Improvements in Means or Devices for Supporting Posts, such as Lawn Tennis Posts and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Means or Devices for Supporting Posts, such as
Lawn Tennis Posts and the like.
We, ALBERT WALTER GAMAGE, Outfitter, and ALBERT EDWARD LOCK, Salesman,
both of 126 and 128, Holborn, in the City of London, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention has for its object improvements in the means or devices for
supporting posts, such as lawn-tennis posts and the like. Such posts as hitherto
fixed are not sufficiently secure, or the fixing is unsightly and inconvenient. A
post fixed according to the present invention is firm, can readily be removed or
replaced and the devices for fixing the same are inexpensive and not cumbersome.
The means or devices employed according to this invention are: a holder sunk
in the ground, a base laying on the ground or sunk just sufficiently to be flush
with the ground, and a side support at the same level as the base.
The holder has at its centre a chamber suitably shaped to receive the lower
end of the post, say square. The walls of this chamber form the body of this
part. The body extends downward below the line where the post terminates
and this lower portion tapers to a point. From the sides of the body project
wing pieces which are broad at the top and taper downwards so as to meet the
point of the body. The upper edge of the chamber may have a flange to engage
with the base hereinafter described.
This holder is forced into the ground until its top is flush or nearly flush
therewith. The point allows it to be readily driven in and the wings secure it
against torsional strains.
The base is a plate, preferably shaped like a cross or star, and has an aperture
at the centre for the passage of the post. It may have a flange at its lower
surface or otherwise be made to engage with the holder so as not to turn thereon.
This secures the post against strains that tend to overturn it.
In order further to secure the post against the principal side strain upon the
same, a side support is provided where requisite, this is an elongated plate, or
a curved broad bar the end or ends of which fit into a recess or recesses in the
base and affords further bearing surface at that side towards which the post is
pulled when in use.
When the post is first to be set up, the holder is driven into the ground, the
base and side support are next put into place, and then the post is slipped into
the socket or chamber adapted for same.
When the post is to be removed it is pulled out, the base and side support may
also be removed, the holder may remain in the ground and the aperture therein
closed by a cap or plug to prevent the same being filled up or choked, by sand

page_text: say. In order to set the post up again the cap or plug is removed and the other
parts replaced.
Dated this 2nd day of March 1898.
BERNHARD DUKES,
226, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.
We, ALBERT WALTER GAMAGE, Outfitter, and ALBERT EDWARD LOCK, Salesman,
both of 126 and 128, Holborn, in the City of London, 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:
A
This invention has for its object improvements in the means or devices for
supporting posts, such as lawn-tennis posts, and the like. Such posts as hitherto
fixed are not sufficiently secure, or the fixing is unsightly and inconvenient.
post fixed according to the present invention is firm, can readily be removed or
replaced and the devices for fixing the same are inexpensive and not cumbersome.
This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,
Fig. 1, shews the lower part of a post and the several parts (some in section).
of the devices for supporting it.
Fig. 2, is a plan of the holder,
Fig. 3, is a plan of the base,
Fig. 4, is a plan of the side support.
The holder A is sunk in the ground, the base B is laid on the ground, or
sunk just sufficiently to be flush with the ground, and the side support C is at
the same level as the base.
The holder has at its centre a chamber a suitably shaped to receive the lower
end of the post D, say square. The walls of this chamber form the body of
this part. The body extends downward below the line where the post terminates
and the lower portion tapers to a point a¹. From the sides of the body project
wing pieces A which are broad at the top and taper downwards so as to meet
the point of the body. The upper edge of the chamber may have a flange a²
where it meets the base B.
This holder is forced into the ground until its top is flush or nearly flush
therewith. The point allows it to be readily driven in and the wings secure it
against torsional strains.
The base shewn in central section Fig. 1, and plan Fig. 3, is a plate shaped
like a cross or star or as shewn in the drawings, and has an aperture at the
centre for the passage of the post. It may have a flange at its lower surface or
otherwise be made to engage with the holder so as not to turn thereon. This
secures the post against strains that tend to overturn it.
In order to further secure the post against the principal side strain upon the
same, a side support C is provided where requisite, this is an elongated plate.
or a curved broad bar the end or ends of which fit into a recess or recesses c¹¹
in the base and affords further bearing surfaces at that side towards which the
post D is pulled when in use.
When the post is first to be set up, the holder is driven into the ground the
base and side support are next put into place, and then the post is slipped into
the socket or chamber adapted for same.

page_text: When the post is to be removed it is pulled out, the base and side support may
also be removed, the holder may remain in the ground and the aperture therein
closed by a cap or plug to prevent the same being filled up or choked by sand say.
In order to set the post up again the cap or plug is removed and the other parts
replaced as before."
We are aware that posts for lawn tennis nets and the like have ere now been.
fitted with bases and side supports and we therefore make no claim for these
parts but,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
A holder for insertion into the ground, having wing pieces to prevent its
displacement by torsional strains, and a chamber for receiving the lower end of
the post to be supported thereby, the said holder acting in conjunction with a
base and a side support, all as and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 5th day of December 1898.
BERNHARD DUKES,
Agent for the Applicants, 226, High Holborn, London, W.C.