UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS.
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Jarman at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 14th October 1879.
JOHN JARMAN, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick.
UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS.'
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
My Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture and method of fastening
umbrellas and parasols, whereby they are rendered more durable and less liable to
be retained, or stolen, or lost.
According to the present mode of making umbrellas the rib at the top end is
formned with a hole through which passes a wire twisted for fastening in the slot.
My improvements consist, firstly, in forming the top end of each rib with a solid
spherical or ball, or any other suitably shaped substance, which fits into a corre-
sponding hole formed in a top and bottom plate, and the two plates being screwed
or otherwise secured together confines the ball or other shaped substance in the said
hole. The rib so attached to the ball or other shaped substance is caused to fit and
work in a slot or nick formed in the lower plate opposite to each hole, thus
constituting and working as an universal joint to the extent of opening and closing
the umbrella. The plates (or "button") are fixed on the stem or stick of the
umbrella in the usual way.
The ends of the stretchers may also be formed as solid balls working in holes and
slots between plates fixed to the runner in a similar manner to that described for
the action of the ribs, or they may be formed in any other manner found most
advantageous.
If
Secondly. In the application and use of a "letter lock" or "bayonet joint" as a
fastening or catch in lieu of the ordinary fastening to hold the umbrella closed.
a letter lock is used composed, say of six rings, it opens in the middle, three rings
being fixed to the sliding end of runner and the other three rings carried on the stick
of the umbrella near the handle, so that when the umbrella is closed the two portions
meet or close together flush at the centre. The catch or fastening of this lock
works up and down the stick with the sliding runner, and fits into slots or openings
in the rings which are fixed vertically (but capable of turning) near the handle, and
which when turned move the slots or openings away from each other so that the
catch or fastening cannot come out until the rings are turned back, and so reopen
the slots or openings in line with each other. The umbrella is thus secured in its

page_text: closed condition by any desired combination of the letters of the lock, thereby
preventing its use by any other person in case of its being lost or stolen.
When the so called "bayonet-joint" is used to fasten the unbrella, one portion
thereof carrying the stud or catch is fixed to the sliding runner, whilst the ring or
collar forming its other portion is fixed on the stick near the handle in such a
manner that upon closing the umbrella the stud or catch falls into its opening in the
ring or collar; and over the joint fits a sliding collar, which hides the stud or catch,
and forms a plain uniform surface. This arrangement is much simpler and stronger,
and less liable to get out of order than the letter lock. It also saves time in opening
and shutting the umbrella.