Improvements in Net Adjusters for use in Playing Lawn Tennis and other Games.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVIDIONAL DILUTICATION,
Improvements in Net Adjusters for use in Playing Lawn Tennis and
other Games.
We, FREDERICK HENRY AYRES, of 111, Aldersgate Street, in the City of London,
Manufacturer, and WILLIAM GEORGE THORNE, of 146, Morley Avenue, Noel
Park, Green Lanes, Middlesex, Foreman Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:
-
This invention relates to improvements in net adjusters for use in playing lawn
tennis and other games.
The improved net adjuster consists of a fork, prong, or other suitable means of
obtaining an anchorage, or hold in the ground; on the crossbar is mounted a
hollow prong say, midway of the main prongs--and on the upper side of the bar
is an open frame, strap or chamber in which rotates a milled, or otherwise notched
or formed wheel. Passing down through the frame or strap, through the wheel
and into the hollowed prong is the stem of an eye bolt. The stem of the eye bolt
and of the wheel are correspondingly screw threaded. The passage through the
frame or strap is formed with flattened side, or otherwise shaped in corresponding
manner with the flattened, or other suitably shaped sides of the bolt stem to
prevent its turning, although under the influence of the screw wheel it is more or
less protruded from the hollow prong. Onto the eye of the bolt is attached a
chain or connection to a band, or like adjuster, to regulate the height of the net.
Or, the wheel and the hollow prong may be formed in one and have a bearing in
the cross bar. Or the chain or connection may be wound onto, or payed off from
a reel or its equivalent journalled in the frame and controlled by ratchet and
pawl.
By these means an improved adjustment of the nets can be attained.
Improvements in Net Adjusters for use in Playing Lawn Tennis and
other Games.
We, FREDERICK HENRY AYRES, of 111, Aldersgate Street, in the City of London,
Manufacturer, and WILLIAM GEORGE THORNE, of 146, Morley Avenue, Noel
Park, Green Lanes, Middlesex, Foreman Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
Price 811

page_text: parvically described and ascertained in and by the 10Ĥowing statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in net adjusters for use in playing lawn
tennis and other games.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 shows a front view of net adjuster partly in section.
Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same.
Fig. 3 is a plan view.
Figs. 4 and 5 show by plan and side views to a larger scale the milled nut d
respectively.
Figs. 6 and 7 shew by side and edge views to a similar enlarged scale the eye
bolt c.
Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view of the strap c.
Fig. 9 shows a modification in which the wheel d and the hollow prong are
formed in one piece.
Figs. 10, 11 and 12 show by side view, edge view and plan another modification
in which a reel is employed on which to wind up the chain f or its equivalent.
The improved net adjuster consists of a fork, or prong a, or other suitable
means of obtaining an anchorage, or hold in the ground.
On the cross bar a¹ of the fork a, is mounted a hollow prong b, say midway of
the main prongs a and on the upper side of the cross bar a¹ and secured therein
by rivetting as herein shown or otherwise is an open frame or strap c or other
similar means of obtaining a chamber c, in which rotates a milled wheel d, having
a series of notches cut thereon to facilitate handling, and a central screw
threaded passage d². Passing down through the frame or strap c, through the
opening of the wheel d, and into the hollowed prong b is the stem e¹ of an
eye bolt e.
This stem e of the eye bolt, and the wheel & are correspondingly screw
threaded.
The passage through the frame or strap c with its diameter narrower than its
length in the direction from (1) to (1) is formed so as to prevent the eye bolt stem
which is correspondingly flattened at its sides from rotating therein or this part
may be otherwise shaped to attain the same end, in a corresponding manner.
Under the influence of the screw thread of the wheel d the correspondingly
. threaded stem e¹ is drawn within or is more or less protruded from the hollow
prong as circumstances require strain to be put on the upper edge of the net
band which is secured in ordinary fashion to the bar of the chain f.
This chain for like connection to the band or like adjuster serves to regulate
the height of the net, and by giving revolution to this wheel d by the fingers such
regulation can be easily effected.
In the modification shewn by Fig. 9 the combined wheel & and hollow prong b
have their bearings formed in upper band c and the cross bar a¹ respectively and
the wheel d and hollow prong b rotate together whilst they are prevented from
endway motion and on the other hand the stem e¹ cannot rotate but has endway
motion imparted to it.
In the modification shown by Figs. 10, 11 and 12 two uprights c¹, c², rivetted
in the cross bar a¹ are substituted for an entire strap c of the previous arrange-
ments. The barrel is journalled in these uprights c¹, c², at its opposite ends
and on the one end adjacent to the upright c is affixed the wheel d by means
of which the barrel h is rotated to wind up or unwind the chain and put strain
on the top of the net.
On the other end of the barrel is a ratchet wheel ¹ and mounted on a pin
rivetted in the upright is a ratchet or click h² to engage said ratchet wheel
when required to hold the wheel and prevent the barrel h from unwinding."
By these means an improved adjustment of the nets can be attained.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
The constructions or arrangements of parts of net adjusters and their use for
adjusting nets used in playing lawn tennis and other games as herein before
described and shown by the drawings.
Dated the 25th day of May 1898.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.