Improvements in Umbrellas and Parasols, and in their Manufacture.
Year: 1889

page_text: * Date of Application, 18th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 17th Dec., 1889--Accepted, 1st Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Umbrellas and Parasols, and in their Manufacture.
1, HENRY ALBERT FLEUSS of 19 Adelaide Road Brockley in the County of Kent
Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as
follows
'
This Invention relates mainly to umbrellas and parasols in which a metal stick
which in section is of a cross like form is used and in which two of the ribs are made
to lie in each of the four spaces between the four radial webs which form the stick.
I make the stick from a tube of metal. At four points around the circumference
I cause the metal of the tube to be pressed inwards so as to form the tube into four
equidistant webs radiating from the centre of the tube with four grooves or channels
between them. The two sides of each web I close together where they approach
towards the centre preferably making them to touch one another leaving the sides of
the outer extremity of the web at a distance apart from one another so forming each
radial web into somewhat of a pear shape. In this way great strength is obtained
and the grooves or channels between the webs are made as wide as practicable near to
the centre of the stick. Metal sticks of the same form might also be formed of the
same section in other ways than by making them from tubes.-In order to permit of
the two ribs and stretchers which lie in each channel of the stick being brought as
near to the centre of the stick as is practicable I make the ribs and stretchers of a
trough form like that known as Paragon rib. The stretcher I flatten at the end for
some distance and somewhat bend the flattened end to cause it to enter between the
sides of the rib. In order that the joint pin may be as near to the rounded bottom of
the trough rib as is practicable I form a hole through the bottom of the rib and
through the git so that the edge of the end of the stretcher may come nearly level
with the exterior of the git. The two sides of the rib where the git embraces it I also
bend inwards towards one another thereby diminishing in width that part of the joint
which is nearest to the centre of the stick.
For the purpose of giving more space for the joints I also in some cases make
holes through the radial webs of the stick where the joints would come against them.
In this way the stretcher joints of the two ribs in one channel of the stick. may abut
against the stretcher joints of the ribs in the adjacent channels of the stick.
In some cases also in place of applying a git to the rib where the stretcher is
to be jointed to it I cut the material to form the rib from a sheet of metal leaving
projections at the sides of the strip of metal in the position where the joint pin is
to come--I then bond the metal to a trough form like that known as Paragon rib.
For cutting out the blanks for forming the ribs. I use slitting rolls to cut them from
strips of the full width requisite for the projections at the sides and I use a second
pair of rolls for bending the blanks into the U form. The circumference of the rolls
should be equal to the length of a rib.
The top notch to which the extremities of the ribs are jointed I form of a stout
metal tube-Part of the outer extremity of each web of the stick where the stick is
to be surrounded by the tube is cut away so that the exterior of the tube may be of
about the same diameter as the stick. Around the outer circumference of the tube
are two grooves one for the fabric of the cover to be secured into, the other for the
joint wire to lie in.
Dated this 18th day of March 1889.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Umbrellas and Parasols, and in their Manufacture.
I, HENRY ALBERT FLEUSS of 19 Adelaide Road, Brockley in the County of Kent,
- Mechanical Engineer, 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 :-
This invention relates mainly to umbrellas and parasols in which a metal stick
which in section is of a cross like form is used and in which two of the ribs are made
to lie in each of the four spaces between the four radial webs which form the stick.
I make the stick from a tube of metal. At four points around the circumference
1 cause the metal of the tube to be pressed inwards so as to form the tube into four
equidistant webs radiating from the centre of the tube with four grooves or channels
between them. The two sides of each web I close together where they approach
towards the centre preferably making them to touch one another leaving the sides of
the outer extremity of the web at a distance apart from one another so forming each
radial web into somewhat of a pear shape. In this way great strength is obtained
and the grooves or channels between the webs are made as wide as practicable near to
the centre of the stick. Metal sticks of the same form might also be formed of the
same section in other ways than by making them from tubes.
To make a stick of the above form from a tube of metal I preferably proceed in the
following manner.
1 first cause one end of the tube to be indented at four points of its circumference
in the manner shown at Figures 1 and 2-this may be done by causing four dogs or
blades to be brought against the circumference of the tube and to be moved inwards
radially towards its centre. The indented end is then passed through a die of
corresponding form and the tube is drawn through the die-so bringing the tube to
the section shewn at Figure 3. Or in place of bringing the tube to this section by a
single passage through a die-it may be effected by the use of two or more dies in
succession as is well understood and if necessary the tubes may be annealed between
successive drawings.
For the final drawing I use a die which brings the stick to a section such as
shown at Figure 4-the two sides of each of the radial webs being brought together
except at the outer portions of the web where the sides are left apart to form as
it were a thickening bead all along the outer edge of each web.
Preferably I form the sticks from tubes of brass German silver or steel but any
metal which can be drawn down by dies might be used.
In place of forming the sticks from tubes they might be formed of a similar section
in other ways as for example in the ways shewn at Figures 5, 6 and 7.
In the way shewn at Figure 5 the stick is formed from two thin strips of steel
bent to the form shewn and held together by their edges being embraced by two
strips of trough wire and by soldering.
In the way shewn at Figures 6 the stick is formed from two thin strips bent
to the form shewn and held together by four strips of trough wire and by soldering.
In the way shewn at Figures 7 the stick is formed from two thin strips bent to the
form shewn and held together by soldering.
In order to permit of the two ribs and stretchers which lie in each channel of
the stick being brought as near to the centre of the stick as is practicable I make
the ribs and stretchers of a trough form like that known as Paragon rib. The
stretcher I flatten at the end for some distance and somewhat bend the flattened
end to cause it to enter between the sides of the rib. The two sides of the rib
where the git embraces it may also if desired be bent inwards-towards one another
thereby diminishing in width that part of the joint which is nearest to the centre
of the stick. The ends of the ribs which are jointed to the top notch have their
sides flattened together as usual but in place of such flattening extending only as
is usual to just beyond the joint I make it to extend to about 1 to 2 inches from

page_text: the joint so as at this point to give sideway flexibility to the ribs to allow them
the better to adjust themselves in the channels of the stick when the umbrella is
closed.
Figure 8 shews part of one of the ribs and stretchers where they are jointed
together. Figure is another view of the stretcher end. Figure 10 is a cross
section of the joint and Figure 11 a cross section of the rib and stretcher. Figure 12
is a cross section of the stick with all the ribs and stretchers lying in their places as
when the umbrella is folded up. At Figure 11* I have shewn a view similar to
figure 11 but with the stretcher made somewhat of a V form in cross section so that
the stretchers may be made to approach more closely to the centre of the stick.
For the purpose of giving more space for the joints I also in some cases cut away
part of the sides of the radial webs of the stick where the joints would come against
them.
In some cases in place of applying a git to the rib where the stretcher is to bo
jointed to it I form the trough rib with projections in one piece with it standing up
from its two opposite sides where the joint pin is to be supported.
Part of a trough rib formed with projections standing up from its two opposite
sides is shewn at Figure 13 and in cross section at figure 14. Preferably I make
such a rib from a trough wire of a greater depth than required for the finished rib
and I cut away the upper part of the two opposite sides of the trough except where
the projections are to be left standing out from them. This may be done by making
the rib to travel endwise below a rapidly revolving circular cutter.
The top notch to which the extremities of the ribs are jointed I form of a stout
metal tube. Part of the outer extremity of each web of the stick where the stick is to
be surrounded by the tube is cut away so that the exterior of the tube may be of
about the same diameter as the stick. Around the outer circumference of the tube
are two grooves one for the fabric of the cover to be secured into, the other for the
joint wire to lie in.
A side elevation end view and longitudinal section of the top notch are shewn at
Figures 15, 16 and 17.
Figure 18 is a side elevation of the end of the stick with the top notch secured to it
and also a tip end piece-Figure 19 is a longitudinal section of the same-Figure 20
is a cross section through the stick and top notch.
A is the groove formed around the outer circumference of the tube for the fabric of
the cover to be secured into and B the groove for the joint wire to lie in-are the
ordinary notches to receive the ends of the ribs. Dare grooves formed lengthwise
through the interior of the tube for the edges of the four radial ribs of the stick to be
passed into in this way the top notch is restrained from turning around the stick-
E is a rivet for holding the top notch to the stick-F is a tube extending from the
end of the top notch to embrace an end piece G by which the end of the stick is
surrounded.
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. The manufacture of metal sticks for umbrellas and parasols with longitudinal
webs extending outwards radially and thickened along their outer edge substantially
as described.
2. The manufacture of such metal sticks by drawing tubes of thin metal through
dies substantially as described.
3. In umbrellas and parasols in which when the umbrella or parasol is closed the
ribs and stretchers are made to lie in longitudinal grooves in the stick, making the
ribs and stretchers of trough or paragon wire and with the joints between the ribs and
stretchers formed as herein before described.
4. The construction of the ribs of trough wire having in one piece with it
projections standing up from the opposite sides of the trough where the stretcher
is to be jointed to the rib substantially as described.

page_text: 5. The construction of the top notch of a tube of metal secured to the stick and
having grooves around its circumference and notches to receive the ends of the ribs,
substantially as described.
6. The construction of the top notch substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated at Figures 15 to 20.
תידינו
1
n
1800