Improvements in Means for Sustaining and Stretching Lawn Tennis Nets.
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in Means for Sustaining and Stretching Lawn
Tennis Nets.
I GEORGE LAMB SCOTT of Nelson Street, Manchester in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MEANS FOR SUSTAINING AND STRETCHING LAWN TENNIS NETS" to be as
follows:-
My Invention relates to the posts and fittings employed to sustain in an extended
state the nets used in the game of lawn tennis and has for its principal object to
obviate the tendency for such posts to yield to the strain of the tension of the nets
and to lean inward. I secure the post in or to a shoe which is hinged or jointed
to.a base plate and is formed with an arm which is provided with a screw which
abuts upon the said base plate or upon a separate plate or block which may be
provided with spikes to penetrate into the ground. By turning this screw the post
can be adjusted to assume a vertical position. The base plate is formed or provided
with a downward projecting fluke or is suitably formed or provided with means
whereby it can be anchored to the ground. The said shoe may be connected with
the base plate by means of a hinge joint or of a suitable articulated connection not
requiring a hinge pin. When using a hinge joint I may make the hinge pin
removable. The post may be secured to the shoe by means of a bayonet joint or of
a plain or tapering socket joint so that it can be readily inserted and withdrawn.
If preferred the said shoe might be formed in one piece with or be permanently
attached to the post. The screw may be provided with a vice attachment for
turning it or with a hand-wheel or bandle or be turned by means of a removable
handle or key. To tighten the cord which sustains the net I use a small windlass.
actuated by means of a worm and wheel and a handle. I may however use any
ordinary or suitable means for effecting the same purpose.
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
Agent.

page_text: Improvements in Means for Sustaining and Stretching Lawn
Tennis Nets.
I GEORGE LAMB SCOTT of Nelson Street, Manchester in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MEANS FOR SUSTAINING AND STRETCHING LAWN TENNIS NETS" and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement and accompanying drawings:-
:-
My Invention relates to the posts and fittings employed to sustain in an extended
state the nets used in the game of lawn tennis and has for its principal object to
obviate the tendency for such posts to yield to the strain of the tension of the nets
and to lean inward.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I will in the following
description refer to a sheet of drawings attached to this specification and to letters
and figures marked thereon that is to say:
Fig. 1 of the annexed drawings is an end elevation and Fig. 2 a side elevation of
my improved tennis post while Fig. 3 is a plan of the base, the post a being shown
in section. The post a is fitted with a metallic sleeve or shoe b. as shown by the
detached view Fig. 4, the said shoe having lugs, pins or projections c. or a pin
might be driven through both shoe and post so as to project on each side. The
post thus shod is dropped into a socket d on the socket plate d. the lugs or pins c.
entering slots in the sides of the said socket whereby the post is prevented from
turning round. The socket plate d. is hinged at e. to the base plate f. which is cast
with two lugs so as to form a double jaw to receive the said socket plate. The
socket plate is extended on one side of the socket so as to form a lever arm which
is furnished at one end with a set screw g. the end of which bears upon a plate h.
laid on the lawn, the level of which is represented by the line i. The plate h. is
formed with toes which grip the turf and prevent displacement. The base plate f.
is secured to the turf by means of screws j. or instead of screws spikes or other
holders might be used which will resist the strain on the post. In the example the
three screws. j. are shown one at the back of the base plate and one at each side
thereof so that the post a. is secured against side long thrusts as well as against the
direct strain of the net. The net is pulled taut by a roller upon the shaft of which
is a worm wheel . which gears with a worm l. actuated by means of a handle m.
The straining cord passes over the pulley . as shown by the dotted line and is
coiled on the roller. By turning the said handle the net can be strained to any
required degree without exerting a great force and the roller is locked in all
positions so that the net cannot possibly slip back and become loose. When the
net is thus strained the screws j. prevent the base f. from being displaced so that
the hinge e. is held securely. Should the post a yield slightly inwardly it will turn
upon the hinge 6. but by operating the set screw g. the outer end of the lever arm d.
is raised so as to return the post a to its vertical position. The base plate f. may
or may not be provided with toes as in the case of the plate h. It will be under-
stood that a post similar in all respects to the example described is fixed at the
other end of the net. In this opposite post however the straining roller may be

page_text: dispensed with. When it is desired to remove the net and posts the net is
slackened and the posts a are lifted out of the sockets d¹ and rolled up with the
net, or otherwise the hinge pin e. is withdrawn and the post and socket plate
removed together. Fig. 5 is a view of another method of securing the post in the
socket. The shoe b. is in this instance so shaped as to enter an under cut recess in
the socket d. The hinge c. may be situated in the position shown in Fig. 5 instead
of as in Fig. 2 or it might be in line with the centre of the post a.
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 improved tennis post supported in a socket having a lever arm and set
screw for adjusting the post vertically the said lever arm being pivotted on a base
plate substantially as described and shown.
2. In tennis posts the employment of a worm and worm wheel for straining the
net between the posts substantially as described and shown.
3. The general arrangement and combination of parts and fittings composing my
improved tennis post for the purposes and substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 23rd day of January 1886.
DUTTON & FULTON,
Agents.