US2114598A - Umbrella - Google Patents

Description

April 19, 1938. A GR|SSEL 2,114,598

UMBR ELLA Filed June 19, 1935 ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 19, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIE Application June 19,

Claims.

This invention relates to umbrellas and the like, particularly to umbrellas having a collapsing framework designed to be manipulated through the medium of cords and the like.

To supply the need for an umbrella that is extremely simple in structure and hence very cheap to manufacture, there is provided in this invention a construction for the framework of an umbrella that dispenses with the usual rib and spreader structure found in the old types, which is very complex and expensive to fabricate. The old type of umbrella is also dangerous in that it often pinches the fingers of the operator. The structure about to be described overcomes these difiiculties by disclosing a method of employing cords to manipulate the spreading ribs of the umbrella. Its simplicity assures cheapness, so that a market for a cheap article can be supplied, where the person purchasing the article may desire to use it for only one time and then throw it away.

It is therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide an umbrella which employs a system of strings or cords for manipulating the same to extended position.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an umbrella mechanism in which the operator cannot pinch his fingers during the manipulation of the same.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a framework for an umbrella that is extremely simple and cheap to manufacture.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a framework for an umbrella in which 'a relatively rigid structure will carry the tensions attendant upon the opening action or those found in the members of the framework while the umbrella is in use, so that the material used in the hood of the umbrella will be substantially free from stresses.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an umbrella framework which will be suitable to be covered with relatively fragile material such as paper and the like.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. l is a sectional elevational View of the umbrella showing the relation between the operating parts.

Fig. 2 is a plan view substantially along the 55 line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the manner in which 1935, Serial No. 27,352

the ribs of the umbrella are attached to the central staff.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevational view showing the details of the operating parts of the central staff, the operating strings being omitted. 5

Fig. 4 is a section thru the rib, substantially along the line 3-4 of Fig. 1 showing the method of attaching the covering to the rib.

Fig. 5 is a section of a modification of the supporting collar.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various Ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein employed is for the purposes of description and not of limitation and that 2 it is not intended to limit the invention herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

In the preferred embodiment of my umbrella, I have provided a central staff it which supports the framework used in placing the umbrella into extended position, and at the same time gives the user a convenient support for holding it in position over his head while it is in open position. The staff It is of hollow construction having a cavity running its entire length, through which are threaded the cords used to operate my novel umbrella, as will be described in detail later.

On the upper end of the staff Hi, there is provided a cap ll held in position by small lugs I2, which may be held in place by welding or any other convenient means. The cap H protects the upper end of the cavity within the hollow staff lli, so that no water may leak therethrough in case my umbrella is used in rain. To allow access to the cavity, the cap it is displaced a short distance above the end of the staff it to allow easy passage of a system of cords used to manipulate the umbrella. In order that the cords may not be chafed in their passage through the gap, the edges of the cap, the lugs, and the upper end of the staff ID are rounded.

On the lower end of the central staff It, there is provided a handle I3 to form a convenient grip for the hand of the user both while the umbrella is in actual use or while it is being carried in case of need. The cavity in the hollow staff H) extends to the lower portion of the handle l3. On the upper end or on the side of this handle, there is formed an anchor means for the cord. It may consist of two prongs l -l spaced a short distance from the central staff, the narrow space between being utilized for the wrappings of the cord.

The framework of my umbrella which is supported by the central staff consists of a set of radially positioned ribs l; there being eight in the preferred embodiment, but there may be any convenient number used, depending upon the material of which the hood of my umbrella is formed. These ribs are attached to the central staff M3 by a supporting collar I6, which is positioned relatively near the upper end of the staff. The supporting collar 86 embraces the central staff IE3 and may be fastened thereto by any well known means, as by brazing. The ribs 15 cooperate with the collar through a hinge construction, which may consist of a short section I! of the rib bent at right angles with the central section, the section I! being threaded through an embracing lug l3 struck on the upper edge of the supporting collar l6. To prevent the rib $5 from becoming disengaged with the supporting collar it, a small lug I9 is bent on the end of the section ll, which prevents the rib from slipping out of place.

The ribs l5 may be made any suitable proportionate length and of any desirable cross section, as for example in the present embodiment the cross section is circular. If desired greater strength may be obtained at the supporting point on the central stair [0 by reinforcing the supporting collar it with a second-collar 20 embracing the first. The second collar 20 fits snugly about the embracing portion of the supporting collar E6, and is of such length that it does not inter fere with the hinge action between the ribs and the supporting collar 5.

On the distal ends of the ribs l5, there is formed a bent-up section 2|, substantially in the shape of a U. The upper branch of the U is provided with an eye 22 in which the operating cords 23 can be conveniently attached. The lower branch of the U which is part of the rib proper, has attached to it by tying a perimetric cord 2 which joins together all the ends of the ribs l5 and holds them firmly in a uniform relation with each other when the ribs are fully extended. The perimetric cord 24 prevents the ribs from moving beyond a predetermined angle with the central stafi, and in this way limits the opening or extending action of the ribs when they are under the pulling influence of the operating cords 23.

The perimetn'c cord 24 also tends to give the framework of my umbrella rigidity by holding the ribs IS in a definite angular relation with each other when they are in fully extended position. This allows the use of relatively fragile material such as paper, cellophane, and the like to form a covering for the ribs.

The operating cords 23 referred to above are fastened to the individual ribs I5 on their distal ends by means of the loop or eye 22 formed at that point for this express purpose. The cords then extend inwardly along radial lines to the gap formed between the upper end of the central staff If! and the cap H, and are then threaded through the cavity within the stall". They extend below the handle where they are convenient for manual operation of the umbrella. At some point below the handle, all the cords 23 are tied together by a knot or clasp 26, so that when the knot is pulled, the cords will be displaced equally and each of the ribs IE will move in. unison with the others. A tassel 21 may be provided with the knot if desired.

The covering or hood 28 of my umbrella may be of any suitable material that will turn water or stop sunlight, such as silk, cotton, impregnated paper and the like. It may be attached to the framework and ribs by means of small elongated saddles 29, which embrace the individual ribs I5 and are pasted to the inner side of the hood. This is clearly shown in Fig. 4. The hood 28 is attached to the central staff III by crimping it into position to form an embracing collar 30 about the staff. To hold the collar 30 in position, there is provided a boot 3|, made of flexible or semi-rigid material, which embraces the collar 30 with its lower end at the point where it is in contact with the central staff, while the upper end of the boot embraces the staff snugly at a point slightly above, forming in this manner a water-tight joint. The connection between the boot 3| and the central staff Ill may be strengthened by a cord wrapping 32 if desired.

The jointure of the hood 28 to the central staff I0 is further strengthened by means of an inner collar 33 which embraces the staff at a point just below the supporting collar Hi. It is attached to the inner side of the hood 28 in any suitable manner, as by pasting. This inner collar 33 tends to strengthen the saddles 29 at their upper ends to prevent the loosening of the hood from the ribs l5.

When the umbrella is in collapsed position, a holder of any convenient form may be provided, which embraces the distal ends of the ribs [5 when they lie parallel with the central stafi It. This feature is well known and need not be described in detail.

The operation of my umbrella is as follows: As the umbrella under normal conditions is carried about the person of the user in collapsed condition, it is first necessary to remove the embracing band from about the distal ends of the ribs, so that they will be free to be placed into extended position. Then holding the umbrella with the tip downward to cause the ribs to become slightly displaced from the central staif so that the cords can efiectually pull at their ends, the operator grasps the tassle projecting below the handle and pulls in outwardly, which in turn pulls the tips of the ribs away from the central staff into fully extended position. When the fully extended position is reached as determined by the perimetric cord, the operator places the cord into its anchor clips found on the upper end of the handle, and effectually winds it therein until it is assured that the umbrella will be held in extended position.

Should the user desire to collapse the umbrella, he must first loosen the cord from the anchor and then collapse the ribs into their closed position substantially parallel with the central staff. The encircling band is then replaced to hold the ribs in this position. The operating cords with their knot and tassel will be in their initial position with the knot adjacent the handle.

I claim:

1. In an umbrella, a hollow central staff, ribs pivotally attached to the staff adjacent its upper end to allow movement of the individual ribs severally in radial planes, cords attached near the outer ends of the ribs cooperating with the upper end of the bore of the staff and passing therethrough to extend the ribs, holding means cooperating with the ribs to limit the movement of the ribs to a predetermined angle with the staff, and anchoring means adjacent the lower end of the staff to cooperate with the cords projecting from the bore at the lower end of the staif to hold the ribs in extended position.

2. In an umbrella, a hollow central staff, ribs attached relatively near the upper end of the staff by hinges to allow movement of the ribs in radial planes, holding means cooperating with the ribs to limit their movement to a radial sector somewhat less than a right angle subtended from the lower end of the staff, cords attached adjacent the outer ends of the ribs and cooperating with the upper end of the bore of the staff and passing therethrough, the cords being manipulable at the lower end of the staff to pull the ribs outwardly to extend the umbrella, and holding means cooperating with the lower end of the staff to anchor the cords and hold the ribs in extended position.

3. In an umbrella frame-work, a hollow central staff, a supporting collar attached to the staff adjacent its upper end, ribs attached to the collar to allow movement of the ribs in radial plane, a manually operable system of cords attached adjacent the ends of the ribs and passing entirely through the hollow staff to extend the ribs in their radial planes, holding means to limit the movement of the ribs through a predetermined angle with the central staff, and means cooperating with the cords projecting from the lower end of the central staff to anchor the cords and hold the ribs in extended position.

4. In an umbrella frame-work, the hollow central staff, a series of rigid ribs extending radially from the staff and hinged thereto adjacent the upper end thereof, a system of cords extending from the lower end of the central staff through the bore of the central staff and cooperating with the ribs adjacent their ends to extend the ribs to their operable position by manual manipulation at the lower ends of the central staff, holding means to limit the movement of the ribs to a predetermined angle with respect to the central staff in their radial planes, and means adjacent the lower end of the staff cooperating with the cords to anchor the ribs in extended position.

5. In an umbrella frame-work, a hollow central stafi, a series of ribs extending radially from the stafi and attached thereto by hinges adjacent the upper end of the staff to allow movement of the ribs in radial planes, a system of cords joined together at their lower ends for convenient manual manipulation and extending through the hollow central staff to the upper end thereof where the individual cords cooperate with the ribs adjacent their ends, holding means to limit the movement of the rib with relation to the staff and the angular relation between the individual ribs when they are in extended position, and anchor means adjacent the lower end of the staff to hold the cords when the ribs are in extended position.

SUSAN A. GRISSEL.

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