IMPROVEMENTS IN CONGRATION OF HADDELLAS AND PARASOLS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Anderson Simpson, of Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Hat Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CONGRATION OF HADDELLAS AND PARASOLS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Anderson* Simpson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th March 1867.
I, JOHN ANDERSON SIMPSON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Hat Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF 'UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS," to be as
follows:-
The object of my Invention is to protect the silk, alpaca, cotton, or other
woven fabric of which the covers of umbrellas and parasols are made from, (1),
the friction and chafing which takes place in the ordinary use of these articles
at the joints connecting the stretchers to the ribs, and, (2), from the rust or
oxide which forms in a comparatively short space of time at the said joints
after the wearing away of the enamel or other protecting coating. For this
purpose I surround the ribs near their junction with the stretchers, the joints
themselves, and sometimes also part of the stretchers near the joints with

page_text: india-rubber or other elastic gum. The india-rubber or other elastic gum can
be fitted on loosely after the ribs and stretchers are jointed by being made in
the form of hollow tee pieces, the stretchers being passed through the trunks
of the tees, or it, the said elastic gum, can be fitted on in the plastic state and
then be "baked" in the usual way. Short pieces of vulcanized rubber tube
with slits therein, through which the stretchers pass, the edges of such slits
serve to clasp and protect the joints, are ready, although not so efficient, means
for carrying my Invention into effect.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Anderson Simpson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 25th September 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
ANDERSON SIMPSON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Hat Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Ier Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Iler
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Anderson Simpson, Пer special license that I, the said John
Anderson Simpson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said John Anderson Simpson, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Anderson Simpson, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Sea! Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Anderson Simpson, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the

page_text: following statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of
illustrative Drawings forming a part of this Specification, and to the letters
and figures thereon, that is to say :-
In umbrellas and parasols as at present constructed it has been found and
is well known that at and near the joints which connect the stretchers to the
ribs the silk or other woven fabric covers are rapidly worn into holes and dis-
coloured,. (1), by the friction and chafing which takes place in opening and
expanding umbrellas, and indeed in carrying them; (2), by the rust or oxide
which forms at the said joints in a short time. It has also been found and is
well known that the ribs and stretchers twist around the stick, and amongst
each other when closed, and that they then catch on each other or on the silk,
and render it difficult to expand the umbrella or parasol at the time it is
required.
Now the object of my Invention is to protect the said joints connecting the
stretchers to the ribs so that the cover will not be damaged, and to make it
certain that an umbrella constructed according to my Invention can be freely'
expanded at all times. To secure these advantages I surround the said
joints connecting the stretchers and ribs, or the ribs or stretchers near to the
said joints, with protectors or fenders made of india-rubber or other elastic
gum,, leather, india rubber cloth, or other material of sufficient thickness and
closeness that it will not only resist the friction but will also prevent any oxide
formed at the joints from passing through. it. The material which I prefer is
india-rubber about one-sixteenth of an inch in thickness.
On the accompanying Sheet of illustrative Drawings six different modes of
carrying my Invention into effect are represented in perspective. In all
these views the letters a and b denote respectively parts of ribs and stretchers;
these parts are shewn made of metal, as my Invention is more particularly
applicable to umbrellas with metal ribs and stretchers. It will be obvious,
however, that wherever metal is employed in the construction of the said
joints of the ribs and stretchers my Invention is applicable and of great utility.
In Fig. 1 the protector or fender consists of a tubular piece marked c. The
rib passes through a portion thereof and through an opening in the side, and
the stretcher passes through the other portion. The joints are completely
enclosed. c is preferably made of india-rubber or other elastic gum, and has
the ends tapered off, so that its elasticity will allow it to protect the joints at
all times, fit closely to the ribs or stretchers without puckering, and be unseen
on looking at the outside of the umbrella or parasol. In Fig. 2 the tubular
piece d (also made in preference of india-rubber or other elastic gum) is on
the rib, and the stretcher passes outwards through a slot or opening at o. In

page_text: Fig. 3 the ends of e are tubular and pass over or on the stretcher, whilst the flat
surface is led around the rib so that the joint is protected. This arrangement
can be effected in leather or india-rubber cloth; I prefer elastic rubber or
gum.
In Fig. 4 the rib passes through the flat protector or fender f. The
joints of the ribs and stretchers are on the inside of f; the edges off should
be chamfered off; this form can be made of any convenient material, india-
rubber cloth would answer; the cloth should not be of silk when the cover is
of that material.
The modifications shewn by Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 just described have been
devised with the object of allowing of the fitting on of the protectors or
fenders after the ribs and stretchers have been jointed together in the ordinary
manner. The said protector or fender can, however, be fitted on at any
convenient time.
In Fig. 5 a semicircular piece 9 projects inwards at its sides beyond the
rib, and in Fig. 6 two pieces h, h, are connected to the sides of the rib itself.
The modifications shewn by these two Figures are such that the said pro-
tectors or fenders can best be applied in the plastic or adhesive state.
rubber or other gum can be attached and afterwards "baked" in the ordinary
manner.
India-
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and particularized
the same by various modifications in language which will enable others to
carry my Invention into effect, I would here state that what I claim is, con-
structing umbrellas and parasols at and near the joints which connect the ribs
and stretchers with protectors or fenders marked c, d, e, f, and g, as herein
arranged and composed substantially of the materials in the manner for the
purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Anderson Simpson, have hereunto
set my band and seal, this Thirteenth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
In the presence of
JOHN T. KING,
Patent Agent,
Liverpool.
JOHN ANDERSON SIMPSON. (L.S.)