Year: 1885

page_text: ARTHUR EDWARD HEATHCOTE of Colwyn Bay, North Wales, Architect do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide more effective and convenient means
than heretofore of fixing and unfixing with readiness and facility lawn tennis posts
and nets and supporting same without the use of wood or other pegs which are
inconvenient to fix as well as liable to become loose whereas lawn tennis posts and
nets supported and arranged according to my invention may be fitted or erected
and removed with great facility.
The foot in or upon which the post rests is made of iron or other suitable
material, is of elongated shape and has an aperture in the centre with a socket
below which is let into the ground and into which socket the bottom of the post
fits. The flat upper part of the foot rests upon the ground and has at one end a
tooth or projection. The cord at the top of the net passes through an aperture in
the top of the post and thence to the tooth at the end of the foot to which it is
attached by means of a loop and sliding block or other arrangement for raising and
lowering the net: A ring or hook of iron or other material may be attached to the
cord for greater convenience of passing under the tooth. The pole may also be
supported or stayed by a connecting rod, chain or other arrangement running from
the tooth on the foot and attached to the post. The stay rod for supporting the
net between the posts is of iron or other material and is bent over at the top and
then bent round again forming two bends or Us of equal diameter the upper U
being reversed. Space is left between the upright rod and the returned end to
allow the top cord or band of the net to be inserted. When the top cord or band
is thus placed in the bent top of the stay rod it cannot either rise or fall from the
proper height at which it is desired it should be kept. The stay rod stands in or
upon a socket of iron or other material let into the ground and is retained by.
projecting nib and corresponding slot in which it works.
Lawn tennis posts and nets supported and stayed in the manner before described
are easy of adjustment, readily removed and refixed and are very steady and
firm while the cord or band at top of net is most securely held at the proper
height.

page_text: I, ARTHUR EDWARD HEATHCOTE of Colwyn Bay, North Wales, Architect 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:-
The object of my invention is to provide more effective and convenient means
than heretofore of fixing and unfixing with readiness and facility lawn tennis posts
and nets, and supporting same without the use of wood or other pegs which are
inconvenient to fix, as well as liable to become loose; whereas lawn tenuis posts
and nets supported and arranged according to my invention, may be fitted or
erected and removed with great facility.
And in order that my invention may be easily understood and readily carried
into effect, I will describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Similar letters of reference referring to like parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of one of the supporting posts, and Figure 2 is a
front elevation of the stay rod, both shown in the fixed position, all arranged
according to my invention. Figure 3 is a partial elevation showing details of the.
post and foot drawn to a larger scale than the previous figures, and the foot or-
shoe being shown in section. Figure 4 is a plan of the foot or shoe. At Figure 5
is shown a front and end elevation in detail of a stay and a view in section of a
socket for said stay rod, and Figure 6 is a plan of stay rod socket.
The foot A in or upon which the post B rests, is made of iron or other suitable
material, and consists of a top plate of elongated shape, broad at one end and with
a tooth A¹ at the other end, and has an aperture formed at or near the centre of
the top plate with a socket A' below, which is let into the ground, the socket A³
having its end pointed for this purpose; into this socket A³ the post B is placed.
The cord C at the top of the net C¹, passes over a pulley or runner B¹ recessed into
the top of the post B and the cord C passes thence to the tooth A¹ at the end of
the foot A to which it is attached by means of a loop and sliding block or other
arrangement for raising and lowering the net. A ring C of iron or other material
may be attached to the cord, for greater convenience of passing under or around
the tooth A¹. The pole may also be supported or stayed by a connecting rod, chain
or other arrangement passing from the tooth A¹ on the foot A to the post B.
The stay rod D for supporting the net C' between the posts B and regulating its
height, is of iron or other material, and is bent at D' over at the top, and then bent
round again forming two U shaped bends of equal diameter, the upper U shaped
part being reversed, space being left between the upright rod, and the returned end,
to allow the top cord C of the net C¹ to be inserted.
The stay rod D is provided at its lower end with a double nib D².
The stay
rod stands or is fitted in a socket E, Figures 5 and 6 of iron or other material,
having an upper plate E¹ connected to or formed in a piece therewith, and is
provided with slots E² to correspond with the nibs D³, as best seen at Figuro 6.

page_text: The netting and supports are fixed in the following manner: the sockets A' of
the feet or shoes A are driven into the ground at the proper distance apart and
with the teeth A¹ facing outwards until the top of the upper plate A is level with
or below the line of the turf and the socket of the centre stay rod is set in the
same manner. The posts B are placed in their sockets A² with the runner B¹ in
a line with the top of the net. The stay rod D is let into its socket E and then
turned half round, the nibs D' taking under the top plate E' and when so fixed
down the double U is in the same line as the net so the cord when adjusted runs
straight through same, the top cord of the net is passed over the runner of each
post B, the rings or hooks Cs are slipped under each tooth A¹ and the cord is
tightened or slackened as desired by the sliding block.
Lawn tennis posts and nets supported and stayed in the manner herein before
described, are easily removed and re-fixed, are very steady and firm, and not liable
to come loose in the ground, while the cord or band at the top of the net is securely
held at the right height.
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 clain is
The mode and means for supporting lawn tennis posts and nets substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.