Improvements in and relating to Tents.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Tents.
I SAMUEL MAURICE JOHNSON of Cawnpore, in the Province of Allahabad,
India, Managing Director of the Muir Mills Company Limited, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in the construction of tents having flexible
ridges, and it consists, in forming the ridge in one piece with the guy ropes adapted
to stretch and support the said ridge, in connecting the flexible ridge to the poles
of the tent in such a manner that it has a free longitudinal movement with respect
thereto so that it can be strained or drawn up taut without affecting the fly carried
by the said poles, and in providing a means of stretching or keeping the fly taut at
the ridge, the object being, to facilitate the crection and striking of the tent, and
to relieve the fly of all strain at the ridge.
I attain this end in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in
which
Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the flexible ridge poles and guy ropes of
a tent arranged according to my invention, the fly and walls being omitted for the
sake of clearness.
Figure 2 is a plan thereot.
Figure 3 is a view-on an enlarged scale-of the top of one pole showing the
method of connecting the flexible ridge thereto, and of stretching the fly.
Figure 4 is a plan view of one of the buttons, and
Figure 5 is a view showing an alternative method of connecting the flexible
ridge to the buttons.
Throughout these views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
My invention is applicable to all types of tents having vertical poles connected
by ridges. Any number of poles A may be used according to the size of the tent.
These poles support a flexible ridge B made of a rope of hemp, wire, or other
suitable material. This ridge is not rigidly fixed to the poles but is connected
thereto in the following manner :-On the top of each pole A is formed or fixed
the usual spike a which is adapted to receive a large circular button C carrying the
flexible ridge B, in which-at suitable intervals according to the distance apart
the poles are intended to be placed-are formed loops ',, by splicing in a piece,
or otherwise making the flexible ridge double at these points, to adapt it to pass
through or embrace the buttons C, which are placed in position when the loops are
made. If the ridge passes through the button, two transverse holes c, c, are made,-
one on each side of the central hole for the spike a, of the pole-to receive it as
shown by Figures 3 and 4, but if it embraces it, a circumferential groove c is cut or
formed round it as shown by Figure 5.
The guy ropes B' are formed in one length or piece with the flexible ridge B,
and they are adapted to be fixed to the ground and made taut in the usual manner.
At a short distance on the guy ropes B₁ from the loops b, b, in the flexible
ridge B, are formed or attached loops b', for the straining cords of the fly D to be
attached to.
The fly D of the tent is fitted over the poles A in the usual manner, and to each
end of the ridge of the said cover is attached a short length of cord d
adapted by being made fast to the loops b¹ on the guy rope B¹, to strain or stretch
the fly taut.
It will be seen that with this construction a tent can be struck and packed up
without detaching the ridge which has to be done if a rigid ridge is used, thereby
O materially facilitating the erection of the tent and increasing its portability.

page_text: I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of
construction or the specific arrangement of the several parts as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, but that I hold myself
at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and
scope of my invention.
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 :-
1st. The improvements in tents, as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
accompanying drawing.
2nd. In a tent, a flexible ridge combined in one piece with its supporting guy
ropes, as set forth.
3rd. In a tent having a flexible ridge, attaching the said ridge to the poles, as
and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.
4th. In a tent having a flexible ridge, stretching the fly taut at the ridge, in the
manner herein before set forth.
5th. In a tent, the combination with the poles, fly, and walls; of the flexible
ridge; of the buttons adapted to fit on the top of the poles, and support the flexible
ridge; of the loops in the flexible ridge, adapting it to pass through or embrace the
buttons; and of the loops on the guy ropes adapted to receive the straining cords
of the fly, all combined, arranged, and operating, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this
day of August 1891.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.