IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS" to be as
follows:-
:
:
This invention relates to the construction of the stretchers of an umbrella,
parasol, or the like, whereby when the tip cups or fastening ties are relieved, the
ribs spring out and a large space is provided between the stick and tip ends of
the ribs, so that the runner may be reached in a most convenient manner, and the
umbrella is in condition to be immediately opened, the ribs being prevented from
intermingling or catching.
According to the said invention the stretchers have, near their places of
connection with the ribs, deflections which bear against the contiguous portions
of the ribs, and serve to force out the ribs when relieved.
When the tips of the ribs are released, or the fastening band is loosened, the
pressure of the deflections forces out the ribs from the stick and thus the hand
may be readily inserted between the ribs and stick, and the runner consequently
reached in a most convenient manner.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.
I

page_text: ROBERT LAKE, of the frm of raseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, 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 consists of an umbrella or parasol having its stretchers provided
with shoulders which are in close proximity to the fork, and against which the
ribs abut, whereby when the folded umbrella or parasol is unfastened, the tip ends
of the ribs are thrown out from the stick, so that the hand may freely reach the
runner without interference of the ribs. The umbrella or parasol also folds in
small compass, and bulging of the parts of the same is obviated.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 represents a partial side elevation and partial vertical section of the
frame of an umbrella embodying my invention, the same being thrown out from
the stick.
Figure 2 represents a side elevation of one of the stretchers and ribs thereof on
an enlarged scale.
Figure 3 represents a section on the line x, x, figure 2.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
A represents the stick of an umbrella, B the ribs, C the stretchers, and D the
runners thereof; said stretchers having their inner or upper ends pivotted to the
ribs as usual.
The stretchers are formed near their inner or upper ends with shoulders E,
which are produced by bending the same near said ends in a diagonal direction,
as at E¹, so that said ends are set back from the main length of the stretchers
leaving the shoulders E in such position that when the umbrella is closed, the ribs
abut against said shoulders; consequently when the umbrella is folded, the ribs
bend against the main length of the stretchers, the said shoulders E serving as
fulcra for said ribs in their bending motion.
When the umbrella is opened, the fastening tie is unbuttoned or the tip cup
removed from the tips, whereby the ribs, bending against the shoulders E, spring
out from the stretchers and their tip ends are so removed from the stick that the
hand may be inserted between the ribs so as to reach the runner with great
freedom, and without interference, of the said tip ends.
The shaking of the umbrella previous to opening the same is thus rendered
unnecessary, and sticking and catching of the frame obviated.
When the umbrella is folded, the upper ends of the ribs are bent inwardly and
pressed towards or against the stick, and the stretchers are also bent inwardly
and pressed towards or against the stick. This reduces the diameter and conse-
quently the compass of the folded umbrella and obviates bulging of the parts
thereof.
The lower or outer ends of the ribs are bent inwardly, so that when the
umbrella is folded, they may closely approach the stick.

page_text: Where fluted ribs and stretchers are employed, the stretchers have the flutes on
the sides adjacent to the ribs, so that when the ribs close against the stretchers,
they embrace the same and interlock therewith, as shown in Figure 3, preventing
lateral displacement of the ribs from their position on the stretchers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is ;—
First. An umbrella-stretcher having a shoulder formed by the diagonal bend
and set back end of the stretcher, substantially as described.
Second. In an umbrella frame, the ribs, in combination with stretchers having
near their upper or inner ends, shoulders against which the ribs abut when folded,
said ends of the stretchers being set back from the main length thereof, and the
intermediate part extending diagonally, substantially as and for the purpose, set
forth.
Third. An umbrella frame having fluted ribs and stretchers with shoulders near
the pivotal ends, said ribs embracing said shoulders when the umbrella is folded,
substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.