Improvements in Folding Umbrellas.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Folding Umbrellas.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the Firm of A. M. & Wm. Clark, of 53,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of
Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication
to me by Peter Hanson, Saloon Keeper, of Wardner, in the County of Shoshone
and State of Idaho; Knut Holm, Mill Man, of Kellogg, also in the County of
Shoshone and State of Idaho; and John Henrick Lampe, Musician, of Wardner,
aforesaid, all in the United States of America), to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to an umbrella so constructed that it may, when not in
use be reduced to less than one half the length of an ordinary umbrella; that the
cover may be readily removed and replaced by a new one or by a cover of another
kind and that the stick may be used indifferently for an umbrella or parasol
frame and cover. The stick comprises an upper section which carries the cover
and a lower or handle section which is made tubular to receive the upper section
within it and provided with a detachable handle. The upper section of the stick
is held when extended by a longitudinal rod which is attached at its lower end to
a cross piece of a sleeve, which is fitted to slide in slots in the lower end of the
handle section of the stick and provided with a coiled spring which is interposed
between the cross piece and a stop in the handle section. The upper end of the
handle section is inwardly curved and the upper end of the rod is provided with
a wedge shaped head which normally stands at the upper end of the handle section.
The lower end of the upper section is closed with the exception of a hole,
through which the rod passes loosely and it is provided with latches having heads
adapted to be forced into engagement with the handle section when the upper
section of the stick is fully drawn out by the wedge on the rod. The runner is
fitted with a lever held normally in engagement with the upper section. The
collar of the crown or top notch has a slot to receive projections on the upper
part of the upper section and the extremity of the latter which extends above
the top notch is threaded to receive the ferrule piece which screws thereon and
clamps the cover in place.
The ribs are in two telescopic sections, the inner section being of paragon shape
and attached to the notch, while the outer section is circular in cross section and
slides on the inner section.
Locking sleeves are secured on the outer ribs, said sleeves being provided with
guide lugs extending downwards from their upper ends with a recess in their
under surface. A guide sleeve is mounted to slide upon each inner section of a
rib, and these sleeves are secured to the upper ends of the outer sections of the
ribs. Each guide sleeve is provided with a spring tongue, which is in the nature
of a latch and has its free end upturned to enter the recess in the locking sleeve
of the outer member, when the sections of a rib are extended as far as possible,
at which time the two sleeves will be brought together.
Each guide sleeve on the inner section of the rib is provided with ears extending

page_text: downward therefrom in such manner as not to interfere with the movement of
the guide sleeves on the paragon sections of the ribs, and the outer ends of the
stretchers are pivoted between the ears the inner ends of the stretchers being pivot-
ally attached to the runners.
As has been heretofore stated, the runner for the frame is removable, and the
attachment of the cover to the ribs is effected through the medium of tubular
tips sewed, or otherwise secured to the cover, the tips being of such shape as to
neatly fit over the lower ends of the outer sections of the ribs. When it is
desired to fold the umbrella, the runner is permited to drop, the latches are dis-
connected from the locking sleeves and the outer sections of the ribs are made to
telescope in the inner sections. The handle sleeve is then carried upward or out-
ward, compressing the spring and taking the wedge head of the latch bar from
between the heads of the latches, whereupon the latches will be free to move
inward sufficiently to disconnect themselves from the handle section of the stick,
and the upper section of the stick may then be made to telescope into the handle
section, until the upper end of the handle section shall strike the lower end of
the top notch. By removing the ferrule piece and the handle, the frame of the
umbrella will be reduced to less than one-half the length of an ordinary umbrella.
The cover during the folding operation is preferably disengaged from the ribs.
If it be desired to substitute a parasol frame for the umbrella frame on the stick,
the ferrule is removed, and the crown, ribs and runner are slipped from the stick
and replaced by corresponding shorter parts.
Dated this 9th day of August 1898
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents 53, Chancery Lane, London.
Improvements in Folding Umbrellas.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the Firm of A. M. & Wm. Clark, of 53.
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of
Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication
to me by Peter Hanson, Saloon Keeper, of Wardner, Knut Holm, Millman, of
Kellogg and John Henrick Lampe, Musician, of Wardner, both in the County of
Shoshone and State of Idaho, United States of America), and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
The object of this invention is to provide an umbrella the stick and ribs whereof
are telescopic, and so constructed that the umbrella may be expeditiously and con-
veniently reduced to less than half the length of the ordinary umbrella, and to
such length that the folded article may be readily carried in an ordinary valise.
Another object of the invention is to provide a means whereby the runner, ribs
and stretchers may be quickly removed from the stick and replaced by corres-
ponding parts of less dimensions, thus enabling the umbrella stick to be quickly
utilized as a stick for a parasol cover and frame. A further object of the invention
is to provide a means whereby both the handle and ferrule may be quickly dis-
engaged from the stick, so as to lessen the length thereof when the parts are slid
one within the other. Another object of the invention is to so construct an
umbrella that the cover may be readily removed and replaced, enabling a number
of covers of different colors to be used in connection with a single frame, the
means provided for the removal of the covers from the frame and the attachment
of the covers to the frame, being such that the covers will not be lacerated or

page_text: injured by their removal or replacement. Another object of the invention is to
accomplish the results above set forth by a construction of folding umbrella which
will be simple, durable, economic and light.
The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several
parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in all the figures.
.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the umbrella frame and stick in position for
use, the frame being opened,
Figure 2 is a side elevation of an umbrella stick and frame in its closed position ;
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken practically on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,
the parts being drawn on a larger scale than in Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of a portion of the frame of the umbrella or parasol
disengaged from the stick;
Figure 5 is a longitudinal vertical section through a portion of the stick. the
parts being drawn on an enlarged scale;
Figure 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6-6 of Figure 5; and
Figure 7 is a longitudinal section through the members of a rib and the con-
necting devices for the rib members.
The stick is made in two sections, a handle section A and an upper section B,
the. two sections being preferably tubular, and the upper section is so constructed
as to slide within the handle section A. The lower end of the handle section
is adapted for detachable connection with a handle C the said lower portion of
the handle section of the stick being provided for example with an exterior
thread 10, enabling the handle to be screwed thereon. Above the lower end of
the handle section of the stick opposing longitudinal slots 11 are made, and
around the slotted portion of the handle section of the stick a sleeve 12 is mounted
to slide, the said sleeve having attached thereto near its lower end a spider 13.
shown in Figures 5 and 6 the arms of the spider being mounted to slide in the
aforesaid slots 11.
Above the spider 13 an apertured partition 14 is horizontally secured within the
handle section A of the stick, and a rod 15 is passed through a suitable opening
in the partition 14, and at its lower end is screwed or otherwise secured in the
spider 13. a spring 10 being coiled around the rod 15. bearing upon the spider
and against the partition 14. The upper end 17 of the handle section of the stick
is preferably given a slight inward curve as shown particularly in Figure 5, and
the upper end of the rod 15 is provided with a wedge-shaped head 18, which
normally stands at the upper end of the aforesaid handle section.
The lower end of the upper section B of the stick is closed with the exception
of an aperture through which the rod 15 loosely passes. This rod is virtually a
latch rod, and is adapted to hold the upper section, when carried out to its fullest
extent from the handle section of the stick, in a fixed position. This is accomplished
by providing slots in opposite sides of the inner or lower end of the upper section
of the stick, and loosely placing or pivoting friction latches 20 in the said slots.
each of the said friction latches being provided with a head 21 at its upper end,
adapted to be forced out in frictional engagement with the upper portion of the
handle section of the stick when the upper portion of the stick is drawn out to
its fullest extent, by reason of the wedge 18 of the latch rod 15 entering the space
between the two latch heads 21, as shown particularly in Figure 5.
An ordinary runner 22 is provided, and the said runner is usually fitted with
a lock lever 23 held normally in locking position by a spring 24 located at the
handle end of the said lever, and the head of the lever 23 is adapted to enter an
opening 25 in the upper section of the stick, as shown in Figure 1, the said opening
being also shown in Figure 3. The collar of the crown or top notch 26 is pro-
vided preferably with a slot 27 (Figure 4) in its lower edge at opposite sides,
adapted to receive projections 28 from the upper portion of the upper section of

page_text: the stick, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The upper end 29 of the upper portion of
the stick, or that part which extends above the crown, is preferably solid, reduced
in diameter and exteriorly threaded in order that the ferrule 30 may be screwed
thereon to bind the cover of the umbrella between its lower end and the top
notch.
A.
The ribs D are made in two telescopic sections 31 and 32. The sections 31
which are the inner sections of the ribs, are secured to the crown in any suitable
or approved manner and are paragon while the other sections 32 of the ribs are
circular in cross section and are adapted to slide in the paragon sections.
sleeve 32 is secured upon the outer extremity of each paragon section 31 of a rib,
and each sleeve 32" is preferably provided with guide lugs 33, extending down-
ward from their upper ends, and each sleeve 32" is further provided with a notch or
recess 34 in its under surface, as shown best in Figures 1 and 7. The sleeves 32"
may be denominated locking sleeves.
A guide sleeve 35 is mounted to slide upon each paragon or inner section of a
rib, and these sleeves are secured in any suitable or approved manner to the upper
ends of the outer or round sections 32 of the ribs. Each guide sleeve is provided
with a spring tongue 36, which is in the nature of a latch and has its free end
upturned to enter the recess 34 in the locking sleeve of the outer member or
section 32 of the rib, as shown in Figures 1 and 7, when the sections of a rib are
extended as far as possible, at which time the two sleeves 32 and 35 will be
brought together.
Each guide sleeve 35 is provided with ears 37, extending downward therefrom
in such manner as not interfere with the movement of the guide sleeves on
the paragon sections of the ribs, and the outer ends of the stretchers 38 are pivoted
between the ears 37 of the guide sleeves, the inner ends of the stretchers being
pivotally attached in the ordinary way to the runners 22.
As has been heretofore stated the runner for the frame is removable, and the
attachment of the cover to the ribs is effected through the medium of tubular
tips 39, sewed or otherwise secured to the cover, the tips being of such shape
as to neatly fit over the lower ends of the outer sections 32 of the ribs, as shown
in Figures 1 and 3. When the ribs are extended to their full length and the
stick of the umbrella likewise, the frame of the umbrella is operated upon the
stick in the usual manner. When it is desired to fold the umbrella, the runner
is permitted to drop, the latches 36 are disconnected from the locking sleeves 32ª,
and the outer sections of the ribs are made to telescope in the inner or paragon
sections, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4. The handle sleeve 12 is then carried
upward or outward, compressing the spring 16 and taking the wedge head of the
latch bar 15 from between the heads 21 of the latches 20, whereupon the latches 20
will be free to move inward sufficiently to disconnect themselves from the handle
section of the stick, and the upper section of the stick may then be made to
telescope into the handle section A, until the upper end of the handle section.
shall strike the lower end of the top notch 26, as shown in Figure 3. By removing
the ferrule 30 and the handle C, the frame of the umbrella will be reduced to
less than one-half the length of an ordinary umbrella. The cover during the
folding operation is preferably disengaged from the ribs.
If it be desired to substitute a parasol frame for the umbrella frame on the
stick, the ferrule 30 is removed, and the crown, ribs and runner are slipped from
the stick and replaced by corresponding shorter parts.
i
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In a folding umbrella, a stick constructed in telescopic sections, one section
being provided with latches and the other with an expanding device adapted for
engagement with the said latches when the stick is at its full length, substantially
as described.

page_text: 2. In a folding umbrella, a stick constructed in telescopic sections, the inner
section at its inner end being provided with latches for engagement with the
outer section, and a spring-controlled latch rod having a wedge head adapted
to enter between the latches of the inner section, for the purpose set forth.
3. In a folding umbrella, the combination, with a stick comprising a handle
section and an upper section held to slide within the handle section, of a sleeve
mounted to slide upon the handle section, a latch rod carried by the said sleeve,
provided with an expanding head, and latches carried by the inner end of the
upper or inner section of the stick, the latches being at opposite sides of the said
latch rod, for the purpose set forth.
4. In a folding umbrella, the combination, with a stick consisting of a handle
section and an upper section held to slide in the handle section, a sleeve mounted
to slide upon the handle section, a spring-controlled latch rod carried by the said
sleeve and located partially within the handle section and partially within the
upper section, the upper end of the latch rod being provided with an expanding
head, of latches capable of movement to and from each other and located at the
inner end of the upper portion of the stick one at each side of the latch rod, the
said latches being provided with heads adapted to engage with the inner wall
of the handle section of the stick, for the purpose specified.
5. In a folding umbrella, a telescopic stick, a handle removable from one
section of the stick, and a ferrule removable from the other section, as and for
the purpose specified.
6. The combination, with the stick of an umbrella, of a top notch or crown,
a runner, telescopic ribs connected with the crown, and stretchers connecting the
runners and the ribs, the crown, ribs, runner and stretchers being collectively
adapted for engagement or disengagement with and from the said stick, for the
purpose specified.
7. In a folding umbrella, a rib consisting of an inner and an outer section. a
locking sleeve secured to the extremity of the inner section, the said sleeve being
provided with a notch in its under face, the outer section of the rib being adapted
to slide through the said sleeve and within the inner section, and a guide sleeve
attached to the inner end of the outer section, the guide sleeve being mounted
to slide on the inner section, and provided also with means for attachment to a
stretcher, and a spring latch carried by the guide sleeve and adapted to enter the
notch in the said locking sleeve, for the purpose specified.
8. In a folding umbrella. a top adapted for attachment to a cover and arranged
for detachable connection with the ribs of the umbrella, for the purpose set forth.
HOR
1000
Kann
FULLU UA AL
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents 53, Chancery Lane, London.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents 53, Chancery Lane, London.