CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND CONSTRUCTION OF UMBRELLAS, PARASOLS, AND SUN-
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Martin, of No. 54, Friday Street, in the City of
London, Warehouseman, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE AND CONSTRUCTION OF UMBRELLAS, PARASOLS, AND SUN-
am in
Sealed the 4th May 1877, and dated the 7th November 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Martin at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th November 1876.
KE
WILLIAM MARTIN, of No. 54, Friday Street, in the City of London, Warehouseman.
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND CONSTRUCTION OF UMBRELLAS,
PARASOLS, AND SUNSHADES."
This Invention consists of improvements in the working parts or furniture of
umbrellas, parasols, and sunshades, and consists in doing away with the top wire
notch ring and runner notch ring at present in use and substituting therefor a ball-
and-socket arrangement, as herein-after described.
Instead of the top notched ring now used I firmly fix to the stick of the
umbrella, parasol, or sunshade an annular ring of metal, round the outside of
which are as many receptacles, cups, or sockets as there are ribs; to the end of each
rib and stretcher is a ball which is made to fit in the said receptacles or sockets.
The top ring is made in two pieces, and when the balls at the end of the stretchers
are inserted into the cups or sockets the two parts are joined together, the balls or
ends of the stretchers having free play in the said receptacles by means of slots cut
in the lower piece or portion of the ring.
The lower ring is somewhat differently constructed; it is made in two pieces,
one part being firmly secured to the runner, while the other part is screwed in its
place and held there by a screw collar; thus the ends of the stretchers and ribs are
firmly sccured in position without the aid of wire or other fastenings.
Another part of my Invention consists in a novel mode of joining the ribs to the
stretchers. I make the end of the rib T shaped, and on the stretcher at the point
of junction I braze or cast-a-small piece of metal, just sufficient to make a double
flange, into which the T piece is inserted and pinched or pressed together, thus
making a strong and secure fastening.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Martin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th May
1877.
WILLIAM MARTIN, of 54, Friday Street, in the City of London, Warehouseman.
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND CONSTRUCTION OF UMBRELLAS,
PARASOLS, AND SUNSHADES."
This Invention consists of improvements in the working parts or furniture of
umbrellas, parasols, and sunshades; and consists in doing away with the top wire
notch ring and runner notch ring at present in use and substituting therefor a ball-
and-socket arrangement.
Instead of the top notched ring now used I firmly fix to the stick of the
umbrella, parasols, or sunshade an annular ring of metal, round the outside of
which are as many receptacles, cups, or sockets as there are ribs; to the ends of each
rib and stretcher is a ball made so as to fit in the receptacles or sockets. The top
ring is made in two pieces, and when the balls at the ends of the stretchers are
inserted into the cups or sockets the two parts are joined together, the balls or ends
of the stretchers having free play in the receptacles by means of slots cut in the
lower piece or portion of the ring.
The lower ring is somewhat differently constructed, being made in two pieces, the
upper piece being firmly secured to the runner, while the other part is screwed in
its place and held there by a screw collar, so as to hold the balls on the ends of the
ribs in place; thus the ends of the stretchers or ribs are firmly secured in position
without the aid of wire or other fastenings.
Another part of my Invention consists in a novel mode of joining the ribs to the
stretchers. I make the end of the rib T shape, and on the stretcher at the point of
junction I braze or cast a small piece of metal, just sufficient to make a double
flange, into which the T piece is inserted and pinched or pressed together, thus
making a strong and secure fastening.
And in order that my Invention may be better understood and more readily
carried into operation, I will now proceed to describe the Sheet of Drawings here-
unto annexed.
Figure 1 represents an elevation partly in section, and Figure 2 a plan of the
lower ring.
A is the upper ring; B, the upper part of lower ring; D, the lower part of this
ring; C is the runner on which B is fixed; it is screwed at the lower end to
receive D and a screwed collar E; the T joint is shewn at F.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and how the same may be carried into effect, I would have it understood
that what I claim and desire to secure by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is, the construction and use of such improvements in the working
parts of umbrellas, parasols, and sunshades as are herein-before described and
illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Martin, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
CHARLES BARLOW,
Patent Agent,
23, Southampton Buildings,
W.C.
WILLIAM MARTIN. (L.S.)