AN IMPROVED UMBRELLA RUNNER
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Jacob Higgins, Doctor of Medicine, of
the City of New York, in the United States of America, for tho
Invention of "AN IMPROVED UMBRELLA RUNNER."
Scaled the 19th January 1874, and dated the 31st August 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Jacob Higgins
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 31st Augnst 1874.
I, JOHN JACOB HIGGINS, Doctor of Medicine, of the City of New
York, in the United States of America, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED UMBRELLA RUNNER," to be as
follows:-
1
My Invention consists in such a construction of runner as enables the
umbrella to be raised or dropped by simply moving the runner, without
requiring a separate action of the hand to press in the springs, which
are used to hold the umbrella closed or expanded.

page_text: The inner tube of the runner has fixed to its upper end the stretchers,
as in ordinary cases, and is substantially like the runner commonly used,
except that it is longer than the common runner, and has cut through
it two slots instead of one to receive two springs fitted in the stick, and
which keep the umbrella closed or expanded. Over this inner tube is
an outer tube, which is somewhat shorter than the inner tube, and slides
up and down upon it, and is swelled or expanded at or about its middle
sufficiently to allow the said springs to be fully expanded or thrown out
when such swelled part is over either of such springs, at which time the
outer tube also entirely conceals the springs.
When the umbrella is shut, and it is desired to open or raise the
with the thumb or finger the spring
same, it is not
to press
necessary
down through the slot and into the spring recess in the stick, as has to be
done in ordinary umbrellas to allow the runner tube to be pushed up,
but the outer tube is moved upward and upon the inner tube until its
upper end comes in contact with the stretcher rim. The first upward
movement of this outer tube brings the inclined surface or face of its
swelled portion against the spring, and presses such spring into the
stick, so that the inner tube can pass over it as if the spring was forced
in by the thumb or finger. When the umbrella is fully expanded the
upper slot in the inner tube is brought over the upper spring of the
stick, and the said spring passes into the slot and holds the umbrella
open.
When it is desired to close the umbrella a similar movement of the
runner tubes takes place, but in an opposite direction. When the
umbrella is fully closed the slot in the inner runner tube is brought
over the spring, which at once expands into or flies out through such
slot, and thus holds the runner and secures the umbrella from opening
until the outer tube is again moved upward as described to release the
spring, and allow the umbrella to be opened. But a single motion or
continued movement of the runner tubes in one direction is thus
required, either to open or shut the umbrella.
The use of this improved runner not only adds much to the utility of
the umbrella in the convenience and facility of operating or manipulating
the umbrella, but the outer tube also protects the springs, particularly
the lower one, which are therefore less liable to get bent or displaced,
and thus rendered more or less useless, and also prevents the catching

page_text: of anything on or over the spring to the inconvenience of the user. It.
also adds to the beauty and general appearance of the article. This
arrangement and operation of runner tubes is alike applicable to parasols
and sunshades, and to umbrellas of any size or description.
The inner runner tube may also be made shorter and with a single
slot substantially as used in ordinary umbrellas, but with such con-
struction of inner tube the outer tube would have to be retained upon
and over the inner one by some device, as by a lip or rim on the inner
tube, against which the angle or point of the outer tube may strike,.or
by any convenient device for such purpose.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Jacob Higgins in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 27th January 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
JACOB HIGGINS, Doctor of Medicine, of the City of New York, in the
United States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent,. bearing date the Thirty-first day of August, in
: the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four,
in the thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said John Jacob Higgins, Her
special licence, that I, the said John Jacob Higgins, my executors, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Jacob Higgins,
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
"AN IMPROVED UMBRELLA RUNNER," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said John Jacob Higgins, my executors or administrators,
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 performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within

page_text: necessary to press with the thumb or finger the spring c down through
the slot a and into the spring recess in the stick, as has to be done in
ordinary umbrellas to allow the runner tube to be pushed up, but the
outer tube B is moved upward and upon the tube A until its upper
end 1 comes in contact with the stretcher rim 8'. The first upward
movement of such outer tube B brings the inclined surface or face 6 of
its swelled portion against the spring c, and presses such spring into the
stick, so the tube A can pass over it as if the spring was forced in by
the thumb or finger, and then the further upward movement of such
outer tube carries the inner slotted tube along with it over the spring,
and thus raises or opens the umbrella, as in ordinary cases. A continued
movement in the same direction of the two tubes of the runner in the
manner described thus performs the two offices of first pressing in
the holding spring, and then carrying up the inner tube, which expands
the umbrella. When the umbrella is fully expanded the upper slot a¹
in the tube A is brought over the upper spring c¹ of the stick, and such
spring passes into such slot and holds the umbrella open.
When it is desired to close the umbrella a similar movement of the
runner tubes takes place, but in an opposite direction. The outer
tube B is first moved downward, which motion brings the inclined
surface or face 6' of its swelled portion against the spring c' and presses
it into the stick. This is effected when the lower end 2 of such tube
strikes against a rim or lip r on the lower end of the inner tube A, and
the further downward movement of such outer tube carries such inner
tube along with it over the spring and closes the umbrella. When the
umbrella is fully closed the slot a in the inner runner tube is brought
over the spring c, which at once expands into or flies out through such
slot, and thus holds the runner and secures the umbrella from opening
until the outer tube is again moved upward as described to release the
spring, and allow the umbrella to be opened. But a single motion or
continued movement of the runner tubes in one direction is thus
required, either to open or shut the umbrella.
The use of this improved runner not only adds much to the utility of
the umbrella in the convenience and facility of operating or manipulating
the umbrella, but the outer tube also protects the springs, particularly
the lower one, which are therefore less liable to get bent or displaced,
and thus rendered more or less useless, and also prevents the catching
of anything on or over the spring to the inconvenience of the user. It

page_text: also adds to the beauty and general appearance of the article. This
arrangement and operation of runner tubes is alike applicable to parasols
and sunshades, and the like, or umbrellas of any size or description.
The inner runner tube A may also be made shorter and with a single
slot, substantially as used in ordinary umbrellas, but with such con- t
struction of inner tube the outer tube would have to be retained upon
and over the inner one by some device, as by a lip or rim on the inner
tube, against which the angle or point p of the outer tube may strike, or
by any convenient device for such purpose.
The arrangement of the upper and lower springs on the same side of 1
the stick of the umbrella will also permit the use of an inner tube
having but a single slot, but in such case it will be found more con-
venient and advisable to increase somewhat the length of the inner tube
and of its slot.
:.
What is claimed as new is, in combination with the stick C and 1
springs c, c¹, of an umbrella the runner composed of the inner tube A
and outer tube B, all constructed and arranged to operate substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Jacob Higgins, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of December, in the 2
year of our Lord 1874.