Improvements in Umbrellas and Parasols.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 15th Mar., 1890
CUMI LEID DI MUIFICATION.
Improvements in Umbrellas and Parasols.
I, SAMUEL BLAKE MCCONNICO of 956 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, in the
Parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, United States of America, Railroad Official,
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 relates to improvements in the ribs of an umbrella or parasol, and in
devices for attaching the cover to the same, and it has for its object to provide a
novel, simple and efficient means whereby the cover of an umbrella or parasol can be
removed and replaced without the air of a skilled person, and I obtain this object by
the mechanism illustrated in the annexed drawings in which-
Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of an umbrella or parasol showing the ribs
provided with the attachments for the eyelets.
Figure 2 is a side view of a raised or expanded umbrella or parasol showing the
cover in place, and showing in dotted lines the position of the cords.
Figure 3, 4, 5, and 6, are detail side views of umbrella or parasol ribs showing the
attachments on the same for holding the eyelets in position.
Figure 7 is a reverse side of a portion of an umbrella cover, and a part of a rib
showing the attachments upon same for holding the eyelets in position.
Figure 8 is a reverse side view of an umbrella cover showing a portion of a rib,
the eyelet and strengthening cords in position.
Figure 9 is a side view of a portion of an umbrella rib with the cover detached
and an eyelet in position.
Figure 10 is a side view of an umbrella provided with my improvements.
Figure 11 is a detail open view showing the tubular tip with the corner of the
umbrella cover in the position for clasping.
Figure 12, shows a closed view of the parts shown in Fig. 11.
Figure 13 is a detail view showing the tubular tip with the side portion of the
umbrella cover closed and adjusted to the end of the umbrella or parasol rib.
Figure 14 is a side view of a modification of the cap piece having a bayonet slot
for connecting the cap with the stick.
In carrying out my invention I form a metal tip C, of tubular construction and of
dimensions sufficiently large to permit the end of an umbrella or parasol rib G, to be
inserted into the opening F. E, is a metal plate of sufficient tension to readily clasp
the side of the cover of an umbrella or parasol.
A, is an umbrella cover. B, is a cap which is adjusted to the rod or stick by means
of a bayonet slot B', in said cap, and a pin B2, in the rod or stick L.
e,
is an eyelet which may be of metal or other material and is held securely in
position on the cover of an umbrella or parasol by a cord G¹, or a tape H¹, as
shown in Figures 7, and 8, and by dotted lines in Figure 2, said cords or tapes
being adjusted to the cover and encircling the eyelet in such a manner as to hold
same in a secure position.
The ribs G-are made in the ordinary manner with the exception that each is
provided with an attachment D, which is made in the form of a hook or small
projecting spur.
c, is the outer or lower end of the rib.
The attachments D, may be constructed as shown in either Figures 3, 4, 5, or 6,
with sufficient tension to permit the eyelet e, to be readily adjusted as shown in
Fig. 9, or where preferable said hooks or spurs may be dispensed with and the tips
shown in Figures 11, 12, and 13, be used, thus giving a sufficient bearing to hold
the cover in position.

page_text: In adjusting the cords G², or tapes H', to the cover A, of an umbrella or parasol it
may be placed on the reverse side of the cover as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2,
thus giving increased strength to the seams, or where preferable a tape or cord may
be placed near the edge of the cover, as shown in Fig. 8, the eyelets e, being securely
attached to cover A. The latter is simply placed over the rod or stick L, in the usual
manner and is drawn over the ribs G, and the eyelets e, are pressed over the ends of
the ribs at c, or in the groove or loop by compressing the rib G, and is held in
position by the attachment D, which acts as a bearing or shoulder. When it is
desired to release the eyelet simply compress the rib of the umbrella or parasol
slightly and pull the eyelet towards you, and it can be readily disengaged.
A striking advantage of the device is, that it gives strength to a heretofore
weak point in attaching the cover of an umbrella or parasol to the ends of the
ribs thus avoiding all injury to the cover, which would be incurred where an
attachment is made by sewing the cover to the ribs or in using the metal tips for said
purpose.
The tips may be adjusted to the cover of an umbrella or parasol handle before or
after the adjustment of the cap B, by simply compressing the plate E, over the end
of the material which forms the covering of the umbrella or parasol, and when the
tip has been thus adjusted the end of the rib is inserted in the conical opening in the
tip there being sufficient space in said opening to permit the rib of the umbrella or
parasol to be readily adjusted or removed by the tension of the rib of the umbrella or
parasol.
From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that the cover may be auto-
matically released at the end of each rib at pleasure by merely bending the rib and
releasing the tip, and unless the rib is so bent the cover will remain secure.
The bayonet slot in the cap engaging a pin on the stick or handle permits the cap
to be held thereon and adjusted in a manner substantially like a bayonet on the barrel
of a musket.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1-In an umbrella or parasol such as described, the combination with the rib
thereof of an attachment comprising an eyelet adapted to engage the edge of the
cover and the end of the rib, substantially as specified.
2-In an umbrella or parasol such as described, the combination with the ribs and
cover of an eyelet detachably connected to the cover and adapted to be engaged with
and disengaged from the ribs to attach and remove the cover from the frame of the
article, substantially as specified.
3-In an umbrella or parasol, such as described, the method of adjusting the cover
by means of eyelets placed on the edge of the cover and pressed over the ends of
the ribs and held in place by spring catches D, substantially as specified.
4-In an umbrella or parasol the combination with the frame and cover, of the
eyelets adjusted to the cover by cords or tapes substantially as specified.
5-In an automatic cover for an umbrella or parasol, the combination with the
umbrella frame and the cover therfor, of the tip provided with an opening for
adjusting the end of an umbrella or parasol rib and a plate for clasping the edge of
the cover of the same, substantially as specified.
6-In an umbrella or parasol, the combination with the ribs and a removable.
cover, of eyelets for securing the edges of the cover to the ribs, substantially as
specified.
Dated this 12th day of October 1880.
SAMUEL BLAKE MCCONNICO.
Per Huelser & Co.,
142, Fleet Street, London, their Attorneys.