Improvements in Tents.
Year: 1885

page_text: [This Specification was, upon the First day of March, 1887 amended under Sections
18 to 21 of the Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks Act, 1883.]
Improvements in Tents.
I, JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by Hugh Robert Stewart Captain in the Royal
Navy at present residing at Ramleh, Alexandria, Egypt to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object to provide a tent which is readily and firmly
fixable in place and the position of which can when necessary be altered with
facility to present the opening in any desired direction.
According to this Invention the canvas or material of the tent is fixed to ribs
which are of a flexible or yielding material or structure. The ribs are preferably
at the interior of the canvas or material of the net and enclosed in or covered by a
strip of waterproof or other material. The portions of canvas or material of the
tent between the ribs are triangular shaped at or lessening towards the top so that
the ribs are close together at their upper ends whilst their lower ends can be
opened out from each other to the extent allowed by the canvas or material.
When a tent pole is used the upper ends of the ribs may be fitted to a collar
capable of sliding on the tent pole. When the tent is to be erected it is brought to
the required place and the outer ends of the ribs are placed or secured at the
corners of the space which the tent is to cover, the tent then being of a pyramidal
form. Then by means of a weight or by a downward pressure or strain applied in
any suitable way the upper ends of the ribs are drawn or forced down and the ribs
To exclude dust
are bowed out and a tent is thereby formed with curved sides.
insects or the like I form or secure around the lower portion of the material of the
tent a strip preferably of waterproof material which projects and lies upon the
ground for a little distance preferably inside the tent and its inner edge may be
turned down and buried in the earth to make a secure closure. Any suitable
arrangement of stays may be used such as three attached at the top of the tont and
secured to tent pegs. When a tent pole is used the end which projects when the
collar to which the ribs are attached is lowered may be utilized to attach a cover or
outer tent and the storm stays.
A tent arranged according to this Invention may be turned round to face
anyway without disturbing either the pole or the pegs.
DUL 17th dow of December 1885

page_text: Improvements in Tents.
I, JAMES YATE JOHNSON, of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by Hugh Robert Stewart Captain in the Royal
Navy, at present residing at Ramleh, Alexandria, Egypt, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This Invention has for its object to provide a tent which is easily transportable,
and readily and firmly fixable in place, and which can when so desired be so
arranged that its position can, when necessary be altered with facility to present
the opening in any desired direction.
According to this Invention the canvas or material of the tent is fixed or
attachable to ribs which are of a flexible or yielding material or structure. The ribs
are preferably at the interior of the canvas or material of the tent and enclosed in
or covered by a strip of waterproof or other material. The portions of canvas or
material of the tent between the ribs are triangular shaped or lessening in width
towards the top so that the ribs are close together at their upper ends whilst their
lower ends can be opened out from each other to the extent allowed by the canvas
or other material. Where a tent pole is used the upper ends of the ribs may be
fitted to a collar capable of sliding on the tent pole. When the tent is to be
erected it is brought to the required place and the outer ends of the ribs are placed
or secured at the corners of the space which the tent is to cover, the tent then
being of a pyramidal form, and the ends of the ribs may be forced into the ground
for which purpose the ribs may project a suitable distance from the lower part of
the covering material. Then by means of a weight or by a downward pressure or
strain applied in any suitable way, the upper ends of the ribs are drawn or forced
down and the ribs are bowed out and a tent is thereby formed with curved sides
and without the use of tent pegs.
To exclude dust, insects or the like, I form or secure around the lower portion of
the material of the tent an extension of the material, or a strip preferably of
waterproof material which when the tent is pitched lies upon the ground for a
little distance, preferably inside the tent, and its inner edge may be turned down
and buried in the earth to make, a secure closure. Any suitable arrangement of
stays may be used, such as three attached at the top of the tent and secured to
ent pegs. When a tent pole is used the end which projects when the collar to
which the ribs are attached is lowered, may be utilized to attach a cover or outer
ten and the storm stays.
A tent arranged according to this Invention when provided with a pole may be
urned round to face any way without disturbing either the pole or the pegs. The
entrance or entrances to the tent may be closed from the interior by lacing the
covering of the entrance to the edges thereof or by other suitable means,

page_text: And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the drawings represents in perspective a tent constructed according
to this Invention and Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same, the section being
taken along two of the opposite ribs, battens, or supports. Figure 3 is a per-
spective view of a similar tent provided with an additional outer covering or
sunshade and Figure 4 is a detail hereinafter referred to.
In carrying out this invention any desired number of flexible ribs, battens or
supports for carrying the canvas may be employed according to the size of tent
required. The drawings illustrate a small sized tent in which only four ribs A are
employed. These ribs are hinged at their upper ends a to a metal ferrule or
collar B (shewn on a larger scale in Figure 4) so as to be capable of lying close
together or of being opened out to any desired extent-A plug C is fitted in the
ferrule or collar B and is prevented from passing through the said collar by an
enlargement or shoulder band is also provided on the inner end with a hook or
ring c for the attachment thereto of a weight or its equivalent as hereinafter
described. The canvas or material D of the tent may be connected to the ribs or
battens A in any suitable manner, but a convenient mode of connecting the said
canvas to the ribs is shewn in Figure 4 of the drawings and consists in forming
sleeves or tubes d on the interior of the canvas through which sleeves or tubes the
ribs are passed, leaving their lower ends projecting below the lower edge of the
canvas. The upper edge or apex of the canvas covering, may if desired be attached
to the ferrule or collar B as shewn at 62 or otherwise.
To erect the tent the ribs or battens A are opened out, as shewn by the dotted
lines in Figure 2, as far as the canvas will admit, and the lower ends of the said
ribs may be insorted in the ground or made to rest on the surface thereof.
A weight B, sufficient to bend the ribs or battens A. outwards and cause them to
take a form similar to that shewn by the full lines in Figure 2, is then attached
to the ring or hook C. This weight may consist of a bag of sand or stones or other
material and may be hauled up to the ring C so as not to cause an obstruction ;
or instead of a weight a screw picket may be driven into the ground, as shewn at é
in Figure 2, directly under the ring C and connected to the said ring by hauling
blocks and ropes by means of which the tops of the ribs may be depressed and the
ribs bent or bowed outwards to any desired extent.
The tent may be steadied and protected against strong winds by means of stay
ropes E, Figure 1, attached to the upper projecting end of the plug C and made
fast to the ground by tent pegs F. To prevent dust and rain from passing beneath
the canvas to the interior of the tent I attach to the lower edge thereof a strip or
extension of waterproof canvas f so as to lie on the ground within the tent as
shewn in Figure 2 and the inner edge of the said extension or strip of waterproof
canvas may be buried in the ground to prevent it catching the feet of the
occupants and also to prevent the entrance of vermin and insects-If desired a pole
may be employed instead of the plug C the ferrule or collar B being then fitted to
slide upon
the said pole by means of a weigh or hauling tackle attached to the
said collar at c. The tent may be turned on the pole so as to alter the aspect of
the entrance as required, without disturbing the pole or the tent pegs to which the
wind stays E are attached.
When an outer tent or sun-shade is employed with the tent proper as shewn in
Figure 3, the said outer tent G is attached at its apex to the projecting end of the
pole or stud C and secured in position by ropes g and tent pegs F. The inner tent
or tent proper may be rotated as required on the pole for the purpose of
changing the aspect of the door or entrance without disturbing the said outer
The entrance may be shaded by a canvas awning supported by stays i as
shewn, or in any other suitable manner,
tent.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. For noe with tents, supports composed of flexible ribs which at one end are
inserted into or supported by the ground, and at the other end form the apex
or centre of the upper part of the tent and can be forced or drawn downwards so
as to form the complete supports for the tent or inner tent substantially us herein-
before described.
2. A tent, formed of flexible ribs, combined with, attached to or enclosed in, a
eover, so that when the ribs are placed in position the upper parts of the ribs can
be forced downwards by a weight or otherwise so as to cause the ribs to be bowed
outwards and form an erected tent as hereinbefore described.
3. 1. A tent consisting of the combination of flexible ribs, a cover, and means for
forcing or drawing down the ribs so as to bow them when the tent is pitched
substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. In tente, a piece or extension secured or formed round the lower edge of the
tent cover so as to rest upon the ground, and if necessary be partly buried in the
ground, substantially us hereinbefore described and illustrated by the necompanying
drawings.
5. 2. The arrangements and combinations of parts constituting the tents illustrated.
6. 3. The combination of a tent as claimed by the preceding claiming clauses with
a pole and stays so arranged as to enable the tent to be readily turned for the
opening to face any required way as .hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
1011 1
1000

page_text: I, JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by Hugh Robert Stewart Captain in the Royal
Navy at present residing at Ramleh, Alexandria, Egypt to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object to provide a tent which is readily and firmly
fixable in place and the position of which can when necessary be altered with
facility to present the opening in any desired direction.
According to this Invention the canvas or material of the tent is fixed to ribs
which are of a flexible or yielding material or structure. The ribs are preferably
at the interior of the canvas or material of the net and enclosed in or covered by a
strip of waterproof or other material. The portions of canvas or material of the
tent between the ribs are triangular shaped at or lessening towards the top so that
the ribs are close together at their upper ends whilst their lower ends can be
opened out from each other to the extent allowed by the canvas or material.
When a tent pole is used the upper ends of the ribs may be fitted to a collar
capable of sliding on the tent pole. When the tent is to be erected it is brought to
the required place and the outer ends of the ribs are placed or secured at the
corners of the space which the tent is to cover, the tent then being of a pyramidal
form. Then by means of a weight or by a downward pressure or strain applied in
any suitable way the upper ends of the ribs are drawn or forced down and the ribs
are bowed out and a tent is thereby formed with curved sides. To exclude dust
insects or the like I form or secure around the lower portion of the material of the
tent a strip preferably of waterproof material which projects and lies upon the
ground for a little distance preferably inside the tent and its inner edge may be
turned down and buried in the earth to make a secure closure. Any suitable
arrangement of stays may be used such as three attached at the top of the tent and
secured to tent pegs. When a tent pole is used the end which projects when the
collar to which the ribs are attached is lowered may be utilized to attach a cover or
outer tent and the storm stays.
A tent arranged according to this Invention may be turned round to face
nyway without disturbing either the pole or the pegs.

page_text: Improvements in Tents.
I, JAMES YATE JOHNSON, of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by Hugh Robert Stewart Captain in the Royal
Navy, at present residing at Ramleh, Alexandria, Egypt, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:―
This Invention has for its object to provide a tent which is easily transportable,
and readily and firmly fixable in place, and which can when so desired be so
arranged that its position can, when necessary be altered with facility to present
the opening in any desired direction.
According to this Invention the canvas or material of the tent is fixed or
attachable to ribs which are of a flexible or yielding material or structure. The ribs
are preferably at the interior of the canvas or material of the tent and enclosed in
or covered by a strip of waterproof or other material. The portions of canvas or
material of the tent between the ribs are triangular shaped or lessening in width
towards the top so that the ribs are close together at their upper ends whilst their
lower ends can be opened out from each other to the extent allowed by the canvas
or other material. Where a tent pole is used the upper ends of the ribs may be
fitted to a collar capable of sliding on the tent pole. When the tent is to be
erected it is brought to the required place and the outer ends of the ribs are placed
or secured at the corners of the space which the tent is to cover, the tent then
being of a pyramidal form, and the ends of the ribs may be forced into the ground
for which purpose the ribs may project a suitable distance from the lower part of
the covering material. Then by means of a weight or by a downward pressure or
strain applied in any suitable way, the upper ends of the ribs are drawn or forced
down and the ribs are bowed out and a tent is thereby formed with curved sides
and without the use of tent pegs.
To exclude dust, insects or the like, I form or secure around the lower portion of
the material of the tent an extension of the material, or a strip preferably of
waterproof material which when the tent is pitched lies upon the ground for a
little distance, preferably inside the tent, and its inner edge may be turned down
and buried in the earth to make a secure closure. Any suitable arrangement of
stays may be used, such as three attached at the top of the tent and secured to
tent pegs.
When a tent pole is used the end which projects when the collar to
which the ribs are attached is lowered, may be utilized to attach a cover or outer
tent and the storm stays.
A tent arranged according to this Invention when provided with a pole may be
turned round to face any way without disturbing either the pole or the pegs. The
entrance or entrances to the tent may be closed from the interior by lacing the
covering of the entrance to the edges thereof or by other suitable means.

page_text: And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood. I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the drawings represents in perspective a tent constructed according
to this Invention and Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same, the section being
taken along two of the opposite ribs, battens, or supports. Figure 3 is a per-
spective view of a similar tent provided with an additional outer covering or
sunshade and Figure 4 is a detail hereinafter referred to.
In carrying out this invention any desired number of flexible ribs, battens or
supports for carrying the canvas may be employed according to the size of tent
required. The drawings illustrate a small sized tent in which only four ribs A are
employed. These ribs are hinged at their upper ends a to a metal ferrule or
collar B (shewn on a larger scale in Figure 4) so as to be capable of lying close
together or of being opened out to any desired extent-A plug C is fitted in the
ferrule or collar B and is prevented from passing through the said collar by an
enlargement or shoulder b and is also provided on the inner end with a hook or
ring c for the attachment thereto of a weight or its equivalent as hereinafter
described. The canvas or material D of the tent may be connected to the ribs or
battens A in any suitable manner, but a convenient inode of connecting the said
canvas to the ribs is shewn in Figure 4 of the drawings and consists in forming
sleeves or tut es d on the interior of the canvas through which sleeves or tubes the
ribs are passed, leaving their lower ends projecting below the lower edge of the
canvas. The upper edge or apex of the canvas covering, may if desired be attached
to the ferrule or collar B as shewn at 62 or otherwise.
To erect the tent the ribs or battens A are opened out, as shewn by the dotted
lines in Figure 2, as far as the canvas will admit, and the lower ends of the said
ribs may be inserted in the ground or made to rest on the surface thereof.
A weight B, sufficient to bend the ribs or battens A outwards and cause them to
take a form similar to that shewn by the full lines in Figure 2, is then attached
to the ring or hook C. This weight may consist of a bag of sand or stones or other
material and may be hauled up to the ring C so as not to cause an obstruction;
or instead of a weight a screw picket may be driven into the ground, as shewn at e
in Figure 2, directly under the ring C and connected to the said ring by hauling
blocks and ropes by means of which the tops of the ribs may be depressed and the
ribs bent or bowed outwards to any desired extent.
The tent may be steadied and protected against strong winds by means of stay
ropes E, Figure 1, attached to the upper projecting end of the plug C and made
fast to the ground by tent pegs F. To prevent dust and rain from passing beneath
the canvas to the interior of the tent I attach to the lower edge thereof a strip or
extension of waterproof canvas f so as to lie on the ground within the tent as
shewn in Figure 2 and the inner edge of the said extension or strip of waterproof
canvas may be buried in the ground to prevent it catching the feet of the
occupants and also to prevent the entrance of vermin and insects-If desired a pole
may be employed instead of the plug C the ferrule or collar B being then fitted to
slide upon the said pole by means of a weigh or hauling tackle attached to the
said collar at c². The tent may be turned on the pole so as to alter the aspect of
the entrance as required, without disturbing the pole or the tent pegs to which the
wind stays E are attached.
When an outer tent or sun-shade is employed with the tent proper as shewn in
Figure 3, the said outer tent G is attached at its apex to the projecting end of the
pole or stud C and secured in position by ropes g and tent pegs F. The inner tent
or tent proper may be rotated as required on the pole C for the purpose of
changing the aspect of the door or entrance h without disturbing the said outer
tent. The entrance h may be shaded by a canvas twuing supported by stays i as
shewn, or in any other suitable manner.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
--
1. For use with tents, supports composed of flexible ribs which at one end are
inserted into or supported by the ground, and at the other end form the apex
or centre of the upper part of the tent and can be forced or drawn downwards so
as to form the complete supports for the tent or inner tent substantially as herein-
before described.
2. A tent, formed of flexible ribs, combined with, attached to or enclosed in, a
cover, so that when the ribs are placed in position the upper parts of the ribs can
be forced downwards by a weight or otherwise so as to cause the ribs to be bowed
outwards and form an erected tent as hereinbefore described.
3. A tent consisting of the combination of flexible ribs, a cover, and means for
forcing or drawing down the ribs so as to bow them when the tent is pitched
substantially as herein before described.
4. In tents, a piece or extension secured or formed round the lower edge of the
tent cover so as to rest upon the ground, and if necessary be partly buried in the
ground, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
5. The arrangements and combinations of parts constituting the tents illustrated.
6. The combination of a tent as claimed by the preceding claiming clauses with
a pole and stays so arranged as to enable the tent to be readily turned for the
opening to face any required way as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
accompanying drawings."