Improvements in or relating to Umbrella and Parasol Runners.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 1st Aug., 1893-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Umbrella and Parasol Runners.
ALFRED ERNEST ARMSTRONG 339 Victoria Road Aston Birmingham Inventor,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to umbrella and parasol runners, and consists in providing
a means in combination with runners for retaining the umbrella or parasol up or
open when desired. To carry out this object I provide the runner by stamping or
otherwise with a tongue piece provided also with an inner tongue piece. These two
tongue pieces together form a spring which bears against the umbrella stick and
retains it in an open position when desired, a knot is provided upon one of aforesaid
pieces for purpose of releasing the spring in order to close the umbrella or parasol.
Dated this 31st day of October 1892.
E. EATON,
Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Umbrella and Parasol Runners.
1, ALFRED ERNEST ARMSTRONG, of 339 Victoria Road, Aston, Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to umbrella and parasol runners and consists in providing
a means in combination with runners for retaining the umbrella or parasol open or
closed when desired.
To carry out this object I provide the runner (by stamping or otherwise) with
tongue pieces, one of which is bent upwards, and the other one bent downwards,
and they together form springs which are so arranged as to retain the umbrella or
parasol open or closed whichever may be desired.
The manner in which I prefer to carry out my invention will be best understood
from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,
in which,
Figure 1 is a section of my improved runner in conjunction with the umbrella
stick and ribs ;
Figure 2 is an elevation.
Similar letters indicate like parts in both the figures, referring to Figure 1,
A, is the runner; B, C, the tongues pieces; D, the umbrella stick; F, tapering
sleeve or ferrule fixed on the stick D; and G, the ordinary umbrella ribs. The
internal diameter of the runner A is sufficient to clear the sleeve F. The
extremities of the tongue pieces C however do not clear it, but are adapted to
engage or bear on the said sleeve in the manner to be described.
The mode of action is as follows-
In opening the umbrella, the tongues C ride over the tapered sleeve or ferrule F
and are consequently forced apart by the taper until they arrive at the top, where,
by reason of their elasticity, they instantly spring together towards the stick. The
tongues C bear upon the shoulder or abutment formed by the top of the tapered
sleeve F. The runner is thus firmly supported and the umbrella held open.
umbrella is closed by pressing inwards the tongue pieces B, the result of which is
to cause the tongues C to separate clear of the sleeve F and release the runner.
The

page_text: I have described my invention when applied to holding umbrellas open, but it is
obvious that a sleeve or ferrule F, (Figure 2) near the handle of the stick may also
be employed. The shoulder f of this sleeve is adapted to be engaged by the
tongues to hold the umbrella closed, and the latter can only be opened by
depressing the tongue pieces B.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
1. The improvement in umbrella or parasol runners which consists in forming
them with spring tongue pieces B and C, one of them bent downwards and adapted
to engage or bear upon the tapered sleeves or ferrules F and the other bent
upwards to form thumb pieces substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. In an umbrella or parasol, the improved arrangement whereby the umbrella or
parasol can be retained open or closed, without the use of the wire springs hitherto
ordinarily employed substantially as described.
3. An umbrella or parasol runner formed with spring tongue-pieces B and C in
combination with tapered sleeves or ferrules F fixed to the stick, substantially as
and for the purpose described.
Dated this 31st day of July 1893
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London, Patent Agents.