AN IMPROVED STRETCHER FOR UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS."
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Cook, of Hathersage, in the County of
Derby, Umbrella Manufacturer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
STRETCHER FOR UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Cook at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd December 1865.
I, RICHARD COOK, of Hathersage, in the County of Derby, Umbrella
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED STRETCHER FOR UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS," to be as follows :-
This Invention relates to an improved construction of stretcher for umbrellas
and parasols, which stretchers have hitherto been made of round, square,
paragon or V-shape, and also of a triangular section, both of iron and steel,
causing considerable expense by the formation of a fork at one end to attach
to the middle bit of the rib, which attaches both together. Another disad-
vantage of these stretchers is the bulk and weight and also the lapping of the
ribs together when the umbrellas or parasols are shut or closed, and which

page_text: often causes the ribs to break, and consequently to cut holes in the materials
with which they are covered.
The improvement consists in the application of either iron or steel or
other metal or material for stretchers, hardened and tempered of requisite
thickness or width, half round, or flat, or other shapes, with one hole at each
end simply, and two of these are attached to the middle bit of the rib, and
consequently the other ends are put into the runner, which forms as it were
a double stretcher. These two pieces can either be rivetted together in the
middle or otherwise as the strength may be required. When the umbrella
or parasols are shut or closed the ribs fall between the stretchers, forming a
lesser bulk than is ordinarily caused, and thus also obviating the lapping of
the ribs and the breaking of the same, as well as the cutting of the silk or
other fabric with which they are covered.
Umbrellas and parasols made according to this Invention will be much
lighter and will be also stronger than those hitherto, made on the old
principle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Cook in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd
June 1866.
:
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
Cook, of Hathersage, in the County of Derby, Umbrella Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Richard Cook, Her special licence that I, the, said Richard Cook, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Richard
Cook, 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 STRETCHER FOR UN-
BRELLAS AND PARABOLS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Richard Cook, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing

page_text: 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 six calendar months.next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Cook, 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:-
This Invention relates to an improved construction of stretcher for umbrellas
and parasols, which stretchers have hitherto been made of round, square,
paragon, or V-shape, and also of a triangular section, both of iron and steel,
causing considerable expense by the formation of a fork at one end to attach
to the middle bit of the rib, which attaches both together. Another disad-
vantage of these stretchers is the bulk and weight, and also the lapping of the
ribs together when the umbrellas or parasols are shut or closed, and which
often causes the ribs to break, and consequently to cut holes in the materials
with which they are covered.
The improvement consists in the application of either iron or steel or other
metal or material for stretchers, hardened and tempered of requisite thickness
or width, half round, or flat, or other shapes, with one hole at each end simply,
and two of these are attached to the middle bit of the rib, and consequently
the other ends are put into the runner, which forms as it were a double
stretcher. These two pieces can either be rivetted together in the middle or
otherwise as the strength may be required. When the umbrellas or parasols
are shut or closed the ribs fall between the stretchers, forming a lesser bulk
than is ordinarily caused, and thus also obviating the lapping of the ribs and
the breaking of the same, as well as the cutting of the silk or other fabric
with which they are covered.
Umbrellas and parasols made according to this Invention will be much
lighter and will be also stronger than those hitherto made on the old
principle.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I would remark in conclusion that I do
not limit myself to the precise details and configuration of parts I have
described, as the same may be varied or modified without in any way departing
from the principles of the Invention; but what what I claim and desire to
be secured to me by the herein in part recited Letters Patent is, the

page_text: improved construction of stretcher for umbrellas and parasols substantially as
herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Cook, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness to the signature of
Richard Cook,
C. H. JOHNSON,
7, St. James' Row,
Sheffield.
RICHARD COOK. (L.S.)