ends of the above mentioned perforated piece of steel.

page_text: In these tips the central parts of the length of the trough where the
perforations are made and which forms the neck of the tip is as. before explained
somewhat flattened out. This forms an open cavity on the side furthest from the
stick large enough for a portion of the seam at the tip end of the cover to be drawn
into it by the sewing.
Although the sewing is thereby done entirely through the seam i.e. through
four thicknesses of the material, the projection from the neck of the tip is
considerably less than by the present method. The sewing is also protected to
some extent from friction by the extra projection given to the outward part of the
head of the tip as presently described.
The inner part of the neck of the tip next the stick at the part where the
perforations are made being of a somewhat flattened or broad semicircular form
the sewing thread passing from hole to hole forms (as is seen in Figure 13) a soft
projecting surface to bear against the stick and keep it from being rubbed by the
tip, as is also the case with tips constructed as described in the specification of a
former Patent granted to me N° 1413 in the year 1882.
•
Tips constructed as described may be mounted on the ribs with the back or
convex part outwards. When this be done I prefer to bend the wire contained
within the trough of the tip piece so that the needle in sewing may pass beneath
it.
Also as the cover fabric is now on the convex side of the trough the cavity
provided in the former case to receive it may be suppressed.
Figures 14 show a tip so constructed and the parts from which it is formed;
the trough metal from which the tip is constructed is notched at the sides as is
seen at H H in place of being perforated. The upward bending of the wire
simplifies the sewing as it allows the needle to pass through directly from side to
side and through the seam of the cover returning on the inner side of the rib ;
whereas with the tip shewn at Figure 12 the needle is passed through one hole
then through the seam of the cover, afterward through the hole on the other side
and returns around the inner side of the rib.
The reversal of the position of the tip renders useless the metal previously left
on the outer sides of the holes.
All these tips present the following advantages :—
1. The sewing is through the seam of the cover.
2. The sewing thread on the inner side of the rib is next the stick and prevents
the tip rubbing it.
3. On the outer side of the rib the thread is not exposed to friction
and wear.
Tips made separately from the ribs before they are fixed upon the ribs
should be smoothed to remove all burrs fashes and edges this may be done by
the process known as "rumbling" in which process a large number are operated
upon at once.
Figure 15 show how similar tips can be formed on the ends of paragon ribs in
which case burrs and fashes would have to be removed singly.
The extreme end of the tip whether separate or formed on the rib is finished
with a metal cap set on in the usual way to the end of the tip and pressed once
or twice between a pair of dies to form a globular head. This head on the side
which is next the stick, is curved to a much larger radius than the opposite side of
the head in place of being made truly globular so that it corresponds with the
curvature of the neck on the side next the stick; here it is made level or nearly
so with the neck as is seen in Figure 16. Being thus formed it will not scratch
or injure the stick either in the wear or by the twisting of the ribs on rolling up
the umbrella tightly. I also make the total thickness of the head equal to that of
the ordinary globular head consequently the projection from the outer side is
considerably increased.
In some cases I obtain a like result, that is to say I bring the globular head of
the tip to project entirely upon the outer side of the rib in the following
manner: I finish the tip first with a globular head in the usual way the said

page_text: .
1+
head projecting equally to the back and front. Then I place the head between a
pair of dies such as represented at Figure 17 and these bend the neck of the tip
in such manner as to throw the globular end outwards. The tip is then stamped
on its side between tools shown by Figure 18 and these bring it to the finished
form represented by Figures 19 and remove any roughness which may have been
left by the previous tools.
D
Two objects are gained by causing the globular heads on the tips to project to
the front; they are thereby prevented from coming into contact with the stick
and the stick is not injured and the projection of the globular heads protects to
some extent the parts of the fabric which are sewn to the tips; parts which in
the use of the umbrella ordinarily wear rapidly and render the umbrella unsightly
and partially unserviceable.
t
Having thus described the nature of my said invention and the manner of
performing the same I would have it understood that I claim :-
First The construction of spring joints connecting the ribs to the stretchers
substantially in the manner described in respect to Figures 1 to 6 of the annexed
drawings.
Second-The use in lock rib frames of ribs flattened at their outer ends in
combination with trough stretchers shaped to receive them and to admit of the
flattened portion of the rib resting against the notch of the runner as herein
described in respect to Figures 7. 8 and 9 of the annexed drawings.
Third The methods of forming tips for the ribs illustrated by the Figures 10
to 15.
Fourth Forming the tip from a trough like piece of metal perforated or cut
away at the sides and with a straight or slightly bent but undoubled piece of wire
fixed within it.
Fifth Forming the tip from a trough like piece of metal receiving a wire
within it such wire entering into and being fixed within the contracted end of a
trough form rib.
Sixth-Forming the tips in such manner that their globular heads project
outwards away from the stick so as not to injure the same and also so as to some
extent to protect from wear the stitches by which the cover is attached as shown
by Figures 16 and 19.
In witness whereof I the said James Willis have hereunto set my hand and
seal this First day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty-three.