CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF UMBRELLAS AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Simon Simmons, of Bishopsgate Street, in the City of
London, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF UMBRELLAS AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES."
Sealed the 6th April 1877, and dated the 6th November 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Simon Simmons at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th November 1876.
SIMON SIMMONS, of Bishopsgate Street, in the City of London. "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF UMBRELLAS OR OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES."
The Invention relates more particularly to that portion of the umbrella called
the "runner," to which the stretchers for the ribs are secured, and is designed for
the purpose of providing such "runners with a spring catch which will enable the
same to catch upon and secure a hold to the stick when the umbrella is open, in
lieu of causing the "runner" at such time to catch upon a wire spring secured to
and working in a slot of the stick as hitherto.
"
The improvements consist in constructing the " runner with an annular or
other suitable space, in which a spring catch is placed so as to encircle or bed
against the stick. The spring catch contained in the said space is arranged so that
when in its normal state it exerts a slight pressure upon the stick which in no way
interferes with the easy sliding of the runner thereupon. When opening the
umbrella the said "runner" is simply forced up the stick until the ribs are fully
expanded, at which time the spring catch of the "runner" enters a slight recess or
groove formed in the stick, and retains the expansion of the ribs so long as the
umbrella remains open.
The internal spring catch of the "runner" is connected externally to a button,
ring, or other equivalent, the depression of which withdraws the spring catch from
the recess of the stick, and so releases the "runner" and allows the umbrella to be
closed with ease.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said Simon Simmons in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 16th May 1877.
SIMON SIMMONS, of Bishopsgate Street, in the City of London. "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF UMBRELLAS OR OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES."
"
This Invention relates more particularly to that portion of the umbrella called
the "runner," to which the stretchers for the ribs are secured, and is designed for
the purpose of providing such " runners with a spring catch which will enable the
same to catch upon and secure a hold to the stick when the umbrella is open, in
lieu of causing the " runner at such time to catch upon a wire spring secured to
and working in a slot of the stick as hitherto.
"
"
"
The improvements consist in constructing the "runner with an annular or
other suitable space, in which a spring catch is placed so as to encircle or bed against
the stick. The spring catch contained in the said space is arranged so that when in
its normal state it exerts a slight pressure upon the stick which in no way interferes
with the easy sliding of the runner thereupon. When opening the umbrella the
said "
"
runner is simply forced up the stick until the ribs are fully expanded, at
which time the spring catch of the "runner" enters a slight recess or groove formed
in the stick or in a spring tube, which encircles the stick and retains the expansion
of the ribs so long as the umbrella remains open.
The internal spring catch of the "runner" is connected externally to a button,
ring, or other equivalent, the depression of which withdraws the spring catch from
the recess of the stick or tube, and so releases the "runner" and allows the umbrella
to be closed with ease.
In order that the Invention may be well understood and explained in detail I
have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings made about full size, and upon which
letters of reference are marked on corresponding parts on all the Figures alike.
"
Fig. 1 represents a vertical section of the improved "runner;" Fig. 2 represents
a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3 represents a transverse section of the "
taken through the line v, v, of Fig. 1.
"
runner
Fig. 4 represents an external view of the "runner" provided with a telescopic
sliding tip cap," the said cap being shown in the position it would assume when
the umbrella is open; and Fig. 5 represents a similar view shewing the position the
tip cap would assume when pushed out so as to receive the tips of the umbrella
when closed.
"
In the above mentioned Figs. a, a, is that portion of the tube of the " runner
called the wheel, to which the stretchers are hinged; b is the enlarged annular space
of the "runner;" c is the catch ring encircling the stick o, and which is forced
against the saune by the spring d; and e is a projecting stud terminating in a
button e' outside the annular space; the tip cap f forms a telescopic slide, which is
accurately fitted to slide in the annular space b; and g is a recess formed in the stick
or in a tube h, which is fixed to and encircles the said stick at a point corresponding
with the highest elevation of the "runner."
The action of the improved "runner "will be readily understood on reference to
the Drawings and following description When the umbrella is closed the telescopic
slide f is drawn or pushed out so as to embrace and enclose the tips of the frame
(as seen at Fig. 5); in this position the tips are confined and the umbrella
maintained in a closed position. When opening the umbrella the slide fis first
pushed up into its seating, as seen at Fig. 4, the action of which releases the tips.
The "runner "is then free and forced so as to slide up the stick until the framing
or ribs are fully expanded, at which time the said * runner abuts against the
stop, and the spring d forces the ring c into the recess g formed in the spring tube h
"

page_text: "
encircling the stick o, thus securely fixing the framing so as to retain it in its then
expanded condition.
The closing of the umbrella is accomplished by simply depressing the button e¹,
which withdraws the ring c from the recess g, the action of which releases the
runner," and causes it to slide or run down into its lowest position upon the stick,
in which said position the sliding cap fis caused to receive the tips, and thus
prevent the expansion or opening of the frame.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, together with the method
of carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly understood in
conclusion that I claim, the novel combination, arrangement, and adaptation of the
parts marked b, c, d, e, and ƒ in the construction of "runners as applied to the
sticks of umbrellas, to be used in the manner and for the purpose as herein substan-
tially described, set forth, and fully illustrated in the Drawings annexed.
33
In witness whereof, I, the said Simon Simmons, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this the 11th day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
SIMON SIMMONS. (L.S.)