IMPROVEMENTS IN HAMMOCK AND SHELTER TENTS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Hugh Leycester, of Gwynfé, Llangadock, South
Wales, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HAMMOCK AND SHELTER
TENTS."
Sealed the 19th July 1878, and dated the 15th May 1878,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Hugh Leycester at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th May 1878.
CHARLES HUGH LEYCESTER, of Gwynfé, Llangadock, South Wales. " IMPROVÉ-
MENTS IN HAMMOCK AND SHELTER TENTS."
According to my present Invention I construct a portable terit; more particularly
applicable for slinging a hammock, as follows:-A pole, by preference made in two
parts joined together for the sake of pertability, has at each end a metal ferrule
terminating in a pin of a square or polygonal section. Upon these pins are fitted
correspondingly formed metal eyes on the ends of supports, of which two are fitted on
to each end of the said pole in such a manner that their lower ends are some distance
apart, thus constituting trestles, the lower ends of which have pointed ferrules that
are forced somewhat into the ground. The pole is thus held firmly at some distance
from the ground, and to it is slung a hammock as follows:-Over the ends of the
before-mentioned pins are fitted metal washers, which confine the eyes of the
supports, and which have loops formed on them, through which is passed a short
length of rope formed into a loop. The one end of this loop is secured to the
hammock slings, while the other, after being drawn tight through the loops of the .
washer, is secured to a hook fixed on the pole at a short distance from the end.
The rope loop thus secures the hammock, and at the same time keeps the washer in
its place on the end of the pin.
Instead of securing the trestles to the pole in the manner described the supports.
may be formed with claws at the upper end, so as to grip the end of the pole -

page_text: between them, such grip being produced by tying the lower ends of the supports
together. I prefer the first-described arrangement however.
The joint of the pole is formed by preference by fixing a metal socket on the end
of the one length, into which fits a metal ferule on the other length; a stud being
formed on the latter, which fits into a notch in the socket, so as to prevent the
ferrule from turning therein.
A covering of canvas or other suitable material is then stretched over the two
trestles and connecting pole, the covering being formed so as to pass round the end
of the trestle at which the head of the hammock is situated, where it is secured by
buttoning or by hooks; and it is also secured to studs or hooks on the trestles, so
as to keep it in a stretched condition.
When not required for use the supports of the trestles are taken off the ends of
the pole and placed side by side, the connecting pole is separated into its two
lengths and placed beside the supports, and the hammock and canvas covering are
rolled round the poles and secured by straps, the whole forming a compact and
portable parcel.
Although the above-described construction of tent is especially intended for
slinging a hammock, yet it may also be used as a shelter tent without the
hammock
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by 2
the said Charles Hugh Leycester in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th.
September 1878.
"
CHARLES HUGH LEYCESTER, of Gwynfé, Llangadock, South Wales. IMPROVE-
MENTS IN HAMMOCK AND SHELTER TENTS."
. According to my present Invention I construct a portable tent, more particularly 2
applicable for slinging a hammock, as follows :-A pole, by preference made in two
parts joined together for the sake of portability, has at each end a metal ferrule
terminating in a pin of a round, square, or polygonal section. Upon these pins are.
fitted correspondingly formed metal eyes on the ends of supports, of which two are
fitted on to each end of the said pole in such a manner that their lower ends are :
some distance apart, thus constituting trestles, the lower ends of which have pointed
ferrules, that are forced somewhat into the ground. The pole is thus held firmly
at some distance from the ground, and to it is slung a hammock as follows:-Over
the ends of the before-mentioned pins are fitted metal washers, which confine the
eyes of the supports, and which have loops formed on them, through which is 3
passed a short length of rope formed into a loop. The one end of this loop is.
secured to the hammock slings, while the other, after being drawn tight through
the loops of the washer is secured to a hook fixed on the pole at a short distance:

page_text: from the end. The rope loop thus secures the hammock, and at the same time
keeps the washer in its place on the end of the pin.
Instead of securing the trestles to the pole in the manner described, the supports
may be formed with claws at the upper end, so as to grip the end of the pole
between them, such grip being produced by tying the lower ends of the supports
together. I prefer the first-described arrangement however.
The joint of the pole is formed by preference by fixing a metal socket on the end
of the one length, into which fits a metal ferrule on the other length; a stud being
formed on the latter, which fits into a notch in the socket, so as to prevent the
ferrule from turning therein.
A covering of canvas or other suitable material is then stretched over the two
trestles and connecting pole, the covering being formed so as to pass round the end
of the trestle at which the head of the hammock is situated, where it is secured.by
buttoning or by hooks; and it is also secured to studs or hooks on the trestles, so
as to keep it in a stretched condition.
When not required for use, the supports of the trestles are taken off the ends of
the poles and placed side by side, the connecting pole is separated into its two
lengths and placed beside the supports, and the hammock and canvas covering are
rolled round the poles and secured by straps, the whole forming a compact and
portable parcel.
Although the above-described construction of tent is especially intended for
slinging a hammock, yet it may also be used as a shelter tent without the
Fig. 1 is a perspective view, shewing the framing of a portable tent according
to my Invention, with the hammock slung thereon.
Fig. 2 shews the framing with its cover on.
Fig. 3 is an end view of the framing, shewing one of the end trestles.
Fig. 7 shews the parts all packed together for transport, the other Figures shew
details of construction, to which I will presently refer.
A is the pole of the framing, made in two parts jointed together in the middle,
as shewn to an enlarged scale at Fig. 5, a ferrule F' on the one part being inserted
into a socket F on the other part, and a stud F2 entering a notch when necessary
to prevent the two parts from turning round in relation to each other. The ends
of the pole A are made with projecting pins A', which may be square, as shewn in
Fig. 8, or polygonal, or may be round, as shewn in Figs. 9 and 10. On each of the
pins A are placed the two inclined legs B, forming the trestle. These legs may
have heads with square eyes B¹, as shewn in Fig. 6a, so that when both put on the
pin A' they form with one another a definite angle, as shewn in Fig. 6; or the two
legs may be jointed together by a pin Bs, as shewn in Fig. 9, their heads B' forming
nipper jaws embracing the end of the pole A. The legs may also be jointed
together on a tubular socket, as shewn in Fig. 10, in which case the pin A' may be
round. The legs B are held on the pins A' in the manner shewn in Fig. 4; a
winged washer C being placed on the pin beyond them, and secured by the loop of
a cord passed through eyes in the wings of C, the said loop being hooked to the
pole at A and to the slings of the hammock D. The cover G, preferably of water-
proof fabric, is secured by buttons or lacing at the angles, and kept stretched by
hooks or buttons B on the trestles.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I claim,—
First. The construction of framing for portable hammock or shelter tent con-
sisting of a horizontal pole, to the ends of which are secured trestle legs, sub-
stantially as herein described.

page_text: Second. The combination of the hammock with the framing above referred to.
Third. The combination of the covering fabric with the framing above
referred to.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Hugh Leycester, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this 25th day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
CHAS. H. LEYCESTER. (LS.)