Year: 1885

page_text: I, FREDERICK NESFIELD COOKSON, of Eva Villa, Waterloo Road, Wolverhampton,
in the County of Staffordshire, Manufacturer, 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:-
My invention relates to an improved flexible band-fastener for confiuing the ends
of the ribs of an umbrella, and holding them close to the stick, without having
recourse to the old-fashioned elastic band provided by the maker to embrace the
umbrella at its thickest part.
There have been two devices in use up to the present time for the purpose of
confining the ribs of an umbrella close to the stick independently of the elastic.
band already mentioned.
One of these devices is a loose rubber ring which embraces the umbrella stick.
When the user wishes to confine the ribs, he grasps them by giving the rubber
ring a rolling motion downwards over the ends of the ribs.
Sometimes this rolling motion, which is generally not less in length than the
sectional circumference of the ring, carries the latter past the tips of the ribs far
enough to pull the cover of the umbrella from the ribs, and to strain the stitches
holding it thereto.
The second device has been a sliding cap, the travel of which has always sufficed
to embrace the tips efficiently and to retain them, so long as the umbrella continues
in first-class condition and provided that the user has been adroit enough to catch
all the tips under the cap as he pushes the latter down, but when the ribs have
acquired a slight curvature, the result of constant use, and have become shortened
accordingly, the hold of the cap upon them becomes so slight that the shake
communicated to the umbrella by being carried in the owner's hands releases the
ribs therefrom, and the cap is practically useless. Besides, the fixing of the cap
device to an umbrella-stick is outside the skill of the ordinary user.
In carrying my invention into effect, I provide a spring-band of wire, one end of
which is fastened to the stick, while the other end carries a tab in which is formed
an eye. The length of the unstretched band is rather less than the girth of the
ends of the ribs when they are held close to the stick. A small stud projects from
the end of the spring-band at its point of junction with the stick, and the band,
being passed round the ends of the ribs, is fastened thereupon, thus confining the
ribs to the stick without pressing disadvantageously upon the fabric of the cover,
or straining the stitches by which it is held to the ends of the ribs.

page_text: In order that my invention, and the means by which the same can be carried
into practical effect, may be thoroughly understood, I will proceed to describe the
same in detail, referring in so doing to the accompanying figures which are to be
taken as part of this specification, and read therewith, and in which the same parts
are marked throughout the figures in which they occur with the same reference
letter.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation shewing my improved fastener passed round the ends
of the ribs.
Fig. 2 is an elevation shewing my improved fastener and the method of
attaching it to the stick.
Fig. 3 is a plan shewing the fastener embracing the ends of the ribs.
Fig. 4 is an elevation shewing how the fastener may be kept close to the stick
when the umbrella is open.
A is the spring band forming the fastener. This is preferably flat, although I do
not confine myself to this section, as it may be oval or semicircular. The band
itself, whatever may be the section selected, is made out of a single wire of suitable
elasticity.
B is a plate shaped to fit the stick, to which it can be fixed in any convenient
way, or it may be passed quite round the stick and fastened to it in any
convenient way. The point of attachment is such that the band will embrace
the ends of the ribs just beneath the tips, a, a, as shewn in Fig. 1.
C is a stud projecting from the plate B. It serves as a convenient means of
attaching one end of the band, A, to the plate B; which attaching is illustrated in
the figures as being accomplished by means of a small plate, c, the hole in which
allows the band to hang loosely upon the stud. The plate, c, may be dispensed with,
and the end of the wire forming the band may be twisted round the stud C direct.
D is a thumb piece, with an eye, d, formed in it, fastened to the outer end of the
band. I find that a plate thumb-piece, with an eye formed in it, more efficient and
durable, than if the thumb-piece and eye were formed by merely bending the wire
into the shape of an eye, although I may, if I choose, make the eyed thumb-piece
in this way, consolidating the twisted wire by solder.
To use my invention, one hand grasps the ribs below their ends, while the other,
holding the thumb-piece, D, passes the band round the ends of the ribs, and slips
its eye over the stud C.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
The combination of elastic wire band A, eye d, and stud C; the whole producing
an improved attachment for confining the ends of the ribs of an umbrella, sub-
stantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 17th day of November 1885.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Patent Agents,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.