An Improved Lawn Tennis Pole.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 17th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Lawn Tennis Pole.
THOMAS EASTMAN, Gent, Stubbington Lodge Fareham Hampshire, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It consists of a cast iron foot A B (as shown in plan) having a circular
collar C B, and a knee C A. A bent wrought iron rod E D is movable about
a fixed pivot D in the knee C A, with one arm on each side of the knee. The
rod ED can be firmly clamped to the knee, in a convenient position at F, by
means of an ordinary nut and bolt. The rod is also fixed at G with a nut and
bolt to an independent piece of wrought iron N K H, in the shape of L, of
which the part K H is driven into the soil.
Through the collar C B, the pole which supports the net, passes, the foot of the
pole being fixed into a cast iron screw of 14 turn.
The pole is fixed in the collar.
The pole is screwed into the soil, the rod E D, being useful as a lever in the
process of screwing the pole into the ground. When the pole is down the right
depth in the soil the bent iron of shape is placed in position and the sharp end
driven into the ground; the rod falling on the upper part of the iron is fastened to.
it by means of a nut and bolt at G.
By means of the adjustment the pole can always be kept in an upright position;
it is easily fixed and is capable of resisting an enormous strain.
The pole is of wood.
a
1
1900
THOMAS EASTMAN.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Lawn Tennis Pole.
THOMAS EASTMAN of Stubbington Lodge, Fareham, in the County of Hampshire,
Gentleman, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved lawn tennis pole, and has for its object a
method of construction which enables any person to quickly and easily fix the
same in the position desired, from which it cannot be moved spontaneously even
when the net is attached thereto and exposed to the highest wind force under
which the game could be played.
My improvements consist of a pole, which may be of wood or other material, the
lower end of which is firmly seated within, or otherwise connected to, a preferably
cast iron, pointed shoe, upon which are formed, either integrally therewith, or
otherwise connected thereto, a series of sharp edged projecting blades, arranged
in spiral form, so as to form an intermittant screw thread, or the said foot may be
so cast that a sharp edged continuous tapered screw thread may be formed thereon,
by which means the said shoe may be screwed into the soil. A preferably circular
cast iron collar, adjustable to any height, surrounds the said pole. A preferably
wrought iron rod is bent in the form of an elongated staple, the two ends of which
are parallel and pivotally connected to the said collar, and capable of being fixed
.

page_text: so as to project horizontally, or approximately so, from the said pole, and this
being adjustably connected by a bolt and nut to one wing of an L shaped
preferably wrought iron piece, whose other wing is pointed and driven into the
ground, at that side of the pole where the greatest strain would occur, or opposite
thereto, as occasion may require. The pole is thereby so firmly fixed in position
that no strain that could possibly arise from the uses for which the said pole is
intended could remove it therefrom.
In order that my invention may be the better understood reference may be made
to the drawings which accompanied my Provisional Specification.
In carrying my invention into effect I provide a pole of any suitable length or
diameter similar to those in general use, which may be of wood only, or wood and
iron, or iron only as may be required, to the lower end of which I connect a
tapered or pointed iron shoe, which may be hollow, so that the pole may fit there-
into, or if the pole be of iron the said shoe may be made integrally therewith.
Upon the outer face of said shoe are a series of projecting blades arranged
spirally, or a screw thread may be formed thereon by which the same may be
screwed into the soil, in such a manner that the pole is perfectly perpendicular.
A preferably, cast iron sliding collar (referred to in the drawings by the
letters A B C) surrounds the said pole, and capable of being raised or lowered
thereon at will, and fixed where required. A rib or knee A forms part of said
collar, to which is pivotally connected the free ends of a bent rod E, by the means
of a bolt and nut D, passing horizontally through the lower or other part of A,
one of the functions of said loop E, being to form a lever to facilitate the
rotation of the pole when being screwed into the soil as aforesaid. The loop E
would be then raised to permit so much of the pointed wing H, of the shaped
iron piece N. K. H, as may be required, to be driven into the soil, and when this is
in the position required the collar upon the pole is lowered until level or there-
abouts with the angle K thereof, when the collar may be fixed and E lowered to
the horizontal or thereabouts, or until resting upon the wing N, to which it is
then firmly connected by the means of a bolt G passing between the parallel
sides of E and through a hole provided in N for the reception thereof. A
bolt F passes horizontally through holes made in the parallel sides of E, which
when the nut thereon is screwed home causes E to firmly grip the rib or knee A
and so establish the stability and rigidity of the whole.
As the greater strain upon the pole would be in the direction of the net,
the shaped piece N KH would be driven into the ground in the manner
stated, either at that or the opposite side of the pole, and if the pole in course
of use shows any tendancy to depart from the vertical, this can easily be rectified
by loosening the nut on the bolt G, and if needed the nut on the bolt D, when the
pole may be forced into a perpendicular position, and the nuts upon G and D
again tightened, such vertical adjustment of the pole during use being a salient
feature of my invention not attainable by any other form or type of tennis pole
hitherto made and used.
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.
1st. In an improved lawn tennis pole, the herein described combination of parts,
connected and operating substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2nd. The construction and use of an improved lawn tennis pole, arranged to
fit into or be formed integrally with a tapered iron shoe, having upon its outer
surface a screw thread, or blades or projections as an equivalent therefor, by which
the same may be screwed into the ground, assisted by the leverage afforded by a
bent iron rod E, pivotted at D to an iron collar ABC surrounding said pole.
The manner of effecting and maintaining the stability of the pole by the means of
a bolt and nut G, connecting E to the blade N of an L shaped iron N K H, when

page_text: the pointed blade H thereof has been firmly driven into the ground, and the bolt
and nut F tightened to cause the two sides of E to grip the knee A, substantially
as herein described, and shewn by the drawings which accompanied my Provisional
Specification.
Dated thie 17th day of Februa 1902
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.