Iμ- PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS, AND IN THE MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1872

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry George Sievier at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th March 1872.
I, HENRY GEORGE SIEVIER, of Aldersgate Street, in the City of
London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Iμ-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS, AND IN THE
MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the manufacture
of umbrellas and parasols, and in the machinery to be used for such
manufacture.
The first object of the Invention being to produce a fabric in its
entirety as a cover for an umbrella or parasol.
The second object being to attach such cover to the frame or ribs of
the umbrella or parasol in such manner that it may be removeable and
capable of being renewed or substituted by another cover as required.
I propose to produce a fabric, whether of cotton, alpaca, silk, or other
material, or combination of materials, which shall present a conical or
tapering form to suit any outline of the frame of umbrella to which it is
to be applied,

page_text: I propose to arrange the warp threads of the loom in accordance
with the varying widths of shoot desired. I cause the warp threads
to rise and fall differentially in regard to the shoot or throw of the
shuttle, the result being, that a tapering fabric will be produced capable
ultimately when drawn off from the loom of presenting a curvilinear
outline and surface of fabric, which would, if continued, meet end to
end or may be received by conical take-off rollers or reciprocating
sections of cones.
The arrangement of the harness of the loom and the piercing of the
jacquard will enable any series or number of threads of warp to be
adjusted within the operation of the shuttle, leaving all other warp
threads of the series free from the influence of the shuttle thread, woof,
or weft, consequently it must follow that by throwing (by differential
degrees of shoot) the shuttle across different portions of the race actuated
by the jacquard or lifts a curvilinear, elliptical, or dome shaped fabric
will be produced.
In this construction of loom it is of course necessary that the threads
of warp should be on reels in what is termed a "frame loom," and not
on a beam of warp where the warp is drawn off in a continuous sheet or
layer in equal lengths; the jacquard or lifts will operate freely on all
these independent threads and control the manufacture of the tapering
fabric.
the
In power looms I propose to adjust the position of the shuttle box at
apex of the work in such manner that the box with its sword shall
advance and recede in conformity with the width of shoot, which con-
tinually varies. I accomplish this by means of toothed gear or other
equivalent action in conjunction with the lifts so that the lifts and
shoots shall be always in accordance, whereby the slack of the weft will
be avoided. The feed motion is also conical similar to the take-off
motion, and thus any outline or curve of fabric may be made, which
when cut into lengths may be united by sewing or by an elastic or other
suitable union to complete the cover in one piece. The fabric or cover
is then to be adjusted to the frame or stick of the umbrella or parasol.
I propose to form (either by the loom) or by addition of fabric or india-
rubber as a washer at the circular open apex of the cover) a thickened
ring which will act as a strengthening piece or pad, but other equivalent
means may be adopted. I then apply the metal top by means of a
screw thread to the stick or handle, having first placed the cover over

page_text: the ferrule; by these means the screw cap will compress the open apex
of the cover on to a metal or other hard base and secure it firmly in
position, it then becomes necessary to secure the periphery of the fabric
to the extremity of the ribs; this I propose to effect by means of elastic
strips and open and closing spring fastenings, or by means of split steel
rings or bands. The elastic strips could be made to pass through
small rings, eyelets, or loops in the periphery of the cover, and being
attached to the rings could be drawn out, let over the tips of the ribs,
and would retreat so as to secure the cover to the ribs. So also to
secure the intermediate portion of the cover to the ribs where the
stretchers are united, I propose, if necessary, to apply to the cover or to
the rib or stretcher an open spring snap capable of securing one portion
to the other; but whatever fastenings may be employed it will be
obvious that by the manufacture of the cover described it may be
applied to or removed from the frame or another substituted at will.