Improvements in Umbrellas and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 13th Sept., 1900-4ccepted, 13th Dec.. 1900
Improvements in Umbrellas and the like.
We, CHARLES WILLIAM BLUEMEL, ERNEST ADOLPHUS BLUEMEL, and FRANK
HENRY BLUEMEL, trading as C. W. Bluemel & Bros., of Crown Works, Globe
Road, in the County of London, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to umbrellas, sunshades and the like of the kind or class
described in the Specification of our prior Letters Patent No. 30,902 of 1897 that
is to say, to umbrellas and the like having detachable handles and telescopic tips
whereby the same can be reduced in length when required for packing or storing
or for other purposes.
In the specification hereinabove mentioned the handle is secured to the stick
or stem by means of a screw connection which allows of the handle being un-
screwed and laid at the side of the umbrella when required, complete detachment
being prevented by a chain connected at one end to the handle and at the other
end to the stick or stem. According to our present invention we improve this
connection by providing, in lieu of the screw-threaded parts, a sliding connection
or joint comprising a tubular socket preferably made of metal and suitably
secured to the handle and adapted to slide with a close fit on a hollow pin also
preferably made of metal and secured to the stick or stem. In some instances
these parts may be reversed, that is to say, the tubular socket may be secured to
the stick or stem, and the pin to the handle. To lock the joint when the parts
are together, we provide a spring button or catch carried by one of the parts or
members of the joint, preferably the hollow pin, and adapted to snap into a hole
in the other part or member when the latter is pushed home. This spring
button or catch is arranged near one end of the joint and to relieve the lateral
stress on it a pin or stud is provided near the other end of the joint fixed to the
inner member and adapted to engage with a slot in the end of the tubular socket.
By this construction a very firm and secure joint is ensured which is as strong
as the stick or stem itself, and which is not liable to become accidentally un-
fastened when in use. To detach the handle, all that is necessary is to press the
spring catch or button inwards and then to draw the handle off or out. A chain
or other flexible fastening is provided as heretofore to prevent complete detach-
ment of the handle. We prefer to provide the inner sliding hollow pin with a
recessed shoulder or collar forming an annular recess to receive the end of the
tubular socket when the latter is pushed home. The pin er stud which engages
with the slot in the tubular socket may be concealed in the said annular recess.
A further improvement according to our present invention relates to the
sliding tip of the stick or stem, which tip is furnished with a sleeve at its inner
end that engages with an internal shoulder in the tubular stem and prevents
complete withdrawal of the tip. The tip is provided with a spring button or

page_text: catch as heretofore, but this catch instead of snapping into a hole, is arrange
to engage with the end of the stick or stem.
We prefer to provide the tip with a detachable solid end screwed into the tip.
Dated this 13th day of December 1899.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
We, CHARLES WILLIAM BLUEMEL, ERNEST ADOLPHUS BLUEMEL, and FRANK
HENRY BLUEMEL, trading as C. W. Bluemel & Brothers, of Crown Works, Globe
Road, in the County of London, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to umbrellas, sunshades and the like of the kind or class
having detachable handles and telescopic tips whereby the same can be reduced
in length to allow of conveniently packing them in small compass.
According to our present invention we provide for attaching the handle to
the stick or stem hereinafter referred to as the stick by means of a sliding
connection or joint comprising a tubular socket preferably made of metal suitably
secured to the handle, and adapted to slide with a close fit on a hollow pin or
stem also preferably made of metal and suitably secured to the stick. In some
instances these parts may be reversed, that is to say, the tubular socket may be
secured to the stick, and the pin or stem to the handle. For securing the joint
when the parts are assembled, we provide a spring button or catch carried by
one of the parts or members of the joint and adapted to snap into a hole in the
other part or member when the latter is pushed home.
A further improvement according to our present invention relates to the sliding
tip of the stick which tip is furnished with a shoulder at its inner end that
engages with an internal shoulder in the tubular stem and prevents complete
withdrawal of the tip. The tip is provided with a spring button or catch which
when the tip is extended engages with the end of the stick and secures the tip
in the extended position. In a modification, the tip is secured in the extended
position by screwing.
Referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate our invention.
Figure 1 is a side view of the unbrella extended as for use.
Figure 2 is a view showing the handle detached and the tip contracted ready
for packing.
Figure 3 is a side view on a larger scale of the joint for connecting the handle
to the stick, the handle being withdrawn from the stick.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of the said joint, the parts being connected
as when the umbrella is in use.
Figure 5 is a section on the line a, a Figure 4 drawn to a still larger scale.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of the tip end of the stick, showing the tip
in side elevation in its extended position, and
Figure 7 is a view of the same parts in their contracted position, the tip being
shown partly in section.
Figure 8 is a longitudinal section, partly in elevation, illustrating a modified
form of sliding tip.

page_text: Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in the several figures.
A is the umbrella as a whole, B is the stick or stem, C is the handle, and D is
the sliding tip.
The handle C is furnished with a tubular metal socket E which is suitably
attached thereto and which slides over and closely fits upon a metal part F fixed
on the stick. When the handle is in position on the stick, the end of the
socket E extends into and fits within an annular cavity G formed between
the tubular part F and a collar H fixed on said part F. J is a button or catch
which is carried by a spring K mounted within the metal part F, and which
snaps into a hole L in the socket E when the parts are assembled together and
thereby secures the joint. The said spring button or catch is arranged near one
end of the joint, and to relieve the stress on it a pin or stud M is provided which
extends across the annular cavity G and engages with a notch or slot N formed
in the tubular socket. By this construction a very firm and secure joint is
ensured which is as strong as the stick itself, and which is not liable to become
accidentally unfastened in use.
By depressing the catch or button J the handle is unfastened and the same can
then be disconnected from the stick. To prevent complete detachment of the
handle from the stick a chain O or other flexible fastening is provided, the ends
of which are connected to eyelets formed on rings P, P' mounted loosely on the
socket E and part F respectively, the said rings being retained in place by
shoulders Q, Q formed on the said parts E and F. Y is a swivel catch to permit
of disconnecting the chain.
The tip D slides in a tubular extension R of the stick. It is furnished with a
shoulder S at its inner end which shoulder by engaging with an internal
shoulder T formed in the tubular part R prevents the complete withdrawal of
the tip. U is a catch or button projecting through a hole in the tip and carried
by a spring V arranged within the tip. When the latter is fully extended, the
catch or button protrudes and engages with the end of the part R and retains
the tip in its extended position. This construction allows the tip to be turned
round to any position, as the catch U does not have to register with a locking hole.
W is a detachable solid piece screwed into the outer end of the tip to answer
as a ferrule.
In Figure 8, we have shown a modified method of secur- our improved tip
in its extended position. In this arrangement, the tip 1 is provided near its
inner end with a screw-threaded extension X of larger diameter than the body
of the said tip and beyond this, with a guide-piece Y₁ of still larger diameter
adapted to slide freely in the tubular part R of the stick. The screw-threaded
extension X is adapted to screw from the inside into a screw-threaded socket or
nut Z secured in the tubular part R and provided with an internal shoulder T
at its outer end to prevent the complete withdrawal of the tip 1 and to serve as
a guide for the body of the said tip as it slides in and out. If desired, the tip
can be provided in addition to the screw-threads with a spring catch or button,
such as is herein before described with reference to Figure 6, adapted to engage
with the end of the tubular part R and prevent the said tip from screwing
inwards when in use.
When the umbrella or the like is contracted it can be conveniently stowed
or packed in a bag or case provided to receive it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is:-
1. An umbrella, sunshade or the like having a detachable handle which is
connected to the stick by a sliding joint constructed with a spring catch near
one end, and a pin engaging a slot in the other end which is received and
enclosed in an annular cavity, substantially as described, and for the purpose
specified.

page_text: 2. The combination, with the said sliding joint, of a chain or like flexible
connection secured to rings mounted loosely on the two parts to be connected,
substantially as described.
3. An umbrella or the like having its handle secured to the stick by a joint
constructed substantially as described with reference to the accompanying
drawings, for the purpose specified.
4. The means for securing the sliding tip as described with reference to
Figures 6 and 7, or to Figure 8.
Dated this 13th day of September 1900.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.