Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Sept., 1887
Complete Left, 1st June, 1888
Complete Accepted, 6th July, 1888
I, PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to means for supporting and tightening the net which is
stretched across the middle of a lawn tennis court in playing the game of lawn tennis,
and its object and scope may be more clearly understood by a preliminary explanation
of the characteristic features of the supports heretofore known and used.
Lawn tennis net supports, as employed prior to my invention, consisted, in all
cases, of a pole or post attached to the ground and provided with means for attaching
the net to the post and stretching the net tightly so as to elevate it to and maintain it
at a determined height above the ground at the middle of the court and at the posts.
These supports differ, one from another, in the method of fastening the post to the
ground, attaching the net to the post, tightening the net, and assuring its desired
height from the ground, and according to the method of attaining these ends which
they respectively embody, may be divided into two general classes, first, those in
which the post is stationary, the net being tightened without moving the post, and,
second, those in which the not is tightened by moving the post. The first class may
be subdivided into (a), supports in which the post is firmly and permanently planted
in the ground, and (b), supports in which the post is temporarily fastened to the

page_text: ground. In both classes however, the post, while acting as a support, is rigidly
fastened to the ground.
The objections which have been developed in practice to supports of the first class
will be apparent in view of the operations which are necessary to maintain a
tennis court and net in proper condition for use. The grass must be kept mown
short, and the court must be rolled so as be free from lumps and depressions, which
would cause the ball to bounce crooked when playing, and to accomplish these ends a
well kept tennis court is usually mown with a lawn mower two or three times
per week and rolled sufficiently often to keep it smooth.
The posts of division (a) interfere seriously with these operations, it being
frequently necessary after having used the lawn mower in the court, to cut the grass
in the immediate vicinity of the posts with a sickle or by other means, and
considerable difficulty is frequently met with in rolling the ground close to the posts
without striking them, particularly where a roller drawn by a horse is employed.
The posts of division (b) are usually fastened rigidly to a broad base of iron, wood,
or other suitable material, which rests on the top of the ground and is held in position
by spikes or pins driven into the ground. When it is desired to mow or roll the
court the posts can be moved by withdrawing the spikes, but their removal is
inconvenient owing to the size and weight of the base, and further after the posts
have been removed a few times, the ground in the vicinity of their positions becomes
cut up and softened by the insertion and removal of the spikes or pins, so that the
latter frequently fail to hold the base with proper rigidity to the ground, thus causing
annoyance to the players and interfering with the progress of the game.
Moreover, the posts when left standing after the playing is finished, in many cases
disfigure the lawn in which they are placed, and not being conveniently removable
from the ground, they are frequently allowed to stand exposed to the weather for
weeks at a time and tend to become decayed or otherwise damaged so as to be soon
unfit for use.
The posts of the first class being stationary, must be supplied with means for
tightening the net and maintaining it at its proper height. The net is ordinarily kept
under cover in a house or a shed when not in use, and while stowed away it absorbs
moisture and generally contracts so that after being connected to the posts and
tightened, it will generally stretch from the heat of the sun and dryness of the air
and requires to be retightened several times during the play. To untie or unhook the
net from the post, draw it tight, and refusten it whenever it becomes slack, unduly
consumes timo, and various devices, such as small windlasses and pulleys, have been
connected to the post and net, to enable the net to be quickly raised to the proper
height.
All devices of this kind involve the use of more or less mechanism, which in time
is liable to become deranged or broken, and is for that reason objectionable.
The
Posts of the second class of tennis net supports, namely those in which the net is
tightened by moving the posts, have been, prior to my invention, so far as my
knowledge and information extends, applied and used in the following manner.
lower end of the post, or a spike attached thereto, is driven into the ground
sufficiently far to prevent it from slipping, and one end of the net being attached to
one side of the post, one or more cords or braces are stretched from the opposite side
of the post near its top to a spike or spikes driven into the ground. Some posts
belonging to this class are also braced otherwise than by cords or guy ropes as above,
but in all cases they are operated upon the general principle of pivoting their lower
ends at or in the ground, while their upper ends are moved apart to tighten the net.
Posts of this class are, in use, disadvantageous in many particulars, among which
may be noted that the ground or turf into which the posts and pegs are driven is cut
up and more or less disfigured, and the ropes which attach the upper part of the post
to the ground stretch and contract according to the amount of moisture in the air and
the heat of the day, thus allowing a variation in the height of the net which is not
permissible in the game, so that the player is constantly obliged to readjust the

page_text: height of the net. When the ground is soft, much difficulty is experienced in
keeping the net at the proper height on account of the pegs to which the cord is
attached being drawn out of the ground by the strain of the net on the posts.
Again it is a rule of the game that the net where attached to the post, shall always
be at a given height from the ground; now, as with this class of posts the net is
tightened by pivoting about points at their base, the part of the post to which the net
is attached will of course describe the arc of a circle as the post is drawn back so as
to tighten the net, thus causing a greater or less variation in the height of the net at
that point above the ground.
Finally, in tightening the net, the posts are almost always pulled back so as to
stand at different angles, with the ground, and thereby impart a slovenly appearance
to the net and court.
My invention is designed to obviate the various defects existing in tennis net
supports as heretofore constructed and to this end my invention, generally stated,
consists
1st. In providing posts of such construction that the net may be tightened by
rotating one or both of the posts about the axis or axes thereof while the lower end
of the post fits in a suitable socket hereinafter described, thereby causing the portion
of the net which is attached to the post, or the cord which attaches the net to the
post to be wrapped round the post which is rotated.
By the term "rotatable post" as applied herein I refer to a post having the
capacity of rotation about its axis as above specified in tightening the net.
2d. In providing the post, or portion of the post to which the net is attached,
with means for rotating it about its axis even when the pull of the net is the greatest.
The device or appliance employed for rotating the post or part thereof around the
axis of the post I term herein a post rotator."
3d. In providing a post socket adapted to be driven or embedded in the ground
no portion of which projects above the surface thereof sufficiently to interfere with
mowing the grass or rolling the ground, said socket being adapted to receive the
lower end of the removable and rotatable post and being provided with wings or
projecting flanges in order to prevent the socket from deflecting from the position in
which it is desired to maintain it in the ground when the post is subjected to the pull
of the not. These wings or flanges I designate herein by the term "deflection
resisters."
4th. In providing the post socket with a projecting member as a flange, hook or
other projection, or forming an opening through some part of the socket for the
insertion of a hook, lever, pry or board to assist in withdrawing the socket from the
ground when this is desired. This projection, hook or hole in the socket I designate
berein by the term "socket extractor."
In the practice of my invention I provide posts to which the ends of the lawn tennis
net are connected by cords tied, hooked, or otherwise suitably attached to the posts, and
which, at their lower ends are so freely fitted in cylindrical post sockets embedded
in the ground as to be rotatable about their axes in said sockets for the purpose of
stretching and bringing to desired height the interposed net, as may from time to
time be required. The posts are detachable and removable from their sockets and
their rotation may be effected either by the direct application of the hands thereto,
or through the intermediation of post rotators, different forms of which will be
hereinafter described.
To maintain the posts and sockets in normal vertical position and overcome the
tendency to variation therefrom induced by the strain of the net, the post sockets are
provided with deflection resisters which bear in or against the ground in direction
opposite to that in which the sockets tend to move under the influence of a disturbing
force, and the sockets are preferably provided with driving points at their lower ends
to facilitate their insertion in the ground, and with socket extractors which may be
either a projecting member or an opening or recess to admit of the application of a
hook, bar or lever by which they may be readily withdrawn from their positions when
required. The insertion of the socket is further facilitated by the employment of

page_text: a driving plug against which the driving power may be effectively exerted and by
which it is transmitted to the top of the socket.
The post sockets are driven or otherwise firmly embedded in the ground, so as to
be flush at top with the surface of the ground, and in each case present a cylindrical
surface corresponding with and fitting against that of the lower end of the post to
admit of the rotation of the latter.
The sockets may be formed of a plain annular section of pipe or tubing of any
suitable material or may consist of an annular tube or pipe provided at its lower end
with a driving point to facilitate the insertion of the socket in the ground.
The driving point may be a separate casting or forging secured to the lower part
of the socket or it may be forged or cast or otherwise made integral with the body
of the socket.
The sockets are provided with a deflection resister which may consist of a flange or
plate either attached to or made a part of the body of the socket, and either sitting on
top of the ground, or, by preference, embedded in the ground so that its top surface
will not interfere with the use of a lawn mower or a roller. This flange presents a
large surface to the ground which resists the deflecting or upsetting tendency of the
post and socket when subject to the strain of the net.
Each socket may have an extractor consisting of a projection from each outer end
of the two deflection resisters, under which a pry or board can be inserted in raising
the socket from the ground without digging up the socket, or a hook attached to the
bottom of the socket may form a socket extractor under which another hook or ring
may be passed by means of which the socket can be removed from the ground, or by
the insertion of a pry lever or hook into a hole which may be made through the
deflection resister just below the surface of the ground, the socket can be removed,
this hole also constituting a socket extractor, or the flange may itself serve as a
socket extractor as well as a deflection resister.
The rotation of the posts to tighten the net is effected by post rotators consisting
of bars or rods of wood, or other suitable material, inserted in holes in the upper
part of the post. These bars or rods may either be permanently attached to, or part
of, the post, or they may be removable therefrom, or the post rotator may consist of
a wheel having a square hole in its centre which fits over a correspondingly squared
portion of the top of the post.
This wheel can be removed from the post when it is not desired to allow it to
remain, or may be permanently attached to the post if preferred.
The upper cord of the net passes through a hole in the post and is attached to a
cleat hook or other convenient point of connection on the post, or may be tied round
the post itself.
The height of this hole above the ground is to be that required by the rules of
the game.
Or, the top cord of the net is attached to a hook in the post at a proper height
above the ground.
The operation of my improved supports in tightening the net is as follows. After
the posts are placed in their sockets, and the net is attached to them, they are rotated
by the person who desires to tighten the net so that either the net itself or the top
cord of the net is wound around the post thus adjusting the net to the proper height.
If the net is very light and the posts are small they can be rotated in tightening
the net without the use of the post rotator, but in most cases it becomes necessary to
use some form of post rotators since the weight of the net and the friction of the post
in its socket are so great as to make it impossible to rotate the posts by seizing them
with the hand and twisting them. If the part of the post which fits into the sockets
is not made too long, and is large enough in diameter relatively to the portion of
the post around which the cord is wrapped the friction produced by the pull of the
net against the socket is sufficient to keep the post from untwisting in whatever
position it may be placed, and this is an important feature of the invention as it
obviates the necessity of providing special means to prevent the posts from turning
back after the net has been tightened.

page_text: I do not limit myself to the specific details of the invention as hereinbefore described
since the various elements constituting my invention can be greatly modified in form
without departing from the spirit of my invention. For example many other forms
of post rotators might be used besides those described. An ordinary wrench might
be used as a post rotator or the bars or rods before mentioned may be loose in the
post and only inserted in the holes in the post at the time it is desired to tighten or
loosen the net, or a single bar or rod tight to the post or loose from it may be used as
a post rotator. It will also be obvious that various other forms of post sockets,
deflection resisters, driving points and socket extractors might be provided which
would embody my invention.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tennis Net Supports.
A communication from abroad by FREDERICK W. TAYLOR, of the City of
Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Engineer.
I, PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, 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 :-
This invention relates to means for supporting and tightening the net which is
stretched across the middle of a lawn tennis court, and that its object and scope may
be more clearly understood, reference may be inade to the Provisional Specification
filed in this case, for a preliminary explanation of the characteristic features of some
of the supports heretofore known and used, while in addition to those therein given
may be added a class of post in which the net has been tightened by rotating the
post about its vertical axis, thereby wrapping the top cord of the net around the post,
and causing the net to be tightened.
In order that this may be effected it is necessary that the post should extend above
the top of the net, and it is further necessary that the post be attached to the ground
in such a manner as to admit of its being rotated around its axis.
In using the term "rotating tennis post" throughout this specification, a post
constructed as above described is referred to; namely, one which is so fastened to
the ground as to admit of being rotated about its axis in tightening the net, and
which extends above the net so that the top cord of the net can be wrapped around
it at the height from the ground required by the rules of the game.
The present improvement belongs to this class of tennis net supports.
So far as my correspondent's knowledge and information extend the only other
rotating lawn tennis net support which has been used, and which belongs to this
division, is a lawn tennis net support which consists of a tube which is secured or set
firmly in the ground by placing concrete or cement around it, which holds the tube
plumb and in such a position that its upper end stands at about the surface of
the ground, so that the mowing machine or roller will not be obstructed by
it. Within this table, at its top, is fixed a collar the inside of which has a
polygonal form. A cylindrical pole having a polygonal collar attached to the outside
of it is dropped down inside of the tube, the cylindrical part of the pole fitting in the
cylindrical part of the tube, and the polygonal collar fitting in the corresponding
collar at the top of the tube.
The net is attached to this pole by the top and bottoni cords of the net, and, in
order to tighten it the pole is raised up sufficiently far out of the tube to allow the
polygonal collar on the pole to come above and outside of the corresponding female
collar in the top of the tube. The pole is then rotated around its axis until the net

page_text: has been tightened to the desired extent, when the pole is forced down into the tube
again so that the collar on the pole is again within the collar in the tube, so that the
post is prevented from rotating backwards.
The disadvantages connected with this lawn tennis net support are as follows:-
1st. A hole must be dug in the ground, and concrete or cement poured around the
tube in order to maintain it in a perpendicular position. This requires a good deal
of labour and apparatus which is unnecessary.
2nd. When the tube is once planted in the ground, it cannot be removed in order
to shift the position of the court as is from time to time necessary, without again
digging up the ground.
3rd. When it becomes necessary to tighten the net after it becomes slack the pole
must first be pulled up out of the tube, and when the net is a heavy one the strain
upon the pole is very great.
Again after the net has been tightened it is difficult to push the post down into its
proper position again. Further, the post must be turned at least of a turn, or
a certain definite fraction of a turn, in order that it can be slipped back to its
proper place.
Now in tightening a net, particularly in such nets as are heavy and have a heavy
top cord, or use a top cord inade of wire, the elasticity of the top cord of the net
being comparatively little, it is necessary in order to bring the collar on the post into
its proper position with the collar in the tube, to subject the net to such a strain as
will cause it to rise a little above the height required by the rules of the game in
the middle of the net, or else to leave the net a little below this required height,
which will preclude the use of such a pole by players who are particular to comply
with the rules of the game. Again, no means are supplied for rotating this pole in
tightening the net, except by grasping the pole in the hand and twisting it around.
If the net is heavy it is almost impossible to adequately tighten the net by twisting
it in this manner.
The present invention is designed to obviate the various defects existing in tennis
net supports as heretofore constructed, and its special objects are, to construct lawn
tennis net supports which can be readily and quickly erected in position to support
the net, or removed when it is desired to roll the court or mow the grass, without
the use of guy ropes, and without the necessity of puncturing or disturbing the
ground with spikes or pins, and with which the net can be easily stretched to exactly
the required degree of tightness, even when a heavy net is used, without the use of
the windlasses, pulleys, or other devices heretofore used in tightening the net, and
without either raising or lowering the tennis net support during the operation of
tightening the net; and with which, after the net has been tightened to the desired
extent, the pull of the net alone upon the tennis net supports maintains them in the
desired position for supporting the net at the required height, while the centre line of
the tennis net support maintains the same angle with the surface of the ground
throughout the time of its use.
The invention generally stated consists of a rotating post, so constructed that its
lower portion fits freely as to circumferential movement, in a socket which is either
driven or otherwise planted in or attached to the ground, which together with another
post is made to support a net stretched between them, the net being adjusted to the
required height by rotating the post about its axis, and thereby wrapping the top
cord of the net around it; and in so proportioning the part of the post that fits into
the socket, with relation to the rest of the post, that the pull of the net against the
post after it has been tightened, will produce sufficient friction between the post and
its socket to prevent it from slipping in the socket and so from allowing the net to
unwind, and in providing the post with one or more handles or parts projecting from
it, by means of which it can be readily rotated in tightening the net.
To clearly explain the invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings
in which:
Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of two lawn tennis net supports embodying my
invention, with a net attached thereto, the post sockets being shown in section.

page_text: Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of one of the posts.
Fig. 3 shows a post or support having a different rotating device applied thereto, a
portion of a net and a flanged socket, the latter being in section.
Fig. 4 is a plan or top view of this post rotator.
In the practice of the invention posts 1 are provided to which the ends of the lawn
tennis net 2 are connected by cords, tied, hooked, or otherwise suitably attached to the
posts, said posts at their lower ends fitting freely into cylindrical post sockets 4
(embedded in the ground) so as to be rotatable about their axes in said sockets for
the purpose of stretching and bringing to the desired height the interposed net 2.
The posts are detachable and removable from their sockets, and their rotation is
effected through the intermediation of post rotators 3, two different forms of which
are illustrated.
The post sockets 4 are driven or otherwise firmly embedded in the ground, so as
to be flush at top with the surface of the ground, and in each case present a cylindrical
surface corresponding with and fitting against that of the lower end of the post to
admit of the rotation of the latter.
In Figs. 1 and 2 the post rotator consists of two bars or rods of wood or other
suitable material inserted in holes in the upper part of the post. These bars or rods
may be either permanently attached to, or a part of, the post, or they may be
removable therefrom.
In Figs. 3 and 4 the post rotator consists of a wheel having a square hole in its
centre, which fits over a correspondingly squared portion on the top of the post. This
wheel can be removed from the post when it is not desired to allow it to remain, or
may be permanently attached to the post if preferred. The socket 4 is also shown
in Fig. 3 as provided with flanges which prevent it rotating in the ground and also
aid in extracting same. In Fig. 1 the upper cord of the net 2 passes through a holo
in the post and is attached to a cleat, hook, or other convenient point of connection
on the post, or may be tied around the post itself. The height of this hole above the
ground is to be that required by the rules of the game.
In Fig. 3 the top cord of the net 2 is attached to a hook in the post at a proper
height from the ground.
The operation of the improved supports in tightening the net is as follows:-
After the posts are placed in their sockets, and the net is attached to them, they are
rotated by the person who desires to tighten the net, who grasps the handles or post
rotators attached to the post; so that either the net itself, or the top cord of the net
is wound around the post, thus adjusting the net to its proper height. If the part of
the post which fits into the socket is not made too long, and is large enough in diameter
relatively to the portion of the post around which the cord is wrapped, the friction
produced by the pull of the net against the socket is sufficient to keep the post from
untwisting in whatever position it may be placed. It will be evident that one of the 4
improved posts and sockets shown may be used in conjunction with any ordinary or
fixed post if desired.
My correspondent is aware that post sockets provided with driving points and
deflection resisters have heretofore been used, socket extractors which were attached
to, or a part of, the socket have also been heretofore used for removing the socket 4
from the ground.
My correspondent does not limit himself to the specific details of the invention as
shown in the drawings, since the various elements constituting same can be greatly
modified in form without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example,
many other forms of post rotators might be used besides those shown in the drawings. 5
An ordinary wrench might be used as a post rotator on the post shown in Fig. 3, or
the pins shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which are used as post rotators, may be loose in the
post and only inserted in the holes in the post at the time it is desired to tighten or
loosen the net, or a single pin either tight to the post or loose from it, may be used as
a post rotator.
My correspondent is aware that parts of tennis posts have heretofore been rotated
so as to wrap the top cord of the net around them and thereby tighten the net, and
5

page_text: that suitable handles have been applied to these parts to facilitate their rotation. The
objection to all posts of this sort has been their complication as they have been
necessarily supplied with ratchets, pawls, or other mechanism of some sort to prevent
them from unwinding after being tightened.
My correspondent does not think that a rotating and self tightening post, supplied
with a suitable handle or handles, or post rotators has been used previous to his inven-
tion, as a tennis net support. He is also aware that sockets of various kinds have been
heretofore used for supporting tennis posts. These sockets having been driven into,
or attached to the ground in various ways. The form or exact style of the socket
used however forms no part of the invention, as any suitable socket which allows
the post freedom as to circumferential movement can be used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:
A rotatable post having its lower portion fitting freely as to circumferential
movement in a socket and a post rotator for rotating same in combination with a
similar or another post or support and an interposed net substantially as shown
and described.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE.