1,266,264. Shortenable umbrellas. BREMSHEY & CO. July 7, 1970 [July 25, 1969 (3); Oct.25, 1969(2); Dec.24, 1969; Feb. 5, 1970], No. 32953/70. Heading A4P. A shortenable umbrella frame comprises three part telescopic spokes 6, Figs. 2, 2a, pivoted to a crown 9, a preferably two or three part telescopic stick 1, an auxiliary slider 8, auxiliary struts 10, spoke braces 13, a main slider 7, and main struts 11 pivoted to the struts 10 and via auxiliary links 12 to the braces 13, the links 12 being in tension when the frame is open and assisting in pulling the braces 13 into the extended positions on opening of the frame. The links 12 may be of flat strip or made of wire 12<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 32, and are preferably bent near their middle so that they may become slightly extended on closing the frame to thereby store energy to assist in opening the frame. The struts 10 and 11 and the braces 13 are of U-shaped section so that the links 12 and struts 10 and 11 may be nested within the braces 13 when the frame is collapsed. Inner parts 6a and middle parts 6b of the spokes are of U-shaped section, the outer parts 6c being of solid circular section. The inner ends of spoke parts 6c are pivoted by pins 23 to the outer ends of the braces 13, the pins 23 sliding in slots 24 in canopy stitch buckles 22 slideable over spoke parts 6a and 6b and having apertures 25 by means of which a canopy 27 is attached to the frame by stitches 27<SP>1</SP>. A hollow handle (5), Fig.31 (not shown), may receive slider 7 when the frame is collapsed and shortened, the slider 7 being retained in position when the frame is open by a spring urged catch 68. An alternative closed hollow handle (5), Fig. 36 (not shown), is slidably retained on one end of the stick by a central pin (71) slidable within the stick. The slider 8 may be made of plastics material with a resilient catch (45), Figs. 20, 22 (not shown) formed integrally with a slider bush 8<SP>1</SP>, catch (45) engaging in a slot in the top part of the stick when the frame is open and being released therefrom by engagement with a lower stick part on shortening of the stick. In an alternative embodiment, Fig.32, an additional catch system is provided comprising an auxiliary slider bush 8<SP>11</SP> slideable through main slider 7 and having slots 57, 58, pins 61, 62 attached to the stick, and urged by a spring (R), Fig. 34 (not shown), and a main slider bush 7<SP>1</SP>. After commencing opening the frame by upward movement of slider 7, the slider 8 moves up the stick until pin 61 engages with the bottom of slot 58. Slider 7 continues to move upwards, with slider 8 stationary, to spread the spokes until bush 7<SP>1</SP> pushes the pins 61, 62 inwards sufficiently to allow them to run under a profiled surface of bush 8<SP>11</SP> between slots 57 and 58 and thence into slot 57, the slider 8 ceasing upward movement when pin 61 engages the bottom of slot 57.