IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Friedrich Hermánn Felix Engel, Civil Engineer and
Patent Agent, in the City of Hamburg, Germany, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS." A communication from
Martin Steib, of Hamburg, in the Empire of Germany.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Friedrich Hermann Felix
Engel at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd August
1880.
FRIEDRICH HERMANN FELIX ENGEL, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, in the
City of Hamburg, Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS."
A communication from Martin Steib, of Hamburg, in the Empire of Germany.
This Invention relates to new constructions of the frames and other parts of
umbrellas, parasols, sunshades, and the like, and consists, firstly, in improvements
in or applicable to spring caps covering the runner notch and ends of stretchers
after the umbrella or parasol has been closed, applied for the purpose of keeping
the ribs close to the stick; secondly, in new modes of constructing top and runner
notches, and in fixing the ribs and stretchers to same; thirdly, in a new combined
mode of construction of the top notch and tip cap, and of fastening both to the
stick; and, finally, in a new mode of attaching and guiding ferrules, bell shaped
and other caps, for covering the ends of the ribs after the umbrella has been closed
to the stick of the latter.
The spring caps for covering the runner notch and ends of stretchers of the closed
umbrella, to which the first part of this Invention relates, were hitherto constructed
with a bayonet groove cut into the runner tube for arresting the withdrawn cap
on a pin when the umbrella had to be opened. Instead of this bayonet groove at
right angles there is employed a curved slot ending with an enlarged circular
opening and sliding on a pin, which slot produces the turning and arresting of the
ferrule automatically by merely drawing the latter upward towards the stick
handle. The inner runner tube of this ferrule or cap connecting the latter with
the runner notch may be furnished with an upright slot, into which enters an
ordinary wire spring catch, attached to the upper part of the stick for keeping the
umbrella in open position. For closing the umbrella it suffices to give a short

page_text: twist to the ferrule or cap, which is consequently freed from the pin, and is by the
ferrule spiral spring pressed upward. The inner edge of the ferrule cap presses
the wire spring catch into the slot of the stick, and allows the umbrella to close.
The improvements of top and runner notch rings and of fixing ribs and stretchers
to same relate to that class of notch rings to which the ribs and stretchers are
combined without the aid of wire. Each rib and corresponding stretcher_can be
removed from the notch without dismounting other parts of the frame. The top
notch consists of a tube with an outer bell shaped ring fastened to same, the
opening of which is turned downward. The open end of the bell is furnished with
a corresponding number of slots for the reception of the ribs, the ends of which
have projecting curved tongues which prevent the dropping out of the ribs from
the notch. The runner notch consists of two discs placed about one sixteenth of
an inch apart, and which carry between them the ends of the stretchers, which
latter are furnished with sideway projecting pins or arms. To prevent the stretchers
from dropping out from the notch, a cap furnished with a number of openings at
its circumference corresponding in position and number to the stretchers is screwed
over the notch whilst the stretchers are kept upward close to the stick. The
stretchers can after that freely operate in the openings of the cap whilst the
umbrella or parasol is opened or closed, but the projecting pins or arms before
mentioned prevent the dropping out of the stretchers from the notch.
For fastening the top notch to the stick without hurting the stick, and for the
purpose of making the latter detachable, the notch ring is furnished with a pro-
longation tube carrying an outer thread, and being furnished with several saw cuts.
The tip cap, which has an inner thread, is screwed over the thread of the tube, and
keeps the notch fast to the stick without the aid of pins penetrating the stick.
That part of the Invention relating to caps and ferrules applied for covering the
ends of the ribs of umbrellas and parasols when closed consists of a new mode of
guiding the caps or ferrules on the stick and of imparting a twisting motion to
same besides the up and down motion as was formerly the case only. The purpose
of these constructions is to arrest the cap or ferrule and keep the same in position
after merely withdrawing them from the ends of the ribs.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 3rd February 1881.
FRIEDRICH HERMANN FELIX ENGEL, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, in the
City of Hamburg, Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS."
A communication from Martin Steib, of Hamburg, in the German Empire.
This Invention relates to new constructions of the frames and other parts of
umbrellas, parasols, sunshades, and the like framed coverings or shades, and consists,
firstly, in improvements in or applicable to spring caps covering the runner notch
and ends of stretchers after the umbrella or parasol has been closed, applied for the
purpose of keeping the ribs close to the stick; secondly, in new modes of con-
structing top and runner notches, and in fixing the ribs and stretchers to same;
thirdly, in a new combined mode of construction of the top notch and tip cap, and
of fastening both to the stick; and, finally, in a new mode of attaching and guiding
runners, bell shaped and other caps, for covering the ends of the ribs after the
umbrella has been closed to the stick of the latter.
The spring caps for covering the runner notch and ends of stretchers of the
closed umbrella, to which the first part of this Invention relates, were hitherto
constructed with a bayonet groove cut into the runner tube for arresting the
withdrawn cap on a pin when the umbrella had to be opened. Instead of this
bayonet groove at right angles there is employed a curved slot ending with an
enlarged circular opening and sliding on a pin, which slot produces the turning and
arresting of the runner automatically by merely drawing the latter upward
towards the stick handle. The inner runner tube of this runner or cap connecting
the latter with the runner notch may be furnished with an upright slot, into which
enters an ordinary wire spring catch, attached to the upper part of the stick for
keeping the umbrella in open position. For closing the umbrella it suffices to give a
short twist to the runner or cap, which is consequently freed from the pin, and is by
the runner spiral spring pressed upward. The inner edge of the runner cap presses
the wire spring catch into the slot of the stick, and allows the umbrella to close.
The improvements of top and runner notch-rings and of fixing ribs and stretchers
to same relate to that class of notch rings to which the ribs and stretchers are
combined without the aid of wire. Each rib and corresponding stretcher can be
removed from the notch without dismounting other parts of the frame. The top
noteh consists of a tube with an outer bell shaped ring fastened to same, the
opening of which is turned downward. The open end of the bell is furnished with
a corresponding number of slots for the reception of the ribs, the ends of which
have projecting curved tongues which prevent the dropping out of the ribs from
the notch. The runner notch consists of two discs placed about one sixteenth of an
inch apart, and which carry between them the ends of the stretchers, which latter
are furnished with sideway projecting pins or arms. To prevent the stretchers
from dropping out from the notch a cap furnished with a number of openings at its
circumference corresponding in position and number to the stretchers is screwed
over the notch whilst the stretchers are kept upward close to the stick. The
stretchers can after that freely operate in the openings of the cap whilst the
umbrella or parasols is opened or closed, but the projecting pins or arms before
mentioned prevent the dropping out of the stretchers from the notch.
For fastening the top notch to the stick without hurting the stick, and for
the purpose of making the latter detachable, the notch ring is furnished
with a prolongation tube carrying an outer thread, and being furnished with
several saw cuts. The tip cap which has an inner thread is screwed over the
thread of the tube, and keeps the notch fast to the stick without the aid of pins

page_text: penetrating the stick. That part of the Invention relating to caps and runners
applied for covering the ends of the ribs of umbrellas and parasols when closed
consists of a new mode of guiding the caps or runners on the stick, and of
imparting a twisting motion to same besides the up and down motion as was
formerly the case only. The purpose of these constructions is to arrest the cap or
ferrule, and keep the same in position after merely withdrawing them from the
ends of the ribs.
The accompanying Sheet of Drawings represents constructions in the carrying
out of this Invention. Figs. 1 and 2 are side elevations of open umbrella frames,
whilst Figs. 3 to 31 are details illustrative of the improvements.
Figs. 3 and 10, of which Figs. 4 and 5 are detached parts, show the curved slot i
of the bayonet fastening of the spring cap F¹ for covering the runner notch a³, and
ends of stretchers s, s, after the umbrella has been closed. The cap F¹ then keeps
the stretchers and consequently the frame of the umbrella close to the stick. The
advantage gained by giving slot a curved shape, is that when opening or closing
the umbrella by drawing the runner downward on the stick, or when the latter is
by the action of spring pushed upwards, the turning and arresting of the runner
on pin o¹ takes place automatically. Fig. 10 shows how the runner is arrested
when pulled downward by pin o¹ entering the enlarged opening of the end of
slot i¹.
The improvement which is illustrated by Fig. 10 consists in constructing the
inner sliding tube 61 with a slot m, through which a wire spring p of known
construction enters after the umbrella has been opened, the upper edge of spring p
keeps the umbrella in position. For closing the umbrella it is only required to
give a short turn or twist to the runner, by which pin o¹ is removed from the
enlarged end of slot 2, spring z' now forces the cap F' upward, whilst during the
motion the edge h of this cap presses against the slope of spring p and forces the
latter to enter the corresponding slot of the stick; the umbrella now closes, and
notch a slides toward the handle of the stick and is by the action of spring 2¹
covered by cap F¹, in consequence of which the umbrella is kept in closed position,
as will be understood with reference to Fig. 3 of the Drawings.
Figs. 6, 7, and 9 are respectively section, elevation, and plan (seen from below)
of a crown or top-notch-ring t, to which the ribs are fastened and kept by means
of projections sideway of the ends of the ribs, as will be understood from Figs. 8
and 6 of the Drawings; the ribs are placed in openings n, n, of the bell shaped
part g of the notch, which latter is kept to the stick by a slotted prolongation
tube and a pin v; E is a cap covering tube k, and is kept to the latter by the
spring action of k.
Figs. 11 and 12 represent respectively longitudinal section and plan of the
runner notch, which consists of the double disc w which holds the ends of the
stretchers 8, 8, by sideway projecting pins attached or formed to the latter.
The runner cap H which carries a number of openings u, u, corresponding
to the number of stretchers is screwed over the runner notch, whilst all the
stretchers are turned in a parallel and upward direction. The openings u, u, allow
the stretchers to turn but prevent the same dropping out of the disc w, as the
openings are too small to allow the projecting pins of the stretchers to pass through.
Instead of by a thread the cap H may also be attached to disc w by other known
modes of attachment.
Figs. 14, 15, 16, and 17 show modifications of attaching the stretchers s to a
runner-notch R of somewhat different construction from that before described, and
this arrangement will be readily understood by reference to the corresponding
Figures of the Drawings.
Figs. 18 and 19 illustrate another mode of attaching the crown or top notch t to
the stick without boring or damaging the latter. The notch ring t carries a slotted
prolongation tube o" fitted to the diameter of the stick, and is furnished with an
outer thread. The stick has a small groove to which a small curved ring m₁ is

page_text: fastened, and into the rim of this ring an inward turned projecting edge of tube o
is pressed by a cap 8, that is screwed over o".
The last part of this Invention, relating to improvements in caps for covering the
ends of the ribs and for keeping same close to the stick, is represented by Figs. 20 to
31 of the Drawings.
The bell cap G turns when moved on the stick in a curve on a pin o. The
curved clot c may be made in the cap ferrule g, and the pin o be attached to the
stick 8, as is shown in Fig. 20 and 21, or the reverse may be the construction, as in
Figs. 22 and 23, or finally the slot may be made in a ring placed between ferrule
and stick, as is shown in Fig. 5.
Fig. 24 and Figs. 26 to 31 represent other known constructions of fixed and
slidable runner-caps for covering the ends of the ribs, all of which are furnished
with the curved slot for moving and attaching the caps. The Drawings will fully
explain these constructions, and the mode of carrying the same into effect.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention, I
claim -
1. The curved slot i, furnished with an enlarged opening at one end, and the
slot m for keeping the open umbrella in position by a wire spring, substantially as
described and with reference to Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 10 of the Drawings.
2. The top-notch g with slotted prolongation tube k in combination with the
curved ribs and cover E, substantially as described, and with reference to
Fig. 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the Drawings.
3. The notch ring w consisting of two discs between which the stretchers are
kept by projecting pins and a cap H, which latter is in connection with the
ferrule S, substantially as described and with reference to Figs. 11 and 12 of the
Drawings.
4. The modifications of runner-notch R and stretchers 8, as described, and as
illustrated by Figs. 14, 15, 16, and 17 of the Drawings.
5. The mode of attaching the top-notch to the stick of an umbrella, substantially
as described, and with reference to Figs. 18 and 19 of the accompanying Drawings,
and,
6. The application and construction of curved guiding slots to runner caps and
other caps of generally known construction, used for covering the ends of the ribs
and for keeping the latter to the stick whilst the umbrella is closed, in the different
modifications, substantially as described, and with reference to Figs. 20, 21, 22, 23,
24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31 of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirty first day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
F. H. F. ENGEL. (L.S.)