New or Improved Runner and Tip Cap for Umbrellas, Parasols, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 29th Feb., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Runner and Tip Cap for Umbrellas, Parasols, and
the like.
I, JOHN FORBES, of 11 Harrington Square, London N.W., Clerk, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention has for its object a runner and tip cap for umbrellas, parasols, and
the like of such construction that by the aid thereof the ribs of the latter may be
easily secured in a compact form close to the stick when closed.
For the purposes of my invention I arrange the ribs and stretchers in the ordinary
manner, but increase the length of the latter to such an extent that the runner to
which they are attached is carried beyond the ends of the ribs when the umbrella or
the like is closed.
On the runner proper is mounted the collar or tip cap having projecting from
the interior thereof a pin adapted to engage with helical slot cut or otherwise
formed on the surface of the runner, the whole being so arranged that when
revolved in the proper direction the lower edge of this collar or tip cap may be
brought to embrace the ends of the ribs when the umbrella or the like is closed.
Such an arrangement is shown in part sectional elevation in the accompanying
drawing, and by the aid of this drawing I will now more fully describe my invention
and the manner in which the same may be carried into practical effect.
As previously stated the ribs a and stretchers b are arranged as heretofore, but
the length of the latter increased to such an extent that the runner c will occupy &
position beyond the ends of the ribs when the umbrella or the like is closed.
Mounted on the runner c is a collar or tip cap d having projecting from the
interior thereof a pin or projection e arranged to engage with a right or left handed
helical groove or female screw thread cut or otherwise formed in the surface of
the runner, so that by suitably revolving said collar or tip cap the lower ends
thereof may be brought to embrace the ends of the ribs a or to release these after
being adjusted to embrace them.
To limit the movement of the collar or tip cap d the screw thread or groove in
the runner c may he so formed that it does not extend to either end of the runner,
so that each end thereof forms a stop, or it may be arranged to extend to one or
both ends of the runner and one or more pins secured in suitable openings in the
runner, so that they cross the groove or thread to so limit the travel of the pin or
projection e and consequently that of the collar or tip cap d.
To prevent the runner revolving when the collar or tip cap is being adjusted the
pin f may be made of such length that when the umbrella is closed its upper end
extends into a recess in the handle or an independent pin g fixed either to the
runner or the handle, and engaging with a recess in the handle or runner as the
case may be, may be employed for this purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The means of securing the ribs of umbrellas parasols and the like in a closed
position consisting of a collar or tin cand boring a nucination

page_text: surface engaging with a helical slot or female screw thread in the runner c the
whole arranged constructed and operating substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 10th dow of Tonuary 1896
CASTLE SMITH,
"Invention" Office, Mitre Court, Fleet Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.