SOLS, AND SUNSHADES."
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Willis, of Stocksbridge Works, near Sheffield, in the
County of York, for the Invention of
SOLS, AND SUNSHADES."
IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS, PARA-
Sealed the 24th December 1878, and dated the 8th October 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Willis at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th October 1878.
JAMES WILLIS, of Stocksbridge Works, near Sheffield, in the County of York.
IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS, PARASOLS, AND SUNSHADES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in umbrellas, parasols, and-
sunshades.
"
In order to produce the forks to ribs and stretchers of the trough or
paragon
form I place the end of the paragon or trough form rib or stretcher within a short
outer trough of stouter metal, in such manner that the outer trough projects beyond
the end of the inner trough to which it is applied. By means of suitable tools [
split the end of the outer trough so as to form the fork, and I secure the onter
trough to the stretcher or rib end by pinching in the sides of the outer trough upon
the trough-like rib or stretcher within.
In some cases I form the fork by inserting two strips of sheet metal into the end
of the trough-like rib or stretcher so as to project beyond it. They are secured by
pinching in upon them the sides of the rib or stretcher, and are opened out or
separated to the extent requisite to form the prongs of the fork. In both of these
methods of forming the fork the prong consists of one thickness of metal, whereas
in some ribs and stretchers previously constructed under former Patents granted to
me, it has been of two thicknesses, which is inconvenient, as the parts sometimes
separate in the hardening and tempering. Also by the present Invention the
splitting the end of the trough-like ribs and stretchers is avoided.
As the ribs of umbrellas and the like are at present universally made the end
entering the top notch is straight, and consequently the ribs when the umbrella is
Price 8d 1

page_text: closed cannot fit closely to and lie against the stick near the top notch. hence the
umbrella is more bulky immediately above the top notch than it is further up.
which is unsightly. I obviate this by cranking or bending the rib at the fork or
inner end so as to throw the stem of the rib inwards into contact with the stick.
I effect this by means of the tools in which the fork or inner end of the rib is
fashioned.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Willis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th April
1879.
JAMES WILLIS, of Stocksbridge Works, near Sheffield, in the County of York.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS, PARASOLS, AND SUNSHADES."
'This Invention has for its object improvements in umbrellas, parasols, and
sunshades.
i
In order to produce the forks to ribs and stretchers of the trough or paragon
form, I place the end of the paragon or trough form rib or stretcher within a short
outer trough of stouter metal, in such manner that the outer trough projects beyond
the end of the inner trough to which it is applied. By means of suitable tools ]
split the end of the outer trough so as to form the fork, and I secure the outer
trough to the stretcher or rib end by pinching in the sides of the outer trough upon
the trough-like rib or stretcher within.
In some cases I form the fork by inserting two strips of sheet metal into the end
of the trough-like rib or stretcher so as to project beyond it. They are secured by
pinching in upon them the sides of the rib or stretcher, and are opened out or
separated to the extent requisite to form the prongs of the fork. In both of these
methods of forming the fork the prong consists of one thickness of metal, whereas
in some ribs and stretchers previously constructed under former Patents granted to
me, it has been of two thicknesses, which is inconvenient, as the parts sometimes
separate in the hardening and tempering. Also by the present Invention the
splitting the end of the trough-like ribs and stretchers is avoided.
As the ribs of umbrellas and the like are at present universally made the end
entering the top notch is straight, and consequently the ribs when the umbrella is
closed cannot fit closely to and lie against the stick near the top notch, hence the
umbrella is more bulky immediately above the top notch than it is further up, which
is unsightly. I obviate this by cranking or bending the rib at the fork or inner
end so as to throw the stem of the rib inwards into contact with the stick.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention I will proceed to describe
more fully the manner of performing the same.
Figures of the Drawings hereunto annexed shew various views of the upper
end of a rib of a trough or "paragon" section secured as above-described within a
short outer trough which projects beyond the end of the rib and is formed into a
fork.

page_text: Figure 2 is a side view of the end of the rib shewing how it is shaped to lie
within the short outer trough, and yet permit of the back of the outer trough and
the back of the trough rib being in a line with one another. Figure 3 shews a
shaped blank of thin sheet steel from which the outer trough is formed. Figure 4
shews the outer trough bent to form from such blank.
The outer trough so shaped is placed on to the end of the rib and is then pinched
in and closed on to the sides of the rib in the manner shewn at Figures 1.
The shaping of the parts and the closing in of the outer trough on to the rib are
effected by dies as is well understood. When the ribs are completed they are
hardened and tempered together with their fork ends, and may subsequently be
japanned in the ordinary manner.
Figures 5 shew a similarly formed fork applied to the end of a stretcher. The
prongs of the fork being curved as shewn to allow of the pin joint which connects
it to the rib being as near as may be to the centre of the rib.
Figures 6 show a stretcher end with the fork formed of two strips of sheet metal;
cach strip is first shaped to the form shewn at Figures 7; the two strips are then
put together into the end of the trough or paragon stretcher, and the sides of the
stretcher are closed in on to them as shown at Figures 6.
"
"
"
Forks formed in this manner may in the same way be applied to the upper ends
of trough or paragon "ribs; in this case the strips need not be so long as those
shewn as being used for a stretcher.
In both of the above methods of forming the fork each prong of the fork consists
of one thickness only of metal, whereby increased strength and durability is
obtained, and the fork ends are much better able to resist. exposure to moisture
than the forked ends formed under former Patents granted to me, which had each
prong of the fork consisting of two thicknesses of metal and so exposed nearly
twice the amount of oxidizable surface.
Figures 8 and 9 shew the way in which I crank or bend inwards the inner ends
of the ribs of umbrellas, parasols, and sunshades, to cause the rib to lie closely in
contact with the stick, in order that the umbrella when folded shall not be more
bulky near to the top notch than it is further away from it. In all umbrellas a
disc or "under cap
"of glazed material is placed around the stick in between the
top notch and the cover. When in rolling up the cover of the umbrella this disc
or undercap is folded together, there is necessarily an increased quantity of fabric
to be folded around the stick towards the outer edge of the disc; if however the ribs
are cranked inwards as shown, more space is afforded for the folded up disc or
under cap to lie in, and the diameter of the umbrella when folded will be corre-
spondingly reduced at this point.
This cranking or bending inwards of the rib is more especially desirable when
the ribs are forked at their ends. and the top notches which receive them, are to be
applied to sticks or stems of comparatively small diameter, as in this case the top
notch has to be somewhat increased in diameter so as to leave in its flanges
sufficient metal for strength after the notches to receive the forks have been cut in
them. The diameter of the folded up umbrella near to the top notch is therefore
somewhat increased, and if it be still further increased by a bulge produced by the
folds of the disc or cap piece its appearance would be materially spoilt.
The cranking or bending inwards of the ribs at their forked ends also allows of
the under cap or disc being composed of stouter and consequently more waterproof
material than otherwise. could be used without interfering with the appearance of
the umbrella when folded.
"
"
Figure 8 shews a paragon or trough rib formed with a forked end in the
manner herein-before described cranked inwards close to the fork. Figure 9 shews
an ordinary solid rib cranked or bent inwards near its end. In these Figures I
have not shown the umbrella stick. the top notch. the under cap, or the cover. as
the effect of the bending inwards of the ribs will be clearly understood from the
description above given. Other forms of ribs than those shewn at Figures 9 and 10,

page_text: may also be similarly cranked or bent inwards close to the top notch for the
purposes above described.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I would have it understood that I claim as my improvenients in umbrellas.
parasols, and sunshades.-
First. The manner of producing forks of hardened and tempered steel at the ends
of ribs and stretchers of a trough or paragon" section, substantially as herein-
before described, and illustrated at Figures 1 to 5.
Second. The manner of producing forks of hardened and tempered steel at the
ends of trough or paragon ribs, substantially as herein-before described, and illus-
trated at Figures 6 and 7.
Third. The cranking or bending inwards of the ribs close to their inner ends
(where they are jointed to the top notch), substantially as and for the purposes
herein-before described.
In witness whereof. 1, the said James Willis, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
cight hundred and seventy-nine.
JAMES WILLIS. (L.s.)