IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLA FURNITURE
Year: 1884

page_text: I, WILLIAM WARD of Bernard Lane, Sheffield in the County of York Umbrella
Furniture Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLA FURNITURE" to be as follows:-
My Invention of improvements in umbrella furniture, relates more particularly
to the construction and method of attaching the "git" or "middle bit" to the rib
of the umbrella, such ribs being those made of paragon shaped wire, and having
the longitudinal opening in the top side, next to the silk (or other covering) of the
umbrella. In ribs of this construction, that is, having the narrow longitudinal
opening at the top, instead of as usual, underneath; the object is to enclose the
seams of the cover in the groove, so as to reduce the wear, and improve the
appearance of the cover. The seam of the cover being piped or corded, is inserted
in one end of the longitudinal groove and drawn down to the opposite end; it is
therefore essential that the groove and the narrow longitudinal opening should not
be obstructed by the git or middle bit, as it would be if constructed or secured in
the usual manner; therefore to accomplish this object in a satisfactory manner,
I draw through a wortle, or otherwise mould, or shape, a length of metal, preferably
a ductile quality of brass, to a cross section, the top of which resembles the
letter U, from which depends a central flange or rib, resembling the leg of the
letter Y, and the length of metal so shaped, is then cut up into suitable lengths to
form the gits. The tubular rib fits tightly into the hollow of the git, and when in
the desired position a thin piece of flat steel is inserted between the edges of the
longitudinal opening in the rib, and by means of suitable closing tools, usually
operated by a "Hy press," the edges of the git are closed tightly upon and around
the rib, gripping it very firmly, but prevented from compressing the sides of the
rib by the inserted piece of flat steel, which is then withdrawn, leaving the groove
clear and unobstructed from end to end.
A portion of the flange is cut away to allow the stretcher to lay close to the rib.
Dated this 1st day of January 1884

page_text: I, WILLIAM WARD of Bernard Lane, Sheffield in the County of York Umbrella
Furniture Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLA FURNITURE and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say:-
My Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of, and in the method
of attaching "gits" or middle bits to the ribs of umbrellas or sunshades, and
more especially in their application to hollow or tubular ribs which have a
longitudinal slit or opening in the topside of the rib, or that part upon which the
covering material rests, for the purpose of enclosing the seams of the said cover.
In such ribs it is essential that the slit or opening should not be in any way
obstructed by the fastening on of the git.
In carrying out my Invention I shape a length of ductile metal, and preferably
by drawing it through a wortle the cross section of which resembles the letter U
placed on the top of the letter I, the top portion being a hollow trough, and the
bottom portion a parallel depending flange.
The length of metal so formed, is then cut up into suitable lengths for gits.
I am aware that gits have been made from lengths of metal having a trough
shaped top, and tapering downwards, but such material, when cut into lengths
requires another process to bring it to the required shape, that is, from taper to
parallel whereas I dispense with any after process upon its sides, and I obtain a
git that allows the stretcher end to be so made as not to exceed the width of
the git.
And in order that my Invention may be clearly defined, and fully understood,
I have annexed a Sheet of Drawings to which (with the letters and Figures
marked thereon,) I will now refer, premising, that the same letters of reference
indicate the same or similar parts in all the Figures.
Fig. 1 is the side and end view or section of a piece of ductile metal drawn, or
otherwise formed to the desired shape, from which the gits are cut.
Fig. 2. 3-pieces of the metal cut off and shaped to form gits.
Fig. 4. End and side view of git, when fixed on the rib.
Fig. 5. Git, with rib and stretcher.
Fig. 6. Steel plate in groove of rib, during process of closing the git.
A is the trough shaped part of git, B is the parallel flange, C is a hole for the
pin by which the stretcher is secured to the git. D is the rib. E is the longitudinal
opening in the rib. F is the stretcher.
The tubular rib D, fits into the hollow groove A of the git, as seen in Fig. 4, and
when in the desired position a piece of flat edged steel H is inserted into the
longitudinal opening of the rib, between the edges at E, and by means of suitable
closing tools preferably worked in a fly-press, the edges G, G, of the git are closed
or squeezed tightly upon the round sides of the rib, causing the git to clasp the
rib firmly, but not so as to compress the sides and close the longitudinal opening E.
The inserted piece of steel is then withdrawn.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
First. In umbrellas and sunshades constructing the gits or middle bits from
material having a trough shaped upper portion, and a parallel flange underneath,
substantially as described and illustrated.

page_text: Secondly. In umbrellas and sunshades in which the ribs are hollow, with a
longitudinal slit or opening in the top side; the method of attaching the git to the
said ribs by closing the edges round and past the diameter of the rib in such a
manner as not to interfere with or obstruct the longitudinal slit or opening, as
hereinbefore described and illustrated.
Dated the 17th day of September 1884.
ROBT F. DRURY,
Agent for the Applicant.