IMPROVEMENTS IN RUNNERS AND TOP NOTCHES FOR UMBRELLAS AND SUNSHADES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lano, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
RUNNERS AND TOP NOTCHES FOR UMBRELLAS AND SUNSHADES." A com-
munication from abroad by Charles Falcimaigne, fils, of Paris, France,
Sealed the 5th December 1879, and dated the 24th June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th June 1879.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, "IMPROVEMENTS IN RUNNERS AND TOP NOTCHES FOR UMBRELLAS
AND SUNSHADES." [A communication from abroad by Charles, Falcimaigne, fils, of
Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to runners and top notches of umbrellas and sunshades,
and consists in improvements having for their object,―
4
1st. To considerably reduce the diameter of the runner notch, and thereby lessen
the bulk of the frame, and cause the umbrella or sunshade to present a more elegant
appearance when rolled up; 2nd, to strengthen the runner, and also retain the
stretchers in position even after the wire on which they are jointed is broken;
3rd, to simplify the manufacture of the runner notches; 4th, to protect the covering
fabric from contact with the metal frame, and so prevent wear at these points. The
runner is formed of a metal tube, to the bottom end of which a strengthening band
or rim is applied in order to better resist the outward pressure of the spring catches
or stops when the umbrella is opened and closed. This rim is only employed
where such springs are used, and may serve in lieu of the usual slit in the runner
to hold the umbrella closed by employing a spring having a projecting nib which
engages in the hollow of the rim or band, and provided with an extension termi-
nating in a button for operating it, said button projecting beyond the bottom end
of the runner, so that the spring is enclosed within the runner and so kept out of
contact with the covering. The top end of the runner is also strengthened by
being made of thicker metal, in order to form thereof the notch in which the
stretchers are jointed. This notch, instead of being a double projecting ring or
flange at right-angles to the axis, is a prolongation of the runner tube, the slits or

page_text: mortices to receive the stretchers being made endwise in the runner tube in the
longitudinal direction, instead of perpendicularly thereto. By this means the
excess of the diameter of the runner notch over that of the runner proper is reduced
considerably, thus lessening the bulk of the frame when closed, and the umbrella is
rendered lighter in appearance. A band or cap is also applied to enclose the runner
notch to prevent the contact of the covering fabric with the joint wire in the
intervals between the stretchers. Such caps have been used before, the peculiar
feature of improvement consisting in the manner of simultaneously cutting the
slits or mortises in the runner notch and cap at the same time, whereby an abso-
lutely exact correspondence between the two is ensured, and the operation is
performed in half the time.
The ordinary notch and cap cannot be cut together, as the one is cut in the
radial and the other in the longitudinal direction, and when cut separately in this
way it is very difficult to make the slits in the one coincide exactly with those of
the other.
The runner is completed by the application of a ring forming a nut to screw
upon a threaded part of the runner just beneath the upper thickened end or notch,
and hold the cap before mentioned in place. The runner notch is also provided
with a circumferential groove for the tying or joint wire to lie in, and with a
vertical groove to receive the twisted ends of said wire.
The above improvements are also applicable to the construction of top notches
to which the ribs are jointed. The improved runner may be provided with a spring
tip cap, or be provided with devices other than the ordinary spring in the handle
for holding the umbrella closed, and is, in short, suited to all kinds of umbrella and
parasol furniture.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on .the
23rd December 1879.
16
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. IMPROVEMENTS IN RUNNERS AND TOP NOTCHES FOR UMBRELLAS
AND SUNSHADES." A communication from abroad by Charles Falcimaigne, fils, of
Paris, France. -
$
.J
This Invention relates to runners and notches of umbrellas and sunshades, and
consists in improvements having for their object, 1st, to considerably reduce the
diameter of the runner notch, and theroby lessen the bulk of the frame, and
cause the umbrella or sunshade to present a more elegant appearance when rolled
up 2nd, to strengthen the runner and also retain the stretchers in position, even
after the wire on which they are jointed is broken; 3rd, to simplify the manu-
facture of the runner notches; 4th, to protect the covering fabric _from_contact
with the metal frame, and so prevent wear at these points. In order that
the Invention may be more readily understood, I will proceed to describe it with
reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 represent an
elevation and plan of the improved runner and notch, and Figures 3 and longi-
tudinal and transverse sections of the same; Figures 5 to 10 are sectional and
external views of the different parts of the runner separately. The runner proper
is formed of a metal tube A, reinforced at the bottom end by a rim b, and at the
upper end by a rim c. The runner is by preference made in the following
manner: A circular blank is first punched out of sheet copper, and then stamped
up and drawn into the form of a tube, closed at one end, by means of a punch in a
die, after which the closed end of the tube is pierced and the rim b formed by
turning down the edges of the metal which formed the closed end, thus forming a
solid drawn runner without any joint.
The rim c at the top end of the runner is slitted or morticed, in order to form
thereof the "notch" in which the stretchers are jointed. This notch, which is an
especial feature of the Invention, instead of being a double ring or flange projecting
from the runner at right angles to the axis, is a prolongation of the runner tube,
the slits or mortices to receive the ends of the stretchers being made endwise in
the runner tubo instead of laterally. By this means the excess of the diameter
of the runner notch over that of the runner proper is reduced considerably, thus
lessening the bulk of the frame when closed, and rendering the umbrella lighter in
appearance. A band or cap d, Figures 7 and 8, is applied to tho runner notch to
enclose the joint wire and prevent the contact of the covering fabric therewith in
the intervals between the stretchers. Such caps have been used before, but a dis-
tinguishing feature in this case is that the slits or mortices in the runner notch and
cap are cut at the same time, whereby an absolutely exact correspondence between
the two is ensured, and the operation is performed in half the time. The ordinary
notch and cap cannot be cut together, as the one is cut in the radial and the other
in the longitudinal direction, and when cut separately in this way it is very
difficult to make the slits in the one coincide exactly with those of the other. Tho
runner is completed by the application of a ring e, Figures 9 and 10, forming a nut
to screw upon a threaded part a' of the runner and hold the cap d in place. Tho
runner notch c has a circumferential groove (see Figure 5) for the tying or joint
wire to lie in, and a vertical groove c³ to receive the twisted end of the said wire.
This construction of notch is also applicable to the top notch, shown in elevation
and section in Figures 11 and 12, to which the ribs are jointed.
The improved runner of this Invention may be provided with a spring or other
tip cap, or be provided with devices other than the ordinary spring in the handle
for holding the umbrella closed, and is, in short, suited to all kinds of umbrella and
parasol furniture,

page_text: Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The improved construction of runner with rims at top and bottom, that at
top forming the notch, its slits or mortices being end wise to the runner, so that the
notch forms a prolongation of the runner tube, substantially as shown and described
for the purpose specified.
2nd. The improved construction of top notch having its slits or mortices directed
in like manner, as shown and described.
3rd. The combination with "notches" constructed as described of a covering cap
or band held in place by a screw ring, as shown and described.
4th. The construction and arrangement of parts enabling the slits or mortises to
be formed at one operation in the notch and in the covering cap or band, thereby
ensuring their exact correspondence, as herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.