An Improved Device for Attaching Ties to the Ground, applicable to Lawn Tennis and similar purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 28th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 1st Feb., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Device for Attaching Ties to the Ground, applicable
to Lawn Tennis and similar purposes.
I, PHILIP GEORGE PRICE, of St. Margarets, The Park, Beckenham, in the
County of Kent, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
==
This invention relates to the attachment of ties to a fixed point in the ground,
such as are used with lawn tennis nets, to hold the net down to the lawn, or for the
attachment of the ties if used for supporting the poles, or for many similar purposes,
and consists of a device which may be easily duven into the ground and which will
afford a good hold-fast grip, whilst at the same time the upper end of the driving
hold fast, and the attaching hook or staple is adapted to lie or fall below the level
of the turf so that the hold fast need not be disturbed or removed, when it is
desired to mow or roll the lawn.
My improved device may be of varied form, but I will describe one
two forms, by way of example, which fulfil the object of my invention.
or
The driving hold-fast may be in the form of a tube, such as an ordinary iron gas
tube, with the lower end brought to a point by forging or otherwise, so that it will
easily dive into the ground.
Across the upper part of the tube I fix a pin, horizontally, secured into the tube,
or 1 fix a detent of any kind within the open mouth of the tube.
Where the horizontal pin is used 1 place an elongated shackle of stiff iron or
steel with conveniently an aperture at the upper side, for the insertion therein of
the eye of an attachment cord or of the usual adjustable tension chain, used to
hold down tennis nets.
Where the elongated shackle is pulled up to the highest point to which it will
reach out of the tube holdfast, the aperture of the shackle is uncovered and that the
attachment eye of the tension cord or chain may be inserted into the shackle
When the shackle is released it drops down into the mouth of the open tube
(which is driven into the ground so that its im 18 flush with, or below the turf)
till it hangs suspended on the horizontal pm, completely below the level of
the turf, so that it cau be mowed or rolled over the top of the hold fast and
shackle.
The form of this hold fast may be modified by making the hook or shackle
independent of the surrounding tube, which latter may be merely a cup or small
tube let into the turf, with the hook or shackle attached to or part of a driving
spike that may pass through the centre of the said cup or short tube.
Or, if the tension tie be provided with an open hook it may be engaged direct
to the horizontal pin of the tube or to a closed eye in the holdfast; or the tension
chain or cord may be merely passed around the horizontal pin or through an eye
in the holdfast, the said eye or pin being sunk below the level of the turf.
Dated this 11th day of May 1895.
FELL & WILDING,
1 Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: An Improved Device for Attaching Ties to the Ground, applicable
to Lawn Tennis and similar purposes.
I, PHILIP GEORGE PRICE, of St. Margarets, The Park, Beckenham, 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 :-
This invention relates to the attachment of ties to a fixed point in the ground
such as are used with lawn tennis nets, to hold the net down to the lawn, or for
the attachment of the ties if used for supporting the foles or for many similar
purposes, and consists of a device which may be easily driven or screwed into the
ground, and which will afford a good hold-fast grip, whilst at the same time the
upper end of the driving holdfast and such part of the attaching hook or staple, as
is not conveniently removable, is adapted to lie or fall below the level of the turf,
80 that the holdfast need not be disturbed or removed when it is desired to mow
or roll the lawn.
My improved device may be of many varied forms, without departure from the
essence of my invention as above defined, and in order that my invention may be
the better understood I now proceed to describe several forms, by way of example,
reference being bad to the drawings hereto aunexed and to the letters and figures
marked thereon.
Figue 1 is a broken sectional view of my tubular holdfast with an open dropping
shackle.
Figure 2 is a sectional view of a modification with a removable shackle engaging
in slot of bold-fast.
Figure 3 is a top plan of same showing the slot.
Figure 4 18 an outside view of a modified removable attachment, screwed to
engage with a screwed piu from net.
Figure 5 is a broken sectional view of a modification showing attachment of a
screwed adjusting piu direct to the holdfast.
Figure 6 is a sectional view of a modified form of dropping attachment tapped
for a screwed adjusting pin.
Figure 7 18 a sectional view of modified head of hold-fast as arranged for screwing
into the ground.
Figure 8 is a sectional view of same, with renovable boss therein, screwed for
adjustable holding pin.
A 18 my tubular driving or screwing holdfast, which is driven or screwed
into the ground, so that its upper edge lies below the level of the lawn. It is
provided with a sharp helical or spiral end A' to facilitate its entry by screwing or
driving into the ground.
In Figure 1 I provide a pin B, or other similar detent, fixed across the upper
open part of the tubular hold-fast, and place thercover an elongated shackle or
open link C, for the insertion therein of the eye of an attachment cord, or of the
usual adjustable tension chain, used to hold down tennis nets.
When the elongated shackle C is pulled up to the highest point to which it will
reach, out of the tube holdfust A, the aperture of the shackle is uncovered, so that
the eye of the tension cord may be inserted therein. When the shackle is released
it drops down into the mouth of the open tube A, completely below the level of
the turf, so that it may be rolled or mowed over the top of the holdfast and
shackle.
The form of this holdfast may be modified by making the hook or shackle
independent of the surrounding tube, which latter may be merely a cup or cylinder

page_text: let into the turf, with the hook or shackle attached to, or part of, a driving spike
that may pass through the centre of the said cup or cylinder.
I effect the same purpose by the following modifications.
In Figme 21 close the tubular holdfast A by a plug D provided with a slot d
admitting the T shaped end of an attachment shackle E, which may be turned
round so as to engage under the plug D, and is then fixed in place by the nut e.
This shackle may be permanently sunk below the level of the turf, or, being easily
removable, may be removed to permit of rolling or mowing.
In Figure 4 the T shaped attachment E' is provided with a central scrowed hole
for the insertion of an adjustable screwed attachment pin, such as that shown at F
in Figure 5.
In Figure 5 the end of the hold-fast A 18 again closed by a screwed plug D,
which plug is provided with a central screwed hole into which engages an adjustable
pin attachment F.
In Figure 6 the screwed plug D has a plain central orifice and a cup recess f
to admit the screwed shoulder g of a sliding attachment G, when dropped out of
The attachment G has a bulbous head H, and a screwed internal orifice h, for
a screwed adjustable rod F.
use.
In Figures 7 and 8 the plugged end of the hold-fast A is provided with a squaro
hole K, into which fits a square key L with round head 1. The hey L may be
used with a spanner M, also provided with a square hole, to screw the hold-fast A
into the ground. A sleeve N (Figure 8), with thumb wings n, is then screwed
into the screwed recess & of the hold fast, and has a central screw orifice /' for the
engagement of a screwed adjustable pin F.
When the lawn 18 to be rolled or mowed, the sleeve N is removed and the key L
is dropped into the end of the hold fast A the head of the key L filling up the
recess of the holdfast to prevent entry of dirt or out grass.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1st. A holdfast for attaching ties to the ground, consisting of a tubular socket
adapted to be driven or screwed into the ground in such a manner that the upper
surface of the holdfast or removable attachment thereon is situated level with or
below the surrounding surface of the lawn, when not in use, to admit of rolling or
moving thereover without disturbance of the hold-fast.
2nd. A bold-fast for attaching ties to the ground with removable accessories
thereto, constructed as described and illustrated in the various drawings annexed
hereto.
Dated this 20th day of December 1895.
FELL & WILDING,
1 Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.