IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF UMBRELLAS AND
PARASOLS."A communication.
Sealed the 22nd September 1858, and dated the 9th July 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th July 1858.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF UMBRELLAS
AND PARASOLS," to be as follows:-
This Invention of improvements in the construction of umbrellas and
parasols relates to a novel mode of constructing the frames of these articles
of wire, and consists in forming the ribs with their eyes of single pieces or
lengths of wire. The eyes of the ribs and stretchers are formed by bending or
turning up the wire instead of flattening it at the different points and punch-
ing or drilling holes therein, as is now the case. The operation is commenced
by coiling the wire in such a manner as to form a top hole or loop whereby
the rib is attached to the top ring or crown. The wire is then coiled again at
or near the centre, so as to form the middle hole or eye to receive the

page_text: stretcher. The tip hole is also formed by a coil of the wire. The stretcher
at its point of junction with the rib is turned in double coil, so as to prevent
the turning of the rib when the umbrella or parasol is closed. The advan-
tage of this construction over that of the existing wire frames for umbrellas
or parasols consists in the following points:―
1st, all the openings or holes are smooth on the inside, and therefore not
liable to cut the thread passing through the same for the purpose of attaching
the covering to the frame or case, which frequently happens in the present
styles of wire frame umbrellas or parasols, as the holes produced by punching
or drilling have sharp edges on the inside.
2nd, the ribs not being flattened are stronger than those of the present
style.
3rd, I am
enabled to form the notch loops or holes of a larger size than
those of the old style, so that a larger and stronger notch wire and runner
wire than usual may be used, thus strengthening the whole frame.
4th, the rib forms a coiled spring, and the elasticity thus imparted to the
same facilitates the opening of the umbrella or parasol by preventing the
catching of the ribs.
5th, these improved umbrella or parasol frames require less repairing, and
their construction is cheaper than those of the present style of wire frames.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 8th January 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Edward Newton, Her special license that I, the said William
Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said William Edward Newton, 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

page_text: and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS," being a
communication from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said William Edward Newton, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, 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 Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention of "Improvements in the Construction of Umbrellas and
Parasols," relates to a novel mode of constructing the frames of these articles
of wire, and consists in forming the ribs with their eyes of single pieces or
lengths of wire. The eyes of the ribs and stretchers are formed by bending or
turning up the wire instead of flattening it at the different points, and punch-
ing or drilling holes therein, as is now the case.
Fig. 1 is a side view, and Fig. 2 a front view of part of an umbrella frame
and stick constructed according to the present Invention. a is the stick; b,
the rib; c, the stretcher; d, the fixed crown piece; f, the runner. The
operation of making the ribs is commenced by coiling the wire in such a
manner as to form a top hole or loop, as at H, whereby the rib is attached to
the top ring or crown, which is fastened to the stick, as usual. The wire is
then coiled again at or near the centre, so as to form the middle hole or eye i
to which the stretcher c is connected. Another hole or eye k is formed at or
near the tip by coiling the wire at that part. It will now be seen that the
whole rib thus formed consists of one piece of wire, and all the openings or
eyes of the rib are formed without being under the necessity of flattening,
drilling, or punching any part thereof. The stretcher c at its point of junction
with the rib at the point i is turned in double coil, so as to prevent the rib
from turning or twisting when the umbrella or parasol is closed.
end e of the stretcher c is jointed as usual to the brass runner f.
tage of this mode of constructing umbrella frames over that of the existing
wire frames for umbrellas or parasols consists in the following points :-
First, all the openings or holes in the improved frames are smooth on the
inside, and therefore not liable to cut the thread that passes through the same
The other
The advan-

page_text: for the purpose of attaching the covering to the frame or case, and which
inconvenience frequently happens in the present construction of wire frames of
umbrellas or parasols, as the holes produced by punching or drilling some-
times have sharp edges on the inside: Moreover, the improved ribs not being
flattened are stronger than those of the present construction. Another
advantage is that the notch loops or holes may be made of a larger size than
those of the old construction, so that a larger and stronger notch wire and
runner wire than usual may be used, thus strengthening the whole f.ame.
It will also be evident that the improved rib forms a coiled spring, and the
elasticity thus imparted to the same facilitates the opening of the umbrella
or parasol by preventing the catching of the ribs. Umbrella or parasol
frames of the improved construction require less repairing, and are cheaper
to manufacture than those of the present kind of wire frames. It will be
evident to all practical men that the present Invention is applicable to both
úmbrella and parasol frames.
Having now described the "Improvements in the Construction of Umbrellas
and Parasols" that constitute the Invention for which I have obtained Letters
Patent, as aforesaid, and having explained the manner of carrying the same
into effect, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, I would
observe that what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,
making the ribs of umbrellas and parasols by coiling the wire into loops
which serve like ordinary holes in the rib for the joints and for attaching the
stretcher to the middle loop or runner without the interposition of intermediate
links, substantially in the manner and for the purpose as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Seventh day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)