** IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Harold Littledale Power, of No. 40, Albemarle
Street, Piccadilly, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"1.
** IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS."
Sealed the 2nd May 1873, and dated the 14th January 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Harold Littledale
Power at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 14th January 1873.
I, HAROLD LITTLEDALE POWER, of No. 40, Albemarle Street,
Piccadilly, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS," to be as
follows:-
My Invention consists in the application to umbrellas of a mechanism
or locking contrivance whereby the owner of an umbrella is enabled to
lock the same so as to prevent its being opened by anyone but himself.
Such mechanism consists mainly of a bolt or catch inserted in the
upper end of the umbrella stick, and so constructed that when turned in
one direction by a key it passes beneath or locks the spring that holds

page_text: the runner to which the stretchers are attached, and thus prevents the
depression of the spring, and consequently also the opening of the
umbrella. When turned in the contrary direction the bolt or catch
liberates the spring, and the umbrella can be opened.
The arrangement of such locking mechanism which I prefer to employ
is as follows:-I construct the handle of the umbrella of a separate
piece fitting into a metal socket on the stick, and secured thereto by a
bayonet joint. In the end of the handle fitting into the socket is formed
a recess of triangular or other shape which fits upon the end of the
locking bolt, and constitutes the before-mentioned key, so that by
turning the handle the bolt is brought into the locking position, and the
handle is then detached from the umbrella and retained by the owner.
Or the handle may be fixed as usual, and the locking bolt be made to
project through the same so as to be operated by a separate key.
Instead of causing the locking bolt or catch to act upon the spring of
the umbrella as described, it may be made to lock a sliding cap, such as
is frequently applied to umbrellas for fitting over the ends of the ribs
when the umbrella is closed. For this purpose the cap is provided with
a stud projecting inwards through a slot in the stick, and when the cap
is slid over the ends of the ribs the locking bolt is turned by the key so
as to bring it over the stud, and thus prevent the cap from being slid
up away from the ribs.
By my above described Invention the umbrella is rendered useless, to
anyone but the owner, and is therefore less liable to be purloined or
taken by mistake by another person.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Harold Littledale Power in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 14th July 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HAROLD
LITTLEDALE POWER, of No. 40, Albemarle Street, Piccadilly, in the 3
County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the

page_text: thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Harold Littledale Power,
Her special licence that I, the said Harold Littledale Power, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Harold Littledale Power, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Harold Littledalc
Power, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Harold Littledale Power, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawing forming a part of this Specification:-
My Invention relates to a contrivance whereby the owner of an
umbrella is enabled to lock the same to prevent its being opened by
any other person.
My said Invention consists mainly in the application of a bolt or catch
to the umbrella stick in combination with the spring that holds the
runner to which the stretchers are attached. The said bolt or catch is
operated by a key as herein-after described. When the umbrella is
locked and the key removed this bolt will prevent the depression of the
said spring, and consequently the opening of the umbrella, but it may
be readily adjusted by the person having the key to liberate the said
spring, and permit the umbrella to be opened.
In the accompanying Drawing I have illustrated a convenient manner
of carrying my said Invention into practice.
Figure 1 shews an umbrella stick and handle provided with my
improved locking contrivance.

page_text: By my Invention an umbrella is rendered useless to any person but
the owner or other person possessing the key, and is therefore less liable
to be purloined or taken by mistake by others.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. An umbrella provided with means whereby it may be locked
to prevent its being opened except by the person possessing the key.
Second. The locking bolt e arranged to operate in combination with
the spring which holds the runner of an umbrella, as herein set forth and
for the purpose specified.
Third. The handle a made separate from the stick b, but connected
therewith by the socket or ferrule c, and provided with a key for manipu-
lating the bolt e, as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Harold Littledale Power, have
hereunto set my hand and scal, this Twelfth day of July, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three
HAROLD L. POWER. (L.S.)
Witness,
W. ROBT. LAKE.