IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES."
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Weeks, of Baker Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
UMBRELLAS AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Weeks at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 13th
January 1865.
I, JOHN WEEKS, of Baker Street, in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
UMBRELLAS AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in connecting the upper notch, that is to say, that
part of an umbrella or other like article to which the upper ends of the ribs
are attached to a metal tube or rod of less diameter than that of the stick of
the umbrella, and in fitting the lower end of such tube or rod to the top of the
stick, which must be carried up beyond the point to which the runner carrying
the stretchers may rise, in order that such runner may travel on the stick.
The stick should be tapered off to make a neat joint between the tube or rod
and the stick, and I prefer to use a taper ferrule to cover the joint; or the
ferrule may be formed in a piece with the tube or rod. By the employment
of the tube or rod I am enabled to reduce the diameter of the notch, and the
upper ends of the ribs resting when the umbrella is closed upon the tube or
rod the thickness of the umbrella is even less than at any other part, whereas

page_text: by the ordinary construction there is a considerable thickness at the upper part,
which renders the umbrella unsightly. Now, without detracting from the
strength I am enabled to add greatly to the neatness of the umbrella.
Although I prefer the tube or rod before described, yet in some cases I
accomplish the same end by tapering the upper part of the stick from a point
above that to which the stretcher runner can ascend to that point where the
upper notch is fixed. I am then enabled to use an upper notch of about the
same diameter as that of the body of the stick.
My Invention further consists in providing a recess in the stick of umbrellas
and other like articles for the reception of the stretcher joints. I make a
break in the stick at the part where the stretcher joints will lie when the
umbrella is closed, and insert a tube or rod of less diameter than that of the
stick. The stick may be of the same material or of different materials on
each side of the joint. Or I reduce the diameter of the stick, and form a
recess for the stretcher joints to lie in.
In order further to reduce the diameter of umbrellas and other like articles
my Invention consists in the employment of stretchers of different lengths fitted
to a runner with two or more notches. In consequence of the difference in the
length of the stretchers the joints of the stretchers to the ribs will, when the
umbrella is closed, come at different parts of the stick, and I provide for these
joints by grooves in the stick, which I prefer to be of metal. I also groove
the stick for the stretchers and ribs to rest in. I either employ a grooved
runner to travel on the stick, or I employ a metal tubular stick, place the
runner inside, and form slots to allow of the connection of the stretchers to
the runner, and of their play up and down the stick. I substitute for the
ordinary spring catches a spring stud or button, which enters a hole in the
runner, and retains it until the runner is released by depressing the button.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Weeks in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
July 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WEEKS, of Baker Street, in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her

page_text: reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Weeks, Her special licence that I, the said John Weeks, my execu-
tors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Weeks,
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 UMBRELLAS
AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said John Weeks, 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 tho
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Weeks, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to
say:-
My Invention consists in connecting the upper notch, that is to say, that
part of an umbrella or other like articlo to which the upper ends of the ribs
are attached to a metal tube or rod of less diameter than that of the stick of
the umbrella, and in fitting the lower end of such tube or rod to the top of
the stick, which must be carried up beyond the point to which the runner
carrying the stretchers may rise, in order that such runner may travel on the
stick. The stick should be tapered off to make a neat joint between the tube
or rod and the stick, and I prefer to use a taper ferrule to cover the joint; or
the ferrule may be formed in a piece with the tube or rod. By the employ-
ment of the tube or rod I am enabled to reduce the diameter of the notch,
and the upper ends of the ribs resting, when the umbrella is closed, upon the
tube or rod, the thickness of the umbrella is even less than at any other part,
whereas by the ordinary construction there is a considerable thickness at the
upper part, which renders the umbrella unsightly. Now, without detracting
from the strength I am enabled to add greatly to the neatness of the
umbrella.
Although I prefer the tube or rod before described, yet in some cases I
accomplish the same end by tapering the upper part of the stick from a point
above that to which the stretcher runner can ascend to that point where the

page_text: upper notch is fixed. I am then enabled to use an upper notch of about the
same diameter as that of the body of the stick.
My Invention further consists in providing a recess in the stick of umbrellas
and other like articles for the reception of the stretcher joints. I make a break
in the stick at the part where the stretcher joints will lie when the umbrella
is closed, and insert a tube or rod of less diameter than that of the stick. The
stick may be of the same material or of different materials on each side of the
joint; or I reduce the diameter of the stick, and form a recess for the stretcher
joints to lie in.
In order further to reduce the diameter of umbrellas and other like articles,
my Invention consists in the employment of stretchers of different lengths,
fitted to a runner with two or more notches. In consequence of the difference
in the length of the stretchers, the joints of the stretchers to the ribs will,
when the umbrella is closed, come at different parts of the length of the stick,
and I provide for these joints by grooves in the stick, which I prefer to be of
metal, although other materials may be employed. I also groove the stick for
the stretchers and ribs to rest in. I either employ a runner to travel in the
grooves of the stick, or I employ a metal tubular stick, place the runner
inside, and form slots to allow of the connection of the stretchers to the runner,
and of their play up and down the stick.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a section of an umbrella with
stretchers of different lengths, fitted to a runner with two notches, as before
described. Figure 2 is a detached view of the runner.
a, a', are the stretchers, and 6 the runner. The stretchers a are of greater
length than the stretchers a³, and are fitted to the lower notch c of the runner,
while the stretchers a¹ are fitted to the upper notch c. d is the stick, which
is grooved, as shewn, to receive the stretchers and ribs when the umbrella is
closed. The grooves in the stick d are seen more clearly in Figure 8, which
is a sectional view, as seen from the inside of the umbrella, with the stick in
section. The notches c, c¹, consist of eyes on prongs of the runner, which run
between the grooves of the stick, as shown; which eyes receive the ends of
the stretchers. I do not, however, limit myself to this method of connecting
the stretchers to the runner. Figure 4 is a section showing how the prongs of
the runner are held between the grooves of the stick. Figure 5 is a section
of another form of grooved stick, the grooves of which are of circular form, or
nearly so, in section. Figure 6 is a section showing the runner 6 fitted inside
a metal tubular stick d, in which I form slots to allow of the connection of the
stretchers to the runner, and of their play up and down the stick.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what

page_text: manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my "Improve-
ments in Umbrellas and other like Articles,"—
First, connecting the upper notch to a metal tube or rod of less diameter
than that of the stick, and fitting the tube or rod to the stick substantially as
and for the purpose herein-before described.
Second, forming the stick tapered from a point above that to which the
stretcher runner can ascend to the point where the upper notch is fixed,
substantially as and for the purpose herein-before described.
Third, forming the stick with a recess for the reception of the stretcher
joints substantially as herein-before described..
Fourth, the employment of stretchers of different lengths, fitted to a runner
with two or more notches, substantially in manner and for the purpose herein-
before described and represented in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Fifth, forming the stick with grooves for the stretchers and ribs to rest in,
substantially as herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
Sixth, fitting the runner so as to travel in the grooves of a grooved stick or
inside a metal tubular stick formed with slots, substantially in manner and for
the purpose herein-before described and represented in the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Weeks, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirteenth day of July One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-five.