IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND MANUFACTURE OF RUNNERS AND TOP NOTCHES FOR UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS, AND FERRULES FOR UMBRELLAS, PARASOLS, AND WALKING STICKS."
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Warwick, of Aston, near Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Umbrella and Parasol Manufacturer, for the Invention
of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND MANUFACTURE OF RUNNERS
AND TOP NOTCHES FOR UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS, AND FERRULES FOR
UMBRELLAS, PARASOLS, AND WALKING STICKS."
led the 4th August 1876, and dated the 15th February 1870
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Warwick at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th February 1876.
THOMAS WARWICK, of Aston, near Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Umbrella and Parasol Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND
MANUFACTURE OF RUNNERS AND TOP NOTCHES FOR UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS,
AND FERRULES FOR UMBRELLAS, PARASOLS, AND WALKING STICKS."
According to one of my Improvements I construct and manufacture the notch
ring which when fixed on one end of a short tube constitutes a top notch, and when
fixed on one end of a longer tube constitutes a runner in the following manner :-
I cut out from sheet metal a disc of a circular figure, but notched or indented all
round with a series of nearly semicircular notches. By dies and pressure the edge of
the disc is turned up, the inner ends of the branches formed by the indentations
being doubled inwards upon the central portion, and the outer ends of the said
branches being bent outwards. By now cutting out the central flat portion of the
metal there is left a notched and grooved ring similar to the ring of a top notch or
runner notch as ordinarily made, excepting that the notches do not extend to the
whole of the lower flange of the ring, that is, the flange towards which the
stretchers are pressed when the umbrella or parasol is open. This limitation of
the notches to the upper flange and groove and upper side of the lower flange has
the advantage, that if the joint wire breaks the end of the stretcher still retains its
place. The notch is connected to the tube by which it is made into a runner notch
or top notch by soldering.
My Invention consists further of the following improvements in the manufacture
of the ferrules of umbrellas, parasols, and walking sticks. I first form a ferrule of
sheet brass or other metal in the ordinary way, I cut out the central part of the
bottom or closed end of the ferrule at a press, and I bronze the ferrule either before
or after cutting out the bottom; I form the iron end or tip of the ferrule of malleable

page_text: cast iron, the cast end or tip having a serrated ring of a size proper to enter the
hole in the bottom of the ferrule; the iron end or tip is placed in the bottom die of
a press, the serrated ring being upwards. The ferrule is put upon the end or tip,
the serrated ring passing through the hole in the bottom of the ferrule into its
interior. An expanding punch carried by the bolt of the press is brought down
into the interior of the ferrule, and by its action expands or spreads out the teeth
of the serrated ring, and thereby firmly connects the iron end or tip to the ferrule.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Warwick in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th August
1876.
THOMAS WARWICK, of Aston, near Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Umbrella and Parasol Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND
MANUFACTURE OF RUNNERS AND TOP NOTCHES FOR UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS, AND
FERRULES FOR UMBRELLAS, PARASOLS, AND WALKING STICKS."
My Invention consists, first, of the improvements herein-after described in the
construction and manufacture of runners and top notches for umbrellas and
parasols.
According to this part of my Invention I construct and manufacture the notch
ring which when fixed on one end of a short tube constitutes a top notch, and when
fixed on one end of a longer tube constitutes a runner notch in the following
manner cut out from sheet metal a disc of a circular figure but notched or
indented all round with a series of nearly semicircular notches. By dies and
pressure the edge of the disc is turned up, the inner ends of the branches formed by
the indentations being doubled inwards upon the central portion, and the outer
ends of the said branches being bent outwards. By now cutting out the central
flat or convex portion of the metal there is left a notched and grooved ring similar
to the ring of a top notch or runner notch as ordinarily made, excepting that the
notches do not extend to the whole of the lower flange of the ring, that is, the
flange towards which the stretchers are pressed when the umbrella or parasol is
open. This limitation of the notches to the upper flange and groove and upper side
of the lower flange has the advantage that if the joint wire breaks the ends of the
stretcher still retains its place. The notch is connected to the tube by which it is
made into a runner notch or top notch by soldering.
My Invention consists further of the following improvement in the manufacture
of the ferrules of umbrellas, parasols, and walking sticks. I first form a ferrule of
sheet brass or other metal in the ordinary way. I cut out the central part of the
bottom or closed end of the ferrule at a press, and I bronze the ferrule either before
or after cutting out the bottom. I form the iron end or tip of the ferrule of
inalleable cast-iron, the cast end or tip having a serrated ring of a size proper to
enter the hole in the bottom of the ferrule. The iron end or tip is placed in the
bottom die of a press, the serrated ring being upwards. The ferrule is put upon the
end or tip, the serrated ring passing through the hole in the bottom of the ferrule
into its interior. An expanding punch carried by the bolt of the press is brought
down into the interior of the ferrule and by its action expands or spreads out the
teeth of the serrated ring, and thereby firmly connects the iron end or tip to the
ferrule.
I will now describe with reference to the accompanying Drawing the manner in
which my Invention may be performed.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation, Figure 2, in section, and Figure 3, in plan
of upper side a top notch drawn double.size constructed and manufactured according
to my Invention.
Figure 4 represents an elevation and a part in section of a runner having a notch
constructed and made according to my Invention.

page_text: is the upper flange, and b is the lower flange of the notch; c is the groove
between the two flanges in which the joint wire lies, the said groove having a
V shape and being formed by the inclination of the two flanges a and b to one
another. The lower edge of the flange b is curved as represented; d, d, are the
notches or cutaway parts in the flanges a, b, in which the joint ends of the ribs or
stretchers are engaged and work. By an examination of the Drawing it will be seen
that the notches or cutaway parts d for receiving the joint ends of the stretchers
or ribs do not extend to the whole of the lower flange b of the ring or notch,
the said notches & terminating a little above the broadest part of the flange. The
closed bottoms of the notches in the lower flange b serve as abutments or bearings
for the ends of the ribs or stretchers, and hence should the joint wire in the groove
c break the stretchers or ribs still retain their places in the notch instead of
becoming detached from the notch as in ordinary notches, the joint end of the rib
or stretcher taking a bearing upon the end of the slot d of the flange b. In order
to show the similarity between the notches of the top notch and the runner, the
notches are represented in the same positions but it will be understood that the
top notch, Figures 1 and 2, when in use has not the position represented in the said
Figures 1 and 2, but it is inverted so that if the joint wire of the ribs break,
the joint ends of the ribs press upwards against the ends of the slots d of the
flange of the top notch, and if the joint wire of the stretchers break the joint
ends of the stretchers press against the ends of the slots d of the flange b of the
runner notch.
In manufacturing the notch rings to be soldered to the top notch tube e, Figures
1, 2, and 3, or the runner tube f, Figure 4, I proceed as follows:-I cut from
sheet metal a notched disc of the form represented in Figure 5, the notches d, d,
around the said disc having a nearly semicircular figure or the angular figure
shown. I place the disc, Figure 5, in the lower die of a press or machine, and by.
the operation of the punch or upper die of the press or machine I give to the
said disc the form represented in Figure 6, that is to say, I cup the greater part
of the said disc, leaving the outer parts of the branches e, e, formed by the inden-
tations d, d, slightly inclined to the said cupped part. The closed bottom f of the
cup is slightly convex, I take the notched cup, Figure 6, and by means of another
pair of dies worked in a press or machine I give it the form represented in section
in Figure 7, that is to say, the lower parts of the branches e, e, are doubled
inwards upon the centre part of the cup so as to reduce the diameter of the cup,
and the upper parts of the branches e, e, are further inclined. The notched cup,
Figure 7, is next subjected to the action of a third pair of dies by which it is
compressed or flattened in the direction of its depth, and made to take the form
represented in Figure 8. By this flattening or compressing of the cup, Figure 7,
into the form, Figure 8, the lower parts of the branches c, e, are further doubled
or folded inwards, and the outer ends of the branches e, e, are bent outwards and
flattened. A V groove is thus made between the upper and lower halves of the
doubled branches e, e. By now cutting out the central portion of the convex
bottom of the cup, a notched and grooved ring is formed, as illustrated in section
in Figure 9, which is converted into a top notch by soldering the tube e, Figures
1, 2, and 3 thereto, or into a runner by soldering the longer tube f2, Figure 4,
thereto as before described.
The cutting tools and shaping or raising dies and presses or machines which I
use in carrying this part of my Invention into effect are of the kind commonly used
for like purposes, and I therefore do not think it necessary either to describe or
represent the same.
I will now describe my improvement in the manufacture of ferrules for umbrellas,
parasols, and walking sticks.
Figure 10 represents in elevation and section, drawn double the full size, the
sheet brass or other sheet metal ferrule made by a drawing-through process, the
central part of its bottom or closed end having been cut out at a press leaving an
inner flange h at its bottom; Figure 11 represents in elevation and plan of upper

page_text: +
In
side the iron end or tip of the ferrule detached; Figure 12 represents the ferrule
and tip ready to be connected together, and Figure 13 represents in section and
elevation the finished ferrule. The end or tip i is made by preference of malleable
cast iron. The said tip has a serrated ring or rim on its upper face.
connecting the iron end or tip to the bottom h of the ferrule l, I place the said tip i
in the bottom die of a press, the serrated ring or rim being upwards, and I next
place the ferrule Z upon the tip, the bottom of the said ferrule resting on the
shoulder of the tip at the base of the serrated ring or rim, and the serrated ring or
rim projecting into the interior of the ferrule as represented in Figure 12.
expanding punch carried by the bolt of the press being brought down into the
interior of the ferrule l, the said punch expands or spreads out the teeth of the
serrated ring or rim over or upon the flange h at the bottom of the ferrule, and
thereby firmly connects the said iron end or tip to the ferrule, as illustrated in
Figure 13. This method of connecting the iron tip to the ferrule permits the
ferrule to be bronzed or finished before the iron tip is secured to it.
An
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to
the precise details herein described and illustrated, as the same may be varied
without departing from the nature of my Invention but I claim as my Invention,―
First. The improvements in the construction and manufacture of runners and top
notches for umbrellas and parasols herein before described and illustrated in Figures
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the accompanying Drawing, that is to say, con-
structing the notch ring of the said runners and top notches with a V groove for
the joint wire to lie in, the said V groove being formed by inclining the upper and
lower flanges of the ring in the manner described and illustrated, and limiting the
notches in the said notch ring to the flange a and part only of the flange b for the
purpose and substantially as described and illustrated, also the combination of
processes herein-before described and illustrated for manufacturing the said notch
ring from sheet metal.
Secondly. The improvement in the manufacture of the ferrules of umbrellas,
parasols, and walking sticks herein-before described and illustrated in Figures
10, 11, 12, and 13 of the accompanying Drawing, that is to say, making the iron
end or tip of the ferrule by preference of malleable cast-iron, and providing the said
iron end or tip with a serrated ring or rim for connecting it to the ferrule, the said
serrated ring or rim being expanded or spread over or upon a flange at the bottom
of the ferrule, substantially as described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Warwick, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
night hundred and seventy-six
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
THOMAS WARWICK. (L.S.)