IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Restell, of the Laurels, Palace Square,
Norwood, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN UMBRELLAS."
Sealed the 7th March 1865, and dated the 9th September 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Restell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th
September 1864.
1, THOMAS RESTELL, of the Laurels, Palace Square, Norwood, in the
County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS," to be as follows:—
The object of this Invention is to improve the details of construction of that
class of umbrellas known as walking-stick umbrellas, and to give them a more
sightly appearance than heretofore.
In the Specification of my Patent of October 20th, 1863, No. 2577, I
described an umbrella of this class into the sheath or case of which the
umbrella stick snapped with either end projecting outwards. The stretchers
I also described as moving upwards instead of downwards as usual to close
the umbrella.
I now propose to improve the sightliness of the walking-stick umbrella by
extending the case or sheath the same proportionate distance with respect to
the handle and the ferule that the cover of an ordinary umbrella extends, and
to show portions of an ordinary stick projecting from either end, the one to

page_text: receive the ferule and the other (which is secured to the case) to carry the
handle. To the upper end of the case and surrounding the stick 1 propose to
fit imitation tips, which will give the appearance of the ribs projecting slightly
beyond the case.
In all umbrellas heretofore made the top spring has been either below the
runner, or working through a slot in it, but I now propose to set the spring so
that it will snap above the runner.
To fasten tho umbrella to the case heretofore the spring fastening was
carried by the case, and it snapped into a recess in the stick at either end. I
now fit the spring fastening in the stick just above tho real tips of the
umbrella ribs, and allow it to snap into a notch or hole in the case when the
umbrella is mounted for use. When closed and inserted in the caso the
elasticity of the ribs will assist in retaining it there. The handle I make
hollow, and fit it with an elastic tube (say of cork or india-rubber) to receive
the point of the umbrella. The binding of this elastic tubo upon the point
will serve to increase the steadiness of the umbrella in its case. To one of
the ribs, near the top notch, I attach an elastic band for the purpose of
keeping the umbrella from falling open when temporarily shut.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Restell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th March 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
RESTELL, of the Laurels, Palace Square, Norwood, in the County of Surrey,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Thomas Restell, Her special licenso that I, the said Thomas
Restell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Thomas Restell, 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 Isto of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN UMBRELLAS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said

page_text: Thomas Restell, 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 Thomas Restell, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, 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):
-
The object of this Invention is to improve the details of construction of that
class of umbrellas known as walking-stick umbrellas, and to give them a moro
sightly appearance than heretofore.
Umbrellas of this class have already been made with either end of the
umbrella stick snapping into the sheath or case, and projecting outwards
therefrom. The stretchers have also been made to move upwards instead of
downwards, for the purpose of closing the umbrella.
With these preliminary remarks I will proceed to describe my improve-
ments.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 shews my improved construction of
walking-stick umbrella in side view; Fig. 2 shews the sheath and its attach-
ments in section, and the covered umbrella contained therein; Fig. 3 shews
the umbrella expanded, and the sheath in partial section.
b
In these Figures it will be seen that the case or sheath a, a, extends the
same proportionate distance with respect to the handle and the ferule that
the cover of an ordinary umbrella extends, the parts b, b', which are seen as
projecting from opposite ends of the case, corresponding in appearance to the
ends of the stick of an ordinary umbrella. The part 6 receives the ferule c,
and the part 6 (which is secured to the case) forms the stem of the handle d.
This proportionate arrangement of the sheath or cover and the umbrella stick
or its component parts b, b', will greatly improve the sightliness of the walking-
stick umbrella. The case I make by preference of hard vulcanized india-
rubber or vulcanite, which will combine the requisite strength with lightness
of material.
In all umbrellas heretofore made the top spring (which keeps open tho
umbrella by retaining in position the runner or sliding pieco to which the
stretchers are attached) has been either below the runner or working through
a slot cut in it, but in this new arrangement I set the top spring as shewn
at e, Fig. 3, so that it will snap above the runner f, which is drawn to expand

page_text: the umbrella. This will admit of the runner f being considerably shortened,
and made as shewn in the Drawing, and will thereby facilitate the fitting up
of the frame. Heretofore, in order to secure the umbrella to the case a, tho
spring fastening was carried by the case, and it snapped into a recess in the
stick at either end. I now fit the spring fastening to the stick in an enlarge-
ment thereof situate just above the tips of the umbrella ribs when tho
umbrella is enclosed in the case. When the umbrella is mounted for use this
fastening wills nap into a notch or hole in the case, as shewn at Figs. 1 & 3.
This snap is represented in side view at Fig. 4 (which is a cross section at
the line 1, 2, of Fig. 3), and in end view at Fig. 5. It consists of a plug g
fitting loosely into a socket formed for it in an enlargement of the ferulo end
of the stick, which enlargement is intended to fit into the enso a. The outer
end of the snap is formed with a half round projecting head, and a slot a³ is
cut in the case to receive this projection. The plug is slotted, and through it
the rod b*, forming the main portion of the stick, is passed to make its con-
nection with the part b. The rod therefore serves to retain the plug in its
socket. A coiled spring his inserted in the slot of the plug or snap to givo
the
snap a tendency to move outwards, and take into the slot a' cut for it in
the case a. A modification of this snap is shewn in side view at Fig. 6, and
in edge view at Fig. 7, and detached at Fig. 7*. It consists simply of a
steel spring of the form shewn, which is let into and secured to the stick by
a rivet.
When the umbrella is closed and inserted in the case a, the elasticity of
the ribs will assist in retaining it therein. The stem of the handle d I
make hollow, as shewn at Fig. 3, and I fit it with an elastic tubular lining i
(say of cork or india-rubber) to receive the point or ferule of the umbrella.
The binding of this clastic tube upon the ferulo or point will serve to increase
the steadiness of the unbrella in its case. To the head of the umbrella and
to one or more of the ribs near the top notch k, which carries the ribs of the
umbrella, I attach one or more elastic bands 1, 1, (see Fig. 8,) for the purpose
of keeping in place a sliding ring m, which is used for preventing tho
umbrella from falling open when temporarily shut, thero being no spring, as
in ordinary umbrellas, for effecting the object by taking into a slot in the
runner. When the parts are together, as shewn at Fig. 1, the silk covering of
the umbrella will be completely enclosed in the india-rubber sheath or case a,
which may be colored and polished in the ordinary manner of manufacturing
Lard rubber articles. In order to disengage the umbrella from its caso it
will only be necessary to press in the snap 9 by one finger of the hand that
grasps the case of the umbrella, while the other hand is applied to the handle.

page_text: By a slight pull the umbrella is removed from its case. It is then opened
by pulling down the runner to the position shewn at Fig. 3, the ferule end of
the umbrella stick being inserted into the case is to be thrust home until it is
wedged into the elastic tubular packing i, i. The snap 9 coming into coin-
cidence with the slot a' will then take into that slot, and the umbrella and
case will then be securely united together, the firmness of the union being
further secured by the enlargement in which the snap socket is formed being
made to fit the case.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of improvements in
umbrellas, and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect,
I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent
1 claim,―
First, the means above described for securing the walking-stick umbrella to
and preventing it from shaking within its case.
And, secondly, placing the spring above the runner as described for keeping
the umbrella expanded.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Restell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
THOMAS RESTELL G0)
THOMAS RESTELL (re)