IMPROVEMENTS IN CAPS FOR SECURING THE A communication to ENDS OF THE RIBS OF UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Arthur Allison of the firm of Allison Brothers
Patent Agents, of 41 Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County of
Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CAPS FOR SECURING THE
A communication to
ENDS OF THE RIBS OF UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS
him from abroad by Messieurs Guyon et Dyroff, of 71 Faubourg du Temple,
Poria
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Arthur Allison at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th November 1882.
CHARLES ARTHUR ALLISON, of the firm of Allison Brothers, Patent Agents, of
"IMPROVE
41 Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
MENTS IN CAPS FOR SECURING THE ENDS OF THE RIBS OF UMBRELLAS AND
PARASOLS" a communication to me from abroad by Messieurs Guyon et Dyroff, of
71 Faubourg du Temple, Paris.
This Invention relates to improvements in that class of umbrellas and parasols
in which the ends of the ribs are secured in position close to the stick, when the
umbrella or parasol is closed, by means of a cap secured to or forming part of the
runner, and the object is to considerably simplify and improve the construction
and efficiency of such caps.
For this purpose the cap is made in the form of an inverted cup of any suitable
flexible material, and is formed with a hole through the centre so as to enable it to
be passed over the lower end of the runner, to which it is secured by any suitable
means.
The upper or outer edge of the cup is covered by a ring, preferably of metal, so
as to render the same rigid.
By making the cup of a flexible material it will entirely do away with the
necessity for the employment of springs to keep the cap in its position over the
ends of the ribs.
The material most suitable for the manufacture of the cup is india rubber, which
by reason of its elasticity will cause the cap to resume its original position after it
bas been drawn down.

page_text: +
When the umbrella has been closed in the ordinary manner, the ring at the
outer or upper edge of the cup is forced downwards towards the handle, and the
ribs pressed close to the stick, after which the ring is moved in the opposite
direction so as to bring it over the ends of the ribs, which are thus firmly and
securely held.
To release the ribs the ring is again forced down and the ends of the ribs then
spring out from the stick, when by forcing the runner upwards the umbrella or
parasol is opened in the usual manner.
By making the cup of india rubber, when the ring is released after being forced
down, either for the purpose of allowing the ribs to be placed in position close to
the stick or for releasing them therefrom, the elastic nature of the cup will cause
the ring to at once resume its original position, thus obviating the necessity of
returning it thereto by hand.
It will be readily understood that the cup itself, and the ring on its upper edge
may be coloured, or formed of, or covered with materials to match or suit the stuff
with which the umbrella or parasol is covered; or they may be so coloured, or
formed, or covered as to produce any desired effect of ornamentation or decoration.
The advantages of this improved cap are:-
1st The ribs are kept in an absolutely fixed position due to the ring causing them
to bend at the ends.
2nd The easy securing and releasing of the ribs from the cap, on account of the
ring which by its form allows it to readily engage with and be disengaged from
the extremities of the ribs.
3rd The reduction to a minimum of the dimensions of the cap.
4th The abolition of all springs (which are a source of trouble on account of
their liability to become broken) and all friction of sliding surfaces in the cap.
5th On account of the flexible nature of the material of which the cup is formed,
its liability to become bent or forced out of shape from a fall or blow is entirely
removed.
6th The possibility of making the cap itself to suit the material with which the
umbrella or parasol is covered.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Arthur Allison in the Great Seal Patent Office on the;
18th April 1883.
CHARLES ARTHUR ALLISON, of the firm of Allison Brothers, Patent Agents, of
41 Southampton Buildings, Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CAPS FOR SECURING THE ENDS OF THE RIBS OF UMBRELLAS AND
PARASOLS" a communication to me from abroad by Messieurs Guyon et Dyroff, of
71 Faubourg du Temple, Paris.
This Invention relates to improvements in that class of umbrellas and parasols
in which the ends of the ribs are secured in position close to the stick, when the
umbrella or parasol is closed, by means of a cap secured to or forming part of the
runner, and the object is to considerably simplify and improve the construction
and efficiency of such caps.
For this purpose the cap is made in the form of an inverted cup A of any
suitable flexible material, and is formed with a hole through the centre so as to
enable it to be passed over the lower end of the runner B, to which it is secured
by any suitable means.
The upper or outer edge of the cup A is covered by a ring C, preferably of
metal, so as to render the same rigid.
By making the cup A of a flexible material it will entirely do away with the
necessity for the employment of springs to keep the cap in its position over the
ends of the ribs D.
The material most suitable for the manufacture of the cup A is india rubber,
which by reason of its elasticity will cause the cup to resume its original position
after it has been drawn down.
When the umbrella has been closed in the ordinary manner, the ring C at the
outer or upper edge of the cup A is forced downwards towards the handle E, and
the ribs pressed close to the stick F, after which the ring is moved in the opposite
direction so as to bring it over the ends of the ribs D (as shown in Fig 1), which
are thus firmly and securely held.
To release the ribs D the ring C is again forced down and the ends of the ribs
then spring out from the stick F (as shown in Fig 2), when by forcing the runner B
upwards the umbrella or parasol is opened in the usual manner.
By making the cup A of india rubber, when the ring C is released after being
forced down, either for the purpose of allowing the ribs D to be placed in position
close to the stick F or for releasing them therefrom, the elastic nature of the cup
will cause the ring C to at once resume its original position, thus obviating the
necessity of returning it thereto by hand.
It will be readily understood that the cup A itself, and the ring C on its upper
edge may be coloured, or formed of, or covered with materials to match or suit the
stuff with which the umbrella or parasol is covered; or they may be so coloured,
or formed, or covered as to produce any desired effect of ornamentation or
decoration.
The advantages of this improved cap are:-14. The ribs D are kept in an
absolutely fixed position due to the ring C causing them to bend at the ends.
2nd The easy securing and releasing of the ribs D from the cap, on account of
the ring C, which by its form allows it to readily engage with and be disengaged
from the extremities of the ribs.
3rd The reduction to a minimum of the dimensions of the cap.
4th The abolition of all springs (which are a source of trouble on account of their
liability to become broken) and all friction of sliding surfaces in the cap.

page_text: 5th On account of the flexible nature of the material of which the cup A is
formed, its liability to become bent or forced out out of shape from a fall or blow is
entirely removed.
6th The possibility of making the cap itself to suit the material with which the
umbrella or parasol is covered.
Having thus described the nature of the said invention, and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I claim is :-
The improved cap for securing the ends of the ribs of umbrellas and parasols,
consisting of a flexible cup fitted with a rigid ring at its upper edge, and secured to
the ordinary runner by means of which the umbrella or parasol is opened and
closed, all substantially as herein described and shown in the drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Arthur Allison, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 18th day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty-three.