IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS
Year: 1880

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to Bristow Hunt, of Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS." A communication from abroad by William
. Appleton Drown, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Bristow Hunt at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th May 1880.
BRISTOW HUNT, of Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS." A communication
from abroad by William Appleton Drown, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United
States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in that class of retainers for the runners
of umbrellas and parasols in which a spring bolt adapted to a lateral opening in
the stick is employed, the object of the Invention being to provide a simple
and economical means of retaining the spring bolt within the opening in the
stick.
The ordinary form of retainer for umbrella or parasol runners consists of a bent
piece of spring wire secured at one end to the stick and adapted to a longitudinal
slot formed therein.
There are two objections to this form of retainer; first, the weakening of the stick
by the formation of the long and deep slot therein; and, second, the difficulty of
forming the slot and adapting the retainer thereto without the aid of machinery.
These objections have been overcome by forming lateral openings in the stick,
and adapting spring bolts to these openings; but the means heretofore adopted for
retaining the bolts in the openings have not been such as to render the device as
cheap and practicable as such devices must be in order to ensure their general
adoption.
In carrying out this Invention two lateral openings are formed in the stick of
the umbrella or parasol, so as to extend partly through the same, and to each of
these openings is snugly fitted a short tube or casing which contains a sliding bolt
and spring, the front end of the bolt being reduced in thickness and projecting
..

page_text: through a slot in the front end of the casing, against which abut the shoulders
formed by reducing the bolt.
The front portion of the bolt is inclined on one edge and abrupt on the other, so
as to yield when the runner is moved in one direction, but so that, after the passage
of the runner,
the latter cannot return until the bolt has first been depressed.
The bolt and spring are retained in the casing by bending down lugs thereon.
The formation of the openings in the stick can be effected by means of any
ordinary boring-tool, and these openings do not weaken the stick to such an extent
as the usual longitudinal slot; moreover the casing carrying the spring bolt can
be readily driven into the opening, and when in place presents a much neater and
more attractive appearance than the bent wire.
It is not necessary in carrying out the Invention that the casing should be used
in every case; for instance, the bolt and spring may be adapted directly to the
opening in the stick, and be held in place therein by a retaining plate secured
to the side of the stick and slotted for the reception of the reduced end of the
bolt.
Instead of engaging with a slot in the runner the spring bolt may engage with
the upper edge of the runner, the projecting end of the bolt in such case being
inclined in both directions, so that it will allow the runner to pass either up or
down, the tension of the spring and the character of the incline being such however
that a slight effort is required in order to elevate the runner.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Bristow Hunt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th November
1880.
BRISTOW HUNT, of Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS." (A communication
from abroad by William Appleton Drown, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United
States of America.)
This Invention relates to improvements in that class of retainers for the runners
of umbrellas and parasols in which a spring bolt adapted to a lateral opening in
the stick is employed, the object of the Invention being to provide a simple
and economical means of retaining the spring bolt within the opening in the
stick.
The Invention is illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of explanatory Drawings,
in which Figure 1 represents a sectional view of a portion of an umbrella or parasol
stick provided with an ordinary bent wire retainer; Figure 2, a sectional view of
part of a stick provided with the improved spring retainers; Figure 3, a transverse
section on the line 1-2, Figure 2; Figure 4, an enlarged sectional view of the
spring retainer and its casing removed from the stick; Figures 5 and 6, front and
rear perspective views of the spring retainer and its casing; and Figures 7, 8, 9,
and 10, sectional views illustrating modifications of the Invention.
The ordinary form of retainer for umbrella or parasol runners is shewn in
Figure 1, and consists of a piece a of spring wire, bent to the shape shewn, secured
at one end to the stick A, and adapted for its remaining portion to a longitudinal
slot formed therein.
There are two objections to this form of retainer; first, the weakening of the
stick by the formation of the long and deep slot therein; and, second, the difficulty
of forming the slot and adapting the retainer thereto without the aid of machinery.
These objections have been overcome by forming lateral openings in the stick,
and adapting spring bolts to these openings; but the means heretofore adopted for
retaining the bolts in the openings have not been such as to render the device as
cheap and practicable as such devices must be in order to ensure their general
adoption.
In carrying out this Invention the construction shewn in Figures 2 to 10 of the
Drawings is adopted.
In Figures 2 and 3, A represents the stick of an umbrella or parasol in which
are formed two lateral openings d, d, extending partly through the same, and to
each of these openings is snugly fitted a short tube or casing f which contains a
sliding bolti and spring m, the front end n of the bolt being reduced in thickness
and projecting through a slot in the front end of the casing, against which abut the
shoulders formed by reducing the bolt.
The front portion n of the bolt is inclined on one edge, and abrupt or formed at
right angles to the stick on the other, so as to yield when the runner B is moved
in one direction, but so that, after the passage of the runner, the latter cannot
return until the bolt has first been depressed. The bolt i and spring m are
retained in the casing ƒ by bending down lugs 8, 8, formed thereon, as shown in
Figures 2 to 6.
The formation of the openings d in the stick A can be effected by means of an
ordinary boring tool, and these openings do not weaken the stick to such an extent
as the usual longitudinal slot does; moreover the casing f carrying the spring bolt
can be readily driven into the opening, and when in place presents a much neater
appearance than the bent wire.
It is not necessary in carrying out the Invention that the casing f should be used

page_text: in every case; for instance, in the modification shewn in Figures 7, 8, and 9, the
bolti and spring m are adapted directly to the opening d, and are held in place by
a retaining plate w secured to the side of the stick, and slotted for the reception of
the reduced end of the bolt.
Instead of engaging with a slot x in the runner, as shewn in Figure 2, the
spring bolt may engage with the upper edge thereof, as shewn in Fig. 10, the
end n of the bolt in such case being inclined in both directions, so that it will allow
the runner to pass either up or down, the tension of the spring and the character
of the incline being such however that a slight effort is required in order to elevate
the runner.
Having now described the nature and object of the said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as the Invention com-
municated to me by the above-named William Appleton Drown,―
Firstly. The combination of the stick A and runner B of an umbrella or parasol
with a spring bolt i adapted to enter a lateral opening d in the stick, the bolt
having a reduced end, inclined as set forth, and being held in the opening by a
retaining plate or casing slotted for the reception of the reduced end of the bolt,
substantially as hereinbefore described, and as illustrated on the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings.
And, Secondly. The combination of the casing f, having a slot in the front end
and retaining lugs 8 at the rear, with the spring m and the bolt i having a reduced
end n adapted to the slot in the front end of the casing, substantially as herein-
before described, and as illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Bristow Hunt, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
DRICHATY TTTT