IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND Office of the Commissioners of Patents. AND PARASOLS, AND IN FASTENINGS THEREFOR
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Smith, of 467, Oxford Street, and 5,
Hemming's Row, St. Martin's Lane, London, Umbrella Manu-
facturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th November 1873.
I, JAMES SMITH, of 467, Oxford Street, and 5, Hemming's Row,
St. Martin's Lane, London, Umbrella Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND
PARASOLS, AND IN FASTENINGS THEREFOR," to be as follows:-
-

page_text: cross wire or staple of wire now ordinarily used to prevent the umbrella
when opened from going beyond its proper place. The cross wire or
staple now used cuts or wears the covering of umbrellas, but by my
improvement the india-rubber ring projects beyond this cross wire or
staple and the covering of the umbrella is pressed against this yielding
elastic surface, and therefor lasts longer than when in contact with
metal. By this arrangement also when the runner of the umbrella is
put up, that is, when the umbrella is opened, the india-rubber pad or
ring serves as a wedge and prevents the framework of the umbrella
from shaking, although the stick used may be of a taper form and
supersedes the necessity of using steadying wires.
My Invention consists secondly of using another ring or pad of india-
rubber immediately under the top notch, the effect being to spread the
umbrella a little when unfastened for opening and to prevent the
interlocking of the ribs.
The third part of my Invention relates to improved modes of
fastening umbrellas and parasols, whereby a neater appearance is
attained and the fastening is more readily made than by the method
now in use, and the great advantage is gained that the silk or other
covering of the umbrella may be folded either way, which ensures a
more equable wearing of the fabric than at present, when as is well
known the silk or other material is always folded one way, and the
constant friction in folding soon wears out the folds of the fabric.
In place of the ordinary button and ring on the band that fastens
the umbrella I attach to one end of the band a small plate with a lip
or latch, and at the other end a narrow oblong or oval ring, which is
passed over and caught by the lip on the under plate and securely
fastens the umbrella.
And fourthly, my Invention consists of attaching a swivel to the
band or latch, by which means the fastening may be turned so as to
secure the umbrella folds to the right or to the left alternately and so
equalizes the wear.
Instead of using a swivel I sometimes use a hook to take off and turn
round to reverse the folding, or an ordinary ring may be used with a
double button or reversible stud placed through the band which will
thus fasten either way, the object of these arrangements being to enable

page_text: the user of an umbrella, sunshade, or parasol, to fold and fasten
the silk or other covering round the stick in more than
one way,
which now cannot be done.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 11th May 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
SMITH, of 467, Oxford Street, and 5, Hemming's Row, Saint Martin's
Lane, London, Umbrella Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said James Smith, Her special
licence that I, the said James Smith, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said James Smith, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
UMBRELLAS, SUNSHADES, AND PARASOLS, AND IN FASTENINGS THEREFOR," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Smith, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing 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 James Smith, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement,―

page_text: I, James Smith, of 467, Oxford Street, and 5, Hemming's Row,
St. Martin's Lane, London, Umbrella Manufacturer, do hereby declare.
the nature of my said Invention in umbrellas, sunshades, and parasols,
and in fastenings therefor, to be as follows:-
The first part of my Invention consists of the use of an india-rubber
pad or ring over the top spring of umbrellas, and encompassing the cross
wire or staple of wire now ordinarily used, to prevent the umbrella
when opened from going beyond its proper place. The cross wire or
staple now used cuts or wears the covering of umbrellas, but by my
improvement the india-rubber ring projects beyond this cross wire or
staple, and the covering of the umbrella is pressed against this yielding
elastic surface and therefor prevents the cutting, and thus lasts longer
than when in contact with the metal wire. By this arrangement also
when the runner of the umbrella is put up, that is, when the umbrella
is opened, the india-rubber pad or ring serves as a wedge and prevents
the framework of the umbrella from shaking, although the stick used
may be of a taper form, and supersedes the necessity of using steadying
wires.
My Invention consists secondly of using another ring or pad of india-
rubber immediately under the top notch, the effect being to spread the
umbrella a little when unfastened for opening and to prevent the
interlocking of the ribs.
The third part of my Invention relates to improved modes of
fastening umbrellas and parasols, whereby a neater appearance is
attained, and the fastening is more readily made than by the method
now in use, and the great advantage is gained that the silk or other
covering of the umbrella may be folded either way, which ensures a
more equable wearing of the fabric than at present, when as is well
known the silk or other material is always folded one way, and the
constant friction in folding soon wears out the folds of the fabric.
In place of the ordinary button and ring on the band that fastens
the umbrella, I attach to one end of the band a small plate with a lip
or latch, and at the other end a narrow oblong or oval ring which is
passed over and caught by the lip on the under plate and securely
fastens the umbrella.
And fourthly, my Invention consists of attaching a swivel to the
band or latch, by which means the fastening may be turned so as to

page_text: secure the umbrella folds to the right or to the left alternately, and so
equalizes the wear.
Instead of using a swivel I sometimes use a hook to take off and
turn round to reverse the folding, or an ordinary ring may be used
with a double button or reversible stud placed through the band, which
will thus fasten either way, the object of these arrangements being to
enable the user of an umbrella, sunshade, or parasol, to fold and fasten
the silk or other covering round the stick in more than one way,
which now cannot be done.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Smith, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Ninth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.