US2317160A - Removable umbrella cover - Google Patents

Description

April 20, 1943. S. WEINBERG 2,317,160

REMOVABLE UMBRELLA COVER Filed March 12, 1943 INVENTOR Samuel ht liblj BY i vil j Patented Apr. 20, 1943 UNITED STATES REMOWiBLE UMBRELLA COVER Samuel Weinberg, Elmhurst, N. Y.

Application March 12, 1943, Serial No. 478,864

3 Claims.

My present invention relates generally to umbrellas, and has particular reference to an improved device by means of which an umbrella frame may be recovered.

As is well known, the usual umbrella frame consists essentially of a stick, a series of springy ribs hinged to a supporting ring near its end, and means for adiusting the ribs into spread or collapsed conditions. Though not necessarily restricted to any particular type of umbrella, the present invention is of primary utility in connection with umbrella frames in which the end of the stick is relatively short and stubby, this type of structure being commonly employed for 1adies umbrellas.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an article of manufacture which may be readily applied by the user, in accordance with a simple series of procedural steps, to an existing umbrella frame. This would ordinarily be done, for example, to replace an umbrella cover which has become worn or damaged, but by means of this invention it is also possible and may be desirable to use two or more of the present devices interchangeably so as to enable the user to equip the umbrella frame, from time to time, with a cover of difierent color or ornamental pattern.

The present device comprises a substantially circular element of umbrella-covering fabric, a central attachment plug for application to the end of the umbrella stick, and means for securing the umbrella cover at its periphery to the rib ends of the frame. The novel features of the invention relate specifically to the attachment plug and to its mode of association with the midportion of the umbrella-covering material.

It is a particular object of my invention to provide a construction which is composed of relatively inexpensive parts, which is staunch and completely weatherproof, and which is of a simple and workmanlike structural nature and easy to use. An umbrella covered by one of the present removable devices looks like new and is indistinguishable, except upon minute inspection, from an umbrella having a conventional permanent cover, and the invention thus makes it possible to use and reuse a single umbreIla frame for long periods of time.

I achieve the foregoing objects and advantages, and such other objects and advantages as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, in the manner illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through the midportion of an improved device of the present character, shown in association with an umbrella frame;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the midportion of the element of umbrella-covering fabric, shown by itself; and

Fig. is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the manner in which the umbrella cover is secured at its periphery to the ribs of the umbrella frame.

The umbrella frame comprises a stick it) which carries a supporting ring ll near its end, this ring being provided with the usual circumferentially-arranged wire l2 to which the ribs 13 are hinged In. Fig. 1 the ribs l3 are shown in the expanded positions they assume when the umbrella is open, and in Fig. 2 the ribs are shown in collapsed relationship.

In carrying out my present invention, a substan'tially circular element M is first formed, composed of suitable umbrella-covering material. This element is preferably composed of the usual wedge-shaped sections which are stitched together, as indicated in Fig. 3, along radial lines At the center of this element, an opening it is formed, and my present invention permits me to follow the usual practice of reinforcing the edge of this opening by means of circumferential threads or stitches IT to Which the inner ends of the fabric sections are firmly anchored by suitable stitching operations as indicated in Fig. 3. This forms an enlarged or beaded edge of staunch leakproof character.

At suitable spaced points along the periphery of the umbrella cover I secure a series of tips 33 (see 2 and 4) each of which has an inwardly-disposed recess by means of which it may be fitted over the outer end portion of one of the ribs tips it may be of any suit able material and are preferably secured in position. by stitches it.

The improved structure at the midportion of he cover consists of a tubular plug 2!] and an outer ferrule 2i. These parts may be composed of any convenient rigid material preferably metal or synthetic composition. The plug 20 has an inner diameter which permits it to be readily aplied over the projecting end of the stick Ill. The outer diameter is slightly larger than the opening l5 so that the plug 20 may be forced outwardly through the opening It. At its inner end, the plug 25 is enlarged, as indicated at 22, thereby preventing the plug from being pushed entirely through the opening l6, and providing a shoulder or flange against which the reinforced edge of the opening I6 is adapted to bear, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 1. Preferably the enlarged portion 22 of the plug 20 is so shaped on the interior that it may fit conveniently over the outer portion of the supporting ring I l of the umbrella frame.

The ferrule 20 is a cup-shaped element, preferably of slightly divergent character at its open end, and the inner diameter is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the free end of the plug 20. Thus the cap or ferrule 2| may be fitted over the projecting part of the plug 20. A frictional or driven fit may be sufficient, but the securement is preferably enhanced by the use of adhesive material (not shown) which may be conveniently inserted into the ferrule 2! just prior to its application to the plug 23.

The ferrule 2| and the plug 20 are thus permanently secured to each other, and this serves to hold the plug 20 in position with respect to the umbrella cover.

In assembling the parts, it is preferable to employ the usual inner and outer reinforcements consisting of the disk-shaped cap 23 and the puffer equivalent disk-shaped member 24. The element 22: is usually composed of fabric, and it lies over the inner surface of the umbrella cover to shield the iatter from any possible injury from the ribs l3, the wire I2, or any of the other portions of the supporting ring H. The element 23 is provided with a central opening 25 which is slightly smaller than the external diameter of the plug 28 so that it may be forced over the plug 2:; when the parts are assembled. The puff Z4 is arranged on the outside of the umbrella cover and may be composed of fabric which is gathered and doubled back upon itself as indicated in the present drawing, or it may be composed of a disk of leather, or of any other suitable material. It is provided with a central opening which also fits snugly over the plug 29.

Preferably, the ferrule 21 is of such a size that its lower or free edge will bear slightly against the puff or equivalent element 24 when the parts are brought together as indicated in Fig. 1.

When the present device is to be used, it is laid flat upon a table or other supporting surface, with the inner side of the umbrella cover upwards. The end of the stick ii) is then inserted downwardly into the plug 28. The umbrella frame is then adjusted into a partially closed position, and the tips 18 are successively hooked over the corresponding ribs l3 of the frame. Nothing more than this is required, although it may be desirable under certain circumstances to provide the umbrella cover l4 at selected regions with tying threads or the like (not shown) by means of which each of certain selected ribs [3 may be tied at its midportion to the cover I4.

Of course, if the present device is to replace a worn or damaged cover, such cover is first removed from the umbrella frame, and during the course of this removal, the usual ferrule or cap (permanently secured by adhesive or otherwise to the umbrella stick lit) is loosened and discarded.

In case it is desired to remove the present cover from the umbrella frame for further replacement by a different cover of the same character, it is a relatively simple procedure to adjust the umbrella frame into half closed condition, release the tips [8 from the ribs 13, and then merely withdraw the plug 20 from the end of the umbrella stick.

Notwithstanding the fact that the plug 20 rests loosely over the end of the umbrella stick, the present device will not become displaced, nor can it be removed from the frame without deiiberately unhooking the tips l8 from the ribs l3.

An umbrella covered by means of the present invention appears in every respect like an ordinary umbrella, and unless it is subjected to careful scrutiny, it is impossible to tell that the cover is of removable character, Moreover, the cover is entirely weatherproof and there is no possibility whatsoever of any leakage. By virtue of the employment of the puff or equivalent element 24, and of the conventional reinforced edge of the opening H3 in the fabric of which the cover is made, the structure is just as strong and rugged as a cover of conventional permanent type.

It will be understood that the details herein described and illustrated may readily be modified by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use. What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An umbrella-recovering device for removable application to an umbrella frame, comprising an element of umbrella-covering fabric provided with a central opening having a reinforced edge, a tubular plug projecting outwardly through said opening and having an enlarged, inner end abutting against said reinforced edge, a cupshaped ferrule snugly fitted over the projecting part of said plug to retain the latter in position, said plug being applicable over the end of the umbrella stick, and means for securing the cover at its periphery to the ribs of the umbrella frame.

2. An umbrella-recovering device for removable application to an umbrella frame, comprising an element of umbrella-covering fabric provided with a central opening having a reinforced edge, a tubular plug projecting outwardly through said opening and having an enlarged inner end abutting against said reinforced edge, a protective puff or equivalent disk positioned over said plug and overlying said reinforced edge, a cupshaped ferrule snugly fitted over the projecting part of said plug and bearing against said puff so as to hold the plug in position, said plug being applicable over the end of the umbrella stick, and means for securing the cover at its periphery to the ribs of the umbrella frame.

3. An umbrella-recovering device as set forth in claim 1, the securement of the ferrule over the plug being enhanced by an adhesive interposed between them.

SAMUEL WEINBERG.

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