IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PARASOLS
Year: 1867

page_text: Sealed the 1st May 1868. and dated the 9th November 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Ellis at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th November
1867.
I, HENRY ELLIS. of the Firm of Bishop, Ellis, and Company, of 63, Ludgate,
Hill, in the County of Middlesex, Umbrella and Parasol Manufacturers, do-
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF PARASOLS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists principally in manufacturing parasols with straight
ribs, and in cutting the gores of the silk or material with which such parasols,
are covered with straight (instead of curved) sides so that when the parasol
is opened it presents the form of a flat disc or a very slightly conical shape
instead of the ordinary mushroom or pagoda forms..

page_text: The advantages of this Invention, besides the novelty and elegance of its
appearance, are, firstly, that with the same length of rib and gore a
much larger circle than with the bent ribs is obtained, and consequently
a much larger shadow; and, secondly, the inside of the parasol being
perfectly flat, with no projecting points, is much less likely to injure the
bonnet or head dress than parasols of the ordinary form.
In carrying out this Invention I prefer to employ about sixteen ribs and a
like number of stretchers, and the relative lengths of the ribs and stretchers
and the situation of the joints are so arranged that the parasol when open shall
be nearly flat inside as well as outside. The gores of silk are cut with straight
sides and curved ends, and the gores are of such a length that when the cover
is put on the points of the ribs are hidden and the contour of the whole is an
unbroken circle. If preferred the ends of the gores may be cut straight so
that the form is a polygon of sixteen sides. To prevent the silk from hanging
loosely or "bagging" between the ribs at the circumference I put a strip of
buckram or other stiffening material all round the edge between the cover and
the lining. The stick may be jointed near the top so that the parasol can be
turned at any other angle than a right angle to the stick or in a plane parallel
thereto if desired. In the latter position it would also serve as a fire-screen or
even for a fan. The parasol may also be ornamented with fringe or lace, or a
curtain of the same silk round the circumference, or in any other suitable
manner according to taste.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Henry Ellis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th May 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
ELLIS, of the Firm of Bishop. Ellis, and Company, of 63, Ludgate Hill,
in the County of Middlesex, Umbrella and Parasol Manufacturers, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me the said Henry Ellis, Her special licence that I, the said Henry Ellis,

page_text: my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I. the said
, 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. THE MANU-
FACTURE OF PARASOLS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Henry Ellis, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
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 Henry Ellis, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing and on reference to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings,
that is to say:
This Invention consists principally in manufacturing parasols with straight
ribs, and in cutting the gores of the silk or material with which such parasols
are covered with straight (instead of curved) sides so that when the parasol is
opened it presents the form of a flat disc or a very slightly conical shape
instead of the ordinary mushroom or pagoda forms.
The advantages of this Invention. besides the novelty and elegance of its
appearance, are. 1stly. that with the same length of rib and gore a much
larger circle than with the bent ribs is obtained, and consequently a much
larger shadow; and, 2ndly, the inside of the parasol being perfectly flat,
with no projecting points, is much less likely to injure the bonnet or head
dress than parasols of the ordinary form.
In carrying out this Invention I prefer to employ about sixteen ribs and a
like number of stretchers, and the relative lengths of the ribs and stretchers
and the situation of the joints are so arranged that the parasol when open
shall be nearly flat inside as well as outside. The gores of silk are cut with
straight sides and curved ends, and the gores are of such a length that when.
the cover is put on the points of the ribs are hidden, and the contour of the
whole is an unbroken circle. If preferred the ends of the gores may be cut
straight, so that the form is a polygon of sixteen sides. To prevent the silk
from hanging loosely or "bagging" between the ribs at the circumference

page_text: I put a strip of buckram or other stiffening material all round the edge
between, the cover and the lining. The stick may be jointed near the top so
that the parasol can be turned at any other angle than a right angle to the
stick or in a plane parallel thereto if required. In the latter position it would
also serve as a fire-screen or even for a fan. The parasol may also be
ornamented with fringe or lace, or a curtain of the same silk round the
circumference, or in any other suitable manner according to taste.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention for "Improvements
in the Manufacture of Parasols." I will now proceed to describe more in detail
the manner in which the same is to or may be performed, or carried into
practical effect: and in order that the same may be distinctly understood
I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have
marked the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those
in the following explanation thereof, that is to say:-
In the annexed Drawing. Figure 1 represents a side view of the frame of
my improved parasol when made in the flat or discoidal form; Figure 2 is a
plan view of the same: and Figure 3 is an elevation of the parasol complete,
the several views representing the parasol in its open or expanded state. The
dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2 represent the outline of the ordinary form,
and show the difference in the circumference of the shade with the same
length of rib and gore. It will be seen on reference to Figure 2 that the
contour of the parasol is a complete circle, and that there are no projecting
points whatever, the whole of the ribs being concealed.
This form
Figures 4 and 5 represent the slightly conoidal form of parasol.
is obtained by cutting the gores (still with straight sides) slightly narrower at
the base than for the discoidal form, and placing the runner stop rather lower
on the stick.
Figures 6 and 7 show two views of the improved parasol with the jointed
stick; in this instance the parasol may be either used in the ordinary position
(as at Figure 3), or it may be turned in a diagonal position (as at Figure 7),
or even flat or parallel with the stick, as shown by the dotted lines.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention for "Im-
provements in the Manufacture of Parasols," together with the manner in
which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical effect,
I would remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention the improvements
in the manufacture of parasols, substantially as herein-before described and
exhibited in the Drawings annexed; and especially I claim forming the
parasols of a discoidal or slightly conoidal form, and stiffening the circumference

page_text: thereof with buckram or otherwise, so as to prevent the material from hanging
loosely between the ends of the ribs.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Ellis, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord One thou-
sand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Witness,
GEORGE DAVIES,
Patent Agent,
1, Serle St., Lincoln's Inn.
HENRY ELLIS. (L.S.)