Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Apr., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 20th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 16th Feb.,
1889
I FREDERICK HENRY AYRES of 111 Aldersgate Street in the City of London
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
:
These improvements relate to apparatus for supporting nets used in playing games
with balls and are especially designed for use in holding in position the nets used
for stopping the balls in the game of lawn tennis and called back netting.
In playing cricket and other games similar nets, or screens, are employed behind.
the wickets and to these my invention is also applicable.
The improved support consists of a tube or number of tubes or tubular lengths
having flattened or other suitably formed ends to engage holding devices applied
on supports or posts at suitable intervals. These metal tubular lengths or rods
have applied with capability of sliding, by preference, a series of hooked or
holding eyes to take hold of the nèt at intervals and hold it in adjusted distended
position.
The hooks may conveniently have balls, knobs, or enlargements to their stump
ends to be retained against any but rotatory and sideway movement, in the tube the
hook projecting through a slot in the split tube the closed ends conveniently preventing
entire separation.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Supporting Nets or Screens Used in
Games..
I FREDERICK HENRY AYRES of 111 Aldersgate Street, in the City of London,
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :—
These improvements relate to apparatus, for supporting nets used in playing
games with balls and are especially designed for use in holding in position
the nets used for stopping the balls in the game of lawn tennis and called back
netting.
In playing cricket and other games similar nets, or screens, are employed behind
the wickets and to these my invention is also applicable.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
1
Figure 1 shows to a small scale a front view of a portion of a back net supported.
on three such posts as will be more fully described.
Figure 2 shows a plan view of one post supporting parts of two net bars at right
angles to each other by which means corners may be turned very conveniently by
placing the post at an angle or otherwise:
Figure 3 shows a front view of portions of the posts, cross bars and hooks with
parts of the ground stay to a larger scale.
Figure 4 shows an edge view of one head or top of a post.
Figure 5 shows a cross section of a cross bar with a hook dependent thereto and
Figure 6 shows an underside view of a pair of ends to a bar.
The improved support consists of a tube a or number of tubes or tubular lengths
having flattened or other suitably formed ends a¹ to engage hooks b¹ or other holding
devices applied on supports or posts.b at suitable intervals. These metal tubular lengths
or rods a have applied with capability of sliding, by preference, a series of hooks c, or
holding eyes or parts may be used adapted to take hold of the net d' at intervals and
hold it in adjusted distended position.
The hooks c may conveniently have balls, knobs, or enlargements to their stump
ends as c' to be retained against any but rotatory and sideway movement, in the tube a
the hook projecting, through a,slot a² in the split tube the closed ends conveniently
preventing entire separation:
For turning corners arrangement of the hooked projections 61 gives great facility
as no alteration of the post and its parts relatively is needed and all unscrewing and
screwing on again of knobs &c. is avoided and no parts can be mislaid. The heights
of the posts and lengths of the bars may be greatly varied, e is a base plate to the post
to rest. on the ground and f is a pointed spear end to enter the ground. The posts.
are mainly formed of hollow tubing for lightness.

page_text: The effect produced is neat and useful and the whole is readily adjusted and
quickly removable and possesses great stability and powers of resistance to wind
pressure.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The combination or arrangement of parts of apparatus substantially as shown for
use in supporting nets or screens used in playing games.
Dated the 20th day of December 1888.