An Improved Base or Spike for Supporting Tennis Poles, Fencing Standards, and the like.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 21st-Apr., 1886.
Complete Left, 19th Jan., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 22nd Feb., 1887.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Base or Spike for Supporting Tennis Poles,
Fencing Standards, and the like.
1. ALEXANDER FRANCIS GARDEN BROWN of Swindridge Muir, Dalry, Ayrshire,
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention, which relates to bases or spikes for poles carrying netting used in
the game of lawn tennis and which is also applicable to the bases or parts, inserted in
the ground, of standards or posts for wire or bar fencing, has for its object to provide
a base or spike which can be easily inserted and withdrawn from the ground and which
at the same time shall afford a stable foundation for the post or standard when in
position. The improved base or spike consists of a socket whereinto the post or
standard is screwed, stepped, or otherwise secured vertically. From the said socket
a shovel shaped blade extends downwards the lower end or point of the blade being
bent or curved forward so as to take a firmer hold of the ground. At the
junction of the blade and the socket two horizontal and short arms project these
being for the purpose of enabling the person erecting the post to force the base
or spike into the ground with the foot or otherwise. From the side of the socket
opposite to the shovel shaped blade an arm extends horizontally the said arm lying on
the ground and having at its outer end a spike or vertical part passing into the ground
to afford a hold at that point or instead of one, two or more arms radiating from the
socket may be provided. The breadth of the shovel shaped blade is in a direction at
right-angles to the line of tension on the standard or post.
Under a modification the base or spike instead of being separate from may be made
in one piece with the post or standard.
CRUIKSHANK & FALKWEATELEK,
Glasgow, Agents.

page_text: S
CHRIS
Fencing Standards, and the like.
I, ALEXANDER FRANCIS GARDEN BROWN of Swindridge Muir, Dalry, Ayrshire
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:—
This invention relates to bases or spikes for poles carrying the netting used in the
game of lawn tennis and also to the bases or parts inserted in the ground of standards
or posts for wire or bar, fencing and it has for its object whilst providing a stable base
or foundation for the post or standard when in position to enable it to be more quickly
and easily erected and in the case of tennis poles removed; the base or spike in its
latter employment marking the grass less than with ordinary poles and in its
employment with fencing standards enabling the post to be made lighter in construction
and 'cheaper in cost.
On the accompanying drawings figure 1 is a side elevation, figure 2 a plan, and
figure a back elevation of the lawn tennis post spike or base constructed in
accordance with my invention and figure 5, is a side elevation, figure 6 a front.
elevation and figure 7 a plan of a fence post or standard showing the adaptation of the
improved base, or spike thereto.
Referring to figures 1, 2, and 3, the improved base or spike consists of a socket a,
into which the post or standard is stepped, screwed or otherwise secured. From the
lower, part of the socket a shovel shaped blade b. extends downwards the lower end or
point, of the blade being bent or curved forward so as to take a firmer hold of the
ground. From the junction of the blade and the socket u, two short arms c, project
horizontally, these being for the purpose of enabling the person erecting the post to
force the blade, b, into, the ground with the foot or otherwise. At the back of the
socket.a, that is to say, opposite the blade. 6 an arm d, extends horizontally the said
arm lying on the ground and having at or near its outer end a spike e, which passes
into the ground to afford a hold at that point or instead of one, two or more arms d
radiating from the socket may be provided.
g₁
The arm or arms d, may be cast or formed in one piece with the socket u, but it is
preferred to make them separate as indicated at figures 2 and 4 in which case the
arn at its end next the socket has two tongues or tenons which enter holes
figure 3, made for their reception at the upper part of the blade b. A hole or eye h, is
also made at the upper part. of the web, of the arm through which and also into or
through a hole in the socket a, a pin or screw is passed to bolt the parts together and
the said pin may also act as a bolt to secure the tennis pole in position or other
equivalent means of securing the parts of the base together may be adopted.
In adapting the improved base or spike to posts or standards for wire or other
fencing as at figures 5, 6, and 7, the side arms c. figures 2 and 3 are or may be

page_text: dispensed with and the blade b, is preferably furnished with side cheeks, the spike of
the arm d, conveniently constituting a web extending from the back of the blade to
the underside of the arm, but the said web may be dispensed with and a spike as at
figure 1 employed or both the web, and a spike as at figure 1 may be adopted.
Figures 5, 6, and 7, show the base or spike made in one piece with the post or
standard but it may be made separately as at figure 1 and with the arrangement
figure 1, the post may also be made in one piece with the base.
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 :-
1. A base or spike for supporting tennis poles fencing standards and the like
consisting of a socket to receive the pole, a shovel shaped blade extending downwards
from the said socket, two sidewardly projecting arms at the upper part of the said
blade and a rearwardly projecting arm or arms formed with or separately from the
socket, substantially as described with reference to figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the annexed
drawings.
2. A pole or standard having a shovel shaped blade or spike at its lower end, two
sidewardly projecting arms at the upper part of the blade, and a rearwardly projecting
arm or arms, substantially as described.
3. A base or spike for the purposes set forth consisting of a shovel shaped blade
having side cheeks, and a rearwardly projecting arm or palm, substantially as
described with reference to figures 5, 6, and 7.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Agents.