Improvements in Apparatus for Supporting and Regulating the Position of Lawn Tennis or other like Nets.
Year: 1884

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Supporting and Regulating the
Position of Lawn Tennis or other like Nets.
I FREDERICK HENRY AYRES of 111, Aldersgate Street in the City of London
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING AND REGULATING THE POSITION OF LAWN TENNIS OR
OTHER LIKE NETS to be as follows:-
These improvements have reference to that description of apparatus described in
the Specification filed by me in pursuance of Letters Patent dated 1st October 1880
N° 1867, which apparatus is characterised by the supporting poles for the net being
held up in a frame secured to the ground instead of by guy ropes pegged to the
ground, the regulation of tension being secured by means of the relative positions
apart of the poles on their frames aided by mechanism capable of taking up the
slack of the net supporting cord.
My present invention has for its object to develop and improve the capabilities
and utility of this description of apparatus and to enable the same to be more
readily and securely fixed in position for use.
I form my improved poles or supports of the required height and socketed to or
made with an openwork or skeleton foot or base so that the lawn upon which such
is placed may be as little as possible disfigured and as little of the grass as possible
may be prevented growing but yet sufficient base for the pole may be had-The
side of the base of the pole away from the net is formed as a fork or recess adapted
to embrace or engage with an enlargement or holding piece on the upper part of a
screw which is forced into the ground or floor below and by these means the strain
of the net supporting cords is carried to the poles and they are supported by their
base which in turn is held by means of the screw fixed into the ground against the
lifting strain whilst it is capable of being readily withdrawn by unscrewing.
This screw I form generally as a broad blade or thread around a central stem,
diminishing the width somewhat and terminating in more or less of a point-This
screw to each pole base (or screws if desired) is applied most conveniently by
driving in a spike and then into the holo left by its withdrawal inserting the end
of the screw and upon the square or other suitably shaped head thereof applying
a lever or turning piece, and by pressing on and turning the same the screw is

page_text: driven nearly home in its allotted position, the recess of the base or part to be held
down passed under the enlargement and the screw forced tight home to secure the
base.
.
The sides of the poles I adapt for holding the nets by applying eyes or loops to
which the nets are held by tying or otherwise.
The heads of the poles are provided with pullies over which the cords to the nets
run and pass down to a barrel or sheave on which they are each wound and the
barrel is retained from unwinding as desired by means of a ratchet and pawl or
equivalent stop arrangement applied to the axis of that barrel. The winding of
the barrel is effected by a winch or handle applied to the axis which axis is carried
in suitable bearings in or on the pole.
The whole of these parts of the mechanism for winding up the cords may be
nickel plated.
A convenient form of lever or turning piece for the ground screw is shaped
with a key to fit the head of the screw and on each side of it an arm; one long
for power in turning and one short more especially for pressing downwards.
A great advantage attendant on the use of screws as described for holding the
bases of such poles in position is their security of holding in light, sandy or easily
shifting soils when pegs or such like plain pieces would be comparatively useless or
unavailable to use of sufficient size, whilst disfigurement of grounds on the removal
of the screws is reduced to a minimum.

page_text: Position of Lawn Tennis or other like Nets.
I FREDERICK HENRY AYRES of 111 Aldersgate Street in the City of London
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING AND REGULATING THE POSITION OF LAWN TENNIS OR
OTHER LIKE NETS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
•
These improvements have reference to that description of apparatus described in
the Specification filed by me the said Frederick Henry Ayres in pursuance of
Letters Patent dated 1st October 1880 N° 1367 which apparatus is characterised
by the supporting posts for the net being held up in a frame secured to the ground
instead of by guy ropes pegged to the ground-the regulation of tension being
secured by means of the relative positions apart of the posts on their frames aided
by mechanism capable of taking up the slack of the net supporting cord and the
feet or bases of the posts being pinned to the ground to prevent their slipping to
the net.
•
My present invention has for its object to develop and improve the capabilities
and utility of this description of apparatus and to enable the same to be more
readily and securely fixed in position for use.
I form my present improved posts or supports of the required height and socketed
to or made with an openwork or skeleton foot or other suitable base so that the
lawn upon which such is placed may be as little as possible disfigured and as little
of the grass as possible may be prevented growing but yet sufficient base for the
posts may be had.
Figure 1 shews by front view the arrangement and construction of the parts of
my improved posts and fastening means for keeping a lawn tennis net suitably
distended and supported. In this figure the middle portions of the posts are
removed as well as the central part of the net bringing the posts abnormally close
together for convenience of the space available for the drawing.
Figure 2 shews a plan of the foot or base a of the posts 6 and Figure 3 a section
of the lower parts thereof the posts being forced into the opening a² and secured
there by wedging pieces as well as by a screw a³ or otherwise to secure a strong
hold.
Figures 4 and 5 shew respectively a "former" for forming a hole for insertion
of the ends of the screws d and the lever handle f for turning the screws d into
the ground.
Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 shew separately views of the heads of the
posts b, b*. Figure 6 being a side view Figure 7 n section vertically of the post b.
Figure 8 an opposite side view to Figure 6. Figure 9 a section vertically of
the post head b*. Figure 10 shews a plan and Figuro 11 a cross section at the
winch handle axis of the post head b and

page_text: The side of the base of each of the posts away from the net c is formed as a
fork a' formed by the two horns as a or a recess adapted to embrace or engage in
an equivalent manner with an enlargement d or like holding piece on the upper
part of a screw & which is adapted to be readily forced into the ground or floor
below and by these means the strain of the net-supporting cords c¹ is carried to
the posts 6 and they are supported by their bases a which in turn are each held by
means of the screw d fixed into the ground against the lifting strain.
These screws & are capable of being readily withdrawn by unscrewing in a
reverse direction to that for insertion with like ease.
The screw d I form generally as a broad blade d³ or thread around a central
stem d* diminishing the width somewhat towards and terminating in more or less
of a point at a³,
This screw d to each post base (or screws if desired) is applied most conveniently
by driving in to the ground at the points selected a spike such as the implement e
shewn at Figure 4 until the depth to the ring e¹ is reached and then into the hole
left by its withdrawal inserting the end d³ of the screw d and upon the square d³.
or other suitably shaped head thereof or similar holding part applying the square
hole f¹ of a lever or turning piece of such as shewn by Figure 5 and by seizing the
handle end f pressing on and turning the same the screw d is driven nearly home
in its allotted position, the recess of the base a or part to be held down passed
under the enlargement d and the screw d forced tight home to secure the base a to
the ground.
The sides of the posts 6 6* I adapt for holding the nets c by applying eyes, or
loops, or hooks (3) having each alternately a right or left hand helical twist or coil
to which the nets are held by tying hooking or otherwise.
The heads of the posts b b* are provided with pullies g g* or wheels with grooves
turning on axes g¹ over which the cords c¹ to the nets o run and pass down to a
barrel or sheave h on which they are each wound and the barrel h is retained from
unwinding as desired by means of a ratchet i and pawl ; or equivalent stop
arrangement applied to the axis h¹ of that barrel h. The winding of the barrel h
is effected by a winch or handle kapplied to the axis h¹ which axis h' is carried in
suitable bearings in or on the post 6 but in general it will be found sufficient to
apply a barrel and winch arrangement to one post only securing the cord o¹ of the
net c to a hook / on the post 6* after passing it over that post 6* and the end of
the cord c is looped to the stud m prior to winding the cord on the barrel h.
It will be seen that the wheels ġ g* are well within the contour of the heads of
the post or so as not to catch in use.
The whole of these parts of the mechanism for winding up the cords may be
nickel plated to prevent rust as well as add to ornamental appearance.
Figure 5 shews a convenient form of lever or turning piece for the ground screw
shaped with a key to fit the head of the screw but it may be otherwise shaped,
such as with a long arm on each side of it or a winch handle.
In figure 5 the arms are intended to be used the long one (1) for power in turning
and the short one (2) more especially for pressing downwards.
A great advantage attendant on the use of such screws as herein described for
removeably holding the bases of such posts in position is their security of holding
in light, sandy or easily shifting soils when pegs spikes prongs or such like plain
pieces would be comparatively useless or unavailable to use of sufficient size.
The posts can be removed and replaced with rapidity and ease by simply tilting
and relieving them from the ground screws or anchors and the heads or projections
of these screws when left in the ground on a lawn will practically little interfere
with mowing rolling or locomotion after removal of the posts whilst disfigurement
of the grounds on the removal of the screws is reduced to a minimum. Stability
and general sightliness being preserved.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I would have it

page_text: understood that separately considered I make no claim to any portion of the
invention contained in the specification of my said former Letters Patent No 1367
of 1880 nor to the use of screws to secure parts of Lawn tennis apparatus generally
but I declare that what I claim is
1. The construction and use of apparatus for supporting the posts and regulating
the position thereby of lawn tennis and other like nets by the aid of screws
capable of engaging with and being disengaged from the feet or bases of the
supporting posts as set forth.
2. In lawn tennis and such like nets supporting apparatus the combination of
the posts 6 bases a screws d with their holding and regulating devices all con-
structed and cooperating as set forth.