IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TOP NOTCHES FOR UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS "
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Milner of Carbrook in the County of York for
an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TOP NOTCHES
FOR UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS "
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Milner at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th March 1883.
WILLIAM MILNER, of Carbrook in the County of York "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF TOP NOTCHES FOR UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS."
My invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of top Notches in
umbrella furniture, with the object of saving labour, and reducing the cost of such
Imanufacture. These articles are usually first cast in brass, of a shape approximating
to that of the finished article, and they are sometimes formed by compressing
metallic tubing so as to swell out the projecting parts in which the "notches" are
formed; Now my improvements consist in dispensing with the casting of the
blanks, altogether; and forming them instead, out of sheet or strips of metal, or
from rods or tubes in in the following manner, and instead of brass, I use Zinc, Tin,
or alloys of the said metals.
For example, I take a strip of sheet metal of the thickness of the required
top notch, and I punch out a blank, of the diameter of 'the finished article, I then
punch out the centre hole, or if preferable I reverse the process and punch the
centre hole first, and afterwards the full diameter, thus producing a strong ring
shaped blank.
•
These blanks are then placed upon a lathe mandril; either two or more at a
time, and the tubular shanks are formed two at a time, by preference by means of
a turning tool of the required width. The groove is then turned out, and the
notches being cut, the article is finished in the usual way.
In making top notches: from a hollow bar or tube, I prefer to take a short
length, of suitable diameter, and turn it down till it resembles a number of finished
blanks similar to those above described before they are removed from the lathe
mandril, the prepared length of turned metal is then cut up, or divided into
separate blanks ready for slitting or notching and finishing.
To prevent waste of metal-the short rod or tube may be cast to a shape having
different diameters approximating to the finished blanks. If solid bars were used
a central hole would require to be bored through the bar.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and
of an Order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said William Milner in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th October 1883.
WILLIAM MILNER of Carbrook in the County of York "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF TOP NOTCHES FOR UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS"
My invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of "Top Notches,"
being articles coming under the term of Umbrella furniture, and which are used
in the construction of Umbrellas and Parasols; the object of my invention being
. to economise labour and thereby reduce the cost of manufacture.
The usual method of making top notches, is first, by casting them in brass, the
shape approximating to that of the finished article and then by turning them up
in a lathe, and sawing the slits or notches.
Another method is to form them out of metallic tubing, the projecting parts
being formed by compression.
According to my improvements, I dispense with the casting process altogether,
and form the blanks from sheet metal, or from solid rods, or from tubes, and
instead of brass 'I use Zinc or Tin or alloys of Zine or tin.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood, I shall refer to the
annexed sheet of drawings, in which the same letters of reference indicate the
same parts in all the figures
--
Fig. 1, represents
top notch, in a finished state.
Fig. 2, shows the first process, of punching the blank from a strip of metal.
Fig. 3, shows the second process, the blank with the centre hole punched out.
Fig. 4, shows how a single blank may be turned up at one operation.
-
Fig. 5, shows the method of turning two blanks at once.
Fig. 6, shows the method of making the top notches from a metallic tube.
In carrying out my Invention according to one process, I take a piece of sheet
zinc of suitable thickness for the required top notch and punch out of it.a blank A,
Fig. 2, I then punch out the centre hole as shown.in Fig. 3, or I may reverse the
process and punch the centre hole first, and the full sized blank at the second
operation, the result being the strong ring shaped blank B Fig. 3. The blanks are
then secured on a mandril, either one or more at a time as may be preferred, and
the tubular projections C are turned out of the solid blank, preferably by a turning
tool shaped to the obverse or negative of the finished notch, so that the turning
and grooving are completed at one operation; a tool as described to turn and
groove one top notch is shown in Fig. 4, marked F, and the method of turning
and grooving two top notches at once, is shown in Fig. 5, with the turning
tool G.
The blanks may be driven tightly on the mandril H, or may be secured by any
suitable and ready means.
In making top notches from a hollow bar or tube, I take a short length by
preference, and turn it down until it resembles a number of finished blanks
similar to those above described before they are removed from the lathe mandril,
see Fig. 6; the blanks may then be separated by means of a
saw or other
appliance, at S, or if it is found more economical, the tube may be first sawn or
otherwise divided into blanks, and then secured upon a mandril as hereinbefore
described; blanks made from a solid bar would necessarily require the centre
hole boring or punching out.
The finished blanks made in either of the above described ways would then be
slit or notched, and finished by the usual methods.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said

page_text: invention, and the manner in which it may be carried into practice, I will observe
in conclusion that I am aware that it has been proposed to make top notches by
using a ring of zinc in combination with, and secured to a tube of brass, and I
therefore wish it to be understood that I do not claim such a method or
combination of parts, or metals, but what I do claim as new and original and
as the invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters
Patent, is
First, The manufacture of Top Notches for Umbrellas and Parasols by the
method of punching or otherwise producing annular blanks of sufficient thickness
to form the whole top notch, from plates or strips of Zinc, Tin, or alloys of those
metals (in contradistinction to blanks made by casting) and in turning the finished
notch ready for slitting, from the said blanks; substantially as hereinbefore
described and as illustrated.
Second, The method of manufacturing Top Notches from tubes or rods of Zinc,
Tin, or alloys of such metals, by turning and cutting them off such tubes or rods,
substantially as described, and as illustrated.
In Witness whereof I the said William Milner have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this twelfth day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
Eight hundred and Eighty three.
WILLIAM MILNEK.
(L.S.)