Improvements in and relating to Poles for Supporting Lawn Tennis Nets and for other Purposes.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 4th June, 1889-Accepted, 13th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Poles for Supporting Lawn Tennis
Nets and for other Purposes.
I, FRANCIS CAPEL HARRISON, of Thornley, South Norwood Hill, in the County of
Surrey, Her Majesty's Bengal Civil Service, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
-
My invention relates to adjustable poles for lawn tennis and similar purposes.
Poles for supporting lawn tennis nets as hitherto constructed are troublesomo to erect
and remove, and if left standing at night, in the wet and when not in use, are liable
to considerable deterioration from exposure to the weather and other causes.
The chief object of any invention is to obviate the above defects and to provido a
pole adapted for supporting or holding a lawn tennis net that can be collapsed or
telescoped into a tube or casing sunk in the ground so as to be flush with the surface
of the same when the said pole is not required for immediate uso.
My improved adjustable pole is moreover, suitable for any other similar purpose.
In carrying my said invention into practice 1 provide a suitable tube intended
to be sunk into the ground so as to bo flush with the surfaco of the same where
it is desired to erect the adjustable pole. Into this tube or casing I fit a pole
which may be itself formed tubular for lightness, and which is arranged to slide
freely into and out of the said outer tube or casing. The pole is provided more-
over with a convenient ring or other arrangement by means of which it can be
raised from the said tube or casing, and with a spring or other suitable catch to
retain it in position when sufficiently raised.
To prevent rain, dust or other foreign matter from penetrating into the hereinbefore
mentioned tube or casing when the pole down or collapsed I sometimes provide a
suitable cap or cover adapted to fit over the top of the said tube or casing when the
pole is collapsed or completely inserted into the same and form a weathertight joint.
I construct the tubo or casing and pole of wood metal or any other suitable
inaterial. When metal is employed I prefer to coat the said pole and the tube or
casing with some paint or other substance adapted to withstand moisture. I moreover
provide the said pole with any well known device for stretching or tightening the
lawn tennis net which it is intended to support.
It is obvious moreover that I can somewhat modify my device without howover
departing in any way from the nature of my said invention. For example, I sometimes
provide the tube or casing with a point so that it can be drivon into the ground. In
some instances moreover I form the pole of two or more tubular telescopic portions
adapted to slide one inside the other thus reducing the depth of tube or casing necessary.
Although I have herein before described my improved adjustable pole as more
especially adapted for supporting a lawn tennis net it is obvious that it is also
applicable in any other similar case where the use of a pole is occasionally required.
Dated this 31st day of August 1888.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Poles for Supporting Lawn Tennis
Nets and for other Purposes.
I, FRANCIS CAPEL HARRISON, of Thornley, South Norwood Hill, in the County of
Surrey, Her Majesty's Bengal Civil Service, do hereby declare the nature of this
Die 27

page_text: 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 adjustable or telescopic poles for lawn tennis and similar
purposes.
Poles for supporting lawn tennis nets as hitherto constructed are found to be
objectionable in use for various reasons, amongst others that they are troublesome to
erect and remove, and moreover if left standing during the night or in wet weather,
or for a length of time when not in use are liable to undergo considerable deterioration.
By my said invention I provide a pole adapted for supporting or holding a lawn
tennis net, that when the said pole is not required for immediate use, can be collapsed
or telescoped into a tube or casing sunk in the ground so as to be flush with the surface
of the latter.
My collapsible pole is moreover applicable for other purposes.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention may be con-
veniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 shows in elevation my improved pole drawn out or expanded with a
portion of a lawn tennis net attached thereto.
Figure 2 is a vertical central section showing the said pole collapsed or closed up.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
A is the ground, B is the lawn tennis net.
C is the pole which consists of three parts C, (, C³ formed tubular and adapted
to slide or fit into each other like the tubes of a telescope. The part C is provided
with a collar D, and a point E formed of steel or other suitable material, and is
sunk in the ground A so as to form a suitable socket adapted to receive the
parts C, C when the said pole is shut down or collapsed as shown in Figure 2.
FF are catches pivoted at F in slots provided in the parts C C¹. The said
catches F are preferably arranged in such a manner that when the pole is raised
or drawn out sufficiently to allow of their clearing the extremities of the tube CC¹
they will automatically move outwards and form stops, as shown in Figure 1, thus
preventing the return or collapsing of the parts C until the said catches F are
moved into the slots F³, as shown in Figure 2, so as to be flush with the said
parts.
said arm
I provide moreover upon the upper part C any suitable device for tightening
the lawn tennis net. The device shown comprises an arm or lever G pivoted at G
to the part C. C³ is a slot or opening provided in the part C, through which the
or lever G is capable of extending. G2 are teeth or projections with
which is adapted to engage a catch H also hinged or jointed to the said part C
so as to be capable of extending through the slot C. H is a spring for preventing
the said catch from sticking in the interior of the part C. When the upper part C
is collapsed or telescoped into the part C¹ the arm or lever G is moved into the
slot CI is a cap or cover attached to the said arm or lever G which when the
part is collapsed or telescoped into the part C', and the parts C and C₁ are
collapsed or telescoped into the part C2, fits over the upper extremity of the said
part C, as shown in Figure 2, so as to prevent rain, dust or other foreign matter
from penetrating into the interior. The said cap or cover I forms moreover a
convenient handle by means of which to raise the said pole when required for use.
In some instances however I provide a suitable ring or other arrangement for this
purpose.
I prefer to construct the herein before described collapsible pole of metal but it may
be formed of wood or any other suitable material. When metal is employed I some-
times coat or cover the said pole with paint or other substance adapted to withstand
inoisture.
Although I have hereinbefore described my collapsible pole as formed in three parts,
it is obvious that 1 can form the said pole of two or any other suitable number of
telescopic portions, adapted to slide one inside the other. In some instances I dispense
with the device for tightening the lawn tennis net, in this case I attach the cap or
cover directly to the upper part of the pole.

page_text: Although I have herein before described my improved pole as more especially adapted
for supporting a lawn tennis net it is obvious that it is also applicable for other
purposes, where the occasional use of a pole is required.
It is obvious moreover that I can somewhat further modify the construction of my
improved pole without however departing from the nature of my said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that
I claim,
The collapsible or telescopic pole hereinbefore described.
Dated this 3rd day of June 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.