IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Dawson, of King's Arms Yard, in the City
of London, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS
AND PARASOLS."
Sealed the 21st July 1854, and dated the 2nd March 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Dawson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 2nd
March 1854.
I, THOMAS DAWSON, of King's Arms Yard, in the City of London, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS" to be as follows:―
My Invention consists in uniting the edges of the various pieces or quarters
of which the covering of an umbrella or parasol frame is composed by a
solution of caoutchouc or other like composition in lieu of stitching, and in
uniting the outer ends of the pieces or quarters to the ends of the frame or nibs
by means of an eyelet, which is fixed into the fabric by pressure. Instead of
covering the frames with ordinary silk, cloth, or alpaca, my Invention also
consists in covering them with a light waterproof fabric, the edges of which are
united by a solution of caoutchouc or other like solution, and the ends fastened
to the nibs by eyelets.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Dawson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 31st
August 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
DAWSON, of King's Arms Yard, in the City of London, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most. Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Thomas Dawson, Her special licence that I, the said
Thomas Dawson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Thomas Dawson, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Thomas Dawson, 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 Scal 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 Dawson, 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 follow-
ing statement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in covering the frames of umbrellas and parasols with
a cover of cloth or other suitable material, whether made waterproof or not,
the joints of which are formed, united, or secured by a solution of caoutchouc,
gutta percha, or other like adhesive material, spread upon strips of silk
or other suitable material, or upon overlapping parts at the edges of such
joints.
In carrying my Invention into effect, I first temporarily stitch or baste
together the quarters, segments, or pieces of which a cover is intended to be
made over or upon a frame of the proper size, so as to give the cover the
proper set; I then remove the cover from the frame and spread a solution of
caoutchouc or other like composition_upon.a strip of silk or other suitable

page_text: material, which I apply and press securely to the inside of the cover along the
whole extent of each joint, extending from the tip to the "top notch" joint.
This, when dry, will effectually secure the pieces or segments of a cover
together at the joints, where they are now usually attached together by sewing.
The strips of cloth which I use in cementing or securing the joints of a cover
in this way are cut diagonally "or on the bias" out of a web or piece, so that
they may possess the same degree of elasticity as the edges of the segments,
quarters, or pieces of which the cover is composed.
Instead of securing the joints in this manner, the segments or pieces of the
cover may be cut somewhat larger, so as to overlap at the joints, and the joints
secured by cementing the overlapping parts together by solution of caoutchouc
or other adhesive material; but I prefer to cement the cover together at the
joints by means of strips of cloth, as before mentioned. The cover is next
stretched upon its frame and secured in the usual manner. This mode of
securing the joints of covers will not only make the joints stronger, but also
(being waterproof) tend to prevent the ribs of the frames, when made of metal,
from oxidyzing.
In some cases I secure the outer ends of the quarters to the outer ends of
the ribs by inserting an eyelet in the ends of the quarters, and tyeing these to
the ends of the ribs by a cord or thread.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my Invention,
the uniting or securing of the joints of umbrella and parasol covers by means
of caoutchouc solution or other similar adhesive material, in manuer herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Dawson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of August, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-four.
THOS DAWSON. (L.s.)