IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Pickering at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th August 1880.
WILLIAM PICKERING, of Arundel Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in ordinary umbrellas and
parasols whereby the strain on the framing resulting from accidental contact with
passers by or other objects causing the frame to be twisted or wrenched round the
stick and injured is obviated. Also to improvements in umbrellas and parasols pro-
vided with loose covers arranged so as to be readily removed and replaced as required,
whereby I more effectually secure the loose cover in its place, and avoid all risk of
the same being blown from off the ferrule end of the stick in the event of the wind
gaining access to the interior of the umbrella in its open condition and tending to
turn the same inside out. Both these improvements may be employed separately
or in combination. According to the first part of my Invention, I employ a rotary
notch, and mount the notch as well as the runner loose upon the stick, so that
they shall both be free to yield or revolve together thereon should the umbrella
or parasol encounter any obstruction on either tending to turn or twist the
frame, which is thus left perfectly free to revolve round the stick. In order to
form a better and more steady bearing for the revolving notch, I sometimes
extend the central tube or sleeve thereof a short distance above as well as below
the notch, the runner being held in its open or closed position by any of the well
known or other suitable arrangements of catches, or the same result may be obtained
by so constructing the stick as that the portion to which the notch is secured shall
be free to revolve in the portion which is held in the hand. According to the
second part of my Invention, in lieu of leaving the apex of the cover free at all
times to be slipped from off the end of the stick, which is objectionable in a high
wind, I firmly secure or hold down the apex of the cover in its place upon the
notch after the cover has been applied by the aid of a removeable collar, which after
being slipped over the end of the stick onto the apex of the cover is firmly secured
in position either by screwing it bodily onto a screwed collar or ferrule fixed for
that purpose to the stick, or to the notch and passing freely through and beyond
the apex of the cover, or by providing the said collar with a "bayonet joint" slot
engaging with a pin on the stick, the said slot being by preference slightly inclined
...611

page_text: so as to enable the collar to be firmly tightened down onto the apex of the cover
and as readily released when required by a partial rotation of the same, a notch
on the end of the slot engaging with the pin effectually holding it in position until
required to be removed; or a loose ring or collar may slipped over the end of the
stick down onto the apex of the cover, and be there held by a spring catch
which engages with, or projects over the end of the said collar and is readily
released by pressing it inwards.