AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARatus for FIXING THE POLES EMPLOYED FOR STRETCHING LAWN TENNIS AND OTHER NETS INTO THE GROUND."
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Belhaven Henry Cochrane of Quarr Abbey,
Ryde Isle of Wight in the county of Southampton, Lieutenant in Royal
Navy for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARatus for
FIXING THE POLES EMPLOYED FOR STRETCHING LAWN TENNIS AND OTHER
NETS INTO THE GROUND."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Belhaven Henry
Cochrane at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th September
1883.
•
THOMAS BELHAVEN HENRY COCHRANE, of Quarr Abbey, Ryde Isle of Wight in
the County of Southampton Lieutenant in Royal Navy. "AN IMPROVED METHOD
OF AND APPARATUS FOR FIXING THE POLES EMPLOYED FOR STRETCHING LAWN
TENNIS AND OTHER NETS INTO THE GROUND."
Whereas the ordinary methods employed in fixing the poles such as are used in
Lawn Tennis and similar games for stretching and tightening the nets as for
instance by blocks let into the ground or by providing a screw made on or affixed
to the ends of the poles and thus screwing them into the ground or by tightening
up the nets by means of ropes and stays attached to the poles, all of which
methods have been found to be either ineffective or costly.
:
Now my invention has reference to an improved method of fixing such poles in
a ready and inexpensive manner.
And it consists in using and adapting pieces of iron (or. other suitable metal)
tubing, (preferably about 18 inches long and 3 inches in diameter) to form a socket
for the poles when such tubes are driven into the ground.
These sockets may be left in the ground when the net and poles are removed
and are then supplied with caps or covers to prevent the sockets becoming filled
with dirt or other substances.
In order to facilitate the fixing of such sockets in the ground I employ wooden
points which are inserted in and project beyond the end of the socket that is
driven into the ground.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Belhaven Henry Cochrane in the Patent Office on the
13th March 1884.
THOMAS BELHAVEN HENRY COCHRANE of Quarr Abbey, Ryde Isle of Wight
in the County of Southampton, Lieutenant in the Royal Navy "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF, AND APPARATUS FOR, FIXING THE POLES EMPLOYED FOR STRETCHING
LAWN TENNIS AND OTHER NETS INTO THE GROUND
"
Whereas by the ordinary methods employed in fixing the poles such as are used
in Lawn Tennis and similar games for stretching and tightening the nets (as for
instance by blocks let into the ground, or by providing a screw made on or affixed
to the ends of the poles, and thus screwing them into the ground, or by tightening
up the nets by means of ropes and stays attached to the poles which have been
driven into the ground, or by other such methods) all of such methods have been
found to be either costly or elso ineffective.
Now my Invention has reference to an improved method of fixing such poles in 1
a ready and inexpensive manner, whereby the net secured thereto may be stretched
as required and consists in adapting and using pieces of iron or other suitable
metal tubing (preferably about eighteen inches long and three inches in diameter)
so as to form sockets for the poles when such tubes are driven into the ground.
These sockets may be left in the ground when the net and poles are removed, and
are then supplied with suitable caps or covers to prevent the entrance of dirt and
other foreign substances..
In order to facilitate the fixing of such sockets in the ground wooden points
are, or may be inserted in and projecting beyond that end of the socket which
enters the ground. Or if preferred the end of the sockets may be pointed by
hammering or other suitablo means.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention I will proceed to describe
more particularly in what manner the same is to be performed by the aid of the
accompanying Drawings in which are represented the several parts of apparatus
above referred to.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig 1 Is a vertical section shewing the two poles fitted into their sockets, such
sockets being pointed by hammering or other suitable means.
Fig: 2 Shews in vertical section one of these sockets detached which is formed
with a flange or plate to prevent its passing into the ground and is provided
internally at its upper end with a female screw in order that the screwed plug and
handle shewn in fig: 3 may be inserted for the purpose of readily withdrawing
the socket from the ground as required. Figures 4 and 7 show caps or covers
suitable for plain or screwed sockets.
Fig: 6 is a vertical section of a socket with its upper rim burred over so as to
be drawn out of the ground when required and in the lower end of this socket is
also arranged a wooden point which is inserted in the tube to facilitate the sinking
of the socket into the ground.
Fig: 5 is a plan view of Fig: 2. In these several figures the same letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts
A. A. are the pieces of iron tubing adapted and used as sockets for the poles B. B.
The sockets A. A. when left in the ground are supplied with caps or covers C. C.
to prevent the entrance of dirt on athan Casio

page_text: D is a wooden point fitted to a socket, and EE are the pointed ends of the
Bockets both methods of pointing being adapted to facilitate the driving of the
socket into the ground
F is the screw plug for fitting into the female screw G for the purpose of
withdrawing the socket from the ground when required. The tightening up of the
net may be effected in any convenient manner.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed I hereby declare that what I claim as of my
Invention is.-
First. The adaptation and application of a tubular flanged or burred socket of
metal for the purpose of fixing poles used in lawn tennis and similar purposes
substantially as hereinbefore described.
And Secondly: The adaptation and application to such sockets of the several
appliances for fixing covering and withdrawing the same substantially as and for
the purposes herein before described.
In witness whereof I the said Thomas Belhaven Henry Cochrane have hereunto
set my hand and seal the thirteenth day of March in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty four.
Witness
W. H. SPENCE
8 Quality Court
Chancery Lane
THOMAS. B. H. COCHRANE. (L.B.)