IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS
Year: 1885

page_text: COMPLEIE
:
DIECIFICATION.
I, PHILIPP MEYER Jr at Magdeburg in the Kingdom of Prussia and German
Empire Manufacturer of umbrellas do hereby declare the nature of my said
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS
"and in what manner
the same
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
5 the following statement :-
The purpose of the present invention is to be able to open and shut both
umbrellas and parasols with one hand only.
Apart from the greater convenience in the handling of such, an umbrella, the
latter offers a great practical advantage especially in case the person using it bas
only one hand at liberty; it may therefore be asserted that such umbrellas supply a
much felt want.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the construction.
In this design
Fig. 1 represents the stick and handle of the umbrella together with the
mechanism applied to them in longitudinal section, the umbrella being shut.
Fig. 2 gives the same view of the same parts the umbrella being open, however,
in this case.
Fig. 3 shows in detail and in longitudinal section the umbrella-handle with a
second mechanism differing from the one represented in Figs 1 & 2.
Fig. 4 illustrates in detail the spring, which serves both to shut the umbrella and
to keep it open.
Fig. 5 is a casing provided with slits and mounted on the umbrella-stick in the
manner shown in Fig. 2.
Figs. 6 & 6*) are each a second casing made to slide on the casing illustrated in
Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is the plan view of Fig. 6.
Figs. 8 & 8*) are the well known umbrella-stretchers and ribs provided with new
angle-ends.
Fig. 9) shows the bell that holds together the lower ends of the umbrella-ribs
mentioned in Fig. 8.
Fig. 10) shows a casing in view, which serves as point to the umbrella and its
cone to keep the ribs together. The umbrella can likewise be made convertible
and the arrangement by means of which the stick is folded up and brought into a
straight position again is illustrated in Figs. 11-15.
Fig. 11) shows in longitudinal section the umbrella-stick in a state fit for use,
therefore with the parts screwed together.
Fig. 12) shows the stick folded up.
Fig. 13) the ribs f(folded up), which will herein after be described.
Fig. 14 the front view of the latter when stretched.
Fig 15 the side view of the la

page_text: For the purpose of opening and shutting the umbrella with one hand the
stretchers a of the ribs f (figs 1, 2 & 8) being provided with angle-piece b reach
when the umbrella is shut through the slits e of the slide c (figs 1, 2 & 6) and
through the slits i of the casing, d simultaneously, because when the umbrella is
shut c is pushed so far up till its slits e correspond (fig. 1) with those of the 5
casing d. On opening the umbrella the angle-pieces b no longer reach through the
slits owing to c being pulled down by means of the inner slide h connected with
the draw-rod g, because the arms a a and with them the ribs ƒ ƒ are removed from
the stick.
The complete opening of the umbrella is then effected by the casing c (fig. 2)
which is connected by means of stud u with the slide h attached to d. This stud
u moves in the slit k of the slide h and moves forward with casing c in the slit l of
the slide d the whole length until the umbrella is completely open.
In order to prevent any lateral movement of the ribs f the stretchers a lay
themselves, when the umbrella is closed, on the pieces m attached to the casing c.
The casing can also be, as shown in Fig. 6, quite slit; and into these slits the
projecting pieces of the levers 6 lay themselves, by which the above-named purpose
is likewise attained.
The opening of the umbrella is caused by the pressure of the hand on the lever o
fastened to the umbrella-handle n and let into the latter.
Through this pressure on o the slide h and with it the casing c are drawn
upwards (as shown in fig. 2) by means of the draw-rod g and thereby the umbrella
'is opened. The moment the umbrella is completely opened the nut p on the lower
end of g comes under the nose or catch of spring q (figs 1 & 2), which keeps the
umbrella opened.
When the umbrella is in this state no further pressure is exercised on o, which is
then forced back into its original position by spring r (fig 1). The extension-piece 8
likewise assumes the position represented in fig. 1 by moving upwards free through
the nut p. The shutting of the umbrella is caused by pressing on the knob t,
which brings the nut p from under the lower nose or catch of spring q, while the
slide hand with it the draw-rod g are driven upwards by the lower spiral spring v
contained in casing d till the nut p strikes against the upper nose or catch of
spring q. The umbrella is closed thereby. The pressure on t naturally ceases then
and
tco, by which means the nut p comes from under the upper nose or catch of
a further upward motion of the draw-rod g is rendered possible. Then nose or
catch w of the draw-rod g carries the stud y fasteued under bell x (figs 1 & 2) and
the bell itself upwards and pushes the latter over the ends of the ribs ff. On
opening the umbrella the bell x is, on the contrary, first carried downwards by
which means the ends of the ribs are cleared of it.
A spring fixed in the upper end of the casing d presses the ribs f f continually
against the cone A of the point B, whereby they are made to lie close against the
umbrella-stick.
A mechanism differing from the one just described and intended for the
automatic opening of the umbrella is represented in Fig 3. In it the nut p of
the draw-rod g is replaced by a metal plate C, and the lower nose or catch of
the spring 9 catches, in order to keep the umbrella opened, into a recess of the
metal-plate C.
The connecting piece 8 moves in this construction in slit D of the plate C. The
lever o is formed in this case by the handle itself, on to the inner surface of which
a steel bow provided with a hinge is applied. The spring r is in this case replaced
by one attached to the bow.
It must be further remarked here, that the slanting piece E (fig. 8) of the ribs f
always fits on to the cone A of the point B so as to have a counter-rest in opening
the umbrella.
.
The mechanism for folding up the stick of the umbrella and the ribs f consists in
a screwing appliance G & H fixed to the ends of each half of the stick F & F. The
stick when screwed to pieces and the draw-rod g, which in this case likewise

page_text: consists of two parts connected by the centre-piece J, take up the position indicated
in Fig. 12.
The folding-up of the umbrella-stick necessitates the folding up of the ribs.
For this reason the latter consist likewise of two connected pieces, and the lower
half moves by means of studs K and L in the slits M and N of the upper half.
In order to fold up the ribs the lower halves of them are drawn so far down
till K reaches the lowest position in M, by which means L is at the same time
clear of N, and the folding together of the ribs is thus rendered possible.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
In umbrellas and parasols, for the purpose of opening and closing them with one
hand.
1) the arrangement of the casing c and of the slide h arranged in casing d,
further the application of the angles b b on the stretchers a and the combination of
these parts with one another in such a way, that when the umbrella or parasol is
shut the angles bb reach through the slits e e of the casing c and through slits i of
the casing d.
2) the arrangement of the casing c, which is provided with the undulating
projections m on to which the stretchers a a lay themselves in order to prevent any
lateral movement. Further the arrangement of casing c (fig 6a) which is provided
with slits, into which the pieces of lever b (fig. 8a) lay themselves for the purpose
already mentioned.
3) the arrangement of the handle-lever o (figs 2 & 3) in combination with the
draw-rods g & 8 and with spring for the purpose of facilitating the opening of the
umbrella with one hand.
4) the combination of the bell-casing a with the draw-rod g and the spring q in
such a manner, that by letting go or pressing the knob t against the spring a the
ends of the ribs ff are either encircled by the bell-casing x or else cleared and freed
of it.
5) the arrangement of the rib-lever E in connection with the cone A of the
point B and with the springs as click-appliance, which serves to keep the ribs f
close against the stick.
6) the connecting of the halves of the ribs ƒ ƒ by means of the studs K and L
and each with one of the slits M & N that correspond each with one of the studs
and in such a manner, that for the purpose of folding up the halves f and f they
must be pulled asunder lengthways only.
7) the connection of the halves F and F of the stick by means of two screw-
appliances G and H and of the connecting-piece J situated on the draw-rod in such
a manner, that for the purpose of folding the halves the appliance is screwed
upwards.
WM P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and
323, High Holborn, London,
Filing Agents for the Applicant.