US1464507A - Umbrella - Google Patents

Description

Aug- 14, 1923.

J. REID uuaasm 1119a Aug. 24. 1922 Ta 0 L P M a u n a Patented Aug. 14, 1923.

JAMES REID, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

UMBRELLA.

Application filed August 24, 1922. Serial No. 583,963.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES Run), a citizen of the I lnited States, and a resident of New York city, borough of Manhattan, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Umbrellas, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to umbrellas of-the so-called emergency type usually constructed from waterproof paper or some similar material.

An important object of the invention is to provide a generally improved umbrella of the class mentioned which is strong, durable, compact and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and certain advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a somewhat enlarged fragm-ental sectional view of an umbrella embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4c is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a somewhat enlarged cross sectional view of a rib illustrating the manner in which certain retaining bands are indented into locking engagement therewith.

F igure 6 is a sectional view somewhat similar to that of Figure 1 showing the complete frame of the umbrella in its extended position.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown what I at present consider the preferred form of my invention, the numeral 5 indicates a stick or handle, which is square in cross section and for certain economical reasons constructed from wood. Inasmuch as the stick is square in cross section, I am enabled to utilize the same to prevent turning thereupon of a pccullia-rly constructed runner hereinafter more particularly described. To the upper end of the sticlr there is connected a spider 6, having a pluralit of arms 7, the longitudinal edges of whic are folded over into grip ping engagement with a plurality of flexible strap-like members 8, constructed from a suitable inexpensive material such as paper or fiber. These strap-like members function as hinges for a plurality of ribs 9, constructed from a suitable inexpensive material such as wood and are connected thereto by means of metallic bands 10, shown most c early in Figures 1 and 2. In connecting the strap like members to their respective ribs the metallic bands are positioned thereupon and are thereafter at their opposite ends driven or embedded into the ribs, thus providing a simple and reliable form of fastening most clearly shown in Figure 5. The ribs 9 carry a plurality of yoke-like clamps 11, the longitudinal edges of which are folded into gripping engagement with flexible strap-like hinge elements 12 clamped to the outer ends of a plurality of stretchers 13 by means of metallic bands 14, identical with those indicated by the numeral 10. It Will be noted that the strap-like hinge elements 12 are passed around the ends of the several stretchers in such a manner that the ends of the stretchers 13 exert a thrust directly on these elements when the umbrella is raised so as to relieve the bands 14 of as much strain as possible, and that the clamps 11 are so anchored as to resist such thrust by means of penetrating indentures 11 formed in the sides thereof and embedded in the sides of the ribs.

Upon the stick or handle 5 there is arranged a slide or runner 15 which is adapted to be retained in its elevated position by means of a resilient locking element 16, suitably connerted to the handle. The slide or runner comprises a six sided inner band 17, two faces of which are disposed in a parallel relation to corresponding faces of the stick or handle 5 to prevent the runner from rotating thereon, whereas the remaining faces of the band are disposed at an angle with respect to the remaining faces or sides of the stick in order that the runner vmay pass freely over the locking element 16, thereby saving the expense and labor of slotting a groove to receive the wire look, as is the practice in the usual high priced umbrelila. Around the inner band 17 there is disposed a locking ring or band 18 having an open in 19 at one end and a tongue 20 at the ot er end, which tongue is adapted to be passed through the opening in order that the outer ring may loo-locked in gri ping engagement with a plurality of flexib e hinge me bers 21 carried by the inner ends of t e stretchers 13. As an additional means for retaining the hinge members in their proper positions the locking ring 18 may be punched to provide a plurality oiindents if)" having intimate engagement with the ends oi the hinge members shown in Figure 3.

The inner and outer bands 1? and i5, respectively, are constructed from some suitable inexpensive material and by reason of the fact that the runner comprising the same is so constructed as to prevent its rotation, it is obvious that the hinge members 21 are relieved of the torsional strains and stresses to which they would be subjected if the runner were permitted to rotate upon the stick, due to unequal and unevenly distributed thrusts exerted thereupon by the stretchers 13 when the mnbrella is being raised. Inasmuch as the hinge members, due to the peculiar construction of the runner, are relieved of such undue torsional strains and stresses it follows that 1 am enabled to use, in the construction elf these members, a very cheap material. such as paper or fiber, which would otherwise be inadequate. The hinge members 21 are held in their respective positions upon the inner ends of the stretcher-s 13 by means of metallic bands 22, identical with these indicated by the numerals l and 14. It will be noted that the strips of ilexible material from Which the hinge member 2. are i'ori'ned are so folded around the inner ends of the stretchers 13 that the hinge portions :28 thereof are maintained out of engagement with the band 18 by the lower or reinforcing portions '24., and are thereby protected against the relatively sharp upper edge of the band 18.

In order to provide an inexpensive but yet satisfactory covering for the umbrella frame, the elements of which have previously been described, I employ rater-proof paper which may be cut into approximately triangularly shaped segments and applied without any substantial loss of material.

lVith umbrellas, particularly those ol the class to which my invention relates. a highly important factor to be considered is collapsibility, and to facilitate collapsing of the umbrella into a. highly compact unit l. as will be readily amireciated. have so con nected the several ribs 9 to the spider 6 to provide sutlicient clearance between the arms 7 thereof and the inner ends of the ribs 9 to permit their being readily moved into a parallel or substantially parallel. relation with respect to the stick. Furthermore, by reason of the fact that the several straplike hinge elements 12 are passed over the outer ends of the stretchers the ribs and stretchers are permitted to assume a parallel or substantially parallel relation with respect to the stick when the umbrella is collapsed, and likewise the several stretchers, due to their peculiar form of connections with the runner 15, are permitted to move into proximity. to the stick and assume a parallel or substantially parallel relation thereto. It may be remarked that this complete collapsing is obtained freely and easily, as will be readily appreciated, without setting up any undue strain within the several hinge elements and other respective cooperative members.

I claim:

1. An umbrella comprising a stick, a plurality of ribs, flexible elements hingedly connecting said ribs to said stick, retaining elements connecting said flexible ele ments with said ribs, and means for anchoring said flexible elements to said stick.

2. An un'ibrella comprising a stick, a plurality of ribs, flexible elements liingedly connecting said ribs to said stick, retaining elements connecting said flexible elements with said ribs, and means for anchoring said flexible elements to said stick, said anchoring means comprising a spider having arms, margins of which are clenched into gripping engagement with said flexible elements.

3. An umbrella con'iprising a stick, a pinrality of ribs hingedly connected to said stick, a plurality of stretchers, and flexible elements connecting said ribs to said stretchers, said flexible elements being so i'olded about the ends of said stretchers as to receive the longitudinal thrusts exerted thereby when the umbrella is raised.

4. An umbrella comprising a stick, a plurality of ribs hingedly connected to said stick, a plurality of stretchers, a plurality of yoke-like clamps carried by said ribs, a plurality of flexible elements connected to said ribs, said flexible elements being permanently attached to said ribs by said yokelike clamps and so folded over the ends of said stretchers as to receive the longitudinal thrusts exerted thereby when the umbrella is raised.

5. An umbrella comprising a stick, a plurality of ribs hingedly connected to said stick, a plurality oi stretchers hingedly connected to said ribs, a runner carried by said stick, hinge members connected to said stretcher-s and runner. said hinge members being in the form of flexible strips.

6. An umbrella comprising a stick, a pinrality oi ribs hingedly connected to said stick, a plurality of stretchers hingedly connected to said ribs, a runner slidable on said stick, a plurality f hinge elements connected to said stick and runner, said hinge elements being in the form of strips of flexible material so folded as to provide hinge portions and protective portions adapted to relieve the wear of said runner upon said hinge portions in opening and closing the umbrella.

7. An umbrella comprising a stick, a plurality of ribs hingedly connected to said stick, a plurality of stretcher-s hingedly conill) nected to said ribs, a runner slidable on said stick, a plurality of hinge elements connected to said stretchers and runner, said hinge elements being in the form of strips of flexible material so folded as to provide hinge portions and protective portions adapted to relieve the wear of said runner upon said hinge portions when opening and closing the umbrella, and metallic bands for retaining said hinge elements upon the ends of their respective stretchers.

8. An umbrella comprising a multi-faced stick, a plurality of ribs hingedly connected to said stick, a plurality of stretchers hingedly connected to said ribs, a runner slidable on said stick, said runner being polysided and adapted to cooperate with the faces of said stick to retain the runner against rotation with respect to said stick, and a plurality of flexible hinge members connecting said runner with said stretchers.

9. An umbrella comprising a stick, a plurality of ribs hingedly connected to said stick, a plurality of stretchers hingedly connected to said ribs, a runner slidable on said stick, a plurality of hinge elements connected to said stretchers and runner, said hinge elements being in the form of strips of flexible material so folded as to provide hinge portions and protective portions adapted to relieve the wear of said runner upon said hinge portions in opening and closing the umbrella, and metallic bands for retaining said hinge elements upon the ends of their respective stretchers, and a gripping band for attaching said hinge elements to said runner.

10. An umbrella comprising a multi-faced stick, a plurality of ribs, flexible members connecting said ribs with said stick, a plurality of stretchers, flexible elements connecting said stretchers with said ribs, a runner comprising a pair of spaced bands, one of which is so constructed as to engage a plurality of faces of said stick to retain said runner against rotation with respect to said stick, and flexible hinge members attached to the inner ends of said stretchers and having their ends permanently attached to said runner intermediate said bands.

11. An umbrella comprising a multi-faced stick, ribs hingedly connected to said stick, stretchers hingedly connected to said ribs, a

runner slidable on said stick, said runner being provided with a greater number of faces than said stick, certain faces of said runner being adapted to cooperate with corresponding faces of said stick to retain said runner against rotation with respect to said stick, and means for hingedly connecting said stretchers t said runner.

12. An umbrella comprising a stick, ribs hingedly connected to said stick, a runner slidable upon said stick, stretchers hingedly connected to said ribs, and hinge members so connecting said runner with said stretchers, as to permit the stretchers to freely move into proximity to said stick when the umbrella is collapsed, said hinge members being in the form of strips of flexible material folded over the ends of said stretchers to provide hinge and reinforcing portions.

13. An umbrella comprising a stick, ribs hingedly connected to said stick, a runner slidable upon said stick, stretchers hingedly connected to said runner, and hinge members so connecting said ribs with said stretchers as to permit the stretchers to freely move into proximity to said ribs along the inner faces thereof when the umbrella is collapsed, said hinge members being in the form of strips of flexible material, so folded over the ends of said ribs as to receive the longitudinal thrusts exerted thereby when the umbrella is raised.

14. An umbrella comprising a stick, ribs hingedly connected to said stick, a plurality of stretchers hingedly connected to said ribs, a runner slidable upon said stick, hinge members so connecting said runner with said stretchers as to permit the stretchers to freely move in proximity with said stick when the umbrella is collapsed, said hinge members being in the form of flexible strips so folded over the inner ends of said stretchers as to provide hinge and reinforcing portions, and hinge elements connecting said stretchers with said ribs, said hinge elements being in the form of strips of flexible material, so folded over the outer ends of said stretchers as to receive the longitudinal thrusts exerted thereby when the umbrella is raised.

In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my signature to t is specification.

JAMES REID.

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