Improvements in Umbrellas, Parasols, Tents, and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 10th Mar., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Umbrellas, Parasols, Tents, and the like.
We FREDERICK WILLIAM SCHROEDER of Newtown near Sydney in the
Colony of New South Wales Engineer and FRANCIS For of Oxford Street
Sydney aforesaid Draper 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:-
"
This invention refers to improvements in umbrellas including parasols sunshades
tents and the like which have frames in which "ribs" jointed to a "stick" or
standards are expanded by means of "stretchers" jointed to them and bearing at
the other end against said "stick or other support and which ribs are covered by
textile fabric or support fabric or other covers. This invention has been specially
devised in order that umbrellas may be cheaply and easily manufactured and that
their frames and parts of them may be more easily repaired, be less destructive of
the covering and be more durable than heretofore.
These improvements in umbrellas relate to a centre piece or crown at the top of
the stick in the place of the ordinary notched ring and to the joints of the ribs with
said centre piece; to the traveller or sliding sleeve on the stick and to the joints of
the stretchers therewith; and to the joint between the rib and the stretcher at the
outer end of the latter.
In umbrellas constructed according to these improvements the centre piece or
crown at the top of the stick is made with an enclosed space or a series of spaces
In the outer
adapted to take within it or them enlarged top ends of the ribs.
periphery of this centre piece or crown are orifices or slots adapted to allow to pass
through them into the enclosed space or the spaces the narrower sides of the said
enlarged top ends of the ribs. Now when each said enlarged end has been passed
through its orifice or slot in the centre piece or crown the rib is slightly revolved or
allowed to regain its normal position after being twisted during its passage through
said orifice and it is thus firmly held in place the enclosed space or the spaces
allowing the enlarged end to have all necessary movement.
In a modified con-
struction of this centre piece or crown and the joint the orifices into the enclosed
space are made in the form of a key-hole slot and the enlargement on the top end of
the rib is spherical and when said spherical end is passed through the larger part
of the key-hole orifice a ring or washer takes on the centre piece or crown over or
partly over the larger part of all the orifices and so locks the spherical end of the
rib in the annular space of said centre piece or crown. This ring or washer may
screw on, be fastened on by set screws or rivets by a pin right through the stick or
by other means.
In umbrellas constructed according to these improvements a centre piece having
an enclosed space or a series of spaces and made, except that it is inverted, exactly
similar to the centre piece or crown just belore described is fixed (in place of the
ordinary notched ring) to the top of the traveller or sliding sleeve and the lower
ends of the stretchers are enlarged exactly similarly to the top ends of the ribs also
just before described and the joints of the stretchers thereto are identical with the
top joints of the ribs before described.
In umbrellas constructed according to these improvements at the point in the
ribs where the stretcher is to be jointed thereto a peculiarly shaped wing or joint
piece is fastened by means of a bar or wire taking above the centre of said wing or
joint piece and forcing the centre of said wing piece in a fold into the internal
hollow of the rib or into a hollow formed on a solid rib. The edges of the hollow

page_text: are then nicked over said wire thus firmly fixing it and the wing or joint piece
firmly in place. The end of the stretcher is made as ordinarily with outsides and
double centre pieces. The double centre pieces take between the centre fold of
the wing or joint piece and the outsides take against return folds of said wing or
joint piece which return folds make a double thickness of the wing or joint piece
on either side. The rivet or fastening or joint pin is now inserted through the
stretcher end and those bent or folded parts of the wing or joint piece just before
mentioned and then a further fold of the wing or joint piece on either side takes
over the whole so that the ends of the rivet or joint pin are hid under the ends of
the wing or joint piece which ends start practically flush from the rib sides. The
shape of the wing or joint piece to secure the neat result desired is a centrally
elongated diamond or lozenge with shorter diamonds or lozenges conjoined on
either end.
But in order that this invention may be clearly understood reference will now be
made to the drawings herewith in which
Figure 1 shows (broken in several places) a sectional elevation of an umbrella
constructed according to these improvements with ribs folded or in their closed
position while
Figure 2 is a similar view (also broken) showing the ribs partly expanded or
raised as when opening and closing the umbrella.
Figure 3 is an underside plan. Figure 4 a cross sectional elevation and Figure 5
an elevation respectively of the fixed centre piece or crown showing the joint of the
ribs with said centre piece or crown.
Figures 6, 7, and 8 are similar views of a modified construction of centre pieces
or crowns and rib ends.
"
Figures 9, 10, 11, and 12, are details showing elongated and folded forms of the
wing or joint piece for jointing the "stretchers" to the ribs and Figures 13, 14, 15,
and 16, are details of such joints.
Figure 17 is a sectional elevation of an umbrella showing a further modified
construction of centre pieces.
Figure 18 is an inverted plan of the fixed centre piece or crown and plan of the
travelling centre shown in Figure 17.
Figures 19 and 20 are sections of travelling and fixed centre pieces respectively
of a still further modified construction.
Figures 21 and 22 are face views of parts of same and Figure 23 is plan of
same (similar to Figure 18).
This
Referring to Figures 1 to 18 the fixed centre piece or crown consists of outer
ring A¹ and inner ring or cylinder A2 between which is annular space A.
centre piece or crown is turned or rolled in two se arate pieces the inner one A³
being slightly rivetted at its ends in the outer one A' through which latter are
notches or orifices A³ into the annular space A such notches being formed in the
rolling or being slotted or drilled through the peripheral shell. This crown or centre
piece is secured to the stick C of the umbrella by a pin or rivet C' passing through
the outer and inner rings A' and A2 and through the stick C. The ribs B have an
enlarged end B₁ in the form of a flattened bulb whose flat is narrower than its
round so that it can pass flatways or edgeways through orifice A as shown in
Figure 4 where the right hand rib is shown as passing through the orifice A³ and
the left hand rib is shown as quite through and turned around so that the rounds or
bulb sides of the enlarged end prevent withdrawal or displacement. The rib is
either partly turned or partly twisted to bring the flats of the ends in juxta-position
with the orifice it is to be passed through and when through the rib is turned back
or recovers its normal position so that the bulb or enlarged end B' takes in
annular space A while the neck B' takes in the orifice A3 in which it has free
movement as the umbrella is opened and closed. Said neck B2 preferably takes
into nick or bed A' in the outer ring A' when the rib is closed or the umbrella
shut down and the ribs are thus preserved from disjointure through twisting &c. or
rough usage]

page_text: The traveller or sliding sleeve consists like the fixed centre piece or crown of an
outer ring D and inner ring or sleeve proper D' between which is annular
space D. The outer ring sits on a ring or protuberance D* on the sleeve D2 and
said sleeve is slightly rivetted over on top. In the outer ring on the upper
peripheral face of the travelling centre piece are notches or orifices D³ into the
annular space D formed similarly to those in the fixed centre piece before described.
The stretchers E have on their lower ends an enlargement E similar to the enlarge-
ment B at top of the ribs B and the enlargements E¹ through orifices D³ and
annular space D interconnect the stretchers E with the travelling centra piece
similarly as the enlarged ends B₁ joint the ribs B with the fixed centre piece.
The ring D2 has preferably nicks or notches D to receive the neck E² of the
stretcher when the umbrella is closed.
In Figures 6, 7, and 8, the centre piece whether used as a fixed one or crown or
as part of a traveller is shown with orifices a similar to A³ and D³ taking the form
of a key-hole slot and with the enlargement & similar to B¹ and E' taking a similar
form. The joint or connection is made by passing sphere or bulb b through the
circular part of orifice a and then partly covering said circular part of said orifice
by a ring c which may be screwed on the bottom of the fixed centre piece or the
top of the travelling centre piece or be fastened thereon by a set screw c¹ as shown
in Figures 6 and 8 or by other devices which will easily suggest themselves.
In Figures 17 and 18 the orifices A³ and D³ and nicks or beds A and D* are
constructed as shown with the nicks or beds A' and D' extending throughout the
lower part of the orifice right into the rings A' and D' so the ribs and stretcher
ends may be made quite or nearly straight on them.
In the modification shown in Figures 19 to 23 the centre piece is constructed in
two parts d' and d² the former having a series of cup shaped sockets or spaces d
drilled or otherwise formed therein to take the spherical end 6 of the ribs or
stretchers and also having the orifices d³ cut or sawn nearly right through at the
top and quite right through at the bottom forming the notches while the other
part has concave indents which form the top of ball bearings for the ends or
spheres said part d² in the case of the top centre piece taking over a ring or
extension d from part d' rivetted at the top while the rim de takes tightly over
the outer periphery of part d'. In the travelling centre piece the both parts d'
and d take over the ring or traveller D² part d' fitting down upon protuberance d*
while the top of said traveller is slightly rivetted or swelled out holding both the
parts tightly together.
The joint between the stretchers and ribs is made with the assistance of bar or
wire F and a wing or joint piece consisting of centre piece G¹ and end pieces G³
as shown in Figure 9 but in use this is folded as shown in Figures 10, 11, and, 12,
centrally to form space or jaw G2 and at the ends to form spaces or jaws G* for the
reception of the other parts of the joint. The wire F takes in the space or jaw G³
and in the hollow B³ of the rib B and is fastened therein by means of turn overs or
nicks or notches B' of or in the edges of said hollow of the rib. The stretcher
end has an ordinary joint piece with double centre piece E³ to take in space or
jaw G2 and single outsides E to take in spaces or jaws G. One or both of the
outsides G³ are turned backwardly to give free admission of the rivet or joint pin E
through holes G' in the wing or joint piece and through the corresponding holes in
the centre piece E³ and outsides I which rivet and E' makes the joint when to
complete it the outsides G³ are closed or folded over the whole.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
First. The peculiar centre piece to be used either as a fixed crown or as a
traveller or sleeve constructed with an enclosed space or series of spaces having
orifices slots or apertures thereto through the peripheral shell substantially as herein
described and explained.

page_text: nor as a traveller
s or slots through
ends (as the case
Second. The peculiar centre piece usable either as a fixed
or sleeve having an enclosed space or series of spaces and o.
which orifices or slots enlarged rib ends or enlarged stretch
may be) may be passed to said space or spaces in which they will be retained and
have necessary freedom of movement substantially as herein described and
explained.
Third. The particular combination and arrangement of p: cts together forming
a joint between the ribs and fixed centre piece or crown or reversed forming a
joint between the stretchers and the travelling centre piece or sleeve substantially
as herein described and explained and as illustrated in Figures 3, 4, and 5 of the
drawings.
Fourth. The particular combination and arrangement of parts together forming
a joint between the ribs and fixed centre piece or crown or reversed forming a
joint between the stretchers and the travelling centre piece or sleeve substantially
as herein described and explained and as illustrated in Figures 6, 7, and 8, of the
drawings.
Fifth. The particular combination and arrangement of parts together forming
a joint between the ribs and fixed centre piece or crown or reversed forming a
joint between the stretchers and the travelling centre piece or sleeve substantially
as herein described and explained and as illustrated in Figures 17 and 18 of the
drawings.
Sixth. The particular combination and arrangement of parts together forming
a joint between the ribs and fixed centre piece or crown or reversed forming a
joint between the stretchers and the travelling centre piece or sleeve substantially
as herein described and explained and as illustrated in Figures 19 to 23 of the
drawings.
Seventh. The peculiar construction of rib end and stretcher end having an
enlargement adapted to be passed through an orifice in a centre piece and to be
retained therein with freedom of necessary moveme substantially as herein
described and explained.
Eighth. The peculiar construction of wing or joint piece folded or bent to form
jaws or spaces for the stretcher ends and covering piece for the joint of stretcher
and rib substantially as herein described and expl: ined and as illustrated in
Figures 9, 10, 11, aud 12, of the drawings.
Ninth. The combination and arrangement with a wing or joint piece such as that
claimed in the preceding (sixth) claim of a wire or r taking in the hollow of
the rib and fastened therein by nicks or notches in the sides of said hollow substan-
tially as herein described and explained.
Tenth. The particular combination and arrangement of parts together forming
the joint between the stretcher and the rib substantially as herein described and
explained and as illustrated in Figures 13, 14, and 16, of the drawings.
Eleventh. The particular combination and arrangement of parts all together
forming an improved umbrella substantially as herein described and explained and
as illustrated in the drawings.
And this sah das of Wohmony One thousand eight hundred and ninety-four.
FREDERICK WILLIAM SCHROEDER.
FRANCIS FOY.
Abel & Imray,
Agents for the Applicants.
FREDERICK WILLIAM SCHROEDER.
FRANCIS FOY.
Abel & Imray,
Agents for the Applicants.