IMPROVEMENTS IN TENTS AND SUCH PROVISIONALATION
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Macintosh, of North Bank, Regent's Park,
Gentleman, and Godfrey Rhodes, of Regent Street, Major in Her
Majesty's Army, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TENTS AND SUCH
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Macintosh and
Godfrey Rhodes at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 22nd March 1859.
We, JOHN MACINTOSH, of North Bank, Regent's Park, Gentleman, and
GODFREY RHODES, of Regent Street, Major in Her Majesty's Army, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TENTS AND SUCH
LIKE COVERINGS FOR SHELTER AGAINST THE WEATHER," to be as follows:-
These improvements consist, in the first place, in holding up tents or such
like coverings, of any required shape or capacity, by means of cords, wires,
chains, elastic bands, or other suitable means, which are attached to the
outside of the tent covering, and then suspended from or attached to poles or
other suitable supports, thereby dispensing will all internal framework, and
affording ample shelter against the weather.
The second part of the Invention consists in an expanding head, composed
of a series of jointed rods attached to ferrules or cylinders at their opposite
ends, which expanding head is passed over the tent pole. When it is desirable
to pitch the tent, the two ferrules are drawn towards each other, thus causing
the head to expand and forming the top, to which we attach or hang the
covering of the tent. Over this top we attach a hood. suitably arranged. for

page_text: ventilation and for shelter against the weather. We further attach a series of
rods to the tent pole near its bottom extremity, which rods are free to turn
down, thereby affording a series of ground supports to the tent pole.
The third part of the Invention consists in forming a curvilinear or arched
frame, composed of a series of jointed rods, poles, or ribs, or other suitable
materials affording sufficient flexibility to form the above shaped frame. This
frame we cover with cloth or other suitable material capable of affording
shelter against the weather. To the frame may be attached side and end
braces, of suitable material to give it increased stability. For the ventilation
of a longitudinal hospital tent at the ridge or apex, we fix together two narrow
pieces of stiffened canvas, leather, or other suitable material, which on being
secured to the apex of a tent can be made to open and shut from the interior
of the tent. Also for improving the ventilator of a tent, having a projecting
funnel or chimney-shaped top or head piece, we cover the apex of such
ventilator with a flat or concave cover, of any suitable material, having a
suitable projection attached to its upper surface; we attach this to two
opposite sides of the interior of the head piece, which acting on pivots can
be opened or shut. For the side or end ventilation of tents we apply a flap
or a series of flaps which overlap each other.
Our Invention further consists in suspending tents and such like coverings
by means of cords or ropes or other suspenders, formed either wholly or
partially of elastic material; coverings thus suspended are particularly appli-
cable to the roofs of omnibuses and such like vehicles for shelter against
the weather, the elastic or partially elastic suspenders being connected to
telescopic (or other) rods 'suitably packed with india-rubber, which rods may
be shut up or removed when it is unnecessary to spread the covering. Coverings
of this kind are to be extended by means of elastic material. The tent and
covering cloths and ropes employed by us are in some cases to be water-
proofed by a modification of the process patented by John Macintosh (party
hereto) on the 14 May 1858, and numbered 1090, for insulating telegraphic
wires
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Macintosh and Godfrey Rhodes. in the Great Scal
⚫ Patent Office on the 22nd September 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
MACINTOSII, of North Bank, Regent's Park, Gentleman, and GODFREY RHODES,
of Regent Street, Major in Her Majesty's Army, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
ns, the said John Macintosh and Godfrey Rhodes; Her special licence that
we, the said John Macintosh and Godfrey Rhodes, our executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said John Macintosh and
Godfrey Rhodes, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN TENTS AND SUCH LIKE COVERINGS FOR SHELTER AGAINST THE WEATHER,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said John Macintosh and
Godfrey Rhodes, or one of us, our executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under our, or one of our, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and.immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said John Macintosh and Godfrey Rhodes,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
These improvements consist, in the first place, in holding up tents or such
like coverings of any required shape or capacity, by means of cords, wires,
chains, elastic bands, or other suitable means, which are attached at their
lower ends to the outside of the tent covering at as many and such points as
may be necessary, and at their upper ends are attached to poles or to metal
or other ropes or chains, supported by poles, or partly to both, or to other
suitable supports, thereby lispensing with all internal framework, and affording
ample shelter against the weather. When we employ exterior poles, to which
we suspend our tents, we prefer to incline those poles in such manner that the
heads or tops of the saine shall diverge outwards from the tent, so that the
weight of the tent may be partly borne by means of counterweights suspended
from the poles or supports, or by stays. The heels of the poles or supports
must be so fixed as to bo incapable of slipping.
The second part of this Invention consists in fixing or attaching to the
upper part of a tent pole an expanding head, composed by preference of

page_text: .
series of jointed rods (of metal or other suitable material), the joint being at
the middle.of each, and having one set of their ends attached to one ferrule
or cylinder, and their opposite ends attached to a second ferrule or cylinder.
These ferrules or cylinders are passed over the top part of a tent pole, and
slide down until the undermost ferrule or cylinder is stopped by a suitable
stop or stay fixed to the tent pole or otherwise. The top ferrule or cylinder
will in sliding down cause the jointed rods to expand or stretch outwards,
thus forming the expanded head; the same system can be reversed, viz., the
top ferrule may be attached to or near to the top of the tent pole, and the
under or bottom ferrule slide up and down. To give more stability to the
tent pole we further attach the ends of a series of rods to or near to the
bottom part of the tent pole, which rods are free to turn down or otherwise,
to spread outwards, and by their ends resting upon, entering into, or being
secured to the ground, will materially add to the stability of the tent pole.
The third part of the Invention consists in forming a curvilinear or ached
frame, composed of a series of jointed rods, laths, poles, or ribs, of a
flat, hollow, rounded, or partly rounded surface, made of metal, (galvanized;
or otherwise), bamboo wood, several pieces of twisted cane, in the shape or
form of an ordinary or other rope, inflated tubes, (vulcanized or otherwise), or
of any other suitable materials, and made of such substance as will afford
sufficient flexibility to form the above-shaped arched or curved frame. The
jointed rods, when intended to be used to form such aforesaid frame, are to bo
straightened, and their joints are then to be covered over by a sliding ferrule
or cylinder, composed of metal or other suitable material; or these joints
being so covered, the aforesaid jointed rods, poles, or ribs, are rendered as one
stick, or as one pliable rod. The extremities of such stick or rod can
be shod with a metal or other suitable shaped shoc, and when these
extremities are pushed or secured into the ground in any required direction, at
the extent of the arch or curve of which the length of the pliable jointed stick
or rib will admit, the stick or rod will form the curve or arch required. If
required, these pliable sticks or rods can cross each other at or near the apex
of the said formed arch, and there be tied or secured to each other, as found
to be most suitable. A series of such pliable jointed sticks, rods, or ribs,
fixed in or to the ground at convenient distances from each other, and covered
with canvas, felt, knitted or woven fabrics, or any other suitable materials,
capable of affording shelter against the weather; and further, if required, to
give greater stability to the frame formed with longitudinal or cross braces,
made of bamboo, cane, wood, wire, rope, metal, or any other suitable
materials, attached to the arched frame with side and end braces (composed

page_text: of ropes, wires, chains, or other suitable materials), and with such braces
secured to the ground outside the tent, by the means of pegs or other suitable
appliances; by means of all these a compact and airy shelter is obtained,
which, by increasing or diminishing the number of pliable jointed rods, poles,
or ribs can be lengthened or shortened at pleasure. To diminish the width
and height of the extremites of such tent, similar jointed rods, poles, ribs, or
laths of shorter dimensions can be used, and further, can be covered as before
mentioned. Such tents or shelters can also be added to by attaching or
placing similar constructions in any direction, as may be required. The
coverings for such aforesaid tent of any required size or dimensions can
be made portable, by having the portions of the covering either of the top sides
or entire line or span of arch overlapping each other, and secured together on
both the out and inside of the tent covering, or on either side only by the
nicans of buttons, loops, and eyelet holes, or such other suitable fastenings.
The above aforesaid coverings (when not required to be used for the
coverings of tents) can be used as cloaks or impervious sheets for the use of
the soldiers on the line of march, or on other duties. Such aforesaid. pliable
sticks and portable tent coverings may be carried by the soldiers themselves
or otherwise, as may be found to be most convenient. The sheets of larger
dimensions (used as coverings for larger-sized tents) can also be used as
sheltering coverings for protecting ammunition, stores, or provisions, either
when such are packed on vehicles, or beasts of burden, or when they may be
otherwise stored and exposed to the weather. For the ventilation of a longi-
tudinal or other shaped tent, at or near the ridge or apex we fix or
secure together (at or near their uppermost extremities) two or more pieces of
stiffened canvas, leather, or other suitable material, which, on being secured to
or near the apex of a tent, can be made to open or shut from the interior of
the tent by the means of a wire, rope, or other suitable means; the bottom
end of such wire or rope may be either tied or attached to or near the sides of
the tent, or have a bag, net, hook, or other suitable material attached or secured
to such extremity, such bag, net, hook, &c., being capable of containing,
supporting, or holding any fluid, sand, stones, or any other suitable materials,
which may (by their weight alone) hold or keep open the aforesaid ventilator.
Further, two wires or ropes may be employed (for such aforesaid purpose),
which may be attached to the ventilator, having a bag, &c. secured to each
such wire or rope; and the two wires or ropes may be alternately weighted by
any of the aforesaid means, so that by weighting either of the bags, nets,
hooks, &c., the ventilator may be caused to remain open or shut. Also, for
improving the ventilator of a tent, having a projecting funnel or chimney-

page_text: · shaped 'top or head piece, we cover the apex of such ventilator with a flat or
concave cover of any suitable material, having a suitable projection attached
, to its upper surface; we attach this to two opposite sides of the interior of
tlie head piece, which, acting on pivots, can be opened or shut. For the side
or end ventilation of tents, we apply a flap, or a series of flaps, which overlap
⚫ each other.
In those of our tents, which are provided with an inside lining, curtain, or
cover, we may in some instances cause the said lining, curtain, or cover to be
shaped as a funnel or pipe at the top part of it, where openings are made for
the egress of the inside atmosphere of the tent, such funnel or pipe-shaped part
continuing up to the inside of the apex ventilators, which may be made through
the outside covering of the tent.
We also ise for our improved tents, pegs or pins made of wood, metal, or
any other suitable material, such pegs or pins having a crook or crooks at both
extremities. Or we use pegs or pins made of wood, metal, or any other
suitable materials, which are to be made of a suitable width or thickness,
having either a suitable head thereto, or cavity or crook on cach side and near
to its top. The peg or pin is to be driven or fixed into the ground, having its
: widest surface parallel or opposite to the tent, thus causing the larger surface
of the peg to oppose the tension of the tent ropes, which plan is the reverse of
that at present generally used, vizt., having the narrowest surface of the peg
. opposed to the resistance of the tension caused by the tent ropes. To increase
. the binding action of the tent ropes, we tic or secure them crossways, or we
usen netted or knitted material made of rope, wire, or any other suitable
materials in lieu of the usual method of single ropes or such like single lines.
We also form one or more of our pegs or pins entirely or partly of metal for
making holes in the ground for the placing therein of the usual or proper tent
pegs. To diminish the number of tent pegs, and provide a more expeditions
and efficient method of securing the tent ropes to the ground (when a tent is
to be pitched), we attach to or near the top of a series of suitable shaped pegs
or pins at convenient distances a rope, wire, chain, or band composed of metal,
leather, or any other suitable material. We then drive these pegs or pins
into the ground, tightening the rope or band, and to this latter we attach or
secure at convenient distances the tent ropes by the means of a loop or opening
at the ends of the ropes, having also attached to the same rope a wooden or
other suitable toggle or button, which, in passing through such loop or opening,
secures the tent rope to the aforesaid pegged ground line.
Our Invention further consists in suspending tents and such like coverings
by means of cords or ropes or other suspenders formed either wholly or

page_text: partially of elastic material.. Coverings thus suspended are particularly appli-
cable to the roofs of omnibuses and such like vehicles for shelter against the
weather, the elastic or partially elastic suspenders being connected to telescopic
(or other) rods suitably packed with india-rubber, which rods may be shut up
or removed when it is unnecessary to spread the covering. Coverings of this
kind are to be suspended by means of elastic material.
The tent and covering cloths and ropes employed by us are in some cases to
be waterproofed by a modification of the process lately patented by John
Macintosh (party hereto), 14th of May, 1858, Patent No. 1090, for "Insulating
Telegraphic Wires," that is, by immersing them in, or coating them with
concentrated collodion mixed with shellac, gum cowrie, or other like materials,
and diluted with a solvent to render it more penetrating, and prevent cracking.
Or in place of the collodion, we sometimes employ the sawdust of white pine
or other suitable vegetable substance or substances, treated with acids after
the manner in which cotton is treated in the production of collodion. The
collodion (or other equivalent substance) may be applied to the covering cloths
and ropes either by means of a brush or by immersion, and the cloths and
ropes may be subsequently passed between suitable rollers (heated or other-
wise) in order to impart smoothness and finish thereto.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, we declare that we claim the improve-
ments in tents and such like coverings for shelter against the weather, hercin-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Macintosh, for myself and on behalf
of the said Godfrey Rhodes, have hereunto set my hand and seal,
this Twentieth day of September, One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-nine.