IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE POLES AND NETS FOR LAWN TENNIS, CRICKET, AND OTHER GAMES, AND THE MEANS OF HOLDING, STRAINING, COILING AND FIXING THE SAME
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Richardson at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th July 1882.
HENRY RICHARDSON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND RELATING TO THE POLES AND NETS FOR LAWN TENNIS, CRICKET, AND
OTHER GAMES, AND THE MEANS OF HOLDING, STRAINING, COILING AND FIXING
THE SAME
My Invention has for its object
'
First certain improvements in poles for supporting, straining and coiling the
nets used in lawn tennis and other games.
Second certain methods of straining or coiling the net in the centre instead of
at the poles.
Third certain improved side strainers and supports for the poles.
Fourth certain improved means of regulating the height of the net in the
centre..
Fifth a certain improved method of arranging the cords, or lines of the nets,
also improvements in such cords or lines.
Under the first part, my Invention consists in the following construction of the
poles.
(A) I construct the poles of a single flat piece of wood, or metal or by preference
in a T section (being stronger), or they can be made of circular, oblong, octogon,
or other section in wood, or metal. The net cords, or lines are carried on rollers
which are mounted respectively at the top centre and bottom of the poles, or at
any one, or more of these points such rollers in the case of the flat, or T section
poles are mounted on the sides of the poles and are provided with a tightening
and fixing device such as a pin with a thumb screw, or milled nut, or a worm and
wheel device operated by a handle, or a ratchet wheel device. In the case of the
circular, or other sectioned poles, the rollers are placed in slots in the poles. The
cord, or line on which the net is hung may be in one length, or in portions. In
the former case the cord, or line starting from one top, or bottom roller is passed
from pole, to pole_over all the rollers being finally attached to the roller at the top,
or bottom as the case may be of the pole other than that from which the. cord.

page_text: started, or where the cord is in portions each portion is attached at either end to
the rollers directly opposite. In the case of the continuous cord, the whole length
can be tightened up by tightening devices at each end applied to the roller upon
which the cord terminates.
The rollers revolve on pins which pass through the pole and are provided on
one side with a handle attached, or loose for winding, or with a knob having a
milled edge, or the outer edge of the roller itself may be milled. The rollers are
provided on the other side with a ratchet wheel and pawl to prevent the rollers
unwinding or they are provided with a thumb nut which screws on the end of the
pin and when tightened holds the roller or with a milled nut, or worm wheel as
before mentioned. The edge of the poles next to the net is provided with hooks,
or eyelets, or other suitable device to which the netting may be drawn up and
attached to prevent unsightly bagging at the sides, or an iron rod may be passed
through the sides of the net for the same purpose, if preferred.
Another method of tightening the lines, or cords consists in providing the poles
with rollers on both sides, one set of rollers being used for the cords of the net
and the other set being constructed as chain wheels with locking devices worked
by an endless chain. By grasping the chain with the hand, the rollers are made
to revolve simultaneously and thus the cords are tightened up.
(B) I construct the poles of circular, oblong, or other section in wood, or metal,
in the latter case either solid, or tubular. I provide the poles with collars, or
bands with, or without rollers, to which the cords or lines of the net are attached
and which revolve round the pole and are held by a pawl, which takes into teeth
on the upper edge of the collar. Where the pole is not of circular section I
provide journals thereon to receive the collars. Instead of revolving the collars,
the collars may be provided with a bracket within which is placed a ratchet wheel
held by a pawl, the roller being carried by the same pin which carries the ratchet
wheel. The net cords are fastened to the collars, or rollers which can be turned
by hand or by a handle if necessary. The netting may be attached at the sides
to the poles to prevent bagging as before mentioned. The collars, or bands may
be attached to the pole by screws of suitable form enabling their position on the
pole to be altered at any time.
(C) According to this method I construct the pole with an outer barrel, or
casing having hooks, or other suitable devices down the side to receive the net and
cords. This barrel revolves round the inner pole and is provided with a- turning
bandle and with teeth, or a pawl on its bottom surface which take into notches, or
teeth on the base plate of the inner pole, or into other suitable device to prevent the
outer barrel from unwinding. As the pole revolves the net is coiled upon it and
thereby strained, or tightened.
(D) Under this method I construct the pole somewhat similar to the last
described method, but in three parts. The upper part of the pole is made to
revolve within the centre part, which is made to revolve upon the lower part,
which is stationary, and is provided with a stand, or foot. A pawl is pivotted
to the upper part of the pole and takes into teeth on the top of the centre
part of the pole. The upper part of the pole and lower and lower part of the
centre of the pole is provided with handles, or other device for turning the same
and whether the upper, or centre part of the pole be turned either is prevented
from unwinding. The top cord, or line is attached to the top of the pole round
which it coils and the net is attached to the centre part of the pole and coils
round it all the way down, being thereby strained, or tightened. The top cord and
the netting may be strained independently.
(E) I construct the pole of vertical box form, which contains the rollers, ratchet
wheels and pawls therein, the rollers being turned by a handle or milled wheel, or
other device. The pole is provided with holes through which the cords, or lines
are passed to the rollers and which can be tightened or strained (either in portions,
or simultaneously as before described under method A) by being wound upon the
rollers

page_text: (F) The upper part of the pole is constructed and worked in exactly the same,
manner as the D plan. Screw bolts with winged nut ends, or other suitable ends
pass (in the case of the wooden pole through plates with threaded holes) through
holes in the lower pole which are threaded to suit the thread on the bolts. These,
bolts take into an iron rod which is passed down the side of the net and which
also has threaded holes in it and the netting is strained, or tightened down the
side by the action of said screw bolts on the iron rod. The top cord and the
netting may be strained independently.
•
(G) I construct the pole of a metal barrel round an inner pole, the stand, or
foot being attached to the inner pole. The outer pole, or barrel has a horizontal
ratchet on its base and is held by a pawl on the stand. The net is attached down
the side to the outer barrel, which is provided with handles, or other suitable.
device for turning, and which being turned coils the net upon it and thus strains
and tightens the net. The top cord, or line is attached by a screw bolt through
the top of the inner pole. By screwing a nut on the attaching screw, or otherwise
actuating said screw the top cord is tightened. The top cord and the net may thus
be strained separately.
(H) I construct automatic self acting poles thus: I use a double pole the inner
pole being provided with a spring coiled round it, which spring is attached at the
top end to the outer pole and at the bottom end to the inner pole. The bottom of
the outer pole has a ratchet wheel, and a pawl is pivotted to the ground plate, or
stand which is part of the inner pole. To strain the net the outer pole is turned
by handle attached, or otherwise in a proper direction to wind the spring on the
inner pole, the pawl preventing the outer pole from returning. The net is then
5 attached down the side to the outer pole and the pawl being released from the
ratchet, the spring unwinds on inner pole, causing the outer pole to turn and wind
the net thereon. By another method I use a collar with a pulley attached to the
top of the pole over which pulley the top cord, or line is passed and is attached by
a hook, or otherwise to a metal spring, the other end of which is attached at a
O suitable distance down the pole and spring exercises a continual pull or strain
on the top cord, or line. By detaching the top cord from the spring or the
spring from the pole at the lower end, the strain can be taken off the top cord when
required. By another method I use a roller and cord at the bottom of the pole.
One end of the cord is attached to a spring or a weight and the other end to the
5 roller. The pole revolves on a foot stand, to which stand one end of spring, or the
weight pulley is attached. The foot of the pole is formed as a ratchet wheel and a
pawl is pivotted on the top of the roller. To strain, or coil the net, the roller with
spring, or weight attached is turned in a proper direction and is prevented from
unturning by a loose pin slipped into one of a series of holes in the edge of the
0 roller. The pole is then turned in a reverse direction, and the pawl acting with the
ratchet wheel prevents it unturning. The net is then attached down the side to
the pole and the loose pin being released from the edge of the roller, the pole and
the roller then act in combination.
(I) I construct the poles in the forms described under (A) and (E) with rollers
5 and I lead the top, or other cords, or lines of the net over such rollers to a strainer
fixed to the ground by a ground screw, or other device, which is provided with a
roller, a ratchet and pawl and a turning handle. The cords, or lines of the net
being wound on the said roller are thereby strained When only one straining
pole is used and not a pair, I use a metal spring or series of springs on the
0 opposite pole.
(K) Under this method I use a rack, or boom pivotted to the bottom of the pole
and to which the top, or other cords, or lines of the net pass, over rollers in or
upon the pole and are attached to the boom. These cords extend to the ground
and the boom is tightened by springing outwards, being held in position by a pawl
5 from the pole..
Under the second part my Invention consists in straining (by coiling) the net in
the centre, instead of at the poles. I effect this by using a revolving rod of one, or

page_text: more parts to which the net is attached, or held which not only serves to strain, or
coil the net, but keeps the same at the correct height in the centre. The bottom
of the rod is provided with a stand, or ground plate, or socket and a ratchet or
other locking device to prevent unturning. The net may be coiled round a plain
rod, or internally into a casing. These revolving rods can be made self acting, or
automatic by means of springs, weights, and other devices as before described
under (H).
Under the third part I use a side strainer attached to the earth by a ground
screw, or otherwise. The other end being attached to the top of the pole. The
side strainer being a metal rod with a screw shackle. Or I use an improved
adjustable stay, or support to the pole, which consists of a rod in two parts and a
screw shackle. The lower end of the rod is fastened to the ground and the shackle
being turned by the hand the upper part of the rod is forced against the pole. Or
I use a cord, or wire stay, or small chain attached to the pole at the top and
passing over a pulley on a projecting arm, or frame on the bottom of the pole, a
winding roller with ratchet pawl and handle being provided for tightening the cord,
or the cord can be tightened by winding round a knob at the top of the pole. A pin,
or other fastening device is used to prevent the knob from from unwinding. Or
I use a boom pivotted, or otherwise attached to the bottom of the pole with a roller
at the top end of the boom, over which the straining cord, or chain is passed to the
ground. The straining is effected by pulling on the lower end of the cord which
may be attached to a peg, or hook with ground screw, or other fastening device.
Under the fourth part my Invention consists in using a stop chain, or band in
the centre of the net between the top and bottom cords and which is attached
thereto. This regulates the height of the net in the centre and is more convenient
and sightly than the rods at present in use.
Under the fifth part my Invention consists in passing one, or more cords, or
lines through the body of the net, that is to say, between the top and bottom cords,
or lines usually employed. These supplementary, or extra cords relieve the strain
on the top cord besides giving additional straining power. By substituting plain
wire cord, or small chain for the fibrous cord hitherto used, I get an advantage,
inasmuch as the former will not stretch in the same degree, or be affected by damp,
as fibrous cords are, besides being more durable. I do not bind myself to use the
whole cord of metal wire, or chain, but the ends may be of fibrous cord with chain,
or wire cord between, or vice versa.
The bottom ends of the poles may be formed in various ways, such as a suitable
screw form, or a flat or T section spike. In addition to which I sometimes use
iron rods, or stays, or iron claws, or brackets to stay, or support the poles on the
inner side in lieu of side strainers or cords.