IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RUNNERS FOR UMBRELLAS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Harrison, of St. George's Road, Southwark,
in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF RUNNERS FOR UMBRELLAS."
Scaled the 4th May 1875, and dated the 30th January 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Harrison at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th January 1875.
I, CHARLES HARRISON, of St. George's Road,. Southwark, in the
County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RUNNERS FOR UMBRELLAS," to be
as follows:-
.
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of
runners for umbrellas, whereby great advantages are obtained by means
of very simple arrangements as compared with such articles as previously
formed. The runner, instead of being composed of one tube only as
heretofore, is formed of two or more separate lengths, the same being-
capable of sliding over each other in a telescopic manner, and having

page_text: the usual contrivance for preventing the respective lengths becoming
detached, as well known and understood.
In order to enable the several lengths of tube to preserve their proper
relative positions a portion of each length is "bulged" or enlarged
longitudinally, such parts respectively coinciding and passing over cach
other, and thus preventing the lengths of the tube from rotating inde-
pendently. The largest of the tubes of which the runner is formed is
furnished with an internal collar or other analogous contrivance for the
purpose of enabling it to work closely upon the stick of the umbrella.
To one end of the tubular runner thus formed the collar to which the
stretchers are attached is connected, and to the other end of the runner,
or at any convenient part thereof, is placed a collar or
structed, as well understood, for the reception of the
when the umbrella is closed.
66
tip cup
"
con-
tips of the ribs
A great advantage secured, by this Invention consists in the fact that
by means of the arrangements before described the runner and tip cup
are capable of being combined in one article by reason of the telescopic
action of the tube of the runner, and by which it is necessarily shortened
or lengthened as the umbrella is closed or opened.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 2
filed by the said Charles Harrison in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 30th July 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
HARRISON, of Saint George's Road, Southwark, in the County of
Surrey, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth, day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Charles Harrison, Her special licence
that I, the said Charles Harrison, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Harrison, 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

page_text: 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 RUNNERS FOR UMBRELLAS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Charles Harrison, my executors or adminis-.
trators, 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 Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the dato
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Harrison, 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
following statement, reference being had to the annexed Drawings, and
to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say :
My said Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction.
of runners for umbrellas, whereby great advantages are obtained by very
simple means as compared with such articles as previously formed...
The runner, instead of being composed of one tube only as heretofore, is.
formed of two or more separate lengths, the same being capable of
sliding over cach other in a telescopic manner, and having one or other
of the usual and well-known contrivances for preventing the respective
lengths becoming detached, as well known and understood.
In the annexed Drawings a slot and pin capable of working thercin
are represented as being used for this purpose.
In order to enable the several lengths of tube to preserve their proper
relative positions a portion of each length is "bulged" or enlarged
longitudinally, such parts respectively coinciding and passing over each
other, and thus preserving the sections of the tube from rotating inde-
pendently. When slots and pins working therein, as before mentioned,
are employed such "bulging" is dispensed with. The largest of the
tubes of which the runner is formed is furnished with an internal collar
or other equivalent or analogous contrivance for the purpose of enabling
it to work closely upon the stick of the umbrella. To one end of the
tubular runner thus formed the collar to which the stretchers are
attached is connected, and at the other end of the runner, or at any
other convenient part thereof, is placed a collar or "tip cup" con-

page_text: structed, as well understood, for the reception of the tips of the ribs
when the umbrella is closed.
A great advantage secured by means of my said Invention consists in
the fact that by means of the arrangements herein-before described the
E
runner and tip cup are capable of being combined in one article by
reason of the telescopic action of the tube of the runner, and by which
the runner is necessarily shortened or lengthened as the umbrella is
closed or opened.
The present Invention may be advantageously used in connection
with a certain Invention of " Improvements in the Construction of
Frames for Umbrellas, Parasols, and Sun Shades," for which Letters
Patent, bearing date the 11th day of January 1873, No. 121, were
granted to me and William Pearson, and which essentially. consisted in
the construction of a compound collar attached to the runner, the several
parts thereof working eccentrically so as to fix the latter.
I will now proceed to refer to the annexed Drawings, from which the
nature of my said present Invention will be more clearly understood.
'Figures 1 and 2 show three sections of the tubular runner in an
extended state with the tip cup attached to the lower section thereof,
and the slots in the lower and middle sections repectively.
Figure 3 shews the series of tubes closed.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of the stick of the umbrella and of
the concentric tubes when closed with a top view of the tip cup.
.Figure 5 shews the telescopic runner in an extended state with the
ribs, the tip cup, and the eccentric, or fastening collar.
Figure 6 shews the tip cup pressed down on the ends of the ribs.
Figure 7 is a view of the runner extended with a front view of the
"bulge" arrangement before referred to.
Figure 8 is a sectional view of the telescopic runner extended with the
tip cup at the lower extremity thereof.
Figure 9 is a view of the runner closed, with the tip cup in com-
bination with the excentric action.
Figure 10 is a sectional view shewing the telescopic runner closed,
and the tip cup attached thereto with the ordinary wire spring attached
to the stick for the purpose of maintaining the runner in a closed
state.
"...

page_text: Figure 11 is a transverse section of the stick and runner shewing the
bulged portion of the latter provided for the purpose of ensuring accuracy
of working.
In all the Figures the same letters of reference indicate similar parts
of the arrangements.
The lower, middle, and upper sections of the tubular runner are shewn
respectively at a, b, and c, the tip cup at. d, the slot at e, the collar to
which the stretchers are attached at f, the stretchers at 9, and ribs at h,
the excentric arrangement at i, and the bulged portion of the tubes
at k.
Having thus declared and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be dis-
tinctly understood that I do not claim the arrangements herein-before
described for preventing the respective lengths of the tubular runners
becoming detached, or those for enabling the several lengths of tube.
to preserve their relative positions; but what I consider novel and
original, and therefore, save as aforesaid, claim as constituting the
Invention secured to me by the said herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent are,―
First. The construction of runners for umbrellas working telescopi-
cally as herein-before described.
Secondly. The combination of the before-described telescopic runners
with a collar or "tip cup," substantially as and for the purposes herein-
CHARLES HARRISON. (L.S.)