Parts of a Stick Umbrella

Handle

• The handle at the base of a stick umbrella is usually thicker than the umbrella tube and made of plastic, wood or rubber. A modern stick umbrella often has a button on its handle that triggers the umbrellas to open.

Tube

• The tube is the central "stick" part of a stick umbrella, serving as the umbrella's spine. The bottom of the tube is covered by the handle. The mid-section of the tube contains springs which raise the umbrella. The tube is attached to the runner that causes the umbrella's canopy to spread. The top of the tube extends past the canopy and fastens it with the open cap and top notch. The open cap rests on top of the canopy, while the top notch is underneath it.

Runner

• The runner is the movable object that slides up and down the umbrella's tube. When the umbrella is closed, the runner is latched onto the bottom spring, which is near the base of the tube. However, once the runner is detached form the bottom spring, it "runs" up the tube, which causes the umbrella's canopy to open. Once the umbrella is open, the runner latches onto the tube's top spring. So long as the runner is latched on to the top spring, the umbrella will stay open.

Canopy

• The canopy of a stick umbrella, or any umbrella, is the covering that prevents its holder from becoming wet. Most canopies on stick umbrellas are composed of plastic. The canopy opens when the umbrella's runner piece ascends the tube and latches onto the tube's top spring. The bottom edges of the canopy is attached to six or eight stretchers. On the opposite end of the stretchers is the runner, which is why the runner opens the canopy.