A New or Improved Spring Socket for Tent Poles.
Year: 1898

page_text: NOVIUNAL DE MULTIVATION.
A New or Improved Spring Socket for Tent Poles.
We, THOMAS PAGE and JAMES STEWART, Masons, both of 145, Berg Street,
Maritzburg, Natal, South Africa, do hereby declare the nature of this invention.
to be as follows:-
This invention consists of a spiral spring (flat or round) enclosed in a sheath
preferably about two feet long. The spring occupying when uncompressed a;
length of about one foot in said sheath the upper end being fixed say six inches
from the top of the sheath leaving thus six inches at each end to serve as sockets.
for the two halves of the pole. The purpose of this spring is to allow for the
tension on the canvas when the latter becomes wet, and afterwards to raise it,
to its original level when dry. The spring should be of just sufficient strength
to bear the weight of the canvas when thoroughly dry without being depressed.
The sheath may be fixed to the upper half of the pole so as to prevent any dust
or other obstruction from getting in whilst in use. The sheath may be made of
galvanized iron or some anti corrosive metal. It would be advisable also to have
the upper end of the lower pole shod with the same metal, to prevent expansion:
from dampness and to ensure a perfect fit.
By the use of this spring socket the shrinking of the canvas when wet is allowed
for by the compression of the spring, and when the canvas again dries the spring,
will again expand and keep the canvas taut. It will thus be unnecessary to use
wooden braces on the curtain ropes, nor will guide ropes be required, thus curtain
ropes need only be used. Iron pegs having rings or eyes for the attachment of
the curtain ropes may be used, since it is unnecessary to slacken the ropes when it
rains. The cost of the tent will therefore not be quite increased by the use of this
invention which can be applied either to new poles or to those already in use.
Dated this 5th day of August 1898.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicants.
We, THOMAS PAGE and JAMES STEWART, Masons, both of 145, Berg Street,
Maritsburg, Natal, South Africa, 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:-
This invention comprises a helical spring enclosed in a sheath of requisite length
for example about two feet long. The spring may occupy when uncompressed a

page_text: length of about one foot in said sheath the upper end being fixed say six inches
from the top of the sheath leaving thus six inches at each end to serve as sockets
for the two halves of the pole but we do not necessarily confine ourselves to
these dimensions.
In the annexed drawing, Fig. 1 shows a method of applying this invention to
the poles of single pole tents. Fig. 2 illustrates its application to an upright
pole of a marquee or tent having-two or more upright poles and a ridge pole."
A is the upper part of a single pole, B the lower part, the latter shod with
metal at C to better slide in the sheath D which is fixed to the upper pole A for
example by screws E. F is the spring which may be secured by staples Gor
otherwise. His a rod for the better stiffening of the pole at this place.
In Fig. 2 the sheath is placed at the head of the pole B and is closed at the
upper end on which rests the end of the ridge pole J. The rod H is prolonged to
pass through the ridge pole J and carry the ornamental knob K screwed thereon.
It will be understood that with single poles the sheath may be similarly
placed on the upper or it might be the lower end and it is not essential to divide
the pole into two parts, an upper and a lower to receive the socket between them.
The purpose of the spring is to allow for the tension on the canvas when the
latter becomes wet, and afterwards to raise it to its original level when dry. The
spring should be of just sufficient strength to bear the weight of the canvas
when thoroughly dry without being depressed. The sheath D may be fixed to
the upper part A of the pole so as to prevent any dust or other obstruction from
getting in whilst in use. The sheath D may be made of galvanized iron or
some anti corrosive metal. It is advisable also to have the upper end of the lower
pole B shod with the same metal as at C to prevent expansion from dampness
and to ensure a perfect fit.
By the use of this spring socket the shrinking of the canvas when wet is allowed
for by the compression of the spring, and when the canvas again dries the spring
will again expand and keep the canvas taut. It will thus be unnecessary to
use wooden braces on the curtain ropes, nor will guide ropes be required, thus
curtain ropes need only be used. Iron pegs having rings or eyes for the attach-
ment of the curtain ropes may therefore be used, since it is unnecessary to slacken
the ropes when it rains. The cost of the tent will therefore not be increased by
the use of this invention which can be applied either to new poles or to those
already in use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. The combination with a tent pole of a socket adapted to receive said tent
pole and to slide longitudinally thereon and a spring in said socket having fixed
bearing therein and adapted to have counter bearing against the end of said
pole when inserted in said socket substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. The combination with a tent pole in two parts of a socket slid upon and fixed
upon the end of one part of said pole and adapted to slidably receive the end
of the other part of said pole and a spring in said socket between the pole ends
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. A spring socket for a tent pole constructed substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicants, 18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London.