IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jules Minière, of Bordeaux (France), Gentleman, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS."
Sealed the 13th August 1878 and dated the 20th February 1878
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jules Minière at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th February 1878.
JULES MINIÈRE, of Bordeaux (France), Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN UM-
BRELLAS AND PARASOLS."
The improvements in the construction of umbrellas, parasols, sunshades, and the
like have essentially for object to cause the umbrella or parasol to close auto-
matically and by one hand. This double result is obtained by two means.
The first consists in adapting in special conditions to existing stretchers of
umbrella springs of forms and material destined to bring the stretchers together
one with the other, and thus effect an automatic closing.
The second method consists in using a metallic rod within a groove formed in
the stick or cane to put the hand upon, which holds the handle, the rod being in
connection with the spring catch which holds the runner (the umbrella being open),
or direct upon the runner itself.
1. To bring together the stretchers I envelope them near the runner notch with
an india-rubber ring, or by a spiral spring; this ring is retained in the catches
fastened to the stretchers.
2. I can replace this elastic ring by a cluster of blades of steel constituting a
spring. These blades are fixed at one end to the stretchers, and at the other to a
ferrule running on a socket forming part of the runner.
3. These spring blades, instead of being jointed separately to the runner, can be
joined together in pairs and be placed between the stretchers. These coupled
springs at one end are articulated to the runner notch like the stretchers, and at the
[Price fid]

page_text: other ends the neighbouring end of one of the other pair are connected by a sliding
ring which is loose upon the stretcher.
4. Instead of being joined to the runner the spring plates may be fixed by a socket
at each side of the stretchers as to cause pressure against the same, the free end
being loosely connected to allow play and free movement.
METHOD OF CLOSING BY THE HAND THAT HOLDS THE UMBRELLA.
I employ a metallic rod or wire sunk in a groove in the stick; its lower end
terminates in a button or knob, and at the upper part it is connected by a chain to
a spring-retaining catch, which chain can bring or draw the catch from the runner
to free it. I can replace the chain by a quadrant or bell-crank lever.
To disengage the runner I can substitute a pushing action for pulling action,
and in that case I employ a rod to act upon the incline of the catch and push it
into the stick.
I cause the wire rod to act direct upon the runner, and in this case it is held
by a flat spring formed with a projection or tongue to engage in a recess of the
runner.
I can also replace the button or knob by a loose runner or forrule which is
within reach of the hand and upon the stick. The degree of movement of this
ferrule is regulated by a screw penetrating the stick.
I can adapt near the end of the wire rod near the piece which draws the runner
a coiled spring, which presses upon the runner to bring back the moveable ferrule
to its first position. In this case the lower ferrule re-enters the runner when the
umbrella is closed; without the coiled spring the ferrule would remain out.

page_text: To bring together the stretchers A, A, I envelope them by a cluster of blades
of spring steel E, E, as in Figure 1. These blades are attached at one end of the
stretchers and at the other to a ferrule F, which is capable of sliding upon a tube A¹
forming a prolongation of the barrel of the runner above the notch.
When the umbrella is opened the stretchers spread outwards from the stick, and
draw with them the ends of the blades E, E, which separate themselves and cause
the ferrule F to descend, sliding upon the tube A', and thus to approach the runner
notch.
These spring blades E, E, instead of being joined separately to the runner, can be
joined or coupled together in pairs and be placed between the stretchers A, A,
Figure 2. These coupled springs at one end are articulated to the runner notch
like the stretchers, and at the other ends the neighbouring ends of two of the
adjoining blades are connected by a sliding ring b which is loose upon the stretcher.
Instead of being jointed to the runner notch the spring blades E, E, may be
fixed by a socket d at each side of the stretchers, as in Figure 3, as to cause
pressure against the same, the free ends being loosely connected to allow the
necessary play to their movement.
METHOD OF CLOSING BY THE HAND THAT HOLDS THE UMBRELLA.
I employ a metallic rod or wire H sunk in a groove in the stick, in which it can
slide, see Figure 4; its lower end terminates in a button or knob I, and at the
upper part it is connected by a chain J to the spring-retaining catch G, which chain
can bring or draw the catch from the runner to disengage it. I can replace the
chain by a bell-crank lever K, as in Figure 6.
To disengage the runner I can substitute a pushing action for the pulling action,
and in that case I employ a rod P, see Figure 6, to act upon the incline of the catch
and push it into the stick.
I cause a wire rod to act direct upon the runner, and in this case, see Figure 7,
it is held by a flat spring L formed with a projection or tongue to engage in a recess
of the runner C.
I can also replace the button or knob by a loose runner or ferrule M, see Figure 8,
which is within reach of the hand and upon the stick. The degree of travel or
movement of this ferrule is regulated by a screw penetrating the stick.

page_text: I can adopt near the end of the wire rod near the piece which draws the runner
a coiled spring Q, which presses upon the runner C to bring back the moveable
ferrule M to its first position. In this case the lower ferrule re-enters the runner
when the umbrella is closed; without the coiled spring the ferrule would remain
out and form a prolongation of the runner, the umbrella being closed.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim the principle
of automatically closing umbrellas by the coming together of the stretchers; but I
do claim,-
First. The arrangement of a cluster of blades applied to stretchers, and forming
springs to bring together the said stretchers automatically, as described with
reference to Figure 1 of the annexed Drawings.
Secondly. The arrangement of the blades described and shown in Figure 3 of
the annexed Drawings, for the purposes set forth.
Thirdly. The several modes of automatically closing umbrellas by one hand by
drawing by one or other of the arrangements shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the annexed
Drawings.
Fourthly. The mode of closing umbrellas by pushing, as described, and as shown
in Figure 6 of the annexed Drawings.
Fifthly. The other arrangement of automatically closing, as described and shown
at Figures 7 and 8 of the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jules Minière, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twelfth day of August, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-eight.
Witness,
CH. ARMENGAUD,
Civil Engineer.
JULES MINIÈRE. (LS.)