IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FRAMES OF UMBRELLAS, PARASOLS,
Year: 1870

page_text: for
LETTERS PATENT to Richard Cook, of the Firm of Robert Cook and
Company (Limited), of Hathersage, in the County of Derby,
the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FRAMES OF UMBRELLAS, PARASOLS,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Cook at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
24th February 1870.
I, RICHARD Cooк, of the Firm of Robert Cook and Company
(Limited), of Hathersage, in the County of Derby, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FRAMES OF
UMBRELLAS, PARASOLS, AND SUNSHADES," to be as follows:―
The improvements relate, first, to that part of the frame commonly
called the "middle bit," which I form from tubing cut into lengths.
corresponding with the width of the "bit," and then in the case of what
are called hollow or
paragon" ribs, I in applying it to such ribs bend
the portion of tube so as to cause part thereof to bend inwards or

page_text: collapse, and this part fits into the hollow of the rib, whilst the other
part passes on the outside of it, when the parts projecting beyond the
edges of the hollow rib may form two horns to receive the end of a
stretcher between them; or they may be pinched close together so as to
be received between the horns or fork of a forked ended stretcher.
In the case of solid ribs the middle bit is similarly formed, except that
it simply clips without passing into the rib.
The improvements relate, secondly, to the forks of hollow or paragon
stretchers, and consists in forming them from the solid metal by splitting
the same at the end thereof and in the direction of their length to the
extent of the intended fork, and then opening and shaping those parts as
desired. When these ends are pierced the stretchers-are-hardened_and_
tempered for usc. By these means simplicity and economy with
security are obtained.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Richard Cook in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 24th August 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
Cook, of the Firm of Robert Cook and Company (Limited), of
Hathersage, in the County of Derby, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs, and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Richard Cook, Her special licence
that I, the said Richard Cook, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Richard Cook, 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 FRAMES OF
UMBRELLAS, PARASOLS, AND SUNSHADES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Richard Cook, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and

page_text: seals, 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 Richard Cook, 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 thereof, that is to say:―
The improvements relate, first, to that part of the frame commonly
called the "middle bit," which I form from tubing, which may be either
cut from lengths corresponding with the width of the "bit" desired, or
they may be obtained by stamping from sheet metal into a tubular form,
and then, in the case of what are called hollow or "paragon" ribs, I in
applying it to such ribs bend the portion of tube so as to cause part
thereof to bend inwards or collapse, and this part fits into the hollow of
the rib, whilst the other part passes on the outside of it when the parts
projecting beyond the edges of the hollow rib may form two horns to
receive the end of a stretcher between them; or they may be pinched
close together so as to be received between the horns or fork of a forked
ended stretcher. In the case of solid ribs the middle bit is similarly
formed, except that it simply clips without passing into the rib.
"
The improvements relate, secondly, to the forks of hollow or "paragon'
stretchers, and consists in forming them from the solid metal by splitting
the same at the end thereof and in the direction of their length to the
extent of the intended fork, and then opening and shaping those parts
as desired. When these ends are pierced the stretchers are hardened
and tempered for use. By these means simplicity and economy with
security are obtained.
But that the Invention may be fully understood I will, by the aid of
the accompanying Drawings, proceed to describe means pursued by me
in carrying the same into effect.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figures 1 and 2 show an end view and a side view of a short length of
tubing adapted to form a "middle bit" according to the first part of my

page_text: tubing may, if desired, be obtained by stamping from sheet metal; and
Figure 4 shews a disc of metal which may by the usual process of
stamping have the form given to it indicated by the plan and sectional
views, Figures 5 and 6. The end a¹ thereof will then be cut off, when
there will remain a portion of tubing such as represented by Figures 1
and 2. A suitable length of tubing having been obtained by such or
other means, I place it in a suitable die b, as is indicated by the red
line a in Figure 7, with the rib to which it is to be applied placed within
it, as is indicated by the blue line c.
56
Figures 8, 9, and 10 shew a plan view, a section, and an external view
_of_the_die_b._The_die_b,_it_will_be_seen, is formed not only with a
groove b¹ across it adapted to receive and guide the position of the rib c,
but also with an enlarged part 2 to receive and guide the portion of
tubing a. The section of rib shown is that commonly called the hollow
or paragon" rib, and when the parts a and c are thus placed in
position the part a is subjected to the action of the projecting part & of
a punch d, as is indicated by Figure 11, by which the portion of tubing
will be caused to clip tightly the internal and external portions of the
rib, as is more clearly represented by the enlarged views of the parts at
Figures 12 and 13.
Figures 14 and 15 show a side view and an under side view of the
upper punch or die d separately. a², a, are the two horns formed to
receive a stretcher between them, and which will be pierced for a pin to
hold the stretcher therein, as is well understood.
Figures 16 and 17 show the same applied to a solid nib. In this case
it may generally be desirable to pinch the horns together, as is indicated
by Figures 18 and 19. This may be effected by means of the dies b and
d, as indicated by Figure 20.
In carrying out the second part of my improvements I place one end
of a stretcher against a suitable stop or guide e, Figure 21, which guide
is adjustable to the length of stretcher for the time under operation.
The other end of the stretcher rests in a dief so as to be acted upon by
the punch g to have a portion cut out therefrom, or for the purpose
of splitting it as indicated by the separate view of a portion of stretcher
shown by Figure 22, thereby leaving two horns or forks h³, h³. These
horns or forks are then, by suitable punches and dies, such as are well
understood by persons acquainted with this class of manufacture, opened
out into the form shown by Figures 23 and 24, and then the ends of the

page_text: horns h, h, are enlarged and rounded by similar stamping into form
such as indicated by Figures 25 and 26. They are then pierced, as
indicated by h³, Figure 27.
Figures 28, 29, and 30 shew an upper side view, a side view, and an
end view of the dio f; Figures 31, 32, and 33 shew three separate views
of the upper die or punch 9: The parts of the stretchers thus acted upon
may then be hardened and tempered as desired.
Having thus described my Invention and means which I adopt in
carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I
claim is,-
First. The forming the "middle bits" of the frames of umbrellas,
parasols, and sunshades from tubular portions of metal, substantially as
described.
<
"
Secondly. I claim the forming the forks of hollow or paragon
stretchers of umbrellas, parasols, and sunshades from the solid metal,
substantially as described.
In witness whereof, Î, the said Richard Cook, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
RICHARD COOK