CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TENTS
Year: 1854

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Jackson at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th July
1854.
J, GEORGE JACKSON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Decorator,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TENTS" to be as follows:-
My improvements consist in producing a tent without a central support, in
which the roof is self-containing, and when secured to the poles and posts or
shafts, will be portable for small dimensions, or made to cover extended spaces
with security.. I eflect this object by placing at the apex of the roof a key
block, of circular, square, or polygonal form, with mortices or openings to
receive the number of rafters or ribs required by the intended form of the
tent; these mortices or openings to be shaped or formed to receive the rafter
or rib, also shaped at such angles as are required to ensure the desired pitch or
inclination of the roof, and to receive the pressure of the outward band or
ring to retain them in their places. The number of rafters or ribs, regulated
by the intended form or figure, to be cach shaped or formed at the top ends
to fit the mortices or openings in the central key block at such angles as the
inclination requires, and to have a groove, scoop, dovetail, or other contrivance
to receive the pressure of the outer ring or band. The binder or rim to attach
the rafters or ribs to the central key block may be of vulcanized india-rubber,
or the same combined with metal, or with metallic springs and metal com-
bined, or wholly of metal, the same to bo in one piece, or made to fasten as a

page_text: collar, with screws, hooks, &c. Or the rafters or ribs may be attached to the
central key block with pins, nutts, and screws, hinges or dovetail joints, ropes,
cords, straps, chains, or other modes of ensuring the required tension, pressure,
or force to retain the rafters or ribs in the position at the angles required for
the pitch or inclination of the roof. The rafters or ribs of the roof are placed
on or attached to the top of the poles, posts, or shafts of the required height,
previously shaped to the pitch or inclination, and secured by hinges, nutts, and
screws, pins, sockets, dovetail joints; or the same may be. made to tie or fasten
together with ropes, cords, chains, metal, or elastic bands. The upright poles,
posts, or shafts are to be braced together at or near the top, horizontally, with
wires or bars of metal, or, with wood, with hooks, screws, or pins at the ends
to fit into eyes, nutts, or sockets; or with ropes, cords, or chains, or other
modes of producing tension; in case of portability; or to increase the stability,
these braces are repeated near the ground or floor line. Angular, diagonal,
or other braces are also introduced to render the framework self-containing,
supporting, and capable of being, moved from place to place in small dimen-
sions. In the construction of tents to cover large spaces the same principle of
construction is followed. By this principle of construction I am enabled to
combine or construct any number of rooms, chambers, or divisions, either
under one general or subdivided roof. In this case, provision will be made
for carrying off the water that may fall on and drain from the surface by
channelled or hollowed connected braces.