IMPROVEMENTS IN LAWN TENNIS POLES OR SUPPORTS FOR THE NET IN LAWN TENNIS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Henry Ayres, of 111, Aldersgate Street, in the
City of London, Manufacturer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAWN
TENNIS POLES OR SUPPORTS FOR THE NET IN LAWN TENNIS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Henry Ayres at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd April 1880.
FREDERICK HENRY AYRES, of 111, Aldersgate Strect, in the City of London,
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAWN TENNIS POLES OR SUPPORTS FOR THE
NET IN LAWN TENNIS."
This Invention relates to the poles or supports used for holding up the net in the
game of lawn tennis.
The pole is usually driven into the ground, and is supported by guy ropes held to
the ground by pegs.
The lawn is generally injured by these means, and the object of the present
Invention is to have each pole supported on a stand or platform, which stand can
be lightly pinned or weighted to the ground and the poles hinged or attached to
the stand, so that by inclining or moving the poles it will be easy to regulate the
tension of the cord holding the net, and thus will be avoided the injurious method
of driving the pegs and poles into the ground.
The pole of the required height is hinged, or by a forked rod and pin or other
means, such as a clip on a rack, to the flat platform or stand, of the shape of a
triangle or pear shaped; where the pole has an attached joint to the platform a
strut is attached by an eye and pinned to the pole at a convenient height; the
lower end made with a claw or chisel shaped end rests in a ratchet or rack, so that
the pole can be inclined from the perpendicular and strutted by the strut where
required. Or the pole may have its lower end to clasp a rack and to slido along it
by means of a pinion with an axle and handle. The strut may also be replaced by
one or two quadrants or sectors of a circle, the pole being supported by pins on the
quadrants, or the quadrant may work in a mortise hole in the pole, and one
quadrant and one pin only will then be necessary for each pole; or the quadrant
may be made serrated like a saw, and be held as required by a plate in the
mortice of the pole.
Two platforins and two poles are used, between which is the line or cord
supporting the net. The platforms themselves may be weighted with sand bags or
pinned to the lawn with three or more light iron rods.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frederick Henry Ayres in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st October 1880.
FREDERICK HENRY AYRES, of 111, Aldersgate Street, in the City of London.
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAWN TENNIS POLES OR SUPPORTS FOR THE NET
IN LAWN TENNIS."
This Invention relates to the poles or supports used for holding up the net in the
game of lawn tonnis.
The pole is usually driven into the ground, and is supported by guy ropes held
to the ground by pegs.
The lawn is generally injured by these means, and the object of the present
Invention is to have cach pole supported on a stand or platform, which stand can
be lightly pinned or weighted to the ground and the poles hinged or attached to
the stand, so that by inclining or moving the poles it will be easy to regulate the
tension of the cord holding the net, and thus will be avoided tho injurious method
of driving the pegs and poles into the ground.
The pole of the required height is hinged, or by a forked rod and pin or other
means, such as a clip on a rack, to the flat platform or stand of the shape of a
triangle or pear shaped; where the pole has an attached joint to the platform a
strut is attached by an eye and pin to the pole at a convenient height; the lower
end made with a claw or chisel shaped end rests in a ratchet or rack, so that the
pole can be inclined from the perpendicular and strutted by the strut where
required. Or the pole may have its lower end to clasp a rack and to slide along it
by means of a pinion with an axle and handle. The strut may also be replaced by
one or two quadrants or sectors of a circle, the pole being supported in the required
position by pins on the quadrants or the quadrant, one end being fixed to the stand
may have its other end to work in a mortice hole in the pole, and one quadrant and
one pin only will then be necessary for each pole; or the quadrant may be made
serrated like a saw, and be held as required by a plate in the mortice of the pole.
Two platforms and two poles are used, between which is the line or cord supporting
the net, and these cords may have a winch or elastic cord at one or both or eithor
end. The platforms themselves may be weighted with sand bags or pinned to the
lawn with three or more light-iron rods.
In the Drawings attached I have shewn two ways of carrying out the Invention
as described.
Figure 1 being the apparatus with the rack and strut, one supporting pole only
being shewn, and Figure 2 the two poles, shewn with the suspending cord fitted
with winch and ratchet and elastic cord or spring.
In the apparatus shewn in Figure 2 the polo is attached to the stand without
articulation, and the tension of the cord supporting the not is regulated by the
barrel winch a fitted with pawl and spring cord b; the tops of the poles are mounted
with a pulley for the net suspending cord to pass over.
I have not shewn in the Drawings the action of the quadrant to replace the
strut in Figure 1, as it may be applied in a variety of ways, and as it is not quite
so neat in its action as the plans shown in the Drawings.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of the said Invention
and the manner of carrying tlie saine into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim is,-
The supporting poles for a lawn tennis net on a framo pinned or weighted to the
ground with or without the articulation of the poles to the stand, and the means

page_text: of regulating the tension of the net supporting cord by the moving of the stand,
or by the inclination of the poles with struts or quadrants, or by the means
particularly described in Figure 2, substantially as set forth.
"
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Henry Ayres, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
F. H. AYRES. (L.S.)