IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLA FURNITURE
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin John James Grosvenor House, Acol Road
Kilburn. London N.W in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLA FURNITURE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin John James at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st January 1883.
EDWIN JOHN JAMES of Grosvenor House Acol Road. Kilburn London N.W.
in the County of Middlesex IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLA FURNITURE
My Invention has reference to Umbrellas and Parasols of all kinds, especially of
the kind having "Paragon" ribs, that is ribs of a trough like figure.
In making Top notches, Stops, and runners for Umbrellas and Parasols, according
to my Invention, in place of the plain barrel generally used, 1 forin on the outer
face of the barrel as many channels as there are ribs employed, and when the ribs
are of the trough shape form generally known as Paragon ribs, I also form a raised
fillet in the centre of each channel., so that when the umbrella is closed the ribs lay
snugly locked in each channel, and if U shaped, doubly locked by the fillet laying
in the groove of the rib, and when so laying the back of the ribs are flush with the
exterior face of the barrel of the runner, or top notch, or stop.
I attach my rib or stretcher, to the top notch, and runner respectively, in one
of four ways; either by splitting the ends into a fork-shape and bringing them
over a section of the metal, or a ring placed therein, with twice as many notches
as there are ribs; or by threading on a wire, with a like or less number of notches;
or without having a divided end, I flatten the rib for a sufficient distance, and then
turn it over to form a hook, which fits on to a ring or section of the metal prepared
to receive it, and so form a hinge; or I form it into a solid crutch head which
works in a groove.
In all and each such case, I secure the ribs in their places so that they shall
work freely, and shall not be able to turn on one side; but of necessity on the
closing of the umbrella, fall into the channels provided; and I also protect the ring,
wire, or section of the metal from rust, by fastening over them a plate, with or

page_text: without a washer of India-rubber, or leather, or other suitable material: such
protector may extend over, & round, as well as on the ends.
I make the stop in the same form as the top-notch, and runner barrels ; and I
sometimes so arrange, that the sides of the channels of either, shall form a spring
to hold the ribs confined between them; and I shape the end of the stop that when
pushed up the runner locks in it.
The interior barrel of the notch, stop, and runner may vary in size from the
smallest to the largest required and may be fixed on any stick or any rod of metal;
but in all cases so that the ribs shall lay continuously along, and on, or in, the rod
or stick and it is specially claimed that the stick may be so reduced that the 1
barrel of the top-notch when slipped on it, shall fit flush (at its handle end) with
the stick; and the end projecting (to which the ferule is generally attached)
will thus be able to be smaller in circumference; giving a neater appearance
to the umbrella without weakening the stick; or it may be made to take a hollow
piece of stick or metal, to increase its circumference at that point, as may be 1
desired.
I finish off the umbrella when the silk is on, by a neat metal cap, to which I
attach a lining of India-rubber, or other material, covering over all.
I construct my runner to act with the ordinary wire springs, if so desired; but
in preference with a hole, to act with a special spring as hereinafter described,
which I insert very simply into the stick by screwing.
And for use with, or without a spring I make my runner a perfect spring clip
itself, by cutting corresponding pieces out of each side for part of its length, and
I sometimes provide at the handle end, a ring of eccentric action which by a half
turn clips the ends of the divided runner, drawing them closer together and tight 2
against the stick; and by a reverse turn releasing the stick, along which the
runner can then be freely slipped to the desired height, when by again half turning
it becomes firmly fixed. This system I claim to be able to apply to any ordinary
runner. The runner can be made to fasten at the ordinary place; or by using
long stretchers or by lengthening the tube of the runner the ring can be brought a
just to the end of the ribs when shut close; in which case, I so cut the ring as to
form a complete cover, or tip cap when clipped, but leaving the rib tips free again
when unclipped. The ring can be made of any suitable material, and to take the
name and address of the owner; forming a handsome mounting to the stick. This
form of tip cap, that is to say, locking and unlocking the ribs by a simple partial 3
turn, I claim independent of its use with my spring clip. I sometimes slightly
shape my stick in oval form, where when open, or shut, the spring clips the stick,
thereby the more securely preventing the umbrella from opening or closing, or
turning on the stick, & I sometimes attain the half turn automatically.
The spring before referred to I propose to make in the form of a small circular 4
or other shape case in which I insert a ball, a socket and a spring. I insert this
in the umbrella stick by screwing or otherwise; and on the runner passing over it,
it becomes depressed till reaching the slot provided, it again expands and holds the
umbrella firmly from turning round the stick, or closing again, until pulled down
for that purpose. I claim for it greater simplicity and less cost in fixing, and 4
economy as it can be made in large numbers and to fit any stick or other article ;
also the non weakening of the stick by cutting slots, as for the wire springs;
and freeing the stick from liability to swell in the rain as is often the case where
slotted.
As a further improvement, and applicable to any umbrella stick; at the point t
where when shut the joint of the stretchers to the ribs shall fall, I make a channel
or series of channels in and around the stick, sufficiently deep to take in the
prominent parts of the gats, and allow the closed ribs and stretchers to lay perfectly
straight, against the stick. I either attain this by simply cutting away part or
parts of the stick, or I use a metal joint, by which means I am able to make my i
stick in two parts, strengthening the stick thereby, and enabling me to use many
sticks which are of little value as being too soft; but which may have good heads:..

page_text: to this end, I construct a metal joint with a channel or channels sunk in the centre
to take the gats, which may be held there by springs; and the two ends, of tubes
into which the stick sball fit (being secured by internal screws or otherwise) flush
with the outside surface of the tubes, to allow the free passage of the runner.
I sometimes add a projection to the gat, or the back part of the stretcher, which
shall the more securely fit into the channel provided.
In umbrellas where a T or other shaped stretcher is used, I improve the shape
of the stretcher by hollowing out that part which sets against the stick, so that
it fits close against and embraces the stick; and where a T or other shaped
stretcher is used, I provide for the use of the sewings which ordinarily secure the
silk to the rib below the middle piece, by cutting away sufficient of that part of the
stretcher which corresponds to the body of the T, and which is intended to fit into
the trough of the U shaped rib, to allow the stretcher notwithstanding their use,
to lay well in the trough; or to meet the requirement in another way I claim to
pierce the trough shaped rib, at the lower portion of the U with needle holes for
the passage of the thread at the points desired.
But in preference to any other method I form both my stretcher and rib of the
ordinary trough shape and so fasten them at the middle piece or gat that they of
necessity interlock while closing presenting in section the appearance of one
U turned over and half within the other
And when an extra smal umbrella is required I use in place of a stick a rod
or a barrel of metal made on the same plan as the stick herein before described
which I either polish or japan or cover with a thin layer of wood or other material
as may be desired
By thus constructing the various parts great compactness and solidity of the
umbrella when closed results.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edwin John James in the Great Seal Patent Office on-the
30th June 1883.
EDWIN JOHN JAMES, Grosvenor House Acol Road, Kilburn London N.W. in
the County of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLA FURNITURE
"
My Invention has reference to umbrellas and parasols of all kinds, especially of
the kind having what are commonly called "Paragon" ribs, that is to say ribs of a
trough like figure and is represented in the accompanying Drawings in all the
Figures of which like parts are marked with similar letters of reference.
a represents the stick, b the top notch, c the ribs, d the stretchers, e the runner
and f the stop.
According to my invention I form the joints for attaching the ribs c and
stretchers d to the top notch b and runner e respectively in either of the following
ways. I flatten the ribs c and stretchers d at one of their ends as represented at
Figures 1 to 5 and I turn over and split the ends as shown at Figuro 1 so as to
form a double hook c¹ or d¹ or I make a broad hook as shown at Figure 2 or as
shewn at Figure 3 I make a narrow hook in the centre of such flattened end.
Instead however of forming the hook out of the substance of the rib and stretcher
as above described I can in lieu thereof form a separate divided hook c¹ or d', and
fix it around the end of the rib c or stretcher d as shewn at Figures 6 and 7 or
connect it thereto in other suitable manner. When using the forms of hooks c'
shewn at Figures 1, 6 and 7 I form the top notch b in the manner shown at
Figures 8, 9 and 10 which are respectively a sectional elevation a side elevation
and an underside view. This top notch is formed with twice as many notches b¹
as there are ribs and the hooks c¹ are caused to enter such notches and hook over a
section of the metal of the top notch or over a ring 6³ placed or fixed therein or
they are secured in position by a wire as usual. A runner e suitable for use with
a stretcher & formed with a double hook d is shown in section at Figure 11.
A top notch b adapted for use with ribs c formed with hooks c¹ of the shape
shown at Figure 2 is represented at Figure 12 and the runner is similarly formed
for use with stretchers d baving like shaped hooks d¹.
Figure 13 represents a top notch b adapted for use with ribs c formed with
hooks c¹ of the shape shown at Figure 3, the runner is similarly formed for use
with stretchers d formed with like shaped hooks d'. In all cases I so form and
connect the parts that the ribs shall lie along the stick and I secure the ribs in 3
their places so that they shall work freely and shall not be able to turn on one
side and I preferably form channels or grooves in the top notch and runner as
shown to receive the ribs and stretchers so that when the umbrella is closed the
ribs shall lie snugly locked in each channel and when so lying the backs of the
ribs are flush with the exterior face of the barrel of the top notch or runner.
According to my invention I make the stop f as shown at Figures 14, 15 and 16
with channels f¹ to receive the ribs and in such case I shape the runner and stop
as shown so that when the runner is pushed up it shall lock with the stop. I also
sometimes so form the stop that the sides of the channels shall form a light spring
to hold the ribs confined between them.
This arrangement is represented at Figures 18 and 19 in which the channels or
grooves are formed by bending a thin piece of spring metal to the required shape
and in this case the runner e is provided with pins or studs e' to pass into the
spaces between the channels f' so that when the runner e is pushed up it shall
lock with the stop ƒ as shown

page_text: By forming the stop as above described I am enabled to obtain a solid support
to the ribs at a place intermediate of the top notch and runner thereby preventing
the possibility of their twisting around the stick when the umbrella is closed, .
whilst when open, the runner and consequently the stretchers and ribs are also
held secure against twisting around the stick.
The interior barrel of the top notch b stop fand runner & may vary in size from
the smallest to the largest required and may be fixed on any stick or any rod of
metal but in all cases so that the ribs shall lie continuously along and in contact'
with the rod or stick a.
The runners may be constructed to act as usual with the ordinary wire spring
stops if desired but according to my Invention I dispense with such wire spring
stops and make the runner e a perfect spring clip itself as shown at Figures 14, 17.
and 18 by cutting corresponding pieces out of each side or by otherwise forming a
space along each side thereof for the greater part of its length and I provide at the
handle end thereof a ring e² of eccentric action as shown which by a half or partial
turn clips the two ends of the divided runner e so as to draw them closer together
and tight against the stick a and by a reverse turn releasing it from the stick along
which the runner e can then be freely slipped to the desired height, when by again
turning the ring e² the runner becomes firmly fixed and in order to assist the
holding of the runner e on the stick a I sometimes slightly shape the stick in oval
form at the parts where, when the umbrella is open or shut, it is desired that the
runner should be fixed thereon thereby the more securely preventing the umbrella..
from accidentally opening or closing or turning on the stick.
The runner e can be made to fasten at tho ordinary place when the umbrella is
closed, or by using long stretchers, or by lengthening the tube of the runner the
ring e³ can be brought just to the end of the ribs c when the umbrella is shut and .
the ring e² can in such case be made of any suitable material and to take the naine
and address of the owner and can be made to form a handsome mounting to the™
stick.
In cases where a series of channels in the stick are employed to receive the gats
or joints of the stretchers with the ribs at the point where when shut such gats or
joints will fall I according to my Invention as shewn at Figures 20 and 21 add a
projection o* to the "gat" or to the back part of the stretcher which shall the
more securely fit into the channel a' provided, and I also form such channels a' of
a piece of spring metal corrugated to the desired shape as shewn at Figure 21 so as
to form spring sides to the channels a' and thereby more securely hold the gats c³.
in position or such channels a' may have springs applied to the sides thereof in any
other convenient manner.
I also according to my Invention when employing ribs c and stretchers d of the
ordinary trough shape so joint them to the middle piece or gat c² that they shall of
necessity interlock while closing thus presenting in section the appearance of one U
turned over and half within the other U as represented at Figure 22. In order to
obtain this result I use either of the arrangements represented at Figures 23 to 26
in which the gat c is formed in the ordinary manner but the joint end d' of the
stretcher is connected thereto by placing one web of the joint d between the two
webs of the gat c¹ the other web of the stretcher joint d being placed outside the
gat.
The joint end of the stretcher for this purpose may be made in any convenient
and at the same time suitable manner but I prefer that represented in Figures 23.
24. 25 in which the two webs of the trough shaped stretcher are nipped together
at the end with both such webs towards one side of the trough and in order to
strengthen the joint and provide a suitable thickness to fit between the webs of
the gat c and also to form the second web of the joint end of the stretcher I fix a
mounting d around the end of the stretcher which thereby forms one web of the
joint with three thicknesses of metal to occupy the space between the two webs of
the "gat" joiut and the other web to pass outside the "gat" c with only one
thickness of metal.

page_text: In the arrangement shown at Figure 26 I split the joint end of the stretcher and
fix a mounting thereon as shown to give additional strength, the two webs of the
joint in this latter case being of the same thickness. And in order to enable the
ribs c to be locked throughout the entire length of the stretcher & I form the joint
end of the stretcher, by which it is connected with the runner e, in the manner
represented at Figures 27 and 28 in which the end of the stretcher & has one web
thereof pressed somewhat outwards and a strengthening piece fixed on the inner
Bide thereof and extending a short distance up the trough is employed to give the
required strength to the joint and yet leave the stretcher with a continuous channel
open at the end to enable the rib to lie completely locked along the entire length of
the stretcher d. I also when interlocking the stretchers and ribs and employing
long stretchers extending a short distance beyond the tips o³ of the ribs c prefer to
bend the tips of the ribs c as shown at Figures 29 and 30 so as to enable such
tips to be received into spaces d³ formed near the lower ends of the stretchers-d
and thereby obtain a double lock thereof.
By the employment of stretchers with split forked joints such as those shown at
Figures 1, 6 and 7 I am enabled when employing that form of lock shown at
Figures 31 and 32 to continue the lock to the end of the stretcher, the forks of the
lutter being made to pass on the outside of the rib, instead however of employing a
forked joint made into the shape of a hook, the arms of the fork may be made with
eyes in which case wire would be threaded through the same.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the mode in which
I carry the same into effect I would have it understood that what I claim is―
First. The method of constructing the joint en⋅ls of ribs and stretchers sub-
stantially as herein shown and described with respect to Figures 1 to 7 and for the
purpose stated.
Second. Forming the stops of umbrellas with grooves to receive the ribs sub-
stantially as herein shown and described with respect to Figures 14, 15, 16, 18. 19
and for the purpose stated.
Third. Constructing the stop and runner in such manner that when the latter is
raised it shall become locked with the stop substantially as herein shown and
described with respect to Figures 14, 18 and 19.
Fourth. Constructing the runners and sticks of umbrellas substantially as herein
shown and described with respect to Figures 14 and 17 and for the purpose stated.
Fifth. Constructing the stick with a series of spring sided recesses to receive
the prominent parts of the "gats" and forming the "gats or stretchers with
projections c✶ to fit into such recesses substantially as herein shown and described
with respect to Figures 20 and 21.
33
Sixth. So constructing the stretchers and hinging the same to the ribs that
they shall of necessity interlock with each other when the umbrella is closed
substantially as herein shown and described with respect to Figures 23 to 28.
Seventh. The application to the ordinary lock stretchers, made to receive the
rib within the trough thereof, of a forked joint to connect the same to the runner
substantially as herein, shown and described with respect to Figures 31 and 32 and
for the purpose stated.
In witness whereof I the said Edwin John James have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twenty fifth day of June in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.