Improvements in Umbrellas, Parasols, and Sunshades.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Aug., 1889
omplete Specification Left, 5th May, 1890-Accepted, 2nd Aug.. 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Umbrellas, Parasols, and Sunshades.
1, EMIL WEIDLICH of 14 Benwell Road Holloway in the County of London
Manufacturers' Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention refers to improvements in umbrellas and has for object to reduce
the bulk and weight thereof whilst increasing the strength and improving the
appearance.
The stick of the umbrella is made tubular and of a fluted section and is preferably
joined to a handle of wood ivory or other suitable material. Sometimes I prefer to
drill a deep hole into the end of the handle of sufficient size near the opening to
allow the tubular stick to enter, and smaller further in, so as to allow of a screw
which is brazed or otherwise fixed in the stick, to be securely screwed into the wood.
Or in order to further reduce the weight I make the screw shorter and of smaller
diameter than it would otherwise have to be, and insert the plain end thereof into a
tube which fits into the inside of the stick. Instead of using a separate screw the
tube may be screw threaded at the end entering the handle. The insertion of the
small tube considerably stiffens and strengthens the stick at that part and the parts
being brazed or otherwise firmly joined together, a strong joint results, with the
minimum weight. A tube of this description may also be inserted in any
other part of or the whole length of the stick. Or I dispense with the screw or tube
or both and make a screw thread on the end of the stick instead.
For the purpose
of preventing the stick from coming unscrewed a pin screw or rivet may be put
through the handle and the aforesaid screw, or through the handle and stick, or any
other suitable wedging device or material such as glue india rubber solution or the
like may be employed, but I prefer using a cap or plate of metal wood or other
suitable material with a hole stamped or cut in the middle thereof corresponding to
the flutings in the stick. This cap or plate is then pinned or screwed on to the
handle and effectually prevents the stick from unscrewing by reason of its fitting
into the fluting in the stick. The cap may be perfectly flat or of a more or less cup
like or conical section to fit on to the handle and when a tip cap is employed the
latter may be spun over it and is thereby prevented from slipping off. Sometimes it
may be made in the form of a plate for use with an ivory or similar handle, the latter
may be recessed in such manner that the plate is put over and fitting round the stick
is forced into the recess by any suitable means so as to do away with the necessity
for pins or the like, the recess being of a square or other shape to prevent the stick
from turning.
In order to make the ribs and stretchers fit closer to the stick I partly or wholly
reduce the diameter at that part where the gits are when the umbrella is folded up
and I strengthen the stick by inserting a tube or rod at that part.
The shoe part which is formed of metal wood or other suitable material is secured
to the stick in a similar manner by means of a screw fixed in a tube brazed to the
stick as described with reference to the foregoing.
The runner is made somewhat like those in common use with the exception that it
is provided with flutings extending only a small part of its length to fit the stick, or
it may have one or more longitudinal or lateral projections entering the flutings of
the stick. In the latter case the projections are at one end only, the rest of the runner
being plain and cylindrical.
The catches may consist of pieces of spring wire bent round into the required

page_text: shape and fitting into opposite flutings in the interior of the stick that is provided with
holes through which the catch parts of the catches normally project.
Dated this 3rd day of August 1889.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.
i
1
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Umbrellas, Parasols, and Sunshades.
I EMIL WEIDLICH of 14 Benwell Road, Holloway, in the County of London,
Manufacturers' Agent 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 refers to improvements in umbrellas and the like and has for object
reduce the bulk and weight thereof, increasing the strength and improving the
Appearance and affording facility for easily fixing and removing or exchanging
the handle and ferrule end, the latter also facilitating the re-covering of the
umbrella.
I shall first describe the improved modes of fixing the handle to the umbrella
slick, and as applied to a stick of a tubular, fluted section with eight flutings but
applicable to a stick with less or more number of flutings. The handle may, as
heretofore, he of wood, ivory, zylonite, or other suitable material. The essential
feature in all the modes is that the stick and the handle are united by means of a
screw fixed to or formed on the stick and entering the handle, but in such manner
that the end of the stick itself is also recessed into the handle for the sake of strength
or otherwise; a ring of special form is fixed over the joint between the stick and the
handle for the sake of strength. Another feature is that I provide means for
preventing the handle from working loose but yet so as to be easily detached without
disfiguring the parts.
In the longitudinal section Figure 1 and end view Figure 2 is shown one mode of
fixing the handle. The stick A has a thin tube O driven into it, and into this tube is
fixed by soldering (or screwing) a screw D. Its protruding end is screwed into the
handle B into which the end of the stick A is also recessed This forms a strong
union with the handle and prevents breakage in the place where it is exposed to the
greatest strain. The insertion of the tube O considerably stiffens and strengthens
the stick at that part, and the tube being brazed or soldered to the stick a strong
joint results with minimum weight. For the purpose of preventing the handle from
becoming unscrewed from the stick I prefer using a cap or plate of metal, wood or
other suitable material with a hole stamped or cut in the middle thereof corresponding
to the flutings of the stick and secured to the handle. The cap Q is of such a form,
having as shewn at Figure 2 a hole through so as to fit the flutings of the stick
and being secured to the handle by means of pins or screws Q¹. The cap may be
perfectly flat as shewn or of a more or less cup like or conical section to fit on
the handle, and when a tip cap, as for instance, R is employed the latter may be
spun over it and will thereby be prevented from slipping off. Sometimes it may be
inade in the form of a plate for use with an ivory or similar handle and the latter
may be recessed in such manner that the plate is put over and fitting round the
stick is forced into the recess by any suitable means so as to do away with the
necessity for pins or the like, the recess being of-a square or other shape to prevent
the stick from turning.
But as already stated I prefer to attach the handle in such a manner that it can
readily be taken off and exchanged for another. This does away with the necessity
for the keeping so many umbrellas in stock fitted with handles, so that the customer
having chosen the frame and cover which he prefers may next select the kind of

page_text: handle he like which handle is then readily put on; he may also at any time, say,
when having the umbrella recovered have a new handle fitted according to his
funcy. Umbrellas thus made take up less room in length when the handle is
detached.
In Figure 5 is shown another mode of attaching the handle; the tube O is in
this case omitted, and the screw D is fixed on the stick A directly, say by soldering
or it may be by screwing.
Figure 6 shews another form in which the screw D is tubular.
In Figure 7 the screw D and tube O are dispensed with, the end of the stick being
turned down solder run into the fissures produced and a screw thread then formed
thereon.
Figure 8 shows yet another form which is suitable for a handle of but little larger
thickness than the stick. The screw D is fixed in the stick as before, either directly
or by the intervention of a tube O and either screwed in or soldered in the stick,
but instead of the stick being recessed into the handle the two are united by a cap Q
which at one end is cut out to fit the corrugations of the stick A and is fixed to the
handle by one or more screws Q¹.
Figure shews a similar mode of attachment for the case of a stick of the same
diameter as the handle.
In order to make the ribs and stretchers fit closer to the stick I reduce the diameter
of the stick at that part where the gits are when the umbrella is folded up, as shewn
at A' in the sectional views Figures 11 and 12, and I strengthen the stick by inserting a
tube Oor a rod at that part. The stick may as shewn in Figure 12 be partly
reduced, that is to say have only every other rib reduced, the rest of the ribs being
untouched and, in this way I afford sufficient space for the rib and stretcher joints
The parts cut through by the reduction should be united, and united with the tube by
soldering. Instead of reducing four of the ribs I may reduce six leaving only two
opposite ribs as guide for the runner.
The ferrule end part which is formed of wood, xylonite, metal or other suitable
material is serowed to the stick in the manner shewn in Figure 13 viz., by means of a
screw L screwed into a tube 0° which is secured in the end of the stick A. Or the
tube O may be omitted, and a solid or tubular screw L be secured in the stick.
The protruding end of the screw screwed into the ferrule end K which latter can
thus be readily put on, taken off and exchanged as required to match the style and
colour of the handle and facilitating the transit by shortening the length of the
package. At the same time this detachable mode of construction affords the advantage
above referred to with regard to the handle. Figures 13 and 14 also shew the manner
in which I prefer to fix the notch M the latter being screwed on to the screw Land
after being placed in the right position relatively to the flutings of the stick it is
secured by solder.
The aforesaid mode of connecting the stick and the ferrule endly greatly facilitates
the re-covering of the umbrella, as the ferrule end K is readily unscrewed when
required. This mode is applicable to umbrella sticks with a smaller or larger number
of flutings than here shewn.
The runner S Figures 1 and 3 is made somewhat like those in common use, that
is to say, cylindrical inside and out with the exception that it is provided with flutings
at S extending only a small part of its length, say or inch to fit the stick. Ör
as shewn at Figure it may have only one or more inward projections which enter
the flutings of the stick. The inward projection or projections S₁ may as preferred
be at one end as shewn in Figure 1 or in any other part. The form of runner
described is also applicable to umbrella sticks having a larger or smaller number of
flutings than here shewn. It ensures minimum weight, neat appearance, sufficient
guidance on the stick, and slight working friction.
The catches may be as shewn in Figure 1, or may be made of spring wire bent
into the required shape and fitting into opposite flutings in the interior of the stick
which is provided with holes for the catch parts to project normally.

page_text: 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. The modes of fixing the handle to a fluted umbrella stick substantially as set
forth.
2. The modes of fixing the handle to a fluted umbrella stick as shewn in the
drawing.
3. The modes of connecting a fluted umbrella stick with the ferrule end substantially
as set forth.
4. The modes of connecting a fluted umbrella stick with the ferrule end as shewn
in the drawing.
5. The screw Figures 12 and 13 serving to unite the fluted umbrella stick and the
ferrule end and for fixing the notch substantially as set forth.
6. In a hollow fluted umbrella stick reducing the ribs at A' Figures 10 and 11 to
allow the rib and stretcher joints to enter more deeply into the flutings and thus
reduce the bulk of the umbrella while the loss of strength thus occasioned at this
place is counteracted by the internal tube 01 substantially as set forth.
7. The construction of runner for fluted umbrella stick, the runner being
cylindrical and with one or more inward projections to fit the fluting or flutings
substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 3.
Dated this 5th day of May
1000
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.