Improvements in Adjustable Tent Poles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in Adjustable Tent Poles.
A communication to me from PATRICK LEWIS, of Quebec, in the Dominion of
Canada.
I, THOMAS HENRY COTHILL, of Ashmore House, Leave's Green, Keston, in
the County of Kent, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to the upright poles employed for supporting tents used
for military purposes, or by sportsmen, travellers, and others.
In such tents, it is very advisable that the poles should be of the exact length
to impart the requisite amount of. tension to the tent and tent cords, and as such
tension varies with the variations of weather, such as rain and sunshine, it is
difficult to keep the tent always in its proper position and with the required degree
of tension.
The present invention has for its object a novel method of construction of the
tent-pole, by which its length can be instantly and easily altered as required, the
pole being lengthened when the tent and the cords become too loose, and shortened
when they become too tight.
For this purpose the ordinary wooden tent pole, of sufficient length and diameter,
is made use of, but it is divided transversely into two parts at a convenient part of
its length, the upper end of the lower part being provided with a screw thread
round it for a sufficient distance down, whilst the upper half is fitted at its lower
end into a metal tube or socket of sufficient length, which is fixed upon it, and
which fits freely over the screw thread upon the lower part of the pole.
Upon this screw thread is fitted a screwed nut which turns freely upon it, and
upon which the lower end of the metal tube (which is preferably provided with a
collar) is supported.
If now the nut is turned round so as to screw it upward, the tube and upper part
of the pole are raised with it, and the effective length of the entire pole is increased,
whilst if the nut is screwed down, the tube is lowered with it, and the total length
of the pole decreased.
This adjustment can be made as required from time to time with great ease and
accuracy.
The screw thread described is preferably formed upon the exterior of a metal
tube of sufficient thickness and length, which is fitted and firmly fixed upon the
upper end of the lower part of the pole. The nut may be turned round by any
convenient means, as for example, by means of a handle pivotted to its side,
in such manner that it hangs down against the pole when not in use, but can
be turned up when required so as to form a lever by which the nut can be easily.
turned round in either direction.
It is evident that the devices described can be applied to tent poles of any kind,
whether of wood or metal, by making the necessary slight modifications in their
construction.
By the invention great convenience is gained in adjusting with great accuracy

page_text: the length of the tent pole as required, from the inside of the tent and without
leaving the latter in rainy or other bad weather.
Dated this 9th day of April 1896.
EDWARDS & Co.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.
A communication to me from PATRICK LEWIS, of Quebec, in the Dominion of
Canada.
I, THOMAS HENRY COTHILL, of Ashmore House, Leave's Green, Keston, in
the County of Kent, Gentleman, 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, and accompanying drawing, that is
to say :-
This invention relates to the upright poles employed for supporting tents used
for military purposes, or by sportsmen, travellers, and others.
In such tents, it is very advisable that the poles should be of the exact length
to impart the requisite amount of tension to the tent and tent cords, and as such
tension varies with the variations of weather, such as rain and sunshine, it is
difficult to keep the tent always in its proper position and with the required degree
of tension.
The present invention has for its object a novel method of construction of the
tent-pole, by which its length can be instantly and easily altered as required, by
lengthening the effective length of the pole when the tent and the cords become too
loose, and by shortening the length when they become too tight.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of the invention, Figure 1 being a
side view of the adjustable part of the tent pole, and Figure 2 a transverse
section.
In order to put the invention in operation, the ordinary wooden tent pole, of
sufficient length and diameter, is made use of, but it is divided transversely into
two parts a and b at a convenient part of its length, the upper end of the lower
part b being provided with a screw thread c round it for a sufficient distance down,
whilst the upper half a is fitted at its lower end into a metal tube or socket d of
sufficient length, which is fixed upon it, and which fits freely over the screw thread c
upon the lower part 6 of the pole.
Upon this screw thread c is fitted a screwed nut or ring e which turns freely
upon it, and upon which the lower end of the metal tube d (which is preferably
provided with a collar f) is supported.
If now the nut or ring e is turned round so as to screw it upward the tube d and
upper part a of the pole are raised with it, and the effective length of the entire
pole is increased, whilst if the nut e is screwed down, the tube d is lowered with it,
and the total length of the pole decreased.
This adjustment can he made as required from time to time with great ease and
accuracy.
The screw thread c described is preferably formed upon the exterior of a metal
tube of sufficient thickness and length, which is fitted and firmly fixed upon the
upper end of the lower part 6 of the pole. The nut e may be turned round by any
convenient means,-as for example, as illustrated, by means of a handle g pivotted
to its side, in such manner that it hangs down against, or close to, the pole when

page_text: not in use, but can be turned up when required (as shown in dotted lines) so as to
form a lever by which the nut e can be easily turned round in either direction.
It is evident that the devices described can be applied to tent poles of any kind,
whether of wood or metal, by making the necessary slight modifications in their
construction. Either end may be used uppermost.
By the invention great convenience is gained in adjusting with great accuracy
the length of the tent pole as required, from the inside of the tent and without
leaving the latter in rainy or other bad weather.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The tent pole made in two parts a and b, and adjustable in length, by means
of the screw thread c upon one of the parts, the nut or ring e fitting upon the screw
thread c, and the tube à fixed upon the other part, and resting against the nut e,
substantially as described and illustrated.
2. In combination with the parts described in Claim 1, the handle y pivotted to
the nut or ring e, substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated.
Dated this 8th day of January 1897.
EDWARDS & Co.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.