US508717A - Folding umbrella - Google Patents

Description

(Nemo-del.)

F; M. HUNT. FOLDING UMBRELLA. No. 508,717K M Patented Nov. 14, 1893.

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UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK. M. HUNT, 0E ROUND OAK, GEORGIA.

FOLDING UMBRELLA.

SPECIFICATION forming. part of Letters Patent No. 508,717, dated November 14, 1893. Application led April 24, 1893. Serial Nov 471,609. v(No model.)

To all whom, t may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK. M. HUNT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Round Oak, in the county of J ones and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Umbrellas, of which the following is a specification, refer- -ence being had therein to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure l is a vertical sectional view of the umbrella opened, the cover being removed to better show the construction; Fig. 2 a similar view folded; Fig. 3 a similar view showing it partly open; and Fig. 4 a detail view showing more clearly the connection between the stretchers and the ribs.

The object of this invention isto produce a compactly-folding umbrella which shall be very simple and durable inv construction and which shall also be inexpensive as more fully hereinafter appears. V

In the drawings, a designates the stal, which is constructed in several detachable sections in order to be capable of separation. T he ribs are each constructed of two sections b b,the former having their upper ends pivoted to the usual stationary ring near the upper end of the staff and the latter being pivotally secured, at a point near their upper ends, to the lower ends of the upper sections. The preferred device for pivotally connecting the sections of each ofthe ribs is a small clip 6"', riveted to the lower sect-ion and having ears which embrace and are pivoted to the extreme end of the upper section. The

, lower rib sections are bent at the point where the clips are attached so that the upper surfaces of the sections will come substantially flush with each other and the overlapped portions iit close together when the umbrella is open, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The upper ends of the lower sections are provided with inwardly projecting parts b2, which are slotted longitudinally for the reception ofthe pivots carried by the bifurcated upper ends of the stretchers c, the lowerendsof the stretchers being pivotally attached in the usual manner to an ordinary runner d. Near the upper end of the staff is placed the usual 5o spring catch e to hold the umbrellaopen and 'above this catch is a similar catch e.' which is reversed so as to act as a stop and prevent the runner prematurely sliding higher up the staff. Secured on the lower end of each of the upper rib-sections is a sp ringclaspf which embraces the adjacent portion of the lower rib-section and clamps the sections together and holds them in alignment when the umbrella is unfolded.

This umbrella is opened and closed the same as an ordinary one and there is no danger of it prematurely folding. "When it is desired to fold it compactly, for packing in a valise, trunk, &c., it is simply necessary to press in the upper catch e and slide the runner up toward the upper end of the stick, which will throw the ribs and .stretchers up tothe position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l. The upper ends of the outer rib-sections are` then pressed inwardly toward each other, whereupon these sections will become disengaged from' the clamps fand all the parts will readily fold to the positions shown in Fig. 2, lthe outer or lower ends of the lower rib-sections pointing upward. Then by separating the handle or staff sections the umbrella will occupy but a small space and will be in condition for packing away. In unfolding, the sections of the staff are first put together and the umbrella then inverted, the handle-end pointing upward. The runner is then moved along the staff-past the spring-catches-to a suitable point near the handle, which action swings the outer ends of the rib-sections and stretchers out radially from the stad. Then by holding the runner in that position until the umbrella' is righted, so that its handleend will point down, the outer rib-sections willl easily swing outwardly to the positionshown in Fig. 3; then by sliding the runner up again on the staff the rib-sections will become locked together and be ready for use.

This umbrella will cost but slightly more than those of the ordinary construction and it may be continuously used without folding as an ordinary unfoldable umbrella, if desired. Its main aduantages lie in its simplicity, lightness, com pactness and durability. The slotted extensions b2 on the inner ends of the outer rib-sections enable the parts to be folded closer together, that is, they permit the sections of the ribs and the braces to IOO come closer together, when the umbrella is folded for packing, Without straining the joints between the rib sections or bending said sections. In practice, a joint of this character, or an equivalent loose joint, is found indispensable to avoid bending the ribs, &c.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is- In a folding-umbrella, a sectional staff, ribs pivoted thereto and constructed of two pivotally-connected sections, the upper ends of the outer sections overlapping the outer ends

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