IMPROVEMENTS IN LAWN TENNIS POLES
Year: 1884

page_text: "
I REGINALD PEARCE BROWN of Thorganby Hall in the county of York do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN LAWN
TENNIS POLES to be as follows:-
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My invention has for its object to facilitate the tightening of lawn tennis
nets and consists of the improvements in the poles hereinafter described whereby
the said poles are made capable of being moved adjusted and fixed in the vertical
plane in which the net is situated.
I fix in the ground two pins at the places where the poles are required. The
heads of these pins are above the surface of the ground. The bottoms of the poles
are jointed respectively to the heads of the said pins in such a way that the said
poles can turn upon their joints in the plane in which the net is situated. To the
head of each of the said pins a rack is attached the said racks lying on the ground
and extending under the net towards its middle. To the inner side of each pole
and somewhat above its middle a light rod or stay is jointed the lower chisel
pointed ends of which rest upon the racks respectively.
When the poles are turned upon their joints outwards, so as to separate them
and tighten the net held between them the chisel pointed ends of the stays slide
over the inclined teeth of the racks and abut against the vertical sides of the said
teeth thereby preventing the return motion of the poles.
Thus when it is wished to tighten the net it is only necessary to separate the
poles to the distance giving the required tightness when the poles are automatically
fixed in the positions to which they have been brought and the net is maintained
at the required degree of tension.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: I REGINALD PEARCE BROWN of Thorganby Hall in the County of York do
hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LAWN
TENNIS POLES" and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention has for its object to facilitate the tightening of lawn tennis nets
and consists of the improvements in the poles herein after described, whereby the
said poles are made capable of being moved, adjusted and fixed in the vertical
plane in which the net is situated.
I fix in the ground two pins or plugs at the places where the poles are required
so that the surface of these pins or plugs is level with the surface of the court.
Into each of these pins or plugs screw a plate (iron preferably) to which the
bottoms of the poles are jointed respectively in such a way that the said poles can
turn upon their joints in the plane in which the net is situated. To the head of
each of the said pins or plugs, a rack is attached the said racks lying on the ground
and extending under the net towards its middle. To the inner side of each pole
and near its middle a rod or stay is jointed the lower chisel pointed ends of which
rest upon the racks respectively.
When the poles are turned upon their joints outwards so as to separate them and
tighten the net held between them, the chisel pointed ends of the stays slide over
the inclined teeth of the racks and abut against the vertical sides of the said teeth
thereby preventing the return motion of the poles. Thus, when it is wished to
tighten the net it is only necessary to separate the poles to the distance giving the
required tightness when the poles are automatically fixed in the position to which
they have been brought and the net is maintained at the required degree of
tension.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawing represent sections taken at right
angles to one another of a lawn tennis pole and appliances combined therewith
constructed according to my invention; Figure 3 is a cross section of the pin or
plug which is driven into the ground and to which the pole is jointed. Figure 4
represents in vertical section the pin or plug with a portion of the joint screwed
to it Figure 5 represents in perspective partly in section and Figure 6 in plan the
pin or plug together with the rack. I have not thought it necessary to exhibit
the pole at the opposite end of the net to that represented as each pole and its
appliances are alike in construction and action but it must be understood that the
two poles are situated in the same plane as the net to be stretched or tightened
between them.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts; a is the wooden pin or
plug driven into the ground outside the court at the place where the pole is to be
fixed, the pins or plugs for the two poles being arranged so that their flat faces are
opposed to each other; b is the pole to which the lawn tennis net c is attached in
the ordinary way. The bottom of the pole b is jointed to the plug a by a joint
consisting of the plate d (preferably of iron) which is screwed by the screw
the plug a,
and a cross pin f, capable of removal, passed through the said plate d
and the forked bottom of the pole in the manner represented in Figure 2, where it
into

page_text: will be seen that the plate d forms the middle knuckle of the joint and the forked
bottom of the pole the side knuckles, the three knuckles being connected together
by the joint pin f. The pole 6 is thus jointed to the pin or plug a so that it can
turn upon its joint in the plane in which the net c is situated as will be understood
by an examination of the drawing g is the rack lying on the ground and extending
under the net towards its middle. This rack has by preference small inclined teeth
for the purpose of obtaining a fine adjustment of the tension of the net. The said
rack g is fixed by the collared end of it being fitted over the plate d and is thus
maintained in its proper position as seen in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawing.
Jointed at h³ to the inner side of the pole b at about its middle is a rod or stay h
having a chisel pointed end for engaging with the rack g.
The poles at the opposite ends of the net being constructed in the manner and
having the appliances shown with respect to one pole, it will be understood that
when the two poles are turned outwards upon their joints so as to separate the two
poles the chisel pointed ends of the two stays / slide over the inclined teeth of the
racks g and abut against the vertical sides of those teeth against which they have
been brought, thereby preventing the return motion of the poles. The net is thus
tightened to the required degree, the poles being automatically fixed in the positions
to which they have been adjusted and the net is maintained at the required degree
of tension.
I do not limit myself to the arrangement of parts described and represented for
jointing the poles to the pins or plugs as other analagous arrangements may be
adopted.
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
The combination with jointed lawn tennis poles capable of motion in the plane
of the net, of toothed racks and jointed stays whereby the said poles can be moved
and adjusted and automatically fixed in the required position for tightening the net
and for maintaining the net at the required degree of tension, the several parts
being constructed, arranged and acting substantially as herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.