Certain ImprovemeNTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel, Moorhouse, of Cheadle Bulkeley, in the
County of Chester, Cotton Spinner, and William John Kendall,
of Heaton Norris, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, for the
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Moorhouse
and William John Kendall at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 26th March 1872.
We, SAMUEL MOORHOUSE, of Cheadle Bulkeley, in the County of
Chester, Cotton Spinner, and WILLIAM JOHN KENDALL, of Heaton Norris,
in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of our said Invention for “Certain ImprovemeNTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS," to be as follows:-
This Invention is designed for the purpose of preventing the frequent
annoyance and damage caused by the breaking of the wire by which
the ribs of umbrellas and parasols are attached at present, and which

page_text: wire forms the connection by which such ribs are attached to the
wheels or bushes fixed or sliding on the sticks of umbrellas and
parasols.
The Invention consists in the following arrangement :-Instead of
the fixed wheel or bush at present in use for the purpose of holding
the main ribs of an umbrella or parasol, we employ a bush the lower
part of which fits and is firmly attached to the stick of the umbrella,
while the upper part of such bush is sufficiently enlarged and widened
so as to form an annular space between itself and the stick of the
umbrella. In this enlarged part of the bush a number of slots corrc-
sponding to the required number of ribs are cut and of sufficient width
to admit the ribs at points or places near to their ends. The extreme
ends of the ribs themselves are enlarged in any convenient shape and
manner, so as to project laterally beyond the body of the rib, such
projections being either formed out of the material of the ribs themselves
or otherwise attached thereto. In putting the frame of the umbrella
together the ribs are inserted in the aforesaid slots, their enlarged and
projecting ends thereby entering the annular space formed between
the enlarged part of the bush and the stick, and as the enlarged end
of cach rib bears against the inner circumference of the enlarged part
of the bush at either one or both sides of its respective slot and rests
on the bottom of the annular space any outward or downward move-
ment is prevented. A second bush fitting the stick closcly and partly
entering the annular space is brought down on to the enlarged ends
of the ribs and fastened to the stick or to the first-mentioned bush or
to both, so as to hold such enlarged ends in their proper places, but
allowing at the same time the necessary turning movement imparted
to thic ribs in the act of opening or closing the umbrella or parasol. The
arrangement for the lower or sliding bush or runner of an umbrella
and parasol will be essentially the same as the one described above, the
two bushes being of course fastened together after the stretchers have
been inserted instead of being attached to the runner by the ordinary
wire. It will be seen that by the above-described arrangement a firm
and durable connection is provided, the enlarged part of the bush and
the enlarged end of the ribs being made of sufficient strength and bulk
to resist the strains on the ribs of the umbrella and the corroding
influence of moisture far longer and more effectively than the weak
connection now in use.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Samuel Moorhouse and William John Kendall 'in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th September 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, SAMUEL
MOORHOUSE, of Cheadle Bulkeley, in the County of Chester, Cotton
Spinner, and WILLIAM JOHN KENDALL, of Heaton Norris, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said Samuel Moorhouse and William John
Kendall, Her special license that we, the said Samuel Moorhouse and
William John Kendall, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as we, the said Samuel Moorhouse and William John
Kendall, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others; from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS,"
upon
the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Samuel Moorhouse
and William John Kendall, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and
scals, 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 we, the said Samuel Moorhouse and William
John Kendall, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement and
accompanying Drawings, that is to say :-
Our Invention of "Certain Improvements in the Construction of
Umbrellas and Parasols" is designed for the purpose of preventing the

page_text: frequent annoyance and damage caused by the breaking of the wire by
which the ribs of umbrellas and parasols are at present connected to the
wheels or bushes fixed on to the stick or sliding thereon.
The improvements consist in substituting for the fixed and sliding
wheels or bushes at present in use for holding in place as required the
ribs and stretchers of umbrellas and parasols, bushes of the form and
construction herein-after described, whereby the use of the wire above
referred to is dispensed with, and a firmer and more durable connection
of the said ribs and stretchers with the above-mentioned bushes is
secured..
With reference to the means of holding the main ribs of an umbrella
or parasol in position we employ a bush which fits and is securely fixed
to the stick of the umbrella or parasol. The upper part of this bush
extending outwards and upwards is enlarged and widened in such a
manner so as to form an annular space between its interior and the said
stick, or between its interior and the exterior of the cylindrical part of
'the bush fitting the stick of such cylindrical part, is raised upwards
within the cup-shaped enlargement. In this enlarged part of the bush
are cut or otherwise formed a number of slots corresponding to the
number of ribs required, and of suitable width to admit the ribs at
points or places near to their ends. The ends of the ribs are enlarged in
any convenient shape and manner so as to project laterally beyond those
parts of the ribs inserted in the slots of the bush, and to form shoulders
on one side or on each side of their respective slots. The said projecting
ends or shoulders are or may be formed out of the material of the ribs
themselves, or they may be formed separately and fixed thereto. In
putting the frame of the umbrella together the ribs are inserted in the
aforesaid slots, their enlarged and projecting or shouldered ends being
thereby caused to enter the above described annular space formed in the
interior of the enlarged part of the bush, and as the enlarged end of each
rib bears against the inner circumference of the enlarged part of the
bush at either one or both sides of its respective slot and rests on the
bottom of the said annular space any outward or downward movement
is prevented by the shoulder or shoulders of the said enlarged end of
each rib. In order to cover and close the said annular space after the
enlarged ends of the ribs have been inserted we employ a second bush
fitting the stick closely and provided with a flange. This bush after
having been placed on to the enlarged cup-shaped part of the above.

page_text: described first bush is fastened to either the stick or the above first
described bush or to both so as to hold such enlarged ends of the said
ribs in their proper places, but allowing at the same time of the necessary
turning movement being imparted to the ribs in the act of opening and
closing the umbrella or parasol. A slight projection or lip is formed on
the outer circumference of the flange of the said second bush, which
when in place overlaps more or less the enlarged part of the above first
described bush in which the slots are formed, thereby increasing its
strength. And with reference to the means of holding the ends of the
stretchers of the umbrella or parasol the lower or sliding bush or runner
is composed of two bushes or parts essentially similar to those described
above, such two bushes being fastened together after the stretchers have
been inserted in their respective slots instead of being fastened to the
runner by the ordinary wire.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention we will procced
to describe more particularly in what manner the same is to be performed
by the aid of the accompanying Drawings, in which are represented the
parts of umbrellas or parasols above referred to.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS..
Fig. 1 represents part of the frame of an umbrella or parasol showing
the same as opened, and the bushes for securing the ribs and stretchers
being shown in section; Fig. 2 represents the frame of the umbrella or
parasol as closed; Fig. 3 is a plan of the upper or fixed bush, shewing the
ribs inserted in the slots and the enlarged ends resting against the interior
of the enlarged part of the bush; and Fig. 4 shews the upper bush or
covering part placed on the lower bush and covering or enclosing the
ends of the ribs. In these several Figures the same letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts. .
.
a is the fixed bush provided with slots to receive the main ribs b, b,
of the umbrella or parasol. The slots are cut or otherwise formed in
the enlarged and cup-shaped part a¹ projecting from the cylindrical part
of the bush which fits on and is fixed to the stick A. The said enlarged
and cup-shaped part of the bush projecting outwards and upwards from
the cylindrical part of the bush provides and encloses an annular spacè
round the cylindrical part of the bush for the reception of the enlarged
ends b', 6', of the ribs b, b. This space is covered or closed at the top
after the insertion of the said enlarged ends of the ribs by means of the
second bush c, which is provided with a flange or projecting rim adapted

page_text: to rest on and overlapping slightly the circular enlarged part a¹ of the
bush a, and to close the annular space at the top after the enlarged ends
of the ribs b, b, have been inserted therein. The bush c is then fixed
to the stick by a pin, as shewn, or in any convenient manner, and
thereby retains the enlarged ends 6 of the ribs b, b, in the said annular
space in such a manner as to prevent such enlarged ends from moving
out of such space. A slight projection or lip c¹ (see Fig. 8) is provided
on the outer circumference of the flange of the bush c, which when the
bush c is in its proper position overlaps the outer edge of the enlarged
part a¹ in which the slots are formed, and thereby greatly increases the
strength and durability of the parts against which the enlarged ends of
the ribs b, b, bear. It will be seen on reference to Fig. 1 that the enlarged
ends of the ribs b, b, while enclosed in the annular space in the manner
described will be free to turn therein as required in opening and closing
the umbrella or parasol. It will also be seen on reference to Fig. 3 that
the projections or shoulders on the ends of the ribs b, b, will prevent
the ribs from being drawn out through the slots of the bush a; d is the
sliding bush or runner of the umbrella or parasol, also provided with
a corresponding number of slots to receive the stretchers e, e, of the
umbrella or parasol. Similar to the bush a the slots are here also cut
or otherwise formed in the enlarged and cup-shaped part d', projecting
outwards and downwards from the cylindrical part of the bush, and
providing an annular space for the enlarged ends of the stretchers
round the cylindrical part of the bush similar to that described on the
bush a.
The annular space is closed in this case after the enlarged
ends of the stretchers e, e, have been inserted by the flanged bush f.
The bore of this bush is provided with two shallow grooves f¹ (sec
Figs. 12 and 13), corresponding projections d² being attached or formed
on the sliding bush d. After the enlarged ends of the stretchers
e, e, have been inserted into the annular space the bush f is turned
until the grooves f¹ arrive opposite the projections d², when it can
be pushed over such projections and on to the enlarged part d', thereby
closing the annular space, and having just cleared the projections d³
it is turned about a quarter round, the projections & now bearing
against the under side of the bush f, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,
and preventing any receding of the bush from the enlarged part d'.
In this position it may be fixed in addition by solder or otherwise,
thereby retaining and securing the enlarged ends of the stretchers e, e,
in the annular space as required.

page_text: Figs. 5 to 14 are detail views of the bushes; Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are a
section, plan, and elevation respectively of the bush a; the cylindrical
part of this bush extends upwards within the enlarged part a¹ of the
bush. Figs. 8 and 9 are a section and elevation of the bush c by which
the annular space is covered or enclosed at the top; c¹is the slight
projection or lip before described. Figs. 10 and 11 are a section and
clevation of the sliding bush d; Figs. 12, 13, and 14 are a section,
plan, and an elevation respectively of the flanged bush f which closes
the annular space on and is fastened to the sliding bush d. The grooves
in the bore of the bush fare shown at f¹, and the outer circumference
of its flange is also provided with a projection or lip f², as and for the
purpose explained above in the description of the second bush c.
Fig. 15 shows a modification in the bushes a and c; the cylindrical
part of the bush a terminates here at the commencement of the enlarged
part a', so that the annular space in this case would be formed between
the interior of the enlarged part a¹ and the stick, but the cylindrical
part of the second bush c is continued below the flange so as to enter
the annular space, thereby reducing the same to the width required by
the enlarged ends of the ribs.
In
Fig. 16 represents a modification of the sliding bush or runner.
this case a short bush / is employed provided with the cup-shaped
enlargement. The cylindrical part of the bush h is adjusted to enter
the partly enlarged bore of the long sliding bush g, a flange g¹ closing
the annular space of the bush h after the enlarged ends of the stretchers
have been inserted, as shown in Fig. 16. The bush g is then fastened
to the bush h by means of solder run in the holes at i provided in the
bush g, or in any other convenient manner.
Figs. 17 to 20 represent different shapes of the enlarged ends of the
ribs and stretchers, Fig. 17 shewing a T head; Fig. 18 a round knob;
Fig. 19 the end bent to one side; and Fig. 20 a pin passed through and
fixed to the end.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that a firm and durable
connection of the parts is obtained, the enlarged part of the bush in
cach case and the enlarged ends of the ribs and stretchers enclosed
therein being made of sufficient strength to resist the strains to which
such parts are exposed, and also the corroding effects of moisture more
effectually than by the present modes of connecting the said parts by
means of wires.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, we hereby declare that what we
claim as our Invention is, the substitution in umbrellas and parasols for
the fixed or sliding wheels or bushes at present in use of bushes con-
structed as described combined with the formation of the ends of the
ribs and stretchers as described, whereby the use of connecting wires is
dispensed with, and the ribs and stretchers are securely held as required
in the manner described, set forth, and fully illustrated in the Drawings
attached, or any slight modification thereof.
In witness whereof, we, the said Samuel Moorhouse and William
John Kendall, have hereunto set our hands and seals, the
Thirteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-two.
Witness,
"W". HY. DAWSON,
SAMUEL MOORHOUSE.
(L.S.)
WILLIAM JOHN KENDALL. (L.S.)
Patent Agent,
Manchester.