AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF TENT, AND ARRANGE- NEXT OF FRAMES OR FITTINGS FOR THE SAME, AND FOR OTHER TENTS." PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Henry Mapleson, of Pall Mall, in tho
County of Middlesex, Licut. Colonel 6th Tower Hamlets R. V. O.,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF TENT, AND ARRANGE-
NEXT OF FRAMES OR FITTINGS FOR THE SAME, AND FOR OTHER TENTS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Henry Maploson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 10th March 1878.
I, JAMES HENRY MAPLESON, of Pall Mall, in the County of Middlesex,
Lieut-Colonel, 6th Tower Hamlets R.V.O., do hereby declare the naturo
of the said Invention for "Ax IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF TEXT, AND ARRANGE-
MENT OF FRAMES OR FITTINGS FOR THE SAME, AND FOR OTHER TENTS," to be as
follow •

page_text: is held firmly to the ground by pegs or stakes driven through loops, eye-
lets, or beckets arranged at intervals. The upper parts of the sides
merge into a square and have a peaked or angled top, through the centro
of which a central polo or upright passes to keep it extended. The back
and front of the canvas at the central part are made open or of two i
pieces, and the edges are caused to overlap, the outer one being laced to
the body of the inner one by a cord and strap. The front halves can be
closed and secured in the same manner, but I prefer that they be thrown
more or less to the front to form additional length of sides. To the top
front edge of the square portion of the canvas I attach a roof or sun 1
screen, and fasten the front of this at the corners to two uprights,
straining cords being fastened thereto and to pegs driven into the
ground. I fit an additional sheet to one or the other of the side edges to
screen the occupants of the tent from the wind; this screen being made
available for either side. The sides proper of the canvas have openings 1
with inclined strips to cover them, the openings being kept square by
temporarily placed strips of wood, and held taut by cords from the
inside.
The frames or fittings forming the second part of my Invention are
applicable for this and for other tents, and consist of a jointed central 2
pole, the upper joint or length being furnished with a ring, to which say
four stretchers are arranged, and which can lie out at right angles to the
pole for keeping the roof of the tent expanded, the ring and the
stretchers being held in position by a pin passed through the pole and
under the ring. I propose to run a cord from each corner of the square
to the ground at an angle in rough or very windy weather, but at other
times these are not required.
2

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight, hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, lid, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said James Henry Mapleson, Her special
licence that I, the said James Henry Mapleson, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James Henry Mapleson,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter 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 "Ar
IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF TEXT, AND ARRANGEMENT OF FRAMES OR FITTINGS FOR
THE SAME, AND FOR OTHER TENTS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, tho said James Henry Mapleson, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
scals, should particularly describo and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, 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 I, the said James Henry Mapleson, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner tho
same is to be performed, to bo particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, referonce being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say :-
This Invention relates-
- L
Firstly. To an improved construction of tent for army, picnic,
cricketing, and other uses. The body of my tent is square or nearly so
at the bottom where it is held firmly to the ground by pegs or stakes
driven through loops, cyclets, or beckets, arranged at intervals. Tho
upper parts of the sides mergo into a square, and have a peaked or
angled top, through the centre of which a central pole or upright passes
to keep it extended. The back and front of the canvas at the central
part are made open or of two picces, and the edges are caused to overlap,
the outer one being laced to the body of the inner ono by a cord and
strap. The front halves can be closed and secured in the same manner

page_text: but I prefer that they be thrown more or less to the front to form
additional length of sides. To the top front edge of the square portion
of the canvas I attach a roof or sun screen, and fasten the front of this
at the corners to two uprights, straining cords being fastened thereto,
and to pegs driven into the ground. I fit an additional sheet to one or 5
the other of the side edges to screen the occupants of the tent from the
wind, this screen being made available for either side. The sides proper
of the canvas have openings with inclined strips to cover them, the
openings being kept square by temporarily placed strips of wood, and
held taut by cords from the inside.
་
10
The frames or fittings forming the second part of my Invention are
applicable for this and for other tents, and consist of a jointed central
pole, the upper joint or length being furnished with a ring to which say
four stretchers are arranged, and which can lie out at right angles to the
pole for keeping the roof of the tent expanded, the ring and the 15
stretchers being held in position by a pin passed through the pole and
under the ring.
.
"
=
My Invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying
Drawings, in which Figure 1 shows the tent constructed and arranged as
before described, with one of the side sheets fixed as a screen; Figure 2 20
is an interior view with the front sheets removed; and Figure 3 is an
exterior view with the front sheets laced or secured together, the tent
being shown as when used for sleeping purposes.
a, a, are the two side walls of the tent; and 6 the back, this being
divided and with overlapping edges to prevent the entrance of wind and 25
rain, and also to allow of ingress and egress to and from that part if it
should be found necessary to have the opening at the back instead of at
the front, as also to permit of a clear passage being formed through the
tent when both back and front are open. The two side-walls a, a, havo
ventilating openings o, c, in them, and these are provided with caps or 30
covers hold at a distance therefrom at the bottom by strips of wood or
other material, and with cords d, d, to bind the flaps or caps taut, and to
prevent them flapping. The openings are also by this means kept clear
for the proper escape of vitiated air from the inside. The bottoms of
the side walls a, a, are held firmly to the ground by pegs or stakes 35
driven into the ground after first being passed through loops, eyelets, or

page_text: is almost perfectly opaque is a "desideratum" as all who have lived during
hot weather in the field tents hitherto used by army men can testify.
The external appearance of this tent shown may at first appear rather
small, but on account of being square is capable of accommodating a
larger number of persons than might be supposed. The principle can
be applied to much larger tents if required.
One of the most important elements of comfort during camp life is a
well ventilated tent when closed for the night or in stormy weather; this
point has been fully considered in the patented tent. The mode of
fastening or closing it is also of the most improved description, for by
means of D pieces and lacing lines the doorways or sides are most
securely shut, and can at all times be most readily opened because hooks
and cyes, buckles and straps are found to be most convenient in cold or
wet weather.
The tent shown with its pole, bag of pins, and mallet, together with
the canvas screen or shade are readily placed in a valize which laces up,
thus forming one complete convenient package, consequently there can
be no possibility of the pole getting detached from the tent during
transit, an arrangement which is of the greatest importance in active
service.
The improved military tent when packed weighs 88 lbs., being a trifle
heavier than the circular bell tent, and considerably lighter than the
field officers marquee, and is a very superior tent to both in every
respect.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
Firstly. The construction of tents for army, picnic, and other uses, as
heroin-before described and shown.
Secondly. I claim, the construction of tents in which the four sides
are held in position and at the corners by ribs springing from a central
pole, as described and shown.
Thirdly. I claim, the overlapping of front and back sheets and the
arrangement of sun and wind screens, as described and shown.
Fourthly. I claim, the fixation of a ring with the stretchers upon it
upon a central pole by a pin passed into a hole in the pole, in the

page_text: manner and for the purposes set forth, whether for the tent shown in the
Drawings, or for other forms or shapes of tents.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Henry Mapleson, havo here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of September, Ono
thousand oight hundred and soventy-threo.
J. H. MAPLESON. (L.B.)
I'. Ool.,
6th Tower Hamlets,
R.V.C.