IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLA'S AND PARASOLS, AND IN APPLIANCES TO BE USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Bottomley, of Laister Dyke, in the County
of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLA'S AND
PARASOLS, AND IN APPLIANCES TO BE USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH."
51
Sealed the 28th October 1868, and dated the 28th April-1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Bottomley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th April 1868.
I, JOHN BOTTOMLEY, of Laister Dyke, in the County of York, do
5 hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
UMBRELLAS AND PARASOLS, AND IN APPLIANCES TO BE USED IN CONNECTION
THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
My Invention has reference in the first place to an improved mode
of connecting the stretcher wires of umbrellas and parasols to the loose
rünners and to what are termed the "middle bits" of the ribs, forming
a-simple-flanch on the upper end of the loose runner. I perforate: it with
a given number of holes (dependent upon the number of stretcher wires,

page_text: used), and I bend the ends of the stretcher wires into a hook form, so that
they may be passed through the holes in the runner flanch, and then
be closed up (being covered by a flanch if needful), thus forming a simple
connection, which dispenses with the tie wire now used. In like manner
I curve the other ends of the stretcher wires and pass them respectively
through holes formed in the "middle bits" of the ribs of the umbrella
or parasol frames. The inner ends of the ribs I curve in like manner,
but in this case I hook such ribs on to a ring, which forms part of a
ferrule secured to the lower end of the stick of the umbrella or parasol.
I retain the hook of each rib in its position by means of a second and
flanched ferrule placed upon the stick in contiguity to and above the
previous one, so that the ends of the ribs are between the ring and the
flanch, and projections upon the under surface of the flanch are so
arranged that the end of each rib is kept equidistant from those on
either side of it; the usual leather or flexible packing is then placed
between the flanch and the covering. In some cases I prefer to use
tapering ribs so rolled that the inner ends shall be the strongest, and
so arranged that the thickness of each inner end shall fill up the space
between itself and the ribs adjoining, and shall gradually taper towards
the outer end in order to give the greatest strength to the rib where
most needed. The inner end is also rolled flat in order to facilitate its
being readily formed into a hook for the purpose named. I place a
wire inside.the runner and parallel with it and cause it to run within
a race or groove (cut in the stick for its reception, and lined with metal)
in order to prevent the runner twisting and straining the stretchers.
For the covering of the umbrella I prefer to use a fabric known as
"corded" in distinction to the plain fabrics in general use. In some cases
I prefer to hem in the border of the covering, or to weave.in the same a
strengthening band or tube of india-rubber, either separately or together.
The appliances referred to in my title consist of an arrangement
whereby I am enabled to strengthen the umbrella or parasol in case of
high winds to prevent it from being turned inside out. For this purpose
upon the stick or upon the loose runner I place an india-rubber ring, and
to it I connect by any convenient means as many cords (by preference
not elastic) as the article. contains ribs; the other ends of these cords.
are looped and so arranged that they may be slipped on to the outer
ends of the ribs with a slight tension, so that if the wind gets underneath
the umbrella their strength will prevent the ribs from being bent...

page_text: outwards. When not required they may easily be removed along with
the india-rubber or elastic ring from the umbrella or parasol; or I
sometimes substitute hooks on the runner and dispense with the elastic
ring, and I place a double hook near the outer ends of and inside the
ribs; I then connect the cords before named to the runner hooks and
to the double hooks respectively. On closing the umbrella or parasol
the alternative hooks are caught in a slight flanch formed on the outer
end of the runner, and thus retain the umbrella closed, dispensing with
the operation of wrapping up or the use of a ring around the ends of
the ribs.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Bottomley in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 28th October 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
BOTTOMLEY, of Laister Dyke, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of April," in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Bottomley, Her special licence that I,
the said John Bottomley, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said John Bottomley, 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 PARASOLS,
AND IN APPLIANCES TO BE USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said John Bottomley, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW, YE, that I, the said John Bottomley, do hereby declare,
the nature of the 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, that is to say:
My Invention has reference in the first place to an improved mode of
connecting the stretcher wires of umbrellas and parasols to the loose
runners and to what are termed tlie "middle bits" of the ribs, forming:
a simple flanch on the upper end of the loose runner. I perforate it
with a given number of holes (dependent upon the number of stretcher
wires used), and I bend the ends of the stretcher wires into a hook form
so that they may be passed through the holes in the runner flanch, and
then be closed up (being covered by a flanch if needful), thus forming
a simple connection which dispenses with the tie wire now used. In
like manner I curve the other ends of the stretcher. wires and pass them
respectively through holes formed in the "middle bits" of the ribs of
the umbrella or parasol frames. The inner ends of the ribs I curve in
like manner, but in this case I hook such ribs-into a ring which forms
part of a ferrule secured to the lower end of the stick of the umbrella
or parasol. I retain the hook of each rib in its position by means of a
second and flanched ferrule placed upon the stick in contiguity to and
above the previous one, so that the ends of the ribs are between the ring
and the flanch, and projections upon the under surface of the flanch
are so arranged that the end of each rib is kept equidistant from
those on either side of it. The usual leather or flexible packing is
then placed between the flanch and the covering.
In some cases I prefer to use tapering ribs so rolled that the inner
ends shall be the strongest, and so arranged that the thickness of each
inner end shall fill up the space between itself and the ribs adjoining,
and shall gradually taper, towards the outer, end in order to give the,
greatest strength to the rib. where most needed. The inner end is also, a
rolled flat in order to facilitate its, being readily formed into a hook for
the purpose named. I place sometimes a wire inside the runner and
parallel with it, and cause it to run within a race or groove (cut in the
stick for its reception, and lined with metal) in order to prevent the
unner twisting, and straining the stretchers.
For the covering of the umbrella I use a fabric known as "corded".
in distinction to the plain fabrics in general use. In some cases, I prefer
to hem in the border of the covering, or to, weave in the same a

page_text: strengthening band or tube of india-rubber, either separately or..
together.
The appliances referred to in my title consist, of an arrangement
whereby I am enabled to strengthen the umbrella or parasol in case of
high winds to prevent it from being turned inside out.. For this
purpose upon the stick or upon the loose runner I place an, india-
rubber ring, and to it I connect by any convenient means as many
cords (by préfèrence not elastic) as the article contains ribs. The other
ends of these cords are looped, and so arranged that they may be
slipped on to the outer ends of the ribs with a slight tension, so that
if the wind gets underneath the umbrella their strength will prevent
the ribs from being. bent. outwards.. When not. required. they may
easily be removed along with the india-rubber or elastic ring from the
umbrella or parasol. Or, I sometimes substitute hooks, on the runner,
and dispense. with the elastic ring, and place a double hook near the
outer ends of and inside the ribs; I then connect the cords, before
named, to the runner poks and to the double hooks respectively. On
closing the umbrella or parasol the alternative hooks are caught in a
slight flanch formed on the outer end of the runner, and thus retain the
umbrella closed, dispensing with the operation of wrapping up or the
use of a ring around the ends of the ribs.
My Invention has reference in the first place to an improved mode of
making the ends of the ribs and attaching the same to the notch, the
rib end being made flattened with a projection under the rib when
attached to the notch, the ring having passed into the round portion,
then the small flat piece (of railway coupling-hook formation) forms as
a spring, which necessarily acts in opening the umbrella, and does away
entirely with the locking of the ribs when the umbrella is shut; but
I also claim the stretchers formed in the same way and attached in like
manner, whether to the runner or middle bits, and also claim whether
to attach either one middle bit on the ribs or two for the better working
of the stretchers and ribs.
Secondly. My arrangement described for umbrellas or parasols in use
in high winds.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that
I do claim the various parts separately, but conjointly, also described

page_text: for the purposes named in my title, or any mechanical equivalent
thereof.
In witness whereof, I; the said John Bottomley, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of October, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
eight.
5
Witness,
P. H. SHARP,.
Leeds.
JOHN BOTTOMLEY. (L.S.)