US1713983A - Method of umbrella and parasol construction - Google Patents

Description

y 1929- F. E. SINCERE 1,713,983

METHOD OF UMBRELLA AND PARASOL CONSTRUCTION Original Filed June 6. 1922 IN VENTUR- FRANK E, 'JINCERE. ,7 .BY

ATTORNEY.

Patented May 21, 1929.

UNITED STATES FRANK E. SINCEBCE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

METHOD OF UMBRELLA. AND YARASOL CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed June 6, 1922, Serial No. 566,401. Renewed March 28, 1929.

This invention relates to a method for producing an umbrella or parasol', and has to do more particularly with a method by which the top or cover is constructed.

One of the objects of this invention 1s to provide a method by which the usual type of cover may be constructed of an inelastlc material, the top being formed of a plurality of gores, so designed that the top is pre-formed 'to have a dome-like shape when held taut.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method by which a cover may be provided for an umbrella or parasol, this cover being constructed of a relatively inelastic material and being pre-formed so that it will assume a dome-like shape when the umbrella is opened, without stretching of the cover material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for the construction of a cover for umbrellas or parasols by the practice of which a cover of a relatively inelastic mate-- rial may be manufactured, this cover being so designed as to assume a dome-like form when held taut, no undue stress being placed on the material, such as occurs in the ordinary types of fabric covered umbrellas, when the frames are opened.

Other objects and aims of the invention, more or less specific than those referred to above, will be in part, obvious and in part pointed out in the course of the following description of the steps and the relation of each step to one or more of the others thereof employed in carrying out my method, and the scope of protection contemplated will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the a'ccompanyin drawing, wherein I have shown a preferre form of embodiment of my invention:

Figure 1 represents a view in side elevation of an umbrella cover formed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the form on which the cover is constructed;

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of the form illustrated in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the device illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a plan view of one of the gores; and

Figure 6 is a view in a gore joint.

In umbrellas as are ordinarily constructed at the present time, it is customary to properspective, showing vide a stick on which is mounted a plurality a textile material, such as silk, or in some instances cotton, in either event this textile material being relativelyv elastic, and capable of being stretched, especially on the bias. Inelastic materials, such as paper, etc., have been used for umbrellas but in such cases,

the umbrella has a flat top surface such as is 1well-known in the case of Japanese paraso s.

In the manufacture of umbrella tops, it is customary to cut a number of gores, usually seven or eight, from the material, these gores being ordinarily of triangular form, the base of the triangle lying along or parallel to the selvage of the goods, and the sides of the triangle which are to overlie the ribs being of slightly less length than the ribs. These gores are then stitched together so'as to form the complete cover, this cover being, when held taut, of a somewhat conical form. When the gores are united to form a complete top,

there is provided a hole at the centre through which the stick is to project.

The top is attached at its centre to the stick, and the seams lying between a pair of adjacent gores are then to be attached to the end of the ribs. Inasmuch as the sides of the gores are of less length than the ribs, this discrepancy mustbe taken care of by stretching, and as has been stated, since the base ofthe gore lies along the selvage, the tension which will stretch the goods totake care of the difference in length between the rib and the seam, will be on the bias with relation to the goods.

Having attached the end of one seam to the tip of one ofthe ribs, this operation is continued until the cover is completely attached, the necessary pulling being repeated in each instance. The result will be that the goods will be pulled outwardly along the seams and the central portion of the base of the gore which will now be on the peripheral margin of the cover between the ribs, will be drawn inwardly.

When the umbrella is opened by extending the ribs, the result will be that the top will assume the well-known dome-like form with the peripheral margin indented between adj acent ribs. Owing to the tension which is placed on the goods, the goods will lie smoothly and without wrinkling. It is clear that the necessity of stretching the goods in order to place the cover in position on the frame makes it impossible to use goods which are relatively inelastic and incapable of being stretched with the present method of construction. I have devised a method, however, by which these difliculties may be obviated and by which a cover for umbrellas or parasols may be constructed either of a relatively inelastic material such as aper, or of an elastic materialwhich has een rendered inelastic by a process by means of which the material is rendered water-tight.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views thereof, the referencecharacter 1 designates a top formed in accordance with my present method. This top is constructed of a plurality of gores 2, which are cut in accordance with the shield-like pattern 3, illustrated in Figure 5. It will be seen that the sides 4, 4 of this pattern bow out slightly, whereas the base is inwardly curved a slight distance, as at 5. 'It will be clear that the gores, such as are here illustrated, may be stitched together along their margins, or else they may be united by cementing.

Owing to the bulge, of the sides of the gores, as at 4, it will be clear that the gores cannot be spread out on a flat surface with their edges overlapping in order to carry on thel process'by which the gores are to be united. I, therefore, provide a form 6, of any suitable material, such as fibre or wood, this form being mounted on a standard 7, provided with i la base 8, and having a projecting spike 9 at the centre point thereof. The form 6 is of a dome-like form and will be substantially a counterpart of the form which the cover will assume when the umbrella is opened.

The gore 3 will be laid on top of the form 6 and a second gore 4 placed adjacent thereto.

Owing to the shape of the form, it-will now be possible to lay adjacent'goreswith their edges 4 overlapping, as is illustrated in Fig- 'ure 6, whereupon these gores may be united made. The cementing operation is continue along their overlying edges as, for instance,

by means of any suitable cementing material,

this depending to some extent upon the character of the material of which the gores are with the other gores, until there is finally formed acomplete top which is illustrated in dotted lines in Figures 2 and 3. This top is then to be removed from the form and placed over the stick of the umbrella, whereupon the pointed ends of the gores will be attached to the tips of the ribsin any desired manner.

. form the cover.

material ordinarily being provided with a selvage which is woven so as to give the appearance of a ribbon. In this method I may cut my gores without reference to the selvage, but in the cheaper grades I hem the edges of the gores before they are united to In the better grades, however, I find it desirable to provide an artificial edge which may be made of ribbon or other similar material which may be stitched or cemented in position on the bases of the gores. This mounting of the artificial edge is facilitated by reason of the fact that the gores are not stretched or the fabric otherwise distorted when the umbrella is open. n

Having attached the cover at its central point to the stick, and at the ends of the lines of union of adjacent gores to the tips of the ribs, the cover will be attached to the ribs at various intermediate points, in any manner that may be desired.

It will now, be seen that when the umbrella is opened by forcing the ribs outwardly in the extended position, the cover will assume the dome-like form illustrated in Figure 1. The lines of union of the adjacent gores being. on a curve, as is illustrated in Figure 3, the ribs will consequently bow in the usual manner, and the peripheral margin of ,t-he

cover, owing to the inward curve indicated at 5, will give the appearance'of the indentations ordinarily produced by stretching the fabric. a

- Furthermore, this design in the cover gives the umbrella, when opened, ,the usual appearance, but makes it possible, as has previously been explained, to use relatively inelastic materials such as paper, or fabrics which have been treated so as to be rendered water -tight. The use of such fabrics is made possible since the opening of the umbrella pla ces no strain upon the material which is merely held taut when the umbrella is opened.

I preferably use for cover purposes, a fabd sist separation. Were such material cut/in the ordinary form and mounted upon the usual type of umbrella, it would be impossible to attach the peripheral margin of the cover to 'the ends of the ribs, inasmuch as f;

the fabric would not yield sufliciently for the purpose. I l T a I find furthermore. that .it is possible to make a cover in accordance with the method here described, of a relatively weak material, such as paper, this result being possible, owing to the fact that while the umbrella has every appearance of the ordinary stretched type, yet the material is placed under no undue stresses, the opening of the frame simply causing the material to-be held taut, that is to say, smoothly and without slack, which would form wrinkles.

The use of a form of which the cover is to be produced, is a great labor-saving device, and makes it possible to construct a cover in a great deal less time than would be necessary if the gores were stitched together. This is particularly true since the material to be used is treated sons to be waterrepellant, and therefore cannot be stitched as rapidly, as is the case in an ordinary fabric. The cementing process gives the required strength and may be rapidly carried on.

It will be seen, therefore, that I have devised a method of umbrella and parasol construction, well adapted to attain the several objects set forth. An umbrella constructed in accordance with this method'may be made of inelastic water-repellant material, or of such cheap fabrics as paper, while at the same time having the appearance of the much more expensive umbrellas now on the market.

Furthermore, the umbrella is cheap to construct, and a Water-repellant material, such as I have referred to, may be manufactured at a great deal less expense than the cost of the finer grades of silk, which is the'only material for umbrella tops which may be compared to the water-repellant material in regard to its shedding qualities.

The umbrella or parasol furthermore may be constructed with a minimum expenditure of time and labor, and has the finished domelike appearance with the indented peripheral margin, such as isnow the case with umbrellas as ordinarily constructed.

As many changes could be made in this construction without departing from the scope of the following claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

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

1. A method of umbrella and parasol construction which consists in cutting a plurality of gores from afabric, laying said gores upon a form with their adjacent lateral margins overlapping, uniting said gores along these margins to form a cover, and mounting said cover on a frame.

2. A method of umbrella and parasol construction which consists in providing a material water-proofed to make it inelastic,'cutting a plurality of gores therefrom, laying said gores on a dome-like form with their adjacent lateral margins overlapping, uniting said gores along their overlapping edges, while maintaining said gores in unwrinkled condition, whereby to form a cover having a dome-like form when heldytaut, and mounting said cover on a frame.

3. A method of umbrella and parasol construction which consists in providing a waterproofed material, cutting a plurality of shield-like gores therefrom, laying said gores on a form so shaped as to permit the adjacent lateral marglns of said gores to overlap, V

uniting said gores along their overlapping margins to form a cover and mounting said cover on a frame.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

FRANK E. SINCERE.

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