AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTING OF UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS
Year: 1835

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
BARKER, late of Southampton Street, Camberwell, in the County of Surrey,
but now residing in Regent Street, in the County of Surrey aforesaid, Gentle-
man, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King William the
Fourth, by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing
date at Westminster, the Twenty-fifth day of March, in the fifth year
of His reign, and in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and thirty-five, did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Joseph Barker, His especial license, full
power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Joseph Barker, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph
Barker, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of
years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my
Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTING OF UMBRELLAS AND
PARASOLS;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, tho
said Joseph Barker, shall cause a particular description of the nature of my
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
inrolled in His said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar

page_text: months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited
Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will
more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Joseph Barker, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, is particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon
(that is to say):-
The object of my improvement in the constructing of umbrellas and para-
sols is to construct them without "stretchers" in the inside, in order that they
may afford better shelter than umbrellas or parasols of the ordinary construc-
tion, and be capable of being opened and shut with ease and expedition, and
in other respects possess all the useful qualities of ordinary umbrellas and
parasols without the inconvenience of their "stretchers," which not only
prevent them from being brought close over the body, but are very destructive
to the hats or bonnets of the persons using them. For the attainment of this
object I have placed the stretchers on the outside or above the "ribs," which
stretchers being so placed may more properly be termed "suspenders." And
my invention or improvement consists in applying to the purposes of opening
and shutting the umbrella or parasol either a screw, a combination of a screw
and a slide, or a rack and pinion placed in or near the handle of the umbrella
or parasol, and acting upon or working a rod or tube passing from the screw,
screw and slide, or rack and pinion, up the inside of the cane or tube forming
the stem of the umbrella or parasol to the top thereof, and there connected to
a cap to which the suspenders are fastened, by which means the umbrella or
. parasol may be opened and shut with ease and expedition, and when shut
the ribs be prevented from falling open, by the cap to which the sus
penders are fastened being made to close upon shoulders formed on the
metal tips inserted in the top notch, and if thought necessary, be securely
retained close to the stem of the umbrella or parasol by the addition of a
cup to come over the cap and the ends of the "suspenders."
Figure 1 is a partial section, taken through the stem and handle of an
umbrella, shewing sufficient parts to explain my improvements, the ribs
being expanded, or in the situation they are in when the umbrella is
opened. Figure 2 is another similar section, shewing the ribs collapsed as
when the umbrella is closed. Figure 3 is another section, shewing the ribs
secured in this position by the cap and cup herein-before mentioned, to prevent
them falling upon the spring catch of ordinary umbrellas, not being applicable

page_text: to this construction.
a, a, are the expanding ribs or whalebones. b, b, the
suspenders. c, the hook of the handle. d, d, the hollow stem. The ribs or
arms a, a, are secured to the wheel or top notch e by a wire passed through
holes in the tips or mountings f,f, on the ends of the ribs, as in the ordinary
umbrella, the top notch e being obliquely rivetted or otherwise securely
fastened to the stem d in such a manner that the rivets, where rivets are used,
do not interfere with the rod passing up the hollow stem. Tho stretchers b
are connected at one end to the ribs a, and at the other (which may be plain
or forked, see Figures 23 and 24) to the cap g, g, by wires passed through
holes on their forked or upper ends. The cap g, of which Figure 25 is a
perspective view, is brazed or soldered on the tube h, which slides freely upon
the upper part of the stem, which tube also carries the cip i herein-after
described, which is capable of sliding a short distance upon the tube h. The
cup i is connected by a strong pin or rivet j to the internal rod k, there being
two long slots formed in the top part of the stem, and two short slots in the
tube h, to allow of the pin or rivetj moving up and down as the umbrella
is opened and closed. The lower end of the rod k is connected by rivets or
otherwise to the tube m, m, which has the female screw n, n, securely fastened
into it, as also the two guides o, o (see the two detached sections, Figures 4
and 5), which guides move in grooves p, p, formed in the lower or handle part
of the stem of the umbrella or parasol. 9 is a collar or clutch stop piece
(shewn detached in perspective at Figure 6), which piece is securely fastened
by rivets or otherwise to the end of the stem of the umbrella. r is the shaft,
and s the thread or worm of the male screw, which shaft is firmly fastened by
a rivet or otherwise into the hook c. The shatt also carries the other clutch
stop piece t, fastened to it by a rivet or otherwise, see the detached view of the
shaft at Figure 7. The use of these clutch pieces is to prevent the reaction of
the screw when in the act of opening the umbrella until it is fully expanded,
when it is retained open by a notch u. formed in the thread of the female
screw, which lets the shoulder formed by the notch fall into a corresponding
notch vin the worm or thread of the male screws, as shewn in Figure 1. The
piece q, by being fastened in the stem, sustains the downward pressure of the
umbrella caused by the tension of its covering, and the shoulder w of the
screw shaft r working against its bottom part prevents the male screw from
being drawn into the stem further than necessary to allow the clutch pieces q
and t to pass each other when the male screw is turned round.
Having now mentioned the various parts, I will proceed to describe
their action in opening or closing the umbrella. Supposing the umbrella
to be closed, as shewn in Figure 3, the inclined insides of the cap g
will have closed over the inclined ends of the tops f, f, whereby the

page_text: ribs are prevented from falling open, and this is more securely effected
by the cup, which is brought down over the cap and the ends. of
suspenders b, and holds them in that position: When it is wished to open or
expand the umbrella the hook or handle c is to bo turned round towards the
right hand, which will cause the shaft r, and male screw's, and the clutch
piece t to be turned also, by which the male screw will act upon the female
screw n, and force it upward, carrying with it the internal rod k, the screw n
being prevented from turning round by the guide pieces o and grooves p.
The rod k as it rises will first carry with it the cup i, and as soon as it has
risen from off the ends of the suspenders into the position shewn in Eigure 2,
the rivet or pin will have moved up the short slot in the tube k, and, the
ribs will then be at liberty to expand, which will be effected by continued
rising of the rod k, carrying with it the cup i, the tube h, and cap g, which
will draw up the suspenders and cause them to expand the ribs into the
position shewn in Figure 1. And as soon as the notch u (or the screw n) comes
into contact with the notch v (of the screw s) the umbrella will be sufficiently
expanded, the notch preventing the return of the female screw n, or its
carrying round the male screw t, and consequently keeping the umbrella
expanded. I would here remark, that the short slot. in the tube h, in which
the rim j works, must always be equal to the space the cup i comes over the
ends of the suspenders. When it is wished to shut the umbrella, the handle
is to be turned the reverse way. This will cause the male screw to disunite
the notches u and v, and the female screw will easily follow the motion of
the male screw from its having the force of the umbrella and extended silk
or other covering upon it, the notches on the clutch pieces 9 and t passing
each other as the male screw is turned round. The continuous motion of the
male screw draws down the cap g and cup i first into the position shewn in
Figure 2, and then as in Figure 3.
Figures 8 and 9 are parallel sections of the top part of an umbrella, shew-
ing a variation of the method of mounting the cap g and cup i. Figure 8
shews the parts in the position they are in when the umbrella or parasol is
closed; and Figure 9, the same expanded or when open. The same letters
being marked upon corresponding parts in these and all the following
Figures, it is not necessary for me again particularly to describe them, but
I shall briefly state the difference in the construction. In this instance the
stem of the umbrella terminates at the upper side of the top notch e, and the
_cap g and tube h are mounted, sliding upon the internal rod instead of the
stem of the umbrella, as in the former instance; and the cup i is fixed upon
à piece of cane or tube uniform with the stem, and which is fastened by a
rivet on the internal rod k, a short distance above the cap g. When the

page_text: umbrella is closed the parts are in the position shewn in Figure 8, but on
turning the male screw and raising the internal rod k the cup i. will first be
raised with the top part of the stem, and as soon as the cap is clear of the
ribs and suspenders the bottom of the short slot in the rod k will have come.
into contact with the rivet j, and then the cap.g'will be raised and expand the
ribs as before. On turning the hook the reverse way the contracting action
takes place, as before.
Figures 10 and 11 are similar views to those last described, in which there
is not any cup i used to confine the suspenders or ribs, when the umbrella
is closed the inclined or conical inside of the cap 9 keeping the stretchers
collapsed without the aid of the cup.
Figures 12, 13, and 14, are partial outside views of the top parts of an
umbrella or parasól, in which another variation of the construction is shown.
In this instance the suspenders are connected to a sliding ring a on the outside
of the cup i instead of being jointed to the cap 9 as in the former instance,
the cup i closing over the ends of the ribs when the umbrella or parasol
is down as shewn in Figure 12; but on raising the rod k, the cup rises to
the position in Figure 18, when it releases the ribs, and as it continues to rise,
the ribs are expanded as in Figure 14, the rim or ledge on the hollow part
of the cup retaining the ring a, and on drawing down the rod k the reverse
motion takes place.
Figures 15 and 16 shew two.partial sections of the top part of a parasol
constructed without the cup i, and Figure 17 is a section taken through the
lower part and handle.
In
Figure 18 is a detached view of its male screw 8. and shaft r, with the
clutch piece t; and Figure 19 is a detached section of its female screw.
these screws s and n, it will be observed that there are no notches v and u, but
the clutch pieces alone act as a check upon the reaction of the screws, and in
keeping the parasol expanded. In this instance, it is also to be observed that
the stem of a parasol is formed by a tube, to which the handle is connected by
a pin passing in a slot formed in the end of the internal rod, which is
strengthened by lengthening the tube of the female screw. See the detached
Drawing, Figure 19. The tubes being thin, not allowing of any oblique
rivetting, the cap 9 slides on the tubular stem, as in the former instance, the
same letters being marked upon corresponding parts as in the former Figures ;
and as similar action takes place in expanding and contracting the parasol,
it is not necessary for me again to describe them.
.
Figures 20 and 21 shew a method of obtaining the required motion for
raising and lowering the rod k by a combination of a sliding motion with the
screw motion before described; and in this instance the internal rod k carries

page_text: d is
is a
is a
the tube at
one of the screws n, and the other s is connected to the top of its shaft r
which is fixed into the handle as before. Figure 20 shews the position of
the parts when the umbrella is closed; Figure 21, when it is open.
the stem of the umbrella, with a tube fixed on its lower end; and
tube forming part of the handle, which tube may be covered in any manner,
according to the taste of the manufacturer. q is the stop or abutment piece
for the screws, which in this instance do not require any clutch notches.
sort of buoyant fastening formed by a projecting stud or pin on
the end of the stem d working in a grove formed in the tube y. When it is
required to expand the umbrella, the stem is to be held in one hand, and the
tube y turned a little towards the left, so as to clear the stud from the notch
at the top end of the slot ; then the tube y or handle is to be pushed upwards,
which will carry off the cup i and partly expand the umbrella, and bring the
stud.to the bottom of the slot z; the hook of the handle is to be turned
round toward the right hand, when the screws will come into action and
complete the expansion of the unbrella, till the notches u and v come into
contact with each other, as shewn in Figure 21. At this time the stud will
be in the notch at the lower end of the slot z, the screw n is prevented from
turning by guides working in slots formed in the tube y. When the umbrella
is to be closed, the screws is to be turned the reverse way, until the screw n
comes into the position shewn in Figure 20, that is, abutting against the
piece 9; then the tube y is to be turned toward the left a short distance to
disengage the stud from the lower notch, when the tube y is to be pulled
down until the stud reaches the upper end of the slot, when the
umbrella will be closed; then, the tube y being turned a little to the
right, the stud is brought into the notch at the top of the slot, and the
umbrella prevented from falling open.
Figure 22 shews the application of a rack and pinion, to produce the
requisite motion of the interior rod, the rack being attached to the end of
the rod, and the pinion mounted in the lower part of the stem d, and
is intended to be worked by a small winch, handle, or key, in any convenient
manuer, which is so obvious that it is not necessary for me to describe.
The rack may be supplied with a spring catch (see Drawing Figure 26)
to retain the umbrella open or closed, as described, or it may be done by
locking the handle with a small bolt or catch. For the information of the
workman, I would observe that the object of making the suspenders forked
at the end inserted in the cap is, to steady the ribs; the suspenders may
be of any length, varying from two to six inches for parasols, and from six to
eleven for umbrellas. When very short suspenders are used, the ribs should
be reduced in substance a little on the upper side, about one third from

page_text: the lower end, as in Drawing Figure 27.
When a cup is used it will be
more couvenient to make the umbrella what I believe is termed domed
or temple-topped, like ordinary parasols, with a spiral spring above the cup
to keep the cone always tight. The reason for this is, to allow the ascent
of the cup requisite to liberate the suspenders. When no cup is used
the cover may be the same as in common umbrellas, and be covered at the top
by a bell-mounted ferrule or swage, either fastened by oblique rivets or
screwed on to the tube h. In putting the umbrella together, it is only
necessary to observe that as the clutch piece q traverses freely on the shaft r
between the clutch piece t and the shoulder w, the rivets necessary to fix
the clutch piece q into the stem should be put in previously to putting in
the hook c. Where the clutch piece 9 is not of sufficient substance to
allow of rivet holes being drilled in its sides, notches cut on each side deep
enough for the rivet to lie in will be sufficient. The screw may be formed
of either brass, iron, or steel, or any other durable metal; the clutch pieces
had better be of either iron or steel, or they will be apt to wear out. Where
ivory handles are used, as in Figure 17, it is very convenient to havo
the end next the hook c formed with a cap to screw on, as shewn in that
Drawing, which cap effectually conceals the ends of the grooves formed in the
handle for the guides to move in. This cap is put on before the hook c.
The internal rod may be made either of small cane or of wood, or consist
of a small tube.
And in order that my improvements may be better understood and be
of greater utility, I have shewn and described several different methods of
constructing the various parts used in effecting the object of my improvements;
but I do not intend to confine myself to the precise form or arrangement
of the parts therein shewn, as they may be varied to suit different shapes
or the will or taste of the manufacturer. And I wish it to be understood that
I do not mean or intend to claim as part of my Invention the placing
of the stretchers or suspenders outside or above the ribs, or the mode of
inserting them in the ribs, or any other part of the construction of the
umbrella or parasol, as shewn in the annexed Drawing, which is old or
can fairly be considered as common to an ordinary umbrella or parasol, and
not peculiar to my improvements.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Barker, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty-five.
J. BARKER. (L.B.)

page_text: .
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-fifth day of Sep-
tember, in the sixth year. of the reign of His Majesty King William t
the Fourth, the said Joseph Barker came before our said Lord the King
in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Instrument aforesaid, and all and
every thing therein contained and specified, in form above written. And also
the Instrument aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute
made in the fifty-fifth year of the reign of His late Majesty King George
the Third.
Inrolled the Twenty-fifth day of September, One thousand eight hundred
and thirty-five.