Improvements in Umbrellas.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 8th Feb., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Umbrellas.
I, FERDINAND MÜSSEN of Warstein, German Empire, Manufacturer 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 :-
The invention shewn in the drawings herewith relates to a peculiarly arranged
umbrella which may be easily folded into a small space so that it may be readily put
into a box or the travelling luggage. It is likewise intended to enable the umbrella
stick to be used as a walking stick.
In order to answer the said capabilities the general detail arrangements of the
umbrella must be specially adapted.
In the drawings herewith :-
Fig. 1 shows the umbrella unfolded.
Fig. 2 the same in partly folded position.
:
Fig. 3, 4 and 5 show the peculiar construction of the ribs and their connection with
the expanding ribs.
Fig. 6 shows the umbrella entirely folded up.
Fig. 7 shows the stick applied as walking-stick.
Fig. 8 shows the upper head of the umbrella as well as the contrivance for
fastening same to the stick.
Fig. 9 is a ground plan.
Fig. 10, 11 and 12 is the slide to which the expanding ribs are attached.
The construction of the umbrella and its single parts is as follows:-
The unbrella consists of a stick A, which is formed of two parts 6 and d, that can
be screwed into each other. The parts may be so completely joined to each other and
provided with a like paint, varnish etcetera so that it looks just like a walking stick
whenever it is disconnected from the umbrella frame, as in Fig. 7.-The umbrella
frame, which is to be connected with the stick is of a peculiar construction. The
frame is provided with the two head pieces a and f, of which the upper one a is
larger in diameter, than the lower one f, or that this latter, the smaller_one, may find
room within or underneath the larger head piece a, as is shewn in Fig. 6, so that
the sliding head-piece f, carrying the expanding ribs B, which are purposely made
a little shorter, than the upper parts D of the frame ribs, can be brought against the
upper head-piece a and in between the frame ribs.
The upper head piece a is provided with a springy pin 9, which effects the
connection between the umbrella stick and the head-piece a or the frame-ribs DE
respectively by clicking into the hole of the umbrella stick A (see Fig. 1 and 6).
The head-piece a connected with the stick A, in the manner described, carries the
frame-ribs DE, which are formed of two parts D and E, which may be pushed into
each other, as shewn in Fig. 1-4. The upper parts D) of the frame-ribs D E are
connected, by hinges, with the expanding ribs B, see Fig. 1, 2 and 4, 6, while the
lower parts E, are joined to the umbrella-cover F, and may be doubled up ontwards,
when the umbrella is to be folded up (Fig. 6).
The parts D and E of the frame ribs may be pushed into each other when they are
in the position shewn in Fig. 2 that is to say when the umbrella is partly opened.
The parts D and E of frame-ribs are held together through the tension of cover F
and the expanding ribs B and through the friction of the parts at their joint i.
The cross or expanding ribs B which are connected with the upper part D, of the
frame ribs, grip into the head-piece f, which slides on the stick A d. The said head-
piece is provided with a shell k, on which is a pressure-lever 1, provided with a
pin m, which when the umbrella is open clicks into the hole n on stick A 6 and when
the umbrella is closed clicks into the lower hole o.

page_text: By means of the lever it is possible to hold the umbrella secure whether open or
closed without the necessity of providing other mechanisms.
:-
The method of employing an umbrella constructed as described is as follows
When it is required to put the umbrella into condition for use (Fig. 1) from the
position shewn in Fig. 6, then the two stick-parts b and d are firstly screwed together
and passed through the two head-pieces a and f.-The frame, ribs D E are partly
expanded thereby bringing the head-piece finto such a position that it can con-
veniently glide up and down on the stick-part d, while the upper head-piece a is'
fastened on the upper stick-part 6 by means of pin g. The umbrella is now in the
condition shewn in Fig. 2 and the frame rib pieces D and E can be pushed into each
other, and the umbrella is now ready for use as soon as the lower head-piece is fixed
by means of lever and pin m in the requisite position.
b
The umbrella is taken to pieces in the opposite order, which is quite as simple as
putting it together. The contrivance can also be used as a sun-shade.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :
1. A folding umbrella consisting essentially of a divisable stick A and a frame of
which the ribs are in two parts (D and E) which can be joined and held in position
by means of the tension exerted by the covering material F, and the expanding
ribs B, all substantially in the manner as and for the purpose described and as shewn
in the drawings.
2. In such umbrellas the arrangement for connecting the stick A with the frame
consisting essentially of the elastic levers p and I with pins g and m, which click into
holes h, n, o substantially in the manner as and for the purpose described and as
shewn in the drawings.
London, 28th December 1889.
FERDINAND MÜSSEN.
Per C. R. Bonne & Co.,
41, Eastcheap, his Agents.