AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FABRICS FOR UMBRELLAS."
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Johnson & William Hatchman, both
of 73 & 74, Wood St., E.C., for the Invention of “AN IMPROVEMENT
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FABRICS FOR UMBRELLAS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Johnson and
William Hatchman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 18th March 1872.
We, FREDERICK JOHNSON & WILLIAM HATCHMAN, both of 73 &
74, Wood St., E.C., do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FABRICS FOR UMBRELLAS,'
to be as follows: —
Silk umbrellas are particularly liable to wear in the folds between
the ribs. This wear is often caused by carrying the umbrella underneath
the arm or in the hand otherwise than by the handle of the umbrella,
and more often by screwing up an umbrella too tightly in the folding, thus

page_text: putting a tension upon the silk which it is totally unable to bear. The
part which is thus abused is usually close against the band by which the
umbrella is fastened when rolled up at that side of the band which is
nearest to the ferrule, and my Invention consists in so weaving or forming
the fabric or texture to be used in covering the frames of umbrellas that
it shall be thicker or contain stronger threads or a greater number of
threads at those parts so that it shall bear a larger amount of handling
and a bigger strain or tension than is necessary for the other portion of
the fabric.
In small sized umbrellas made exclusively for ladies' use it is not
necessary to make them extra strength at the part described above, as
they usually carry them by the handles, and do not screw the fabric too
tightly round the frame; but they are very subject to were them out
near the ferrule by friction against the dress, and therefore the part
where the extra threads or increased thickness is woven is placed so as
to come round the umbrella for a considerable breadth at that part which
radiates immediately round the stick at the end where the ribs of the
umbrella are fixed to the stick. The part which is thus woven extra
thickness will vary somewhat in breadth to suit convenience in making
umbrellas of different sizes.
This same form of manufacture may also be applied to other fabrics
than silk. No new machinery for weaving is required, we obtain our
extra strength by using a larger number of threads or thicker threads at
the part required to be strengthened, & the fabric is so woven that
the strengthened part can be placed on the frame of the umbrella,
& run round it at the parts before named, & which parts are thus enabled
to bear a stronger pull on the fabric or to resist more friction.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Frederick Johnson and William Hatchman in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th September 1872.
3

page_text: According to our Invention we prevent these evils by so weaving or
forming the fabric or texture to be used in covering the frames of
umbrellas, that it shall be thicker or contain stronger threads or a
greater number of threads at those parts, so that it shall bear a larger
amount of handling and a bigger strain or tension or a larger amount
of friction than at those parts where less strength is necessary.
In carrying our Invention into effect no new machinery for weaving
'is required. Looms such as are in ordinary use are set up, and where we
require our extra strength we use a larger number of threads or thicker
threads than in the other parts, and the weaving is done in the usual
manner. These extra threads may be put either into the weft or the
warp, but we prefer them to be in the warp for the economy in cutting
up the covers of umbrellas, and also because as the warp comes to the
surface it is more calculated to resist friction. The fabric may be
woven plain or twilled in the ordinary manner, or some portions of it
twilled and the remainder plain.
The parts which it is intended that our Patent shall strengthen are
close against the band by which the umbrella is fastened when rolled
up, and principally at that side of the band which is nearest to the
ferrule, and at that part which radiates immediately round the stick át
the end where the ribs of the umbrella are fixed to the stick. The part
which is woven of extra strength may be so arranged that it comes at
one or either or both the places named; but the parts where it is most
necessary to use it are in large sized umbrellas near the band, and in
small sized ones used by ladies near where the ribs are attached to the
stick near the ferrule. The parts which are woven of extra strength will
vary sometimes in width, and for large sized umbrellas I prefer that it
shall be wide enough to extend over the runner of the umbrella, as the
fabric is liable to be cut through by this part of the furniture of the
umbrella, and therefore extra strength is desirable to prevent such
damage. The same form of manufacture may be also applied to other
fabrics than silks.
What we claim is the manufacture of fabrics fór umbrellas in which
the silk or other material is made thicker and stronger so as to resist
more tension or friction for a considerable breadth at that part which
goes round the umbrella where the band is attached, and where an
umbrella is particularly liable to be destroyed by over-tight rolling or

page_text: screwing up, and also at that part near the ferrule where it is particularly
liable to be worn out by friction.
In witness whereof, we, the said Frederick Johnson and William
Hatchman, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Eleventh
day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-two.
FREDERICK JOHNSON. (L.S.)
WILLIAM HATCHMAN. (L.S.)