Improvements in Parasols and Fans.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Ar., 1895- ccepted, 24th May, 1895
Improvements in Parasols and Fans.
We, MATHIAS STOCKLMEIER, Farmer, and CHARLES AUGUSTUS BRONAUGH,
Merchant, both of Los Gatos, County of Santa Clara, State of California, United
States of America, 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 :-
Our invention relates to improvements in parasols.
It consists in certain details of construction which will be more fully explained
by reference to the accompanying drawings upon which:
Figure 1 shows the device entirely folded and the joint mechanism.
Figure 2 is a view of the parasol extended showing the overlapping ribs and
catch and the extension joint.
Figure 3 shows the parasol converted into a fan.
The object of our invention is to provide an article which may be converted, into
an ordinary parasol standing at right angles with the handle, or a carriage parasol
where it lies parallel with the handle, or a fan, or it may be folded entirely into
such small compass as to be carried in a hand-bag or pocket.
The parasol proper consists of elastic ribs A having preferably a flat section one
end of each rib being pivoted to a central head or pin B so that all the ribs but
one A', are revoluble about this pin. The rib A' may be formed with or secured
to the inner disc or collar E, between which and the outer one the remaining ribs
are pivoted.
The covering C is connected with the ribs so that when the parasol is extended,
the covering is sufficiently narrower than the entire circumference of the parasol
to leave the stationary rib, and the last movable on a short distance apart when
the ribs have been moved around the centre so as to occupy the position which
they should do when the parasol is opened.
In this condition the parasol is approximately a flat disc having radial ribs
extending from the centre to the periphery, being suitably fastened to the outer
covering and having any ornamental border or margin which may be desired.
Upon either the movable or stationary rib A or A', which are adjacent to cach
other, I form a hook or catch D of any suitable or desired description which is
adapted to engage with the adjacent rib when the two are forcibly brought together.
The action of forcibly bringing these ribs together will, by reason of the tension
of the covering, draw the whole dise into the curved concavo-convex form of a
parasol, and the hook or other fastening being engaged, one of these adjacent ribs
lies over the other and thus closes the joint, making a complete circle and the
concavo-convex form necessary for the parasol.
The head or pin B about which the ribs turn has two discs or collars E between
which the ribs are fitted and turn.
The pin extends down a short distance on the interior or concave side of the
parasol, this extension being flattened upon one side, and the corresponding end of
the rod or handle is in like manner flattened, so that a pin passing transversely
through the two, unites them with their Hat surfaces lying together. The ends of
the rod and pin are bevelled to abut against corresponding shoulders, when the two
are in a straight line.
When in a straight line they form a cylindrical rod, and they are held in place
in line by means of a sliding sleeve G which surrounds the rod below the joint, and

page_text: .
is made of sufficient interior diameter to contain a spiral spring H which acts upon
the sleeve so as to automatically force it up over the joint, when the two parts are
in a straight line.
When the two parts are thus in line with each other the parasol stands at right
angles with the handle and is in the form of an ordinary parasol.
If it is desired to turn it to stand parallel with the handle it is only necessary to
pull down the slide until it releases the joint, when the joint will bend and allow
the two parts to take position approximately at right angles with each other, so
that the parasol lies with one edge against the side of the handle.
In order to lock it sufficiently in this position, I form a small notch I, in the edge
of the halved portion of the pin B, so that the edge of the spring-actuated slide G
which is constantly pressed against this portion of the pin, will enter the notch and
hold it in place. By pulling the slide down it will release it and allow it to be
turned into its other position.
The handle or rod F, the upper end of which forms the joint above described,
extends down into a larger rod or handle F, which is bored out for the purpose of
admitting it and it is slidable therein. It is normally held in position when
extended by a spring catch J having a knob projecting through the side of the
haudle K so that by pressing upon this knob the upper portion of the rod will be
allowed to slide down into the handle, thus making the handle about half of its
ordinary length. By now disengaging the clasp by which the two adjacent and
separable ribs A A' were united, the elasticity of the ribs will straighten the top out
into its approximately flat form, at the same time'separating the adjacent ribs A A'.
By now turning the movable ribs around the pin upon which they are pivoted, they.
may all be closed up together against the stationary one A¹, and the joint at the
upper end being broken so as to bend at right angles with the handle, the folded
parasol lies along the handle in a compact package, which may be carried in a case,
a hand-bag or even in the pocket.
If it is desired to use the device as a fan it is opened to one half its full extent
by moving the ribs around the pivot piu and the joint remaining bent so that the
handle lies along one edge of the segment thus formed where it is locked by the
slide G and notch I, it may be held in the hand and used as a fan.
By this construction we are enabled to employ the device in all the forms to
which it is conveniently applicable and to extend it at pleasure, or fold it into very
small compass.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is-
1. A parasol consisting of flat elastic ribs, a pin passing through the meeting ends
of said ribs about which they are turnable, a covering fixed to the ribs and capable
of folding or unfolding when the ribs are moved about their pivot pin, said covering
being sufficiently less in extent than a complete circle, so that when the ribs are
separated to their fullest extent a space will be left between the two adjacent ribs
whereby the closing of this space will cause the elastic ribs to curve and the
parasol to take a concavo-convex shape.
2. In a parasol, a head or pin, radial ribs pivoted thereon, discs fixed to the pin
upou each side of the ribs forming a groove or channel within which they turn, a
covering attached to the ribs and forming sufficiently less than a complete circle
when spread out, to leave the two adjacent ribs slightly separated and the disc thus
formed approximately flat, and when the two ribs are brought together and caused
to overlap, the tension upon the covering will curve the disc into a concavo-convex
shape as described and for the purposes specified.
3. In a parasol, a bead or pin having discs fixed thereto, radial ribs pivoted to
said pin between the discs and all turnable thereon except the inner one which
extends directly from the inner disc, a covering fastened to the ribs so that they are
approximately equi-distant from each other when the device is extended, the rib

page_text: adjacent to the inner stationary one being adapted to overlap it, and a hook or
fastening by which the two are united together whereby the tension curves the ribs
so that the disc takes a concavo-convex shape when the two are united as described.
4. In a parasol a series of ribs revoluble about a pin or head to which they are
pivoted having a covering the edges of which may be united by overlapping and
securing the two adjacent ribs, an extension inwardly of the pin which is flattened
on one side, a rod having a corresponding flattened end pivoted to the flattened end
of the pin so that the two are turnable about the pin with relation to each other to
stand at right angles or in line, and a spring-actuated slide adapted to move over
the joint thus formed and lock it when the parts are in straight line with each other
to form a handle for the parasol, for the purposes and as specified.
5. In a parasol, a pin or head having radial ribs loosely pivoted and revoluble
about it, with a covering the edges of which overlap when two adjacent ribs are
joined together, a flattened extension of the pin toward the interior, a corresponding
Hattened end of the rod forming the handle of the parasol, a pin uniting the two so
that they are turnable about it with relation to each other, and bevelled ends or
shoulders forming stops when the two are in line, a spring actuated slide adapted
to move over the joint and lock the two parts when in line, said slide being
retractible for the purpose of allowing the joint to bend so that the parts stand at
right angles with each other, and a notch formed upon one side of the head pin into
which the edge of the slide drops so as to lock the two in position at right angles
with each other as shewn and described.
6. A parasol consisting of the ribs revoluble about a central pin or head and
having a covering attached to them separable at one side whereby the ribs and
covering may be closed and folded together or extended into a circular concavo-
convex forin by uniting the two adjacent separable ribs, a joint formed between the
pin and the upper end of the handle whereby the parasol may be turned to stand
at right angles with the handle or parallel therewith, and an extension handle into
which the upper portion is slidable with a spring catch by which it is held in the
extended position as described.
7. A parasol consisting of ribs revoluble about a central pin or head to which
they are pivoted having a covering fixed to the ribs so that they may be folded into
a compact form or extended to form a complete circle or a semi-circle aud a handle
having a joint formed close to the central portion of the parasol so that the handle
may be bent and locked to stand parallel with the fixed rib while the other ribs may
be opened to one-half their full extent whereby the device forms a fan, substantially
as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1906
11906
Dated
For the Applicants,
GEDGE & FEENY,
Agents.