Improvements in Tent Poles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application. 4th Oct., 1892-Accented, 5th Nov., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tent Poles.
I, JOHN CHADWICK of 32 Victoria Street, Landport, Portsmouth, in the County
of Hants, Blacksmith, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
mauner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The object of the present invention is to design a tent pole, which while capable
of upholding the tent, will obviate the tendency found in present poles to bend or
break the pole or ropes or draw the tent pegs out of the ground in stormy weather.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing
which is a section of the upper portion of the pole illustrating the invention. The
invention substantially consists of the embodiment in or attachment to the pole of a
resilient or movable portion which by giving way under excessive or abnormal
stress and recovering itself when the stress is removed, will prevent the occur-
rence of the difficulties above mentioned. The invention may be carried out in
various ways as will be readily understood, but the following description will serve
to explain it.
A is a portion of the tent pole made of any suitable or customary material and
upon the upper end of this is a tube or hollow portion B containing a helical
spring C supported in any suitable position in the tube B by resting on the end of
the pole A, by a special stop B₁ or in any other convenient manner.
Where a
special stop is provided in the tube under the bottom of the spring it will be seen
that the whole of the top portion can be readily changed from one pole to another
thus making it very conveniently portable. It can however of course be changed
from one pole to another in any case, but more conveniently with the above
mentioned arrangement.
Into the tube B enters the movable end D of the pole; this may be either solid
or hollow and its inner end is adapted to engage with the outer end of the spring C
a washer or plate E with advantage being placed between the two.
The rod or
tube D may if desired be a convenient fit in the tube B, but as it is desirable to
provide means for supporting a table or other device around the pole at a con-
venient height from the ground, I find it convenient to insert a gland
which may
be screwed in or otherwise prevented from coming out and which carries lugs G to
which cords or other fastening devices may be attached. The rod D slides inside
the gland when the latter is employed. The rod D may terminate in
any desired
form of lead and may have any required means for securing the ropes to it and
may also carry a small flagstaff or other ornamentation if desired, the flagstaff
either being fitted directly to the movable portion D or passing down through
a central perforation in it and through the spring C and resting on the stop B' or
end of pole A.
It will be readily appreciated that instead of the movable portion D sliding inside
the tube B the movable portion may be tubular and may be made to slide outside
the pole or a fitting thereon. Also instead of the single spring C shown in the
drawing, a number may be employed if desired, placed around suitable rods, or
other arrangements may be employed. The above mentioned table or platform
may be hung around the pole at any desired height, and is particularly useful in the
army or for volunteers for supporting the rifles, notches or catches being provided
for the purpose.
The employment of a movable top as above described is preferred but so long
as the length of the pole can automatically vary to suit circumstances, it will be
understood that it is not essential that the accommodation device should be at the
on of the nole.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The employment in combination with a tent pole of means whereby abnormal
strains may be accommodated, substantially as described.
2. The combination with a tent pole of a movable portion for the purpose of
accommodating abnormal strains substantially as described.
3. The combination with a tent pole of a tube spring and movable top respectively
such as B C and D substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawing.
4. The combination with a tent pole of a tube spring movable top and gland
respectively such as B C D and F. substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawing.
$
1009
JOHN CHADWICK.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.