IMPROVEMENTS IN LAWN TENNIS POLES
Year: 1884

page_text: I FREDERICK WILLIAM SQUIER, of No 44 Stapleton Hall Road, Stroud Green,
London, in the County of Middlesex, Saddler, do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAWN TENNIS POLES to be as follows:-
13
My Invention relates to improvements in Lawn Tennis Poles having for object to
ensure their stability and economize space in fixing them; also to facilitate the
securing of the net in position for playing.
It consists in an improved construction and arrangement of the poles and their
stays or supports and in a device for operating the tightening of the net and
securing it when taut.
I may make my uprights or poles proper of one or more pieces. I now propose
to construct them of two pieces of iron say about 11 inches wide by 1/4 of an inch
thick and of equal length, say about 4 fect, which I rivet together with blocks
between them so that they are about an inch apart.
To these poles I propose to rivet or otherwise secure two rods or bars of iron,
preferably at or near the top of the pole and running or extending therefrom to
the ground at an angle of about 45 degrees, one on each side of the pole so that the
net may pass between them, they being say two inches apart.
The lower end of the pole or upright and that of the stays or supports I propose
to fit with an iron plate say about a foot square which, when they are once fixed
in the ground, will keep them from sinking or being driven deeper or inclining in
any direction.
One of the Poles will be provided with a hook or other means of attaching the
net rope and the opposite pole with my tightening and securing device; for which
purpose this latter pole will be provided with a rack or series of notches extending
say about 12 inches of its length and preferably near the top.
To the pole having the rack or notches I propose to pin or otherwise secure &
lever, and to fit this lever with a pawl or catch so placed that it may take into the
teeth of the rack or the notches on the pole automatically by the aid of a spring,
or be inserted by hand; and I propose to make this lever adjustable at different
heights upon the pole to suit the length of the net rope; by means of a pin passing
through holes in the pole or otherwise.

page_text: I also propose to place upon the upper end of each of the poles a friction roller
to facilitate the tension of the rope; and to provide the tightening lever with a
hook or other means of attaching the net rope thereto.
The poles being let into the ground to a suitable depth (preferably with the stays
or supports of each pole in the direction of the opposite pole so that where space
is restricted the pole of another Tennis ground may come close against it without
obstruction) the net rope is passed over the roller at top of the one pole and
attached to its hook, the other end of the rope being passed over the roller at top
of the opposite pole and secured to the tightening lever; the lever is then pressed
downwards until the rope is sufficiently tightened, and the catch or pawl on the
lever falling into the teeth or notches on the pole the net is securely fixed at a
suitable tension.
The strain being mainly borne by the stays or supports it will scarcely be possible
to disturb the poles in tightening the rope and the tension of the rope will keep
the catch or pawl in the tooth or notch until it is drawn out by a further depression
of the lever.
If it is desired to remove the poles with little disturbance or injury to the grass
the bottom or ground plates of the poles and of their supports need not be entered
into the ground but may be spiked or otherwise fixed thereon.
I propose to reserve the right of making my Poles and their appurtenances of any
suitable metal or combination of metals or materials, in as many pieces as I may
find desirable, and to fit the parts together in any convenient manner.

page_text: I, FREDERICK WILLIAM SQUIER, of No 44 Stapleton Hall Road, Stroud Green,
London, in the County of Middlesex, Saddler do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAWN TENNIS POLES" 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 Lawn Tennis Poles having for object
to ensure their stability and economize space in fixing them; also to facilitate the
securing of the net in position for playing.
It consists in an improved construction and arrangement of the poles and their
stays or supports and in a device for operating the tightening of the net and
securing it when taut.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawing
Figure 1 is an Elevation of Lawn Tennis poles and net embodying my improve-
ments and arranged for playing.
Figs 2 and
the net rope.
are front and end views of one of the poles having a hook to receive
Figure 3 a front view of the opposite pole having a ratchet and lever for
tightening up net, and
Figure 4 Shows tightening lever detached.
I may make my uprights or poles proper A, A¹ of one or more pieces.
.:
I now construct them of two pieces of iron say about 1 inches wide by of an
inch thick and of equal length, say about 4 feet, which I rivet together with blocks a
between them so that they are about an inch apart.
To these poles I rivet or otherwise secure two rods or bars of iron B, B¹, preferably
at or near the top of the pole and running or extending therefrom to the ground at
an angle of about 45 degrees, one on each side of the pole so that the net may pass
between then, they being say two inches apart.
The lower end of the pole or upright and that of the stays or supports I fit with
an iron plate C say about a foot square which, when they are once fixed in the
ground, will keep them from sinking or being driven deeper or inclining in any
direction to the one side or the other.
One of the Poles A will be provided with a hook D or other means of attaching
the net rope E and the opposite pole A¹ with my tightening and securing device
for which purpose this latter pole will be provided with a rack or series of notches F
extending say about 12 inches of its length and preferably near the top.
To the pole A¹ having the rack or notches I pin or otherwise secure a lever G
and fit this lever with a pawl or catch H so placed that it may take into the teeth
of the rack or the notches in the pole automatically by the aid of a spring, or be
inserted by hand, and I make this lever adjustable at different heights upon the
pole to suit the length of the net rope; by means of a pin passing through holes g
in the pole, or otherwise.
I also place upon the upper end of each of the poles a friction roller I to facilitate
the tension of the rope; and provide the tightening lever with a hook K or other.
means of attaching the net rope E thereto.
The poles being let into the ground to a suitable depth, preferably with the
stays or supports of each pole in the direction of the opposite pole, (as shown Fig 1)
so that where space is restricted the pole of another Tennis ground may come close
against it without obstruction. The net rope E is passed over the roller I at top
of the one pole A and attached to its hook D, the other end of the rope being

page_text: passed over the roller I at top of the opposite pole A¹ and secured to the hook K
of the tightening lever G; the lever G is then pressed downwards until the rope is
sufficiently tightened, and the catch or pawl H on the lever falling into the teeth
or notches F on the pole A¹ the net is securely fixed at a suitable tension.
The strain being mainly borne by the stays or supports B, B' it will scarcely be
possible to disturb the poles in tightening the rope and the tension of the rope will
keep the catch or pawl H in the tooth or notch F until it is drawn out by a
further depression of the lever.
If it is desired to remove the poles when play is over with little disturbance or
injury to the grass, the bottom or ground plates of the poles and of their supports
need not be entered into the ground as shown on the Drawing, but may be spiked
or otherwise fixed thereon.
I may make my Poles and their appurtenances of any suitable metal or com-
bination of metals or materials, in as many pieces as I may find desirable, and fit
the parts together in any convenient manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I Claim is
1. The construction and combination of Lawn tennis poles whereby they are
stayed and supported and the net tightened, substantially as described and
illustrated Figure 1 of the accompanying Sheet of Drawing.
2. A Lawn Tennis pole having the stays or supports B with plate C substantially
as and for the purposes specified.
3. A Lawn Tennis pole having the rack or teeth F, and provided with a lever G
operating the tightening of the net by the engagement of its pawl H in the teeth F;
the net rope being attached to this lever G and to the opposite pole, substantially
as described.
Dated this Twenty third day of January 1885.