IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Harris, of San Francisco, in the County of San
Francisco, and State of California, one of the United States of America,
Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS."
Sealed the 2nd April 1880, and dated the 10th February 1880.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said David Harris at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th February 1880.
DAVID HARRIS, of San Francisco, in the County of San Francisco, and State of
California, one of the United States of America, Merchant. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
UMBRELLAS."
The object of my Invention is to provide an umbrella or parasol combining great
strength of frame with facilities for opening and closing with ease, even when in a
wet condition.
I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying Drawing,
in which,
-
Figure 1 is a perspective view shewing the umbrella open for use.
Figure 2, a sectional elevation shewing a position of parts when partially closed.
Figure 3, view in detail shewing construction of parts.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
The upper portion or top of my umbrella I construct much in the usual way, with
the ribs B and braces B¹ connecting the ribs to the runner B³, and having the usual
stop F on the stick or staff.
Upon the stick or staff above the stop F I place a runner C with its greatest
circumference or ring C' in a downward position; to this ring C' are pivotted braces
or arms D which extend from the ring C¹ to the lower ends of the ribs B at which
point they are connected or pivotted, the ends of the arms or supports being forked
or split, in which position a pin E connects them to the ribs as shewn. The ends
of the braces or forks are made of sufficient breadth and length so that the ends of
the ribs B will close in upon or between the forks of the arms when the umbrella
is folded and a perfect closing is had, and the parts will not bind at the flattened
and upwardly extending ends of these arms form a receptacle for the ends of the
ribs to lie in when closed, and when opened a strong support at a point in an
umbrella which is ordinarily deemed weak.
These supporting arms D are so arranged with reference to the ribs B as to be
parallel with them when the umbrella is closed and when expanded at a right angle
[Duine 121

page_text: to them vertically, so that a combined and mutual support is imparted to the frame
within as well as without, which will enable an umbrella so constructed to withstand
a violent storm of wind and rain without being turned inside out, or the ribs broken
by pressure from the outside and thereby render the umbrella worthless, as the
long arms D prevent collapsing from the outside as well as from the inside fracture
of the parts.
With reference to the braces B' the supporting arms D are so arranged as to
break joints with these, and in operation these braces B¹ play up and down upon
the runner to which they are connected between the arms, while the runner C¹
carrying the arms D as the umbrella is opened run down the stick to the stop F,
and the runner carrying the braces B¹ runs up to the stop F at which point both
runners meet head to head.
In closing, the runner carrying the arms D runs up the stick as the hand of the
carrier or user draws down the runner B, and thus the parts move in an automatic
and reciprocal manner.
Having thus described my Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, I wish it distinctly understood that I claim,―
1st. In an umbrella or parasol the combination of the two runners connected by
arms, ribs, and braces, as described.
2d. In combination with an umbrella or parasol the automatic reciprocating
runner C provided with supporting arms D extending to and connected with the
ends of the ribs B, in the manner substantially as described for the purpose
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Harris, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twentieth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
DAVID HARRIS. (L.S.)