IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, CHARLES HOWELL of St. Enoch Station, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Pulman Car Assistant Superintendent do hereby declare the nature
of the said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS to be as follows:-
This Invention, which relates to improvements in umbrellas, has for its object to
enable a person when carrying an umbrella at a low angle, that is to say more or
less in front of the said person, to see through the umbrella so as to prevent it
being pushed into contact with other, persons or obstructions in the street or road-
way wherein persons carrying umbrellas are walking.
The Invention consists in providing the umbrella with one or more windows
through which the eye of the person carrying such improved umbrella can see and
direct his or her course correspondingly. The window or windows is, are or may
be composed of glass, mica, talc, a sheet of hardened gelatine or other suitable
transparent material which is, are or may be carried in one or more openings
formed in one or more of the ribs or the material with which the umbrella is
covered or such window or windows is, are or may be hinged or otherwise attached'
to one or more of the said riba

page_text: Improvements in Umbrellas.
I, CHARLES HOWELL, of St. Enoch Station, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Pulman Car Assistant Superintendent do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:―
My Invention, which relates to improvements.in umbrellas, has for its object to
enable a person, when carrying an umbrella at a low angle, that is to say, more or
less in front of the said person, to be enabled to see through the umbrella so as to
prevent it being pushed into contact with other persons or obstructions in the street
cy roadway wherein persons; carrying umbrellas, are walking.
'The Invention consists in providing the umbrella with one or more windows
through which the eye of the person carrying such improved umbrella can see and
direct his or her course correspondingly. The window or windows is, are or may
be composed of glass, mica, talc, a sheet of hardened gelatine or other suitable
transparent material, which is, are or may be carried in one or more openings
formed in one or more of the ribs of the material with which the umbrella is
covered or such window or windows is, are or may be hinged or, otherwise attached
to one or more of the said ribs.
In order that, my said Invention may be properly understood and readily carried
into effect, I will now proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed."
Figures 1 to 5 (inclusive) are views of one arrangement of umbrella rib where-
into a, window is capable of being inserted in accordance with my present
Invention.
Figures 6 to 16 (inclusive), Figures 17 to 24 (inclusive), Figures 25 to 35
(inclusive) and Figures 36 to 41 (inclusive) are respectively views of three other
arrangements of means for securing a window in an umbrella in accordance with
my present Invention.
Figure 42, is a side elevation drawn to a reduced scale of an umbrella provided
with a window in accordance with my present Invention.
My Invention, as hereinbefore mentioned consists in arranging one or more
windows of glass, mica, talc or other transparent material in or upon one or more
ribs of an umbrella. It is obvious that these windows may be be fitted into or
upon the ribs of umbrellas in many different ways. and I therefore desire it to be
understood that the arrangements which are hereinafter described and represented
upon the annexed drawings are merely examples of such various applications.
In the arrangement represented at Figures 1 to 5 (inclusive) the rib, into which
the window is to be inserted, is formed in two parts a, and b, each being con-
structed in the manner shewn more particularly at Figures 1 and 2 respectively,
that is to say, each of the said parts is twisted at c, so as to present the grooves of
such ribs sideways. These parts a, and b, are bent as at d, and at their ends e, are
flattened as shewn more particularly in side elevation at Figure 5. The window el,

page_text: as shewn in elevation at Figure 4, and in transverse section at Figure 5, is
secured in the frame which is constituted by the groove of the rib at its hollowed
part d, the two parts a, and b, of the rib being secured together by a serving of
silk as at f, Figure 4, or by other equivalent means.
In the arrangements shewn at Figures 6 to 41 (inclusive) the windows are.
formed in two portions each carried in a frame which is pivoted loosely, upon the
umbrella rib and which arrangements are therefore specially applicable to existing
umbrellas. With reference more particularly to Figures 6 to 16 (inclusive) the last
mentioned frames g, and h, as there représented are constructed of portions of
grooved umbrella ribs and are flattened at their ends where the holes i, are formed
at both ends, or, if desired at one end only, under which construction the other end
of each such frame is made in the form of a hook as shewn more particularly at j,
Figures 10 and 11. The holes i, are slipped over and upon the umbrella rib k,
(Figures 14 and 15) and when the franie is in its proper position, the edge of the
hole formed in the silk or other covering material of the umbrella is turned down
over the said frame. The pieces of glass l, (Figure 16) are then laid in position
and the two parts of the frame drawn towards each other at which time the
covering material is forced into the groove of the said frame, the parts of the frame
being secured in the position so arrived at, by slipping the hooks j, over the rib k,
down upon which the frame may be secured by stitching or by other equivalent
means, the glass, being held in position as indicated at Figures 14, 15 and 16,
respectively in plan of upper side, plan of underside and transverse section. If
desired a portion of India-rubber or equivalent elastic tubing may be placed upon
the rib k, so that the inner edges of the two portions of the window may bear
elastically thereon and thereby prevent the leaking in of rain water.
In the arrangement represented at Figures 17 to 24 (inclusive) the glass is
secured in the underside of each part of the frame m, by the brackets n, and the
strips o; the latter of which are bent under the glass after it has been placed in
position, as shewn more particularly in plan of underside at Figures 21 and 22.
As shewn at Figure 23, in side elevation and at Figure 24, in plan, the two parts
of the frame m, are held together by the umbrella rib p, which is slipped through
the holes q, (Figures 17 and 18) and the silk or other covering material is sewn to
the frame m, by means of the holes r.
The frame which is represented at Figures 25 to 35 (inclusive) is constructed
with an ordinary hinge joint through which the umbrella rib a, passes, as indicated
at Figure 35. Each part of the frame is formed with a ledge t, upon which the
glass or equivalent window material rests and upon which the said window is
secured in position by the light metal frames u, (Figures 27 and 28) which are
rivetted or otherwise secured to the lower parts v, of the frames. The edge of the
silk or other covering material may be secured to the last described arrangement
by being riveted between the frames u, and v, and it may be further secured
thereto by stitching passed through the holes w, in the vertical edge of the
frame v.
The frame which I have shewn at Figures 36 to 41 (inclusive) is one formed of
sheet metal (preferably brass) and the glass is secured to the underside thereof by
means of the clips 2, which are formed independently of such frame but which are
afterwards secured thereto by the rivets y, that is to say, when the frame is being
fixed in an umbrella. The covering material of the umbrella is laid between the
frames z, and a, (Figures 40 and 41) the rivets passing through both these and the
said material which may otherwise. be secured by stitching, India-rubber cement or
in any other convenient manner. This last described arrangement is pivoted upon
the umbrella rib in a manner the same as that described with reference to Figures 6
to 35 (inclusive).
It is to be understood, as will be obvious to a practical mechanic, that the modes
of connecting the glass with the cloth of the umbrella may be modified so as to
produce the essential results constituting this Invention.

page_text: I desire it further to be understood that in place of using a window constructed
of two parts, one of which parts is arranged at each side of an umbrella rib, one
such part only may be employed, that is to say, arranged at one side of such rib.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I "declare that what
I claim is
The improvements in umbrellas consisting of one or more windows of glass or
other equivalent material inserted into or otherwise arranged upon one or more of
the ribs thereof all substantially as and for the purposes herein before set forth with
reference to the annexed drawings.