IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Edward Boyce, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Manufacturer, and Robert Harrington, of
Birmingham, aforesaid, Warehouseman, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS."
Sealed the 28th October 1868, and dated the 2nd May 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Edward Boyce
and Robert Harrington at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 2nd May 1868.
We, JAMES EDWARD BOYCE, of Birmingham, in the County of War-
wick, Manufacturer, and ROBERT HARRINGTON, of Birmingham, aforesaid,
Warchouseman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS," to be as follows:-
Our said Invention consists of improvements on an Invention
described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to us dated
the Seventeenth day of June 1867 (No. 1766).
Our present Invention consists of the combination or arrangement
of parts herein-after described for fixing the runner of the umbrella or
parasol when the umbrella or parasol is in its open or closed position.

page_text: In the Specification of the Patent referred to we described and
represented an arrangement of parts for fixing the runner consisting
of a lever jointed to the runner, one end of the lever passing through
a slot in the said runner, and the other end of the lever projecting
over the end of the runner nearest the handle of the umbrella or
parasol. A spring under the last-named end tends to depress the other
end and press it upon the stick of the umbrella or parasol. The end
pressed upon the stick is hooked and made to engage with studs or
projections on the stick. The runner has a raised channel, which
enables it to pass over the studs without obstruction.
the runner.
In our present Invention we employ two levers, which we joint to
The inner or hooked ends of these levers are turned
towards each other, and pass through the runner near its middle at a
short distance from each other. The outer or plain ends of the levers
project one near one end and the other near the other end of the runner.
A spring fixed near the inner or hooked ends of the levers presses the
said ends downwards through openings in the runner.
Upon the
umbrella or parasol stick two projections are fixed, one at the part
which the runner occupies when the umbrella or parasol is closed, and
the other at the part which the runner occupies when the umbrella or
parasol is open. These projections may consist of pieces of wire fixed in
the stick in a line parallel with its axis, and each having a cross notch
in it. When the umbrella or parasol is closed the hooked end of the
lever nearest the handle engages in the cross slot near the handle, and
when the umbrella or parasol is open the hooked end of the other lever
engages in the other cross slot, and the umbrella or parasol is thus
firmly fixed in its closed or open position. In order to open or close
the umbrella or parasol it is only necessary to press on one or other of
the levers, so as to liberate the runner, and then to move it to the
required position. One or other of the levers (according as the umbrella
or parasol is opened or closed) snaps into the cross slot it is brought over,
and the runner is fixed.
In order to effect the opening and closing of the umbrella or parasol
by a simpler action than moving the thumb from one lever to another an
additional lever may be jointed to the runner over the two levers beford
described and bearing upon their outer ends. By pressing upon one o
other end of this lever one or other of the before-mentioned levers

page_text: may be depressed, and the runner released from its closed or open
position.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Edward Boyce and Robert Harrington
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th October 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
EDWARD BOYCE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer, and ROBERT HARRINGTON, of Birmingham, aforesaid,
Warehouseman, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-cight, in the thirty-first
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said James Edward Boyce and Robert Harrington,
Her special licence that we, the said James Edward Boyce and
Robert Harrington, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as wc, the said James Edward Boyce and Robert Harrington,
our exccutors, 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 UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said James Edward Boyce and Robert Harrington,.
our executors or administrators, by an instrument. in writing under our
or their hands and seals, or under the hands and seal of one of us or them,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and, cause the
same to be filed in the Great Scal Patent Office within. six. calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said James Edward. Boyce and Robert
Harrington, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and
what manner the same is to be performed,, to be particularly
lescribed and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof,
hat is to say:-

page_text: Our said Invention consists of improvements on an Invention
described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to us, dated the
Seventeenth day of June 1867, No. 1766.
Our present Invention consists of the combination or arrangement of
parts herein-after described for fixing the runner of the umbrella or
parasol when the umbrella or parasol is in its open or closed position.
In the Specification of the Patent referred to we described and repre-
sented an arrangement of parts for fixing the runner consisting of a
lever jointed to the runner, one end of the lever passing through a slot
in the said runner, and the other end of the lever projecting over the
end of the runner nearest the handle of the umbrella or parasol. A
spring under the last-named end tends to depress the other end and
press it upon the stick of the umbrella or parasol. The end pressed
upon the stick is hooked and made to engage with studs or projections
on the stick. The runner has a raised channel, which enables it to pass
over the studs without obstruction.
runner.
A
In our present Invention we employ two levers, which we joint to the
The inner or hooked end of these levers are turned towards
each other, and pass through the runner near its middle at a short
distance from each other. The outer or plain ends of the levers project
one near one end and the other near the other end of the runner.
spring fixed near the inner or hooked ends of the levers presses the said
ends downwards through openings in the runner. Upon the umbrella or
parasol stick two projections are fixed, one at the part which the runner
occupies when the umbrella or parasol is closed, and the other at the
part which the runner occupies when the umbrella or parasol is open.
These projections may consist of pieces of wire fixed in the stick in a line
parallel with its axis, and cach having a cross notch in it. When the
umbrella or parasol is closed the hooked end of the lever nearest the
handle engages in the cross slot near the handle, and when the umbrella
or parasol is open the hooked end of the other lever engages in the other
oross slot, and the umbrella or parasol is thus firmly fixed in its closed
or open position. In order to open or close the umbrella or parasol it is
only necessary to press on one or other of the levers, so as to liberate the
runner, and then to move it to the required position. One or other of
the levers (according as the umbrella or parasol is opened or closed) snaps
into the cross slot it is brought over, and the runner is fixed.
In order to effect the opening and closing of the umbrella or parasol by

page_text: a simpler action than moving the thumb from one lever to another an
additional lever may be jointed to the runner over the two levers before
described, and bearing upon their outer ends. By pressing upon one or
other end of this lever one or other of the before-mentioned levers may
be depressed, and the runner released from its closed or open position.
Having explained the nature of our Invention we will proceed to
describe with reference to the accompanying Drawing the manner in
which the same may be performed.
Figure 1 represents partly in vertical section and partly in side
clevation a portion of an umbrella to which one arrangement of our
Invention is applied; Figure 2 is a front clevation of the same; and
Figure 3 represents an elevation and section of the runner separately
before the fastening mechanism is attached thereto. The same letters
indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2, and 3.
a, b, are the two levers jointed to the runner by the cross pins repre-
sented, the hooked ends a, b, of the said levers being turned towards
cach other. The said hooked ends are pressed upon by means of the
spring situated between the levers, the said hooked ends are thereby
made to pass through openings in the runner c, and press upon the
stick i. The levers a, b, and spring fare contained in a box or case g,
soldered to the runner; h is a projection fixed on the stick i in a cross
groove, in which the lever a engages to fix the umbrella in its open
position; and k is another projection on the stick; i is a cross groove in
which the other lever 6 engages to fix the umbrella in its closed position.
These projections h, k, consist of pieces of wire fixed in the manner repre-
sented in the stick i and parallel with its axis, each wire having a cross
slot or groove made in it, in which the hooked ends of the levers a, b,
engage as before explained. The runner c is made with a channel c²
(see Figure 3), to permit it to pass over the projections h, k, without
obstruction. When the runner c is in the position represented in
Figures 1 and 2, the umbrella is fixed in its open position by the
engaging of the hooked end a² of the lever a with the cross slot of the
projection . When it is wished to close the umbrella the projecting
end of the lever a is pressed down so as to remove its hooked end a³ from
the projection, and thus liberate the runner; the runner is then moved
down the stick until the hooked end 63 of the lever b comes opposite the
cross slot in the lower projection k, when the said hooked end snaps
into the said cross slot, and thereby fixes the umbrella in its closed

page_text: position. By pressing upon the projecting outer end of the lever 6 its
hooked end may be liberated from the cross slot of the projection k, and
the runner c may be raised on the stick i, and the top lever a again
engaged with the projection / so as to refix the umbrella in its open
position, as represented in the Drawing.
In order to facilitate the opening and closing of the umbrella we
prefer to joint to the side of the box g of the runner and over the two
levers a, b, a lever or rocking frame 1, as represented in section in Figure 4,
clevation in Figure 5, and separately in Figure 6. The ends of this
rocking frame bear in the manner represented upon the projecting
outer ends of the levers a, b. By pressing upon one or other of the
ends of the lever or rocking frame one or other of the projecting ends
of the levers a, b, may be depressed, and the runner c released from its
closed or open position.
Figure 7 represents in vertical section and elevation a runner for an
umbrella or parasol to which another arrangement of our Invention is
applied. In this arrangement the depression of the projecting end of
one of the levers raises simultaneously the hooked ends of both levers.
m, n, are the two levers turning on the pins or centres m³, n. The
said levers are fitted in and nearly fill up the box or case p soldered on
the runner. The hooks or catches m³, 13, of the levers pass through
openings in the runner, and engage with one or other of the pro-
jections h, k, on the stick of the umbrella precisely in the manner
described with respect to the levers a, b, Figures 1 and 2. The long arm
of the lever m projects over and bears upon the inner arm of the lever n.
By means of a spring 7 pressing under and raising the short arm of the
lever m its opposite arm and the inner arm of the lever n are pressed
down, and their hooks or catches m³, n³, made to pass through the
openings in the runner. The outer end of the lever m projects below
the bottom of the runner r, and the said outer end constitutes a finger
or thumb plate, by which the levers m, n, are worked. The spring q is
fixed in its place by the pin m³, upon which the lever m turns, the said
pin being passed through the coil of the said spring. When it is wished
to close the umbrella, to which a fastening of the kind represented in
Figure 7 is applied, the thumb plate of the lever n is pressed down.
The two levers m, n, are thereby made to take the positions indicated
in dotted lines, and the hook or catch m³ which was engaged with the
top projection (h, Figures 1 and 2) on the stick of the umbrella is

page_text: liberated therefrom, and the runner may be depressed on the stick, and
the umbrella closed and fastened in its closed position by the engaging
of the hook or catch 3 of the lower lever n with the bottom projection
(k, Figures 1 and 2) on the stick, the thumb plate of the said lower
lever n having been loosed before depressing the runner. The catch
of the lever n is released from the lower projection / in a similar
manner. By this arrangement pressure on the thumb plate of the
bottom lever 12 causes the umbrella to be unfastened, whether it is in
its opened or closed position. Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11, represent parts
of the last-described arrangement separately. Figure 8 represents the
lever and the blank s from which it is made; Figure 9, the lever m
and its catch, and the blank z from which the lever is made, and also
the blank from which the catch is made; Figure 10, the spring q; and
Figure 11, the box or case p (and its blanks t) in which the levers m, n,
are fitted. The hook or catch of each of the levers m, n, is made of an
angular piece of steel of the kind represented at v, Figure 9, made from
the blank u, which angular plate is soldered in the. trough of the lever
in the manner represented. Instead of the projections h, k, represented
in Figure 1, pins having studs or projections on their ends may
employed, as represented in Figure 12, where the upper projection on
the stick is marked x, and the lower projection is marked y. When
these projections are used the top lever engages with the top of the
upper projection x to fix the umbrella in its open position, and the
bottom lever engages with the bottom of the lower projection y to fix
the umbrella in its closed position. The opposed ends of the pro-
jections x, y, are inclined to permit the levers to travel over them.
An independent stop for the runner must be used with these projections.
be
We do not limit ourselves to the use of any particular construction
of projections to be used with our Invention, but we have found those
represented in the Drawing to answer satisfactorily. Our improved
fastenings are applicable to parasols as well as to umbrellas.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood that
we do not limit ourselves to the precise details herein described and
illustrated, as the same may be varied without departing from the
nature of our Invention; but we claim as our Invention, the improve-
ments hercin-before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawing in fastening umbrellas and parasols in their open and closed

page_text: positions respectively, that is to say, fastening the said umbrellas and
parasols by applying to the runner two levers, one of which levers is
made to fix the umbrella or parasol in its closed position, and the other
lever to fix it in its open position, the said levers being released either
by pressure applied directly to them or one of them, or by the inter-
vention of an additional lever or rocking frame, the said levers and
parts connected therewith being constructed and arranged substantially
as described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, we, the said James Edward Boyce and Robert
Harrington, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-
seventh day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Witness,
GEORGE SHAW.
JAMES EDWARD BOYCE. (L.S.)
ROBERT HARRINGTON.
(L.S.)