A NEW OR IMPROVED FASTENING FOR UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Rickett, of Northfield, in the County of Worcester,
Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED FASTENING
FOR UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS."
Sealed the 10th May 1878, and dated the 27th February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Rickett at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th February 1878.
THOMAS RICKETT, of Northfield, in the County of Worcester, Mechanical
Engineer. "A NEW OR IMPROVED FASTENING FOR UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS."
My Invention has for its object to provide a fastening for umbrellas and parasols
which will hold or fix the runner in any position to which it may have been
brought, and thereby retain the umbrella or parasol either in its open or closed
position or in any desired intermediate position, the fixing of the runner being
automatically effected when the runner is loosed, and liberty of motion given
to the runner by the application of the hand to move it in the required direction.
I will describe my Invention as applied to an umbrella.
In constructing a fastening according to my Invention I make an elastic ring, by
preference of metallic wire. The said ring consists of a length of helically coiled wire,
the two ends of which are joined together. This elastic ring is of slightly smaller
internal diameter than the umbrella stick, so that when stretched and passed upon
the stick it will not slide upon it without the application of pressure. A metal
tube, bulbous or enlarged at its middle, encloses the ring described, the figure of the
enlarged part being that of two hollow cones joined at their bases. The enlarged
tube being on the umbrella stick, and the elastic ring also on the stick and within
the said tube, if the said tube be pressed in either direction it causes the ring to
advance slightly by a rolling motion. A portion of the conical part of the tube of
smaller diameter advances on the ring, which this becomes wedged or blocked

page_text: between the stick and the hollow cone. The motion of the tube is thereby arrested,
and the more the tube is pressed the tighter it becomes.
Immediately the pressure on the tube is removed, the elastic ring pressing upon
the hollow cone of the enlarged tube forces it back and unlocks itself. The enlarged
tube is connected with or forms part of the ordinary runner of the umbrella. A
couple of tubes or pushers are placed within the body of the enlarged tube, one at
either end, so that the inner end of each tube is in close proximity to the elastic ring.
These inner tubes are connected with another external tube or ring, sliding easily
upon the enlarged tube, and when it is wished to open or close the umbrella, the
outer tube is pushed in the required direction, and the inner tube or pusher acting
on the inner face of the elastic ring causes it to slide on the stick in either direction
in front of the hollow conical interior of the tube. The result of the arrangement
described is that the elastic ring moves only in obedience to the motion of the outer
tube.
My new or improved fastening may be attached to the runner in its usual position
within the umbrella, or the runner may be lengthened so as to bring the fastening
outside or beyond the rib ends with a sliding lip cap moving upon it.
The elastic ring may be made of square or flattened wire, to increase its bearing
on the stick.
In place of a metallic ring a ring of india-rubber may be used, but I prefer a
metallic ring.
The fastening may be provided with one or two elastic rings, and with one or
two of the hollow cones described, but I prefer the arrangement first described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Rickett in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th August
1878.
THOMAS RICKETT, of Northfield, in the County of Worcester, Mechanical
Engineer. "A NEW OR IMPROVED FASTENING FOR UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS."
My Invention has for its object to provide a fastening for umbrellas and parasols
which will hold or fix the runner in any position to which it may have been
brought, and thereby retain the umbrella or parasol either in its open or closed
position or in any desired intermediate position, the fixing of the runner being
automatically effected when the runner is loosed, and liberty of motion given to the
runner by the application of the hand to move it in the required direction.
I will describe my Invention as applied to an umbrella.
In constructing a fastening according to my Invention I make an elastic ring, by
preference of metallic wire. The said ring consists of a length of helically coiled
wire, the two ends of which are joined together. This elastic ring is of slightly
smaller internal diameter than the umbrella stick, so that when stretched and
passed upon the stick it will not slide upon it without the application of pressure.
A metal tube, bulbous or enlarged at its middle, encloses the ring described, the
figure of the enlarged part being that of two hollow cones joined at their bases.
The enlarged tube being on the umbrella stick, and the elastic ring also on the
stick, and within the said tube, if the said tube be pressed in either direction it
causes the ring to advance slightly by a rolling motion. A portion of the conical
part of the tube of smaller diameter advances on the ring, which thus becomes
wedged or blocked between the stick and the hollow cone. The motion of
the tube is thereby arrested, and the more the tube is pressed the tighter it
becomes.
Immediately the pressure on the tube is removed the elastic ring pressing upon
the hollow cone of the enlarged tube forces it back and unlocks itself. The enlarged
tube is connected with or forms part of the ordinary runner of the umbrella. A
couple of tubes or pushers are placed within the body of the enlarged tube, one at
either end, so that the inner end of each tube is in close proximity to the elastic
ring. These inner tubes are connected with another external tube or ring sliding
easily upon the enlarged tube, and when it is wished to open or close the umbrella the
outer tube is pushed in the required direction, and the inner tube or pusher acting on
the inner face of the elastic ring causes it to slide on the stick in either direction in
front of the hollow conical interior of the tube. The result of the arrangement
described is that the elastic ring moves only in obedience to the motion of the outer
tube.
My new or improved fastening may be attached to the runner in its usual
position within the umbrella; or the runner may be lengthened, so as to bring
the fastening outside or beyond the rib ends with a sliding tip cup moving
upon it.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawing the
manner in which my Invention is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in longitudinal section, and Figure 2 in horizontal section, my
new or improved fastening applied to the stick of an umbrella.
Figure 3 represents in elevation, and Figure 4 in plan, the double coned or
bulbous tube and runner tube of the same.
Figure 5 represents in elevation, and Figure 6 in plan, the upper pusher of the
fastening, as herein-after explained.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
and 6.

page_text: a is the elastic metal ring, situated around and made to grip the umbrella stick b.
The said elastic ring a is made of a length of helical wire, the two ends of which
are joined together; c is the double coned or bulbous tube surrounding the elastic
metal ring a. To the said coned tube c the ordinary runner tube d is connected
as represented, the head of the said runner tube carrying the ordinary notch ring d³,
to which the stretchers e, e, are jointed as usual.
By an examination of Figure 1 it will be seen that the elastic ring a is situated
between the upper cone of the double-coned tube c and the stick b. This position
is the normal position of the cone tube and elastic ring. If the cone tube c be
moved downwards on the stick b, the upper cone of the cone tube advances
on the stick, and bears upon the elastic ring a, and causes it to advance
slightly by a rolling motion on the stick and wedge itself firmly between
the stick b and the hollow cone. The motion of the runner attached to the cone
tube is thereby arrested and the fastening locked. The same action takes place
when the cone tube is raised on the stick b, the lower cone part of the tube c in
that case slightly advancing on the elastic ring a, which now becomes wedged
between the said lower cone part and the stick.
The sliding of the runner d, without the wedging action of the cone tube upon
the elastic ring, when it is wished to open or close the umbrella, is effected by the
following parts. Sliding within the cone tube c are two tubular pushers f, g.
These pushers are respectively attached to the ends of the outer sliding tube or
collar h, moving freely on the cone tube. The tube or collar h is made in two parts,
connected together at their middle, as represented in Figure 1. The lower pusher g
passes into the lower wide part of the cone tube c, but for the purpose of permitting
the upper pusher f to pass into the upper part of the cone tube c, the latter tube as
well as the runner tube d are furnished with slots x, on opposite sides, as seen in
Figures 3 and 4, and the pusher f is made with flanges or enlargements a³ on
opposite sides, corresponding in shape with the slots x cut in the cone tube c, as
seen in Figure 6.
In order to attach the upper pusher to the outer sliding tube or collar h, the
said pusher is first passed through the slots in the cone and runner tubes c, d,
and its flanges or enlarged ends x, x, are then soldered, brazed, or otherwise attached
to the top of the collar
In putting the elastic ring in its place it is first inserted within the conical tube,
and the said tube and ring passed on to the umbrella stick. The end of the
umbrella stick is made taper, and the conical tube is passed on to it from the
small end, so that as the elastic ring is passed to its place on the stick it is expanded
thereon.
The action of the fastening is as follows:-When the several parts occupy the
respective positions represented in Figure 1, the umbrella is fastened in its open
position by the binding action of the elastic ring upon the stick b and through the
coned tube c upon the runner d. When, however, it is wished to close the umbrella,
the collar is moved downwards upon the stick. By this motion of the collar h
the pusher is made to act upon the elastic ring a, and cause it to slide upon the
stick in front and in advance of the upper coned part of the tube c.
The cone
tube c now slides upon the stick without obstruction, that is by the action of the
pusher the elastic ring a is brought to and maintained at the base or widest part
of the coned tube c during the sliding of the collar h on the stick, and consequently
the cone parts of the said tube c are kept out of action, and the wedging or blocking
herein-before referred to is prevented. On loosing the collar h, after the umbrella
has been closed, the pusher fis forced back by the ring a, and the lower cone of the
tube c, pressing upon the said ring a, wedges it and holds the umbrella in its closed
position. Thus the mere act of pushing the collar h in either direction first releases
and afterwards slides the ring a on the stick b, and by loosing the collar h the
re-locking or fixing of the ring a is effected.
Figure 7 represents in vertical section, and Figure 8 in horizontal section a modifi-

page_text: cation of my new or improved fastening, in which the cone tube is combined with
the tip cup of the umbrella. In this modification d is the runner tube, which is
lengthened and has at its bottom the cone tube c. Surrounding the cone tube c and
part of the runner tube d is the tip cup i, into which the tip ends of the ribs k, k,
may be passed as is well understood. The pushers in this arrangement are made
somewhat differently from those before described. In this arrangement the cone
tube c is cut away at opposite points, and the pushers consist of a tube l, situated
within the tip cup i, the upper part of the pusher tube 7 being provided with flanges
marked 2, 1, working in the cut-away parts of the cone tube c. The flange parts
12, 12, of the pusher tube 7 are bent around, and made to clip loosely the elastic ring a,
as seen in Figure 7. By sliding the tip cup i upon the stick b the fastening is
released by bringing the elastic ring a into the wide part of the cone tube c,
in the manner herein-before described, and the umbrella may be opened or closed.
Figures 9, 10, and 11 represent an arrangement in which the elastic ring is made
in two parts; Figure 9 represents a vertical section of the umbrella fastening;
Figure 10, a horizontal section of the same; and Figure 11, an elevation of the
pusher tube, separately. In this arrangement the notch ring de, to which the
stretchers e are jointed is connected directly to the top of the cone tube c, and the
head of the pusher tube m is situated within the said cone tube, and has the form
seen in the section, Figure 9, and the separate elevation, Figure 11. Portions of
the enlarged end or head of the pusher tube m are cut away, leaving short connecting
pieces nat opposite sides (see Figures 10 and 11). In the nearly semicircular
grooves at p thus formed in the head of the pusher tube m, two pieces of helical
springs marked a², a³, are placed by springing them therein, a wire being passed
through both the said pieces of helical springs a², a², to hold them together. Having
arranged the springs a², a³, in the grooves p in the head of the pusher tube m, tho
latter containing the said springs is inserted in the double coned tube c, and placed
around the stick b. The springs a², a², are thereby expanded into a nearly circular
spring, as represented in Figure 10, and form virtually a complete elastic ring of the
kind herein-before described, the said ring a², as, gripping the stick of the umbrella,
and acting in the manner described with respect to the complete elastic ring a.
By sliding the pusher tube m in one or other direction on the stick b, the elastic
ring or portions of a ring a², a², may be moved on the stick, and the umbrella opened
or closed.
Instead of the cone tube c, represented in the Drawing, a bulbous tube may be
substituted therefor, that is, that part of the tube in which the elastic ring a is
situated, may be curvilinear instead of angular as represented.
The elastic ring may be made of square or flattened wire to increase its bearing
on the stick.
In place of a metallic ring a ring of india-rubber may be used, but I prefer a
metallic ring.
The fastening may be provided with one or two elastic rings, and with one or
two of the hollow cones or bulbous parts described, but I prefer the arrangements
herein-before described, and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.
Having now described the nature of iny Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention,
the new or improved fastening for umbrellas and parasols, herein-before described,
and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing; that is to say, a fastening consisting
essentially of an elastic ring, which is made to grip firmly the stick of the umbrella
or parasol, the said elastic ring being enclosed within a double coned or bulbous
tube which forms the runner, or is attached to or forms part of the runner of the
umbrella or parasol, the said elastic ring and coned or bulbous tube being used in
conjunction with a pusher or pushers; by the action of the said ring, coned or
bulbous tube, and pusher or pushers, the runner of the umbrella or parasol can be
readily brought into any desired position, and is fixed by the action of the

page_text: said parts in the position to which it has been brought, substantially as described
and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Rickett, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
THOMAS RICKETT. (L.S.)