A New or Improved Support and Stretcher for the Cord or String Carrying the Net of a New Game of Ball.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application. 12th Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 15th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 4th July, 1801
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Support and Stretcher for the Cord or String
Carrying the Net of a New Game of Ball.
1, EMMA BARKER, of 41 Gwendwr Road, West Kensington, in the County of
London, Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "A NEW
OR IMPROVED SUPPORT AND STRETCHER FOR THE CORD OR STRING CARRYING
THE NET OF A NEW GAME OF BALL to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an apparatus designed to be attached to a table on
which my newly invented game of ball is to be played and which is intended to
support and stretch the string or cord carrying the top of the net used in the game.
According to my invention my apparatus is constructed with an ordinary screw
clamp by which it may be attached to the table near one edge thereof and
from the top of the clamp rises a vertical rod or bar on one side of which are
a series of notches or teeth each tooth having preferably one side inclined and
one vertical to the bar the vertical side facing downwards. Across the top of
the bar is a slot or hollow in which the cord or string is to lie, or the top of
the bar may be flat and guide pieces may be fixed thereto to hold the cord or
string on the top of the bar when it is in use.
On the bar slides a loosely fitting stirrup shaped piece, to the eye or top of which
one end of the cord is attached, the other preferably flat end of the stirrup is
made to engage with the teeth on the bar.
The cord passes from the stirrup over the slot in the top of the bar, across
the table over the top of another and similar bar and is tied to the stirrup on
such bar.
In order to tighten the cord it is only necessary to draw one of the stirrups
downwards on its bar, the teeth into or with which the stirrup engages prevent
its return, and the tension of the string draws it firmly against the teeth.
In this way the net for my said new game is speedily and easily fastened and
adjusted on the table and the cords are kept sufficiently tight to prevent the net
gagging unduly.
Dated 12th day of August 1890.
NEWNHAM BROWNE,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Support and Stretcher for the Cord or String
Carrying the Net of a New Game of Ball.
1, EMMA BARKER, of 41 Gwendwr Road, West Kensington, in the County of
London, Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention 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 an apparatus designed to be attached to a table on which
my newly invented game of ball is to be played, and which apparatus is intended
to support and stretch the string or cord carrying the top of the net used in the
game.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying sheet of drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation about half the usual size; Fig. 2 is a front elevation ;
Fig. 3 is an elevation of the stirrup about full size, and Fig. 4 is a section of the
same.

page_text: According to my invention my apparatus is constructed with an ordinary screw
clamp A. by which it may be attached to the table near one edge thereof, and from
the top of the said clamp rises a vertical rod or bar B on one side of which are a
series of notches or teeth c, c, each tooth having preferably one side inclined and
one vertical to the bar, the vertical side facing downwards as shown in the
drawings. Across the top of the bar is a slot or hollow D in which the cord, or
string f to lie.
On the bar slides a loosely fitting stirrup-shaped piece E, to the top of which one
end of the cord, or string, is attached, the other end of the stirrup is made to
engage with the teeth on the bar, and is made with an inclined face to correspond
with the teeth.
The cord passes from the stirrup E, over the slot D in the top of the bar B,
across the table, over the top of another and similar bar which is clamped to the
opposite edge of the table, and is tied to the stirrup on such bar.
In order to tighten the cord it is only necessary to draw one of the stirrups
downwards on its bar, the teeth into or with which the stirrup engages prevents its
return, and the tension of the string draws the inclined face y of the stirrup firmly
against the teeth.
It will be obvious that the supporting bar on one side of the table may be
made without a rack and stirrup, the cord being directly attached to an eye, or the
like, at the top of the bar, but I prefer to use similar bars on each side of the
table.
In this way the net for my said new game is speedily and easily fastened and
adjusted on the table; and the cords are kept sufficiently tight to prevent the net
sagging unduly.
The game is as follows:-
1. The net is placed in the middle of a table, which forms the court.
2. The service courts are formed by a piece of tape coming down the centre of
the table, with cross lines running parallel to and at a distance of eighteen inches
from the net. The tapes are fixed by drawing-pins under the table.
3. The rules for playing and counting are identical with those of lawn tennis,
with the following exceptions:
(a.) The service must be delivered underhand (ie., all the hand must be below
the elbow), and the service ball struck at a point beyond the far end of the
table.
(b.) A ball which, before it bounds, hits the person or racket of the striker
out, provided he is not leaning over the table or does not touch the ball with
his racket in an attempt to take it, counts against the striker.
(c.) Back-handed stokes or service not allowed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. A support and stretcher for the cord or string carrying the net of a certain
new game of ball, substantially as above described and shown in the drawings
annexed hereto.
2. The construction and arrangement, substantially as hereinbefore described, of
the apparatus for supporting and stretching a cord, or string, across a table.
3. In an apparatus for stretching a cord, or string, across a table, the com-
bination of the rack-edged bar B, its slotted end D, the clamp A and the stirrup E,
substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the drawings.
1
1011 1
1001
EMMA BARKER.