US2551277A

US2551277A - Umbrella rib tip

Info

Publication number: US2551277A
Application number: US62049A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Morton A Mergentheim
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-11-26
Filing date: 1948-11-26
Publication date: 1951-05-01
Anticipated expiration: 1968-05-01

Description

' UMBRELLA RIB- TIP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nos 26, 1948 INVENTOR.

ITTORNEY M y 1951 M. A. MERGENTHEIM, JR 2,551,277

UMBRELLA RIB TIP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 26, 1948 INVENTOR. MORTON Fl. MERGENTHE/M JR.

HTTORNEY Patented May 1, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims,

This invention relates. to improvementsin urnbrellarib-tips.

One of the objects of this invention isin a de-- vice of the character specified to produce a tip structure which will not be limited in length to the difference in length of the fabric in normal and stretched conditions. by utilizing a safetytip comprising, a primary tip portion of conventional length and-standard socket having a conventional thread-receiving bore, in; combination with an elongated auxiliary extension portion formed integrally with said primary portion andprovided with an extension socket in axial regis; tration with the socket of the primary-- portion anda longitudinally-disposed opening-in the wall ofthe auxiliary extension-portion communicating with said extension socket but positioned. out of registration with the plane of movement of the Wing-apex by the hinged rib, and preferably at substantially a-right angle to'said plane of move-. ment and in alignment with the axis of the thread-receiving bore, which in the preferred embodiment of my invention isalso positioned at a right angle to the plane of movement of said wing-apex. A- tip of this-type'will be firmly and securely held onthe rib While the tip is connected to the cover and will not come oi? the end of their rib even though the'fabric ofthe wings be stretched beyond the aforesaid-differential limit.

Another objectoi my invention is to provide integrally with the tip body an elongated auxe iliary extension-skirt portion for the purpose of' greatly lengthening the socket to prevent any possibility of said member slipping off the rib, and in order to enable mounting thereof in sub-. stantially conventional manner to provide said extension portion with a longitudinal side. slot that is positioned out of alignment with the plane of movement of the wing-apex by the'hinged rib, and preferably at substantiallya right. angle to said plane of movement and in alignment with the axis of the thread aperturetopermit initial projection therethrough of the top portion of the rib while the connected tip is partially rotated, axially, and while so rotated to retract said rib end and slip it into the socket in the body portion, and then while so rotated to stretch the fabric and slip the endof the rib intothe socket in the body portion so that on release of a tip and wing of the cover, the said side slot will move axially with the connection between the tip and wing apex. This connection is prefer-v ably through a transverse thread bore which: will automatically swingback into its normal position that is transverse to the opening and closing. movements of'said apex by the hingedrib and tangential to the circle formed by said cover apices. Said side slot; is preferably arranged in vertical alignment with said bore, will move therewith and will thus be moved into a position at an angle to and out of alignment with, the plane of movements of said apex by the. Said hinged umbrella rib.

Still another object of my invention is to DIG-r.

vide in the bottom of the extension-skirt member a bottom notch aligned with'a side slot to permit engagement and partial extension of the shank of the rib thereinto during theprojection oi the same through the side slot.

Still another object of-my invention is to provide the member with a collar portion below the slot which forms a secondary safety element; to prevent unseating or slipping of th tip. from e ib.-

With these and other objects in View, the in:

vention comprises the combination of members.

and arrangement of parts so combined as to coact. and cooperate with each other in the per-.- formance of. the functions and th accomplish= ment of the results herein contemplated and comprises in one of its adaptations the species; or preferred form illustrated in the accompany-. ing drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of an umbrella tip embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 2 .2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 31 is a. bottom end view on the line 3? of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. {l is a section on the line 4-4 of' Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig- 5 is a. longitudinal section of my. tip stitched to an umbrella Wing and shown in initial twisted position over a rib end with the rib end entering the bottom notch in the operation of mounting the tip;

Fig. 6 is a similar sectional view showing the tip tilted back from initial position to cause the rib end to pass through a slot in the. skirt of the tip;

Fig. 7' is a. similar sectional view showing the tilted position of the tip j st before insertion of the rib end into the head socket of the tip;

Fig. 8 is a similar sectional view showing the, rib end inserted in the head socket with the tip still in twisted or rotated position;

Fig. 9 is a similar sectional view showing the rib end inserted'in the headsocket. and released. from twisting'stress;

3 Fig. 10 is a section on the line Ill-l of Fig. 8 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 11 is a section on the line ll-ll of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 12 is a modified form of tip having a spirally arranged slot and a wide bottom notch.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 11 of these drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, l indicates an ornamental umbrella tip embodying my present invention and 2 indicates a conventional cover for an umbrella provided with conventional wings 3 to which my ornamental umbrella tip is, in the operation of mounting, initially fastened in conventional manner by stitching the tip to the wings.

In accordance with the preferred form of my present invention, each of the tips comprises a primary head portion I and an elongated auxiliary skirt portion I formed integrally with the head portion I. Said head portion i is provided with an ornamental spherical head portion 4 and below the said head has a conventional transverse thread-receiving bore 5 adapted to receive the thread in the initial fastening of the tip to the Wings 3 of the umbrella, and is also provided with an internal axial socket 6 adapted to receive the rib end which is usually of reduced cross-sectional dimensions, while my integral auxiliary skirt portion l is provided with a communicating axial socket I preferably of wider diameter than the socket 6 and connected there-' to by a frusto-conic intermediate section 8.. The integral auxiliary skirt portion I is elongated and, as illustrated, comprises a cylinder having a length much greater than the difference between the ends of the fabric wings in their normal condition and such ends in any position to which such wings may be stretched, and consequently the end of an umbrella rib, which is usually metallic, could not, if the skirt comprised a cylinder with completely closed walls, be inserted through the bottom thereof.

' It will be obvious that it is highly desirable, in order to prevent the possibility of slipping of the tip off the rib end, to have a tip with an integral auxiliary skirt portion so as to cause the tip to be longer than the aforesaid difference in stretched and normal conditions of the wings, and in order to enable the use of an elongated integral tip of the type specified, I have, in the preferred embodiment of my invention illustrated, provided my integral auxiliary skirt portion, first, with a bottom notch 9 and, secondly, with a side slot W in longitudinal alignment therewith, and said notch 9 and slot III are both preferably arranged out of registration and preferably at a right angle to the plane of movement of the wing apex by the hinged rib, and in said preferred embodiment said slot and notch are arranged in a plane which is in vertical alignment with the axis of the thread-receiving bore or opening 5 and to the thread-passing through said opening 5 by which the tip is attached to the wings of the umbrella. In applying or mounting the tip of the preferred form of my invention to the rib end, the wing with the tip attached is first pulled upwardly to stretch said wing in conventional manner, but in accordance with my present invention the wing and tip are at the same time rotated or twisted and the tip is tilted into varying positions relatively to the rib end and to the connecting thread to enable the passage of the rib end through the auxiliary skirt portion and into the socket of the primary head portion. In the preferred form of my invention, the tip 4 is twisted and tilted into the position shown in Fig. 5, so as to cause a bottom notch 9 of a tip to engage the top of the contracted end l2 of the rib and thereafter the tip is, while still being twisted, tilted backwardly and moved downwardly to cause the end of the rib to pass through the slot [0, after which the rib is further tilted as shown in Fig. 7 while being released to move downwardly to permit the rib end to extend upwardly in the slot I0 and inwardly toward the axis of the skirt portion, and finally while the wing and tip are still partially twisted to move the tip and/or rib to insert the mounting end of the rib into the head socket 6, as shown in Figs. 8 and 10. Release of the twisting stress will then cause the tip to assume the positions shown in Figs. 9 and 11 in which position the slot ID will be out of registration and preferably at a right angle to the plane of opening and closing movements of the wing apex by the hinged rib, and in said preferred embodiment the position of said slot will be arranged in a plane which is in vertical alignment with the axis of the thread-receiving opening or bore 5, whereupon the tip will be mounted securely in position on the umbrella rib and even though the wings are subsequently stretched and released continually, the elongated integral skirt portion will prevent any possibility of slipping of the tip ofi the rib.

In accordance with the preferred form of my invention, the slot I0 is wholly formed in and extends through the side of the integral skirt portion IP and internally said slot communicates with the axial socket 1 of said skirt portion. This construction provides on the skirt portion below the slot ID a rib encircling collar portion l I which surrounds the shank of the rib and securely holds the tip against excessive swinging motion. This collar II in combination with the slotted integral skirt l forms a secondary safety element which will avoid any possibility of a slip ping of the tip off the rib.

In conventional tips, a mere re-stretching of the wing sections is likely to unseat the tip, but in the case of my instant invention even though the material of the wings be stretched to their full elastic limit, the tip will still be retained in the auxiliary skirt portion so that when the umbrella is opened a normal stretched condition of the cover will occur and the rib will again enter the head socket without any slipping of the same off said rib because instead of the single conventional stretching of the cover-wings, mounting of the tip of my present invention involves an additional twisting of the tip and wings as well as a tilting of the tip and, therefore. the possibilities of the tip slipping off of the rib are immeasurably reduced. On the other hand, when desired a tip may be removed from the rib by manipulation in a reverse direction from those used in mounting. An umbrella provided with my tip will therefore be just as repairable as the umbrellas with conventional tipped ribs. It will be noted also that the head portion of the tip and the skirt portion are connected by a frustoconic intermediate portion, which, in the attachment of the tip to the rib, will enable more ready movement of the rib from the enlarged axial socket 1 to the head socket 6. It will be seen also that the bottom notch 9 in alignment with the slot ID will provide means for initially aligning the rib with the slot and will assist in retaining the same in position during a further fastening manipulation of the tip. It will be obvious that the angular position of the slot l0 may be varied with relation to the thread and the threadreceiving opening 5 so that the slot may, instead of being in alignment with one side of the opening 5, be only moved half way but in all cases the slot and notch 9 Will be in alignment, and the slot will be out of alignment with the axis of the thread-receiving opening.

In some cases and with some forms of ribs, the shape of the slot is may itself be changed, and in Fig. 12 I have shown a modified form of my invention in which a slot it is in substantially spiral form. Obviously, in any such form the notch 9 will be widened to permit the rib end l i to be inserted within the slot us and the tip to be rotated with the rib end seated therein. In other respects, the construction shown in Fig. 12 is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 11.

Having described my invention, I claim: 1. An ornamental tip for umbrella rib comprising, in combination, a primary tip portion having a longitudinal axial socket, means for connecting said primary tip portion with the wing apex of the cover of an umbrella to cause movement, when the tip is mounted on the rib, of the tip and said cover apex in the vertical plane of the hinged opening and closing movements of said rib, and an auxiliary skirt portion integral with said primary tip portion and having a socket continuous with the socket of the primary tip portion, said integral auxiliary skirt portion having in the wall thereof a longitudinal opening out of registration with said plane of opening and closing movements of said rib and wing apex and adapted to permit manipulation of the tip in relation to the rib during the mounting of the tip on said rib.

2. An ornamental tip for umbrella rib comprising, in combination, a primary tip portion having a longitudinal axial socket, means for connecting said primary tip portion with the wing apex of the cover of an umbrella to cause movement, when the tip is mounted on the rib, of the tip and said cover apex in the vertical plane of the hinged opening and closing movements of said rib and an integral auxiliary skirt portion provided with a socket continuous with the socket of the primary tip portion and having in the wall thereof a slot wholly contained in said wall.

3. An ornamental tip for umbrella rib comprising, in combination, a primary tip portion having a longitudinal axial socket, means for connecting said primary tip portion with the wing apex of the cover of an embrella to cause movement, when the tip is mounted on the rib, of the tip and said cover apex in the vertical plane of the hinged opening and closing movements of said rib, and an integral auxiliary skirt portion provided with a socket continuous with the socket of the primary tip portion and having in the wall thereof a slot wholly contained in said wall, said slot being arranged out of registration with the plane of opening and closing movements of said wing apex and adapted to permit manipulation of the tip in relation to the rib during the mounting of the tip on said rib, and a notch in the bottom edge of said skirt portion in alignment with said wholly contained slot.

4. An ornamental tip for umbrella rib comprising, in combination, a primary tip portion having an ornamental head and a transverse thread-receiving opening below and adjacent to said ornamental head for connection of said primary tip portion to the wing apex of the umbrella cover, said transverse thread-receiving opening being positioned at substantially a right angle to the plane of opening and closing movements of the said rib, and an integral auxiliary skirt portion provided with a socket continuous with the socket of the primary tip portion and having in the wall thereof a longitudinally-disposed slot wholly contained in said wall, said slot being arranged substantially parallel with but out of registration with the plane of opening and closing movements of said wing apex and adapted to permit manipulation of the tip in relation to the rib during the mounting of the tip on said rib.

5. An ornamental tip for umbrella rib comprising, in combination, a primary tip portion having an ornamental head and a transverse thread-receiving opening below and adjacent to said ornamental head for connection of said primary tip portion to the wing apex of the umbrella cover, said transverse thread-receiving opening being positioned at substantially a right angle to the plane of opening and closing movements of the said rib, and an integral auxiliary skirt portion provided with a socket continuous with the socket of the primary tip portion and having in the wall thereof a longitudinally-disposed slot wholly contained in said wall, said slot being arranged substantially parallel with but out of registration with the plane of opening and closing movements of said wing apex and adapted to permit manipulation of the tip in relation to the rib during the mounting of the tip on said rib, and a notch in the bottom edge of said skirt portion in alignment with said wholly contained slot.

MORTON A. MERGENTHEIM, JR.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Morton Feb. 17, 1948 Number