IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS, PARASOLS, AND SUNSHADES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, of the Firm of Harris
and Mills, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patout
Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS, PARASOLS, AND
SUNSHADES." A communication from abroad by Messieurs Teste Père, Fils et
Pichat, of Lyons, in the Republic of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard
Mills at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th June 1877.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN UMBRELLAS, PARASOLS, AND SUNSHADES." A communication from abroad
by Messieurs Test Père, Fils et Pichat, of Lyons, in the Republic of France.
The essential feature of this Invention consists in the employment of a series of
flexible spring clips, which, at the inouent of closing the umbrella, lock each rib to
its corresponding stretcher, and retain them coupled in a direction parallel to each
other, thereby retaining the umbrella in a closed position without necessitating the
use of a stop to act in connection with the runner.
When it is desired to open the umbrella, a slight effort exerted on the runner
causes the spring clips to open; and when fully opened the umbrella is retained in
such position by a spring of peculiar form, thus obviating the necessity for any
grooves in the stick, and not requiring the pressure of the thumb for closing.
The results obtained by this Invention are,-
Firstly. The power of opening and closing the umbrella by simply pushing or
pulling the runner, without having previously to disengage any spring.
And, Secondly. The firm closing of the umbrella preventing the opening out of
the ribs.
In carrying this Invention into effect, the spring clips may be fixed upon each rib
to clip each corresponding stretcher, or upon each stretcher to clip each corresponding
rib.

page_text: These spring clips may be formed of metal, bent in such manner that the projecting
flanges shall be slightly closer together than the diameter of the rib or the stretcher,
so that when either of the latter shall have passed such flanges they shall be retained
in the hollows of the spring clips. Or the ends of the stretchers, where they are
jointed to the ribs, may be formed with forks, the prongs of which are bent slightly
outwards and closer together than the diameter of the rib, so that when the
umbrella is closed the prongs of the forks will pass just beyond the ribs and securely
clip the same.
The spring clips may be fixed just below the points where the ribs are hinged to
the stretchers, or nearer the upper part, in which latter case they may be fixed to
the stretchers and clip on to the heads of studs fixed in the stick, or to the tube of
the "notch," which is slightly prolonged, or they may be fixed on this tube and clip
on to the heads of studs fixed to the ribs. The spring is formed, preferably, of sheet
metal, fixed at one end to the stick, and held at the other end by a staple through
which it is free to move endwisc. This spring is formed with a notch or bend to
act in combination with the runner as the upper stop. This form of spring stop
obviates the necessity for pressing it with the thumb to disengage it, and the
umbrella can be closed by simply pulling the runner.
The runner is formed in three parts, consisting of an interior tube carrying at one
end the "notch" and at the other an exterior thread or worm. Over this interior
tube is passed an outer ornamental tube or envelope, which is retained in position
by a ring or nut screwing on to the thread or worm on the interior tube. This
runner is not provided with any accessary to secure the closing of the umbrella, and
is thereby reduced to its most simple form.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 19th December 1877.
86
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of. 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. IMPROVE-
MENTS IN UMBRELLAS, PARASOLS, AND SUNSHADES." A communication from abroad
by Messieurs Teste Père, Fils et Pichat, of Lyons, in the Republic of France.
The essentiel feature of this Invention consists in the employment of a series of
lightly flexible spring clips, which, at the moment of closing the umbrella, lock each
rib to its corresponding stretcher, and retain them coupled in a direction parallel to
each other, thereby securely retaining the umbrella in a closed position without
necessitating the use of a stop to act in connection with the runner.
When it is desired to open the umbrella, a slight effort exerted on the runner
causes the spring clips to open; and when fully opened the umbrella is retained in
such position by a spring of peculiar form, thus obviating the necessity for any
grooves in the stick, and not requiring the pressure of the thumb for closing.
The results obtained by this Invention are,-
Firstly. The power of opening and closing the umbrella by simply pushing or
pulling the runner, without having previously to disengage any spring.
Secondly. The opening out of the ribs is prevented by the secure closing of the
umbrella.
In carrying this Invention into effect, the spring clips employed to secure the
umbrella in a closed position may be fixed upon each rib to clip each corresponding
stretcher, or upon each stretcher to clip each corresponding rib.
The accompanying Drawing, by giving an example of each of these two cases,
will enable the principle of the Invention to be understood.
The following is a description of the arrangement, represented at Figures 1 and 2,
in which the stretcher is clipped by the rib.
B is the rib; F is the stretcher which is jointed to the rib by means of the hinge
or joint A, which is carried by the furniture C fixed upon the rib. Two metal clips
D, D, are fixed upon this furniture below the hinge or joint; the sectional form of
such clips is represented at Figure 2. The width between the sides a, a, of the clip
being less than the diameter of the part f of the stretcher F, the latter, as it
approaches the rib, will open out the parts a, a, and lodge itself in the space e, where
it is retained by the elasticity of the sides a, a.
The following is a description of the arrangement, represented at Figures 3, 4, and
5, in which the rib is clipped by the stretcher:-There might be fixed to the stretcher
a clip analogous to that before described, in which the rib could be received and
held, but the elasticity of the forked portion of the stretcher G, which is connected
to the rib H by the hinge or joint I can be utilized. For this purpose the forked part
of the stretcher is lengthened and bent, as shown, so that the parts b, b, may pass
behind the rib when the umbrella is closed, as represented at Figure 4. The
distance between the parts b, b, is less than the diameter of the rib, the latter
therefore opens out the parts b, b, in the act of being placed in the space d, see
Figure 5, where it is held. This system of clips can also be adapted to the upper
part of the umbrella by arranging at the top of each rib a clip of a similar character
to that represented at Figure 1, which would clip or seize a head of a nail or stud
placed either upon the stick or upon the top notch tube, which would be a little
lengthened for the purpose, or else by arranging upon this tube a series of clips
which would seize or clip heads of nails or studs fixed to the ribs.
The umbrella is opened by pushing up the runner so that the stretchers pass
beyond the horizontal; the runner then abuts against the stop A, see Figure 6,
which forms part of a spring R employed to press against the interior of the runner
in order securely to retain the umbrella in an open position. Or the spring may be
formed and applied as shown at Figure 7, in which L, M, N, is the spring which is

page_text: fixed to the stick K by the point h; the other end N is free, but is retained in
position by a staple O which allows some play thereto; this staple forms at the
same time a stop for the runner.
The projection M on the spring forms a stop below the runner, but this stop is
formed, as shown, so that there is no necessity for pressing on the spring with the
thumb to free the slide, thereby enabling the umbrella to be closed by simply
pulling the runner.
To close the umbrella it is only necessary to pull down the runner without
pressing upon the spring M or the spring R, which latter is fixed to the stick by the
two points D, D, as shown.
The runner is formed of an interior cylindrical tube R¹, having no groove or slot
therein, carrying at one end the "notch" to which the stretchers are jointed, and at
the other end a screw thread on which is screwed a ferrule T which serves to hold
in position the ornamental tube or cover S. The closing of the umbrella being
obtained independently of the runner, the latter is provided with no other
accessory.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and the mode in which
the same is carried into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is,-
Firstly. Retaining umbrellas, parasols, or sunshades firmly in a closed position by
clipping one part of the frame or mountings by clips carried by another part of the
frame or mountings, and operating in the modes substantially as herein shown and
described.
And, Secondly. Securing umbrellas, parasols, or sunshades in an open position by
means of springs formed and applied in manner substantially as herein shown and
described, so as to avoid the necessity for grooving the stick.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.