TMPROVEMENTS IN SUNSHADES AND UMBRELLAS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Bristow Hunt, of Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "TMPROVEMENTS IN
SUNSHADES AND UMBRELLAS." A communication from abroad by Henry
Palmieri, of New York, in the United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Bristow Hunt at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd May 1870.
BRISTOW HUNT, of Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SUNSHADES AND UMBRELLAS." A communication
from abroad by Henry Palmieri, of New York, in the United States of America.
This Invention has for its object to provide a shelter from the rays of the sun or
from rain which may be maintained in position without effort or inconvenience by
the wearer, and the Invention consists of au umbrella, sunshade, or parasol pro-
vided with a suitable frame and securing straps, by means of which it may be
adjustably secured to the body of the wearer and maintained in position, as herein-
after more fully set forth.
In order that the construction and advantages of this improved sunshade may be
fully understood I will proceed to describe the same, referring by letters and figures
to the accompanying Drawings, in which,-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a man in the act of fishing, provided with the
improved sunshade, and from which it will be seen that while the wearer is
thoroughly protected from the rays of the sun, yet free use of the body and hands
is permitted.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the skeleton or frame of the sunshade and the
supporting braces and adjusting and securing straps.
A, A, represent the ribs of the sunshade, whicli are formed in about a half circle,
and preferably of hoop skirt wire, pivotted at each end at 1, 1, 1, to a hoop B of
the same material. It will be observed that from this peculiar construction the ribs
A inay be swung upon their pivots 1, 1, 1, into the position shown in the Drawings
to distend the covering, or they may be swung in a reverse direction to collapse the
sunshade and lie within the same plane as the hoop B. C is a round wire brace
pivotted at 2, 2, to opposite sides of the hoop B. This brace is bent to form two

page_text: eyes a, a, for the purpose presently explained, and is also bent upwardly to form a
tongue b, the extremity of which is bent at right angles to pass through one of
several slots in a back brace D, formed of stiff wire bent to correspond to the
contour or shape of the back, and having loops or eyes e, e, at the bottom to receive
the waistband E, and having its top ends bridged by sheet metal F, through which
the slots & before referred to are made. G is a short wire loosely secured to the
back centre of the hoop B, the loose end being adapted to pass through the right-
angled end of the tongue b of the brace C after it has been passed through one of
the slots d and under a wire loop f secured to the brace C at the rear end, through
which the back brace D passes, so that when in the position shewn in the Drawings
the parts are held in position and the hoop and sunshade tilted more or less in
either direction by raising or lowering the short wire G, the hoop B rocking on the
pivots 2, 2.
H is a martingale or strap split at the top and spread to form straps I, I, to
connect slightly forward of the pivots 2, 2, to the hoop B, and again split to form
straps J, J, which connect with the eyes a, a.
The lower end of the strap H is designed to be secured to a buckle K
attached by a short strap or otherwise to the waistband E.
It will be observed from the construction and arrangement of the several
parts that when in the position shewn in Figure 2 and secured to the body of
a person as at Figure 1 that the sunshade is maintained and supported over the
head of the wearer, and that the movement of the limbs and body are not in
the slightest degree affected or inconvenienced, and that the sunshade may be
tilted inore or less backwards and forwards on the pivots 2, 2, accordingly as
the rays of the sun are directed.
The peculiar construction illustrated in the Drawings is shown as preferable
on account of lightress and economy, but of course the construction may be
varied in many particulars without departing from the principle or spirit of the
Invention, for instance, the frame of the sunshade may be rigid or collapsible or
fold like any ordinary parasol, and instead of the peculiar connection shown
between the braces C and D, and the short wire G, these braces may be per-
manently pivotted together, and an independent short rod may be loosely con-
nected to the brace Ď, and its straight upper end passed through a rubber loop
or perforated disc or ear attached to the back centre of the hoop B, or the back
wire support which is fastened to the sunshade may be omitted, and have
simply two braces, one on either side, with thumbscrews.
An independent waterproof cover and cape may be provided adapted to be
secured in place, as seen in dotted lines in Figure 1, to serve as a protector against
rain.
Having now described the nature and object of the said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as new and as the Invention com-
municated to me by the said Henry Palmieri,-
First. In combination with a sunshade or umbrella a back-supporting brace, side
pivotted brace, and suitable waist and martingale securing straps, substantially as
and for the purposes herein described and as shewn on the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings.
Second. A frame for supporting the canopy, composed of a series of semicircular
ribs A and a hoop B secured by pivots in order that the frame may collapse, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein-before described, and as shewn on the
Drawings.
Third. In combination with the parasol an extra waterproof cover with cape
adapted to be secured in position by a draw string, substantially as and for the
purposes herein-before set forth.
Fourth. In combination with the brace D the wire brace C, provided with eyes
to receive the martingale straps and having the tongue b, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth, and as shewn on the Drawing.

page_text: Fifth. The strap H, split as shewn and described, to form the connecting
straps I, I, and J, J, substantially as and for the purpose set forth, and as shewn on
the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Bristow Hunt, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-second day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.