IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS, TENTS, AND OTHER WEATHER PROTECTORS
Year: 1884

page_text: I HENRY WILLIAMS of 2 Duke Street London Bridge in the County of Surrey
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
UMBRELLAS, TENTS, AND OTHER WEATHER PROTECTORS to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to develop or improve the construction of weather
protectors for which I the said Henry Williams obtained Letters Patent dated
October 14th 1871 N° 2728 and which weather protectors are characterized by the
absence of the ordinary ribs, by the stretchers acting without their aid and by the
covers being attached at the central part to the pole or stick and to the ends of
the stretchers only, and by the runner being lowered to open the weather
protector.
According to my improved construction the umbrella, tent or means of affording
protection from the weather, is provided with a central stem, pole or stick which
at the top is formed to receive the central portion of the cover and this cover may
be secured central over a suitable stop or enlargement by a cover or screw or other-
wise; the outer edges of this cover may be secured to or be only temporarily
attached by rings passing over the ends and stopped by enlargements of "main
stretchers attached to a runner sliding on the central pole or stick.
"
"
This runner may be operated by a line or cord or by a tubular prolongation of
the runner coming down within comfortable reaching distance of the user.
These distending or
"main stretchers I supplement by other "secondary"
stretchers or stays which are attached to the "main" stretchers about or near the
middle thereof at the one end of each and at the other end of each are attached to
a second runner, both the set of secondary stretchers or stays and their runner
being located on the stick or pole between the "main" runner and the head of the
umbrella tent or other weather protector beneath the cover.
The upper runner should be of larger diameter for attachment of the "supple-
mental stays" so that when folded up by raising the runner the supplemental stays
may lie more snugly on the other stretchers and the protector may be more
conveniently and elegantly folded and rolled or packed up.
In closing the umbrella, tent or other protector from the weather the runner, in,
place of being lowered as in such articles as generally constructed; is lifted or
.

page_text: pushed towards the head thereby causing the cover to be drawn in or closed upon
the pole or stick and vice versa for the opening operation.
Suitable catches are provided as desired to maintain distention of the cover.
A lining or second cover may be used when desired in order to aid protection
from sun, rain or stress of weather.
The stem or pole particularly for large sizes I form so as to be detachable into
separate lengths and the position of the tent or umbrella may be further main-
tained where required by guy ropes or lines to pegs or stays and curtains or fringing
pieces can conveniently be attached.
In some cases the runner may be so formed, or have attached to it a weighted
part, that by the action of raising the stem or pole upright the cover will be
distended by the descent of the runners and the stretchers.
By my improved construction I am enabled to produce new and elegant forms of
umbrellas tents and weather protectors combining simplicity of construction and
operation; economy and durability; with increased strength and rigidity when
open to resist wind strains.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Umbrellas, Tents, and other Weather
Protectors.
I HENRY WILLIAMS of 2 Duke Street London Bridge in the County of Surrey
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
UMBRELLAS TENTS AND OTHER WEATHER PROTECTORS, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
The object of my invention is to develop or improve the construction of weather
protectors variously denominated according to size and special use as umbrellas,
sunshades, garden tents and otherwise; particularly of the character of construction
for which I, the said Henry Williams, obtained Letters Patent dated the 14th day
of October 1871 and numbered 2728 and which method of construction is charac-
terized by the absence or suppression of the ordinary ribs, by the stretchers acting
without their aid and by the covers being attached at the central part to the pole
or stick and to the ends of the stretchers only without intermediate attachment

page_text: L
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thereto also notably by the runner being lowered to open the umbrella, tent or
other like protector and raising the runner again within the cover or
"bell to
close it.
According to my improved construction the umbrella, tent, or other like protection
from the sun, or weather, is provided with a central stem, pole, or stick, which in
the accompanying drawing is marked a (Fig. 1) This stick a at the top (1) is
formed to receive the central portion of the "cover" c and this cover c may be
secured centrally over a suitable stop, enlargement, or be as in the drawing Fig. 1
passed onto a pin 2 projecting from the end of the stick a and then by a cap,
finial, screw piece 3, or otherwise, covered or retained and the joint concealed.
The outer edges of this cover care secured to the tips or ends of the "main"
stretchers attached to the runner i sliding on the central pole, or stick a, and
these attachments may be by little sheaths in the cover c supplemented, or not, by
sewing, or rings on the cover c may be attached at the edges, as at c¹, and be passed
over the ends of the stretchers and stopped in position by enlargements of the
stretcher ends. h is a cord or line to be pulled upon to draw down the runner i
and with it the inner ends of the stretchers f, or in place of this cord h attached
to the runner the runner itself may be prolonged so as to come down the stick
to within a convenient distance of reach for the user. e is a stop for the
runner i.
These distending or "main" stretchers f I supplement by other "secondary"
stretchers g or stays which are jointed or attached to the main stretchers f at or
near the middle thereof, at their outer ends g³ and they are at their other, or inner
ends g² attached to a second runner sliding on the stick a in unison with the
runner i that is to say, both the set of secondary stretchers, or stays, and their
runner are located around the central stick, or pole, between the "main" runner
and the head of the umbrella, tent or other weather protector, or shield, beneath the
cover itself.
The upper runner is made of somewhat larger diameter where the ends of its
attached secondary stretchers g come to be articulated to it so that when folded up
by the raising of the runner 2¹ on the stick a followed by the runner i the
secondary stays g may lie more snugly and closely upon the "main" stretchers f
and the umbrellas or tent may be more conveniently elegantly and compactly folded
rolled or packed away and the form of stretcher shewn by Fig. 2 in plan and Fig. 3
in section further conduces to this result.
Fig. 1 shews by dotted lines the approximate positions of the two runners i
and when the umbrella is closed and in the full line or position open one
quarter of each runner and the cover and lining is cut away the better to shew
construction.
j is a lining or under cover to be used, or dispensed with as desired, in order to
aid shielding from sunlight, rain or stress of weather, or attain the greater
lightness.
k is a suitable catch or cleat for retaining the cord h but this may be any one of
many available known appliances adapted for the purpose.
If desired suitable catches or locks are provided to maintain distension of the
cover for special purposes, engaging the runner tube i.
The stem or stick a may be in one piece but when for umbrellas or such like
shields of large size I form the pole or stick a separable into parts or lengths the
one part say the lower part a socketting into the upper part a thereof and this
junction may be supplemented by a lock or catch but as a rule the cord when
attached to the cleat i will be ample attachment. is a spike and l' a socket
for the stick to thrust into the ground or any suitable equivalent may be
employed.
The stability of the umbrella shade or tent may be aided by guy ropes or lines to
pegs or stays when required.
Curtains, fringes, canopies or other attachments can be applied to the edges of
the cover.

page_text: : In some cases the runner i may be so formed, or have attached to it a weighted
part that by the simple action of raising the stem or pole a upright the cover o
will be distended by the descent of the runners i, ¹, and their attached
stretchers f, g.
In closing umbrellas, tents or other articles of the character constructed
according to my invention the runners in place of being lowered, as is general
at present are lifted or pushed towards the heads thereby causing the drawing of
the covers to the sticks and vice versa.
My invention affords scope for the production of a great variety of form of
umbrellas, garden and other tents and shade and weather protectors of novel and
elegant design whilst combining simplicity of construction and operation with
economy and durability with increased strength and rigidity to resist wind strains.
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
1. The construction and use of umbrellas, tents and other similar means of
protection from weather with runners and ¹ and sets of stretchers f and g
arranged and operating substantially as set forth.
2. The general combination and arrangement of parts of umbrellas tents and
other weather protectors having two runners and two sets of stretchers all
co-operating substantially as herein set forth.
"