IMPROVE- NENTS IN UMBRELLAS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
NENTS IN UMBRELLAS."-A communication from abroad by Felix Asselin,
of Paris, in the Empire of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st August 1867.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN UMBRELLAS," a communication to me from abroad by
Felix Asselin, of Paris, in the Empire of France, to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the prevention of the inconvenient
dropping of water from the circumference of umbrellas-when-used-in-a-heavy-
fall of rain, whereby portions of the garments, although protected by the
umbrella itself from the direct action of the-rain, are frequently soaked by the

page_text: water which flows from the edge of the umbrella. The essential feature
therefore of this Invention consists in the adaptation to the exterior of
umbrellas, of the ordinary construction, of a gutter extending entirely round the
umbrella at or near its circumference, such gutter opening at one part into a
discharging spout which allows the water accumulating in the gutter to be
discharged at one definite point in the umbrella's circumference in lieu of
continually dropping or running from all parts of the same.
In carrying out this Invention a band or ribbon of, say, one inch to one
inch and a quarter in breadth, and of a like material to the covering of the
umbrella, is closely and firmly stitched along its lower edge to the exterior
surface of the covering; this band or ribbon should be so disposed and shaped
at the junction with the ribs that when the umbrella is open the upper edge of
the ribbon will stand out at an angle from the surface, and so form an open
gutter all round. At each rib a small hinged support is provided composed of
wood, metal, or other rigid material, to which support the ribbon is secured;
these supports when the umbrella is closed lie close against the ribs, being
made to assume that position. either by a spring or by a piece of vulcanized
india-rubber secured to its upper end and to the rib a few inches higher up.
The act of opening the umbrella. causes the, supports above referred to to
assume an angular or nearly upright position, and thereby maintain the
ribbon gutter open, and this accomplished by the aid of cords attached to
the inner stays passing through an eyelet hole below the gutter, and then
passing up to the top of each support. The are described by the inner stays
when the umbrella is being opened tightens or draws' the several cords, and
thereby opens out the supports to which the ribbon gutter is secured; it is
obvious, however, that various simple mechanical contrivances may be employed
for opening and closing the supports of the gutter by the opening and closing
of the umbrella, and therefore the arrangement above described may be taken
as an example only of one mode of effecting this operation. In some cases,
if found desirable, the material composing the gutter may be rendered water-
proof by any suitable waterproofing compound; and in lieu of stitching
separate band or ribbon to the cover of the umbrella the gutter may be
formed from the cover itself by suitably shaping the same so as to admit of
it's edge turning up in the form of a gutter, but the method, above described,
of forming the gutter by a ribbon and hinged supports attached to the
umbrella is preferred, as being both cheaper and more simple!
a

page_text: SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,:
and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said John Henry Johnson:
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th February 1868.
TO ALL, TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN HENRY
JOHNSON,, of No. 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in County of Middlesex, Gentleman,.
send greeting.
..WHEREAS. Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters.
Patent, bearing date the First day of August, in the year of our Lord: One,
thousand, eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself,: Her heirs, and successors, give, and grant unto me,. the said
John Henry Johnson; Her special license that I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors, administrators, and, assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should
at any time agree with,, and no others from time to time, and 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN. UMBRELLAS," a communication to me from abroad by Felix
Asselin,, of Paris, in the Empire of France, upon the condition (amongst.
others) that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my, executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should parti-
cularly, 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 the date of the said Letters Patent.
"
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of.
Drawings, and to, the letters and. figures marked thereon, that is to say:--
:
The said Invention has for its object, the prevention of the inconvenient
dropping of water from the circumference of umbrellas when used in a heavy
fall of rain, whereby portions of the garments, although protected by the umbrella
itself from the direct, action of the rain,, are frequently soaked by the water
which flows from, the edge of the umbrella. The essential feature therefore of
this Invention consists in the adaptation to the exterior of umbrellas, of the
ordinary or other construction, of a gutter extending entirely round.the umbrella
at or near its circumference, such gutter opening at one portion to a dis-

page_text: charging spout which allows the water accumulating in the gutter to be
discharged at one definite point in the umbrella's circumference in lieu of
continually dropping or running from all parts of the same.
In carrying out this Invention a band or ribbon of, say, one inch to one inch
and a quarter in breadth, and of a like material to the covering of the umbrella,
is closely and firmly stitched along its lower hedge to the exterior surface of
the covering; this band or ribbon should be so disposed and shaped at the
junction with the ribs that when the umbrella is opened the upper edge of
the ribbon will stand out at an angle from the surface and so form an open
gutter all round. At each rib a small binged is provided composed of wood,
metal, or other rigid material, to which support the ribbon is secured; the
supports when the umbrella is closed lie close against the ribs, being made to
assume that position either by a spring or by a piece of vulcanized india-
rubber secured to its upper end and to the rib a few inches higher up. The
act of opening the umbrella causes the supports above referred to to assume
an angular or nearly upright position, and thereby maintain the ribbon gutter
open, and this is accomplished by the aid of cords attached to the inner stays
passing through an eyelet hole below the gutter, and then passing up to the
top of each support. The are described by the inner stays when the umbrella
is being opened tends to tighten or draw the several cords, and thereby opens
out the supports to which the ribbon gutter is secured; it is obvious, however,
that various simple mechanical contrivances may be employed for opening
and closing the supports of the gutter by the opening and closing of the
umbrella, and therefore the arrangement above described may be taken as an
example only of one mode of effecting this operation. In some cases, if found
desirable, the material composing the gutter may be rendered waterproof by
any suitable waterproofing compound, and in lieu of stitching a separate band
or ribbon to the cover of the unbrella the gutter may be formed from the
cover itself by suitably shaping the same so as to admit of its edge turning up
in the form of a gutter; but the method above described of forming the
gutter by a ribbon and hinged supports attached to the umbrella is preferred
as being both cheaper and more simple.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same
letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the corresponding
Figures.
Figure 1 is an elevation of an umbrella open with the gutter applied;
Figure 2 shews two of the ribs open with the cover removed; Fig. 3-

page_text: shews a single rib closed; Figure 4 shews the small spout for the discharge of
the water which accumulates in the ribbon gutter surrounding the umbrella;
Figure 5 shews a spring support intended to maintain the ribbon rigid ;
Figure 6. shews a modification of this support without a spring; Figure 7 is,
an elevation of a umbrella with a modified arrangement of gutter applied
thereto in its open or expended condition; Figure 8 shews two open ribs of
the same; Figure 9 is a closed rib, and Figure 10 is the triangular support
which is used in this modification.
1. A is the band or ribbon; B, the simple support; B', the triangular
support; C, the stretcher in its open state; D, the stretcher closed; E, a
piece of twist or cord; F, eyelet hole; G, point of attachment of the cord E;
i
H, india-rubber cord; I, a spout; J, wire support; a, c, is, the side of the
support B¹, which is stitched to the umbrella, and 6 the corner of the
support B', which is attached to the top part of the ribbon A.
The parts composing the gutter consist of, 1st, a suitable band or ribbon
stitched along one edge to the cover of the umbrella near its circumference
so as to stand out at an angle from the surface when the umbrella is open
and form a circular gutter, which admits of the discharge of the water at one
point only where a spout is formed, such spout being a portion of the ribbon
itself. 2nd, the various parts, such as simple or spring supports, cords,
eyelets, perforation of the ribs, the whole serving to support or open and close
the gutter ribbon. 3rd, the parts adapted to the ordinary mechanism of
umbrellas for the purpose of maintaining the top part of gutter ribbon open-
when the umbrella is extended without impeding the closing the same, the
ribbon folding flat against the cover of the umbrella.
In lieu of applying a ribbon, as above described, it may be made from the
cover by previously cutting out the same for this purpose and turning it up
on each face and uniting all the sections by stitching; but the additional
material required, and extra workmanship entailed induce me to give the
preference to the former arrangement.
The band or ribbon A, shewn in Figure 1, is sewn at its lower part to the
cover of the umbrella, and should be by- preference of suitable color and
material to match the cover of the umbrella; it should be firmly sewn at its
lower part with fine stitches and in a straight line from one rib to the other,
allowing a little play at each angle to. facilitate the opening out of the ribbon
when the umbrella is opened. The band or ribbon may be of silk, wool,
cotton, linen, hemp, or even of india-rubber or analogous-materials; it should
en of 1
be of a sufficiently close texture to retain water if otherwise. As in the
case of fabrics made from vegetable fibres it should undergo a previous

page_text: preparation with a weak solution of india-rubber or any other known water-
proof compound.
: B, B, (Figure 2) shews the position occupied by the simple supports of the
gutter when the umbrella is open; they may be made of a cotton or woollen
material, or they may be of metal and either simple or provided with springs,
or of wood, whalebone, bone, ivory, or of any other strong material; their
form is usually straight, but may be varied; they are perforated at each end,
and may be placed outside, or, what is better, in the interior of the gutter.
.
By comparing the difference in the position of the stretcher C (Figure 2)
when the umbrella is open, and it is almost horizontal with. that of D
(Figure 3) when the rib is closed, which is nearly perpendicular, it will be
seen that the springing point of the stretcher describes on 'opening the
umbrella a more decided curve as the stretcher moves further from the rib,.
and on this slight, but sufficient mechanical action is based the principal means
of maintaining the top part of the ribbon at an angle from the surface on
opening the umbrella. The divergence, of the. ribs at the time of opening the.
umbrella is also made available for: the same purpose; in this case the cora
which passes through the eyelet formed in :F, instead of being attached at the
springing point of the ribs from the stretcher is sewn to the edge of the cover
at a suitable distance from each rib, which distance should be so calculated.that
the cord may exercise a suitable tension on the gutter when the umbrella is
opened. The function of the cord E will be understood on reference to:
Figure 1, 2, and 3. At one end it is attached to the top part of the
support B, and passes at F through an eyelet hole made in the cover or a
hole made on one side through the rib of the umbrella, and is fixed at G.
(Figure 2) to the fork of the stretcher. The cord or twist thus fixed is drawn
by the curve which the inner end of the fork of the stretchers describes in
passing when opening the umbrella from a vertical to a horizontal position,
and the tension of the cord or twist reacts on the support attached to the
gutter, and effects the opening of the latter.
The india-rubber cords H are attached at one end to the top part of the
supports; and are fixed at the other end to the cover of the umbrella; they.
may be dispensed with when spring supports are used, but are required when.
simple supports are employed; these cords are attached without any tension
and stretch when the umbrella is opened, and on closing it their elasticity
draws, back the support against the rib of the umbrella. The spout. I
(Figure 4) through which the water is discharged is formed out of the pro-
longation of both ends of the band or ribbon; the bottom and two sides of the
special support J. are formed of wire, and the top is composed of a cord or
°

page_text: •
twist which maintains the requisite distance apart and diminishes the rigidity
of the metal when the umbrella is rolled up. This support is attached by
sewing at its lower part to the umbrella cover so as to be able to follow freely
the motion in opening and closing the umbrella; it is attached to the two
upper extremities of the gutter, which thus kept apart admit of the flow of
the water into the gutter; an ordinary straight support is adapted to it in
order to subject it to the alternate motion which the other supports receive in
opening or closing the umbrella.
On the annexed Drawing there are shewn various modifications of the same
system, and which, consist in dispensing with the simple straight supports
with their accessaries indicated by the letters B, E, F, H, and the points of
attachment G, for which I substitute supports of, a triangular form provided
with an eyelet at the two upper corners, as shewn in B'; they may be made
of metal, wood, bone, or any other suitable material, but copper or brass wire
of fine guage has hitherto been prefered for the purpose. The side a, c, of
the supports is sewn to the umbrella cover where the sections are united at
each rib,, and this attachment whilst sufficiently strong should be so made as
not to interfere with the free motion of the triangle around the side a, c. The
support being thus attached on one side so as to be capable of moving freely
is fixed at its corner b to the top part of the ribbon; in this position when the
umbrella is being closed, the ribbon being no longer stretched, the side a, b,
of the triangle secured to the ribbon at the corner 6 folds at will either to the
right or left, and when the umbrella is opened, the ribbon being extended,
the corner is brought back into the plane of the rib and effects the requisite
separation between the top of the ribbon and the cover to form the gutter.
This simple method of effecting the opening and closing of the gutter without
the aid of any other parts is a great advantage.
Another important improvement relates to the means of rendering the
seam: formed by attaching the ribbon to the umbrella impermeable to water.
However perfect the sewing may be, and whether performed by hand or
mechanically, the holes made by the needle invariably admit of the egress
of water, but after making various experiments I have succeeded in
remedying this defect by the application, where the seam occurs, of a water-
proof substance which will melt at a moderate temperature, and which will
not stain the fabric. For this purpose I employ a thin layer, sheet, or strip
of dry varnish gutta percha, or a concentrated solution of india-rubber; I prefer
as being easier of application gutta percha, which when purified and laminated.
-in-thin sheets like writing paper, answers the purpose well. The gutta
percha is cut into narrow strips and interposed at the place of the seam

page_text: between the band or ribbon and the umbrella cover, and the whole is sewn
together, after which operation all that is required is to pass a moderately hot
iron over the two fabrics thus sewn, by which the substance will be sufficiently
melted to cause it to adhere to the seam and close the holes made by the
needle without straining the fabric, and by this means I render the seam com-
pletely impermeable to water. The sewing of the fabrics is indispensable for the
sake of strength, but the same result may be arrived at with less strength by
pressing together the two fabrics in conjunction with an adhesive waterproof
substance at a suitable temperature; an adhesion of the fabrics will thus be
obtained which will be stronger in proportion to the adhesive strength of the
waterproof compound employed.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,
1st. The constructing of umbrellas with a surrounding gutter and
discharge spout of flexible material, substantially as and for the purpose
herein-before described.
2nd. The peculiar combinations and arrangements of apparatus in con-
nection with a flexible gutter and discharge spout attached to an umbrella for
the purpose of opening and closing such gutter by the act of opening and
closing the umbrella and permitting of the folding up of the gutter and supports
with the cover of the umbrella, substantially as herein-before described and
illustrated by-Figures 1 to 6 inclusive of the Drawings annexed.
3rd. The peculiar construction and arrangement of supports for the
aforesaid flexible gutter whereby such gutter is rendered self-opening
without the necessity for special cards or appliances attached to the umbrella
mechanism, as herein-before described and illustrated by Figures 7 to 10
inclusive of the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal; the Eleventh day of February,
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)