US990329A - Folding umbrella. - Google Patents

Description

" H. B. ANDERSON.

- Patented Apr. 25, 1911.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 1 H. B. ANDERSON.

FOLDING UMBRELLA. APPLIOATION FILED AUG.24, 1910.

Patented Apr. 25, 1911.

2 SHEETS-BHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS (20., WASHINGTON, D C

HARRY B. ANDERSON,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING UIMBRELLA.

Application filed August 24, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY B. ANnnRsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Umbrellas, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in folding umbrellas, and the object of my invention is the provision of an umbrella which when extended will present an appearance not unlike that of the conventional umbrella, and which may be folded so as to occupy a length approximately onehalf that occupied at present by an ordinary umbrella so as to adapt the same for ready arrangement and carriage in a satchel or other hand bag.

A further object is the provision of an umbrella of the character mentioned which will be of durable and economical construction, one which may be readily and expeditiously folded or extended, and one which will be eflicient in use.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

With these objects in view my invention consists in a folding umbrella characterized as above mentioned and in certain details of construction and arrangement of parts all as will be hereinafter fully described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of an umbrella, in extended condition, embodying the preferred form of my invention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of the knuckle oint provided in each of the sectional ribs of the umbrella, Fig. 3 is a section on line 00-c0 of Fig. 2, Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of the umbrella in folded condition, Fig. 5 is a sectional detail of the central portion of the umbrella staff in extended condition, Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line y y of Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is a sectional detail of the lower end of the umbrella staff in folded condition.

Referring now to the drawings 1 indicates the umbrella staff which is of a foldable nature comprising the outer and inner sections 2 and 3 respectively. Said sections are of substantially the same length, the contigu- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 25, 1911.

Serial No. 578,702.

1 one extremities thereof being connected by a lmk a in such a manner that said sections may be folded back in parallel spaced posit ons," clearly shown in Fig. 4:. The con tiguous extremities of said sections are so formed as to form a rabbet joint when brought together, in which position the same may be held by means of a sleeve 5 which is slidably mounted upon the section 2. A circumferential flange 6 formed upon the sectlon ad acent the point of connection thereof with the section 2 serves to limit clownward Inoyement of said sleeve when in lookmg pos1t1on. A suitable handle 1 is shown at the opposite extremity of said section 3.

Arranged upon section 2 adjacent the outer extremity thereof is a notched ring or hub 7, the same being rigidly secured thereto by means of a snugly fitting cap 8. The nner edge of the cover 9 of the umbrella is shown secured or clamped in position between the member 7 and cap 8, Pivotally secured to the member 7 are the radially extending ribs 10 of the umbrella. Said ribs are of a foldable nature, each being comprlsed of an inner section 11 and an outer section 12. The adjacent extremities of said sections are connected by a knuckle oint as at 18. The sections 12 are adapted to be folded back upon the sections 11, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, the former, in order to permit of this folding, being offset as at 14.. An ear 15 formed integral with and inwardly extending from the inner extremity of each of the sections 12 is adapted to abut an outwardly extending ear 16 formed at the outer extremity of the section 11 in order to limit extending movement of the former.

At each of the joints 13 is provided a torsional spring 17 the respective extremities of which engage the projection 16 of the section 11 and a stop 18 provided in the section 12 adjacent its inner extremity, the springs and 12 in extended or alining positions. Arranged at the under side of each of the sections 11 of the ribs 10 is a parallelly extending spaced bar 19 the extremities 20 of which are rigidly secured thereto, said bar 19 being substantially co-extensive with the rib section to which it is secured.

Slidably mounted upon the section 2 of the stafi 1 are two sleeves 21 and 22 upon which are formed radially projecting pivotal ears 28 and 24: respectively, the ears 2 1, for reasons which will be apparent as the de- 17 serving to normally hold the sections 11 scription proceeds, being of a length slightly greater than that of the ears 23. Pivotally secured at their inner extremities to the ears 24 of the sleeve 22 are radially projecting brace rods 25 the outer extremities thereof being pivotally secured to sleeves 26 which are slidably mounted upon the bars 19. The brace rods 25 are adapted as will be observed, when the sleeve 22 is in elevated position upon the staff 1, to support the ribs 10 in extended positions, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Pivotally secured to said brace rods adjacent their inner extremities are links 27 the upper extremities of which are pivotally secured to the ears 23 of the sleeve 21.

Formed in the staff section 2 intermediate its extremities is a longitudinally extending slot 28. Arranged in said slot is a bar 29 the lower extremity thereof being pivotally secured as at 30 to said staff section. A

compression spring 31 arranged under the free extremity of said bar 29 serves to normally hold the same in its outermost position, outward movement of said end of said bar being limited by the ear 32 formed at the upper extremity of the slot 28 against which abuts the free extremity of said bar, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. An exteriorly projecting stem or button 34: formed upon the bar 29 adjacent its lower extremity affords means of ready manual depression of said bar. Formed upon the bar 29 at its upper extremity is a projection 35 which is adapted to engage under the lower extremity of the sleeve 22 to hold the same at its upper terminal of movement upon the staff section 2, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, in which position of said sleeve the ribs 1.0 will be held in extended positions. The lower side of the projection 35 is inclined, as indicated, so as to offer no resistance to upward movement of the sleeves 21 and 22. Formed upon said bar 29 intermediate its extremities are projections 36 and 37. The projection 36 is adapted to engage a slot 38 formed in the sleeve 21 so as to adapt the bar 29, when the sleeve 22 is lowered upon the staff section, to serve as a stop for said sleeve 21 and so that further movement of the sleeve 22 after said sleeve 21 has been engaged will through the medium of the links 27 effect inward swinging of the outer ends of the brace rods 25. The arrangement is such, as will be observed, that such movement of the brace rods 25 effects inward slid ing of the sleeves 26 to which the outer extremities of said rods are secured along the bars 19 and sothat, when the rib sections 11 are in lowered or closed condition, as shown in Fig. 4, the sleeves 26 and hence the upper extremities of the brace rods 25 will be positioned adjacent the inner extremities of the rib sections 11, this evidently being a very compact arrangement. Thus, with the provision of the sleeve 21 and links 27 cooperating with the catch bar 29, downward movement of the sleeve 22 upon the staff 1 will automatically effect inward folding of the rib sections 11 and bars 25 and inward sliding of the outer extremities of the latter relative to said rib sections. The lower end portion of the projection 37 is inclined, as will be observed, this provision being made so that upon upward movement of the sleeve 22 from its lower or closing position, depression of the bar 29, in order to effect the release of the sleeve 21, will be automatically effected by reason of the upper extremity of said sleeve 22 riding upon said lower inclined end portion of said projection. Upward sliding movement of the sleeves 21 and 22 upon the staff section 2 is limited by a projectingpin 39 provided upon the latter.

Bands 40 are preferably provided in order to hold rib and staff sections in folded condition, said bands being adapted, as seen, to be wrapped about the umbrella at its respective ends, when in folded condition.

An umbrella of the construction as set forth is strong and durable, the same may be readily and quickly operated to fold or extend the same, the construction is such as to not be susceptible to readily becoming inoperative, and the same is efficient in use.

While I have shown what I deem to be the preferable form of my umbrella I do not wish to be limited thereto as there might be various changes made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts described without departing from the spirit of the invention comprehended within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a folding umbrella, the combination of a foldable central stafi ribs pivotally secured thereto, each of said ribs comprising a plurality of pivotally connected sections; an inwardly spaced guide bar secured to the in her section of each rib; a sleeve slidable upon said staff; brace rods pivotally connected to said sleeve and slidably connected to said guide bar for holding the latter in extended positions; a second sleeve slidable upon said staff; a catch device cooperating with said sleeves; and an operative connection between said second mentioned sleeve and said brace rods whereby downward movement of said first mentioned sleeve upon said stafi' relatively to said second mentioned sleeve cooperating with said catch device effects inward rocking of said ribs and inward rocking and sliding of the outer ends of said brace rods, substantially as described.

2. In a folding umbrella, the combination with a foldable central staff; ribs pivotally secured thereto, each of said ribs comprising a plurality of pivotally connected sections;

an inwardly spaced guide bar secured to the inner section of each rib; means for normally holding said sections in extended condition; a sleeve slidable upon said stafi brace rods pivotally connected to said sleeve and slidably connected to said guide bar for holding the latter in extended positions; a second sleeve slidable upon said stafi"; a catch device cooperating with said sleeves; and an operative connection between saio second mentioned sleeve and said brace rods whereby downward movement of said first mentioned sleeve upon said stafi relatively to said second mentioned sleeve cooperating with said catch device eiiects the inward rocking of said brace rods and inward sliding of the outer ends thereof relatively to said ribs substantially as described.

3. In a folding umbrella, the combination of a foldable central stafi' ribs pivotally secured thereto, each of said ribs comprising a plurality of pivotally connected sections, an innermost section of each of said ribs being provided at its under or inner side with a rigid spaced bar substantially co-extensive therewith; a sleeve slidably mounted upon said staff; brace rods having their inner ends pivotally connected to said sleeve and having their outer ends slidably and pivotally connected with the supplemental bars of said ribs; a second sleeve slidable upon said staif above first said mentioned sleeve; a spring catch arranged in said staff for cooperation with said sleeves; means connecting said second mentioned sleeve of said staff and said brace rods whereby downward sliding of said first mentioned sleeve upon said staff relatively to said second mentioned sleeve cooperative with said catch efl ects inward rocking of said brace rods and inward sliding of the outer ends thereof upon said supplemental rib bars, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY B. ANDERSON.

lVitnesses JOSHUA R. H. Po'r'rs ARTHUR A. OLSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C.

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