Improvements in the Construction of Runners for Umbrellas, Parasols, and Sunshades.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 4th July, 1889-Accepted, 24th Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Runners for Umbrellas,
Parasols, and Sunshades.
I, JOHN BUCKLEY SEEL of 66 Basinghall Strect in the City of London, Com-
mission Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
I make a runner rather longer than usual, on the tube of this runner I place a
second runner of a special shape, it is shorter than the principal runner and slides
freely up
and down it; the centre of this auxiliary runner is gradually swelled out to.
such a shape that when the swelled portion is over the slit in the principal runner, the
springs in the stick usually employed to keep the umbrella opened or closed can rise
freely through the slit: at the end of this auxiliary runner nearest to the tips I
place a tip cup: I make the slit in the principal runner much wider and farthur from
the end than usual and at the end of the principal runner and also at a convenient
distance from the notch I raise a swedge or employ other means to limit the motion
of the auxiliary runner.
The action is as follows:-The umbrella being closed, I draw back the auxiliary
runner and with it the tip cup which releases the tips of the ribs, I then press
forwards the auxiliary runner the sloping side of the swelled portion of which,
bearing against the spring, acts as a lever and forces it downwards through the slit
into the stick, thus releasing the principal runner; the pressure being continued
the auxiliary runner meets the swedge on the principal runner and the two runners
then rise together until the top spring rises through the slit.
To close the umbrella the reverse action takes place.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Runners for Umbrellas,
Parasols, and Sunshades.
I JOHN BUCKLEY SEEL of 66 Basinghall Street in the City of London Commission
Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:—
In this description I shall call the handle end of the Umbrella the lower end
and the notch end the top or upper end. Motion towards the lower end I shall call
downwards and in the opposite direction upwards, and shall describe other parts as
upper or lower according as they are nearer the top or nearer the lower end of the
Umbrella respectively.
I make a runner of the usual form but rather longer than usual; on the tube of
this runner I place a second, outer or auxiliary runner of a special shape. It is
shorter than the principal runner and slides freely up and down it. The centre of
this second outer or auxiliary runner is gradually swelled out to such a shape that
when the swelled portion is over the slit in the principal runner the springs in the
stick usually employed to keep the Umbrella opened or closed can rise freely through
the slit.
At the upper end of this second outer or auxiliary runner which when the
umbrella is closed is the end nearest to the tips I place a tip cup. I make the slit
in the principal runner much wider and farther from the lower end of the runner

page_text: than usual and at the lower end of the principal runner and also at a convenient
distance from the upper or notch end I raise a swedge or employ other means to
limit the motion of the second outer or auxiliary runner.
The action is as follows:-The Umbrella being closed I draw downwards the
second outer or auxiliary runner and with it the tip cup which releases the tips of
the ribs. I then press upwards the second, outer or auxiliary runner the sloping side
of the swelled portion of which bearing against the spring forces it down through the
slot into the stick thus releasing the principal runner.
The pressure being continued the second, outer, or auxiliary runner meets the
swedge on the principal runner and the two runners then rise together until the top
or upper spring rises through the slit. To close the Umbrella the reverse action
takes place.
By another modification of my invention I place the tip cup at or about the
middle of the second outer or auxiliary runner the upper portion being swelled out
to receive the top or upper spring of the stick and sloped in such a way as to press
such spring into the stick on being drawn downwards.
The lower portion of the second outer or auxiliary runner is only swelled out
sufficiently to receive a helical spring which bears at the lower end against a flange
on the principal runner and at the upper end against a flange on the inside of the
second outer or auxiliary runner. In this modification the lower spring in the stick
is dispensed with. The Umbrella being closed and the tips resting in the tip cup
they are retained there and the Umbrella is kept closed by the action of the helical
spring which presses the tip cup on the tips. To open the umbrella the second,
outer, or auxiliary runner together with the tip cup is drawn down towards the handle
thus releasing the tips of the ribs and the second outer or auxiliary runner being
partially released by the hand is pressed by the helical spring against the notch of
the principal runner, the two runners together are then pressed, upwards so as to
open the umbrella until the spring fixed in the stick to retain the Umbrella open
rises through the slit in the principal runner and retains it. To close the umbrella
the second outer or auxiliary runner is drawn down when it slides upon the principal
runner and its sloped end coming into contact with the spring forces it into the
stick and releases the principal runner. The two runners then move downwards
together until the umbrella is closed, when the second outer or auxiliary runner is drawn
still further downwards sufficiently to allow the tips to enter the tip cup and is then
released.
The drawings accompanying this specification are for the purpose of aiding the
"foregoing description.
The same letters refer to similar or corresponding parts throughout.
Figs. 1. and 2 relates to the first described modification of my invention. Figs. 3
and 4 relate to the secondly described modification of my invention.
Fig. 1. shows an elevation of the complete runner. Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal
section of the principal runner with the second outer or auxiliary runner upon it.
Fig. 3. shows an elevation of the complete runner and Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal
section of the principal runner with the second outer or auxiliary runner upon it;
A is the principal runner; B, B, are swedges or fillets raised upon the principal
runner; C. is the second outer or auxiliary runner; D is the tip cup; E is the
helical spring working against the flange F on the principal runner and the flange G
on the inside of the second outer or auxiliary runner.
I wish it to be understood that I do not claim as new the auxiliary runner with a
swelled portion sliding upon the principal runner so as to compress and release the
spring or springs in the stick as hereinbefore described nor the tip cup in combination
with a helical spring to press it upon the tips; but having now particularly
described and ascertained the nature of this my said invention and in what manner
the same is to, be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
In an umbrella, parasol or sunshade the combination of a tip cup forming part of

page_text: and moving with a second outer or auxiliary runner which has a swelled portion to
receive the spring or springs in the stick and with one or both ends of such swelled
portion sloped for the purposes and substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 3rd day of July 1889.
W. H. S. WATTS,
Agent for the Applicant.