IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS, PARASOLS, AND SUNSHADES
Year: 1870

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Hermann Bollack at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th
October 1870. A communication from abroad by Monsieur
Benedictus, of the Avenue de la Grande Armée, Paris, France.
I, HERMANN BOLLACK, of the Firm of Bollack, Brothers, of Paris,
France, and of Church Road, Islington, in the County of Middlesex,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
“IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS, PARASOLS, AND SUNSHADES," "communicated to
me from abroad by Monsieur Benedictus, of the Avenue de la Grande
Armée, Paris, France, to be as follows:-
The object of the Invention is to enable persons to use umbrellas,.
parasols, and sunshades, without the inconvenience of having to hold
them in their hand, so that they may enjoy all the advantages of such.
articles while both their hands are at liberty.
The Invention consists in constructing an umbrella, parasol, or sun-
shade in such manner that it may be, when open, connected with.
and carried by the hat or other head gear, or other convenient part of
the apparel or person of the user leaving his hands. and arms free. For
this purpose the umbrella is formed without an internal stick or handle.

page_text: or without the main portion of such stick or handle, or the internal
stick or the main portion thereof may be so contrived as to be easily
removed and replaced, or the stick may be formed in two parts, a longer
portion being readily connected with and disconnected from a shorter
portion, such shorter portion by preference forming a prolongation of
what is usually the ferrule end and terminating at the outer end in a
handle. This portion or a suitable appliance carries arrangements for
opening and closing the umbrella. It may be opened and closed from
the opposite side of the covering to what is usual. Cords or other
attachments are fastened to the umbrella, by means of which it can be
attached to the hat or apparel of the user.
When the main portion of the stick is replaced or reattached the
umbrella may be used in the ordinary manner.
The same arrangement may be applied to parasols and sunshades.
I now proceed to describe how the Invention may be carried into
practical effect:-I mount an ordinary umbrella frame on a very short
stick or wood rod. Such frame consists of the ribs and stretchers used
for carrying and for actuating or opening and closing the covering or
textile fabric which forms the main or sheltering portion of the umbrella,
but this frame instead of being so disposed that the converging portions
of the ribs are towards the outer end of the stick converge towards the
handle end of the stick, so that in effect the umbrella opens reversely to
the usual fashion. The spring and runner for opening the umbrella is
beyond and outside the converging point instead of within the covering.
Strings are attached to the covering material or to the frame thereof so
that the umbrella may be attached to a hat or around the neck of the
wearer, and as the stick does not extend to any appreciable degree
beyond the converging point of the ribs it will not interfere with the
placing of the umbrella on the wearer's head. The umbrella thus
arranged may be readily opened and closed.
A. long stick or handle may be screwed or fitted to the above named
short stick when it is desired to carry the article as an ordinary
umbrella.