IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS, PARASOLS, AND SUNSHADES
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas James Smith at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th April 1879. (A communication from
abroad by Messieurs Julien Gruyer, fils, and Company, Umbrella Manufacturers,
of Paris, France.)
THOMAS JAMES SMITH, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of
166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
UMBRELLAS, PARASOLS, AND SUNSHADES.” (A communication from abroad by
Messieurs Julien Gruyer, fils, and Company, Umbrella Manufacturers, of Paris,
France.)
This Invention relates to the application of advertisements to umbrellas, parasols,
and similar articles, and to the means employed for practically applying the
same.
According to this Invention the umbrellas, parasols, or other similar articles are
made in the ordinary manner, but the covering is covered inside and out with
advertisements applied in the manner hereinafter described by printing or by
painting them on the fabric before the covering is sewn on to the frame of the
umbrella.
In the case of parasols and sunshades the advertisements are applied preferably
to the lining (generally green in colour) which is placed on the inside or underside
of the covering.
When umbrellas and parasols have no lining the advertisements are printed or
painted directly on the covering material either on the inside or on the outside, but
the colour applied does not take readily on silk, of which the covering is generally
made, and the printed impressions would rapidly deteriorate in consequence of the
repeated folding and unfolding of the covering material, or under the action of rain.
These inconveniences are completely avoided by the means employed to carry out
this Invention, and which will now be described.
The advertisements are printed or painted, not on the cover itself of the umbrella,
but on a special fabric or material serving as a lining to the cover. This special
material is formed preferably of cotton fabric, this textile material lending itself to
the printing or painting more readily than silk. This cotton fabric is joined to the
silk before the application of the advertisements in the following particular
manner :-
The two fabrics, the silk cover of the umbrella and the special cotton lining, are
joined and so to speak soldered together by a glutinous composition having a basis

page_text: of caoutchouc; they form together a kind of unique material. The coloured
advertisements are impressed on the cotton surface by an ordinary lithographic
press.
They are coloured red for example, or other light colour which would contrast
well with the colour of the covering material, which is generally of a dark colour,
such as black or brown.
'
In applying this Invention to parasols and sunshades the lining may be however
of a light coloured material, pale green for example, on which the advertisements
would appear of a dark colour.
The colours employed for these impressions are those used in chromo-lithography.
The lining instead of being of cotton may be of silk and cotton, of linen, of hemp,
or other material which is readily dyed. The cover is made in the usual manner of
silk, alpaca, cotton, or other material used for this purpose.
This Invention is applicable to umbrellas of all sizes and dimensions.
The main feature therefore of this Invention is the application of advertisements
to umbrellas, parasols, and sunshades of any kind and of any shape by printing or
painting them on a lining, preferably of cotton, glued to the covering material
of the umbrella, and constituting an excellent surface for the colour applied by
printing: