Improvements in and relating to Tents.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Oct., 1858
Complete Specification Left, 5th July, 1899-Accepted, 5th Oct., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Tents.
ATHOL EDWARD MAUDSLAY, of Littlebourne, Twyford, near Winchester, Hants,.
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:--
My invention consists of a means of obtaining a square tent of any size, and
having in every part a sufficiency of head room, easily erected, and water proof
and wind proof. In this tent I dispense with all the numerous poles and guy
ropes that are to be found in the generality of tents, and employ to effect my
purpose one centre pole and a circular or square block through which this pole
passes, and from which four wooden roof extenders or light wooden rods radiate;
that is, from the centre block to pockets at the four corners of the roof of the
tent where it joints the walls light rods are employed to extend the roof and
make it absolutely rigid, so that, in fact, the pole, the centre wooden block, and
the wooden rods which act as roof extenders are all the wood necessary to form a
supporting frame work for my tent.
To produce such a tent as I have described is a very simple matter. I drive
a circular iron rod into the ground of varying length and diameter according to
the size of the tent I purpose erecting several inches of this iron rod which is
pointed at its lower extremity I leave above ground. I then drop the tent pole
over this rod, the pole having already had a hole bored up its centre longitudinally
to receive the iron rod, so that part of the iron rod which is above ground passes
up the centre of the pole for some inches of its length. In order to prevent the
pole splitting an iron collar is made to embrace its lower extremity before this
hole is bored. The pole itself is, let us say, 2 inches in diameter for 7 feet of
its length, and 1 inches in diameter for the remaining portion of its length;
these varying diameters have of course been produced in the lathe in which it
has been turned. The fact of the upper part of the pole being smaller than the
lower part of the pole causes the pole to be shouldered, so that the centre block
I have mentioned which holds the extenders, having a hole bored through its
centre the upper part of the pole passes through this hole, and the lower part of
the pole being of increased diameter, the block lodges at a point 7 feet from the
ground where the pole is shouldered, and is held in position, so that it cannot
descend further owing to the increased diameter of the pole. But before placing
the block on the pole in such position, I at either of the four sides of the block
bore or mortice a hole to receive the four wooden roof extenders which are to hold
the roof in position, and to enable it to maintain its rigidity. So that it will
be seen that the ends of the roof extenders enters the circular or square block
through which the pole passes, whilst the other end is placed in the four pockets
at either corner of the tent roof.
The roof of the tent is made absolutely flat, or it may be gored if necessary.

page_text: In the centre of the roof there is a small hole and into the top of the pole I
drive an iron pin which passing through this hole in the centre of the roof of
the tent keeps it in position. The walls of the tent may be made so as to fall
vertically or be sloped, which latter plan is perhaps best since it gives the tent
greater security and affords more room. At the bottoms of the walls there are
iron rings sewn on to the canvas, through which in order to secure the walls to
the ground, I drive iron or wooden tent pegs as the case may be.
The walls I in most cases make separate from the roof, that is, I hook and
eye them on to the roof; in order to effect this I make the canvas in one piece
to go entirely round the tent, and make the walls when they meet at the doorway
to overlap so that they may be unhooked and hooked back, forming an opening of
any size required.
In hot climates or in very warm weather where only shelter from the sun is
requisite the walls may be entirely removed, in which case I sew strong iron
rings on to the four corners of the roof of the tent, to which rings I attach ropes
which are secured to the ground with the help of tent pegs. This way of securing
the roof when the walls are replaced gives the whole structure additional security,
so that no matter how strong the wind, it is almost impossible for such a tent
to be blown down. The fact of the walls unhooking has this advantage, that where
ventilation is required or it is a mere question of protection from wind or sun,
the walls on two sides, of the tent may be unhooked thereby making the tent a
very cool and shady retreat during excessively hot weather when it would be
impossible to sit during the heat of the day in a tent from which the walls could
not be removed.
When making such tents, for cold climates the walls are then sewn to the roof,
and the floor is provided with a ground sheet turned up all round affording absolute
protection from damp ground.
As regards the wood and iron work already described, it may be of any size
according to the dimensions of the tent. The pole and the roof extenders may
also be jointed, and this I have already done in various ways. A tent of any
size may be constructed upon this principle, there is, in fact, scarcely any limit
to the size. A huge marquee may be constructed on this principle
giving shelter to hundreds of people yet having only one centre
pole with the block and extenders I have already described, the fact
being that the roof extenders which extend and keep rigid the roof are not only
supported at the one end by the centre block through which the pole passes, but
are supported in like manner and with equal facility owing to the fact of their
being introduced into the pockets at the four corners of the roof of the tent, so
that whilst one end is in the block the other end is suspended to the roof.
Consequently with one pole, one circular or square block, and four light wooden
rods I obtain a square tent with straight or sloping sides having everywhere a
sufficiency of head room. Owing to the fact of the walls overlapping at the
doorway there can be no draught from the door.
When these tents are used for military purposes in order to give light and
ventilation I provide them with windows, not of glass, but cutting out a square
opening in the canvas I substitute what the Willesden Company call
"Scrim
Shading," that is, waterproof network, which although it admits the light and
secures ventilation is to a certain degree opaque when anyone is looking from
the outside of the tent into the interior, but not so from inside the tent. In
order to prevent rain beating through this network I have a canvas flap which
sewn to the walls of the tent can be let down over the opening or rolled up as
occasion may require. In addition to this means of securing ventilation I make
the roof of the tent with a valance, and the walls of the tent being hooked on to
the roof ample ventilation is obtained owing to the fact that between the walls
and roof a space exists permitting the escape of hot or vitiated air.
I would also call attention to the fact that when the walls are released from the
ground the entire tent can be made to revolve with the merest touch, seeing that

page_text: the circular block moves round or revolves on that part of the pole which has been
shouldered to receive it, there being nothing to prevent it so doing. This is one of
the chief features of my invention.
I claim that this tent such as I have described is admirably suited for millary
purposes. It is cheaper to construct than a bell tent since there is nothing like
the amount of stitching, nor does it need so many tent pegs or guy ropes, besides
which it cannot be blown down as is frequently the case with bell tents to my
certain knowledge, I having myself seen bell tents blown over in a strong wind,
and the Commander-in-Chief, Lord Wolseley, having himself described to me how
when in command of the Ashantee expedition his bell tent was blown down on
his head, notwithstanding his endeavours to avert this catastrophe.
I also claim that this tent is admirably suited for travellers as it is easily trans-
portable and applies itself to a variety of climates.
Dad 1 91 doy of October 1898
I, ATHOL EDWARD MAUDSLAY, Littlebourne, Twyford, Winchester, Hants,
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 consists of a means of obtaining a square tent of any size and
having in every part a sufficiency of head room, easily erected, and water-proof
and wind-proof. In this tent I dispense with all the numerous poles and guy
ropes that are to be found in the generality of tents, and employ to effect my
purpose one centre pole and circular or square block through which this pole
passes, and from which four wooden roof extenders or light wooden rods radiate;
that is, from the centre block to pockets at the four corners of the roof of the
tent where it joins the walls light rods are employed to extend the roof and make
it absolutely rigid, so, that in fact the pole, the centre wooden block, and the
wooden rods which act as roof extenders are all the wood necessary to form a
supporting frame work for my tent.
To produce such a tent as I have described is a very simple matter.
I drive a circular iron rod into the ground, of varying length and diameter
according to the size of the tent I propose erecting. Several inches of this iron
rod, which is pointed at its lower extremity, I leave above ground. I then drop
the tent pole over this rod, the pole having already had a hole bored up its centre
longitudinally to receive the iron rod, so that part of the iron rod which is above
ground passes up the centre of the pole for some inches of its length. In order
to prevent the pole splitting an iron collar is made to embrace its lower extremity
before this hole is bored. The pole itself is of various lengths and diameters,
say 2 inches in diameter for 7 feet of its length, and 1 inches in diameter for
the remaining portion of its length. These varying diameters have of course
been produced in the lathe in which it has been turned. The fact of the upper
part of the pole being smaller than the lower part of the pole causes the pole
to be shouldered, so that the centre block I have mentioned which holds the
extenders having a hole bored through its centre, the upper part of the pole passes
through this hole, and the lower part of the pole being of increased diameter
the block lodges at a point 6 or 7 feet from the ground where the pole is shouldered

page_text: and is held in position so that it cannot descend further owing to the increased
diameter of the pole. But before placing the block on the pole in such position,
I at each of .he four sides bore or mortice a hole to receive the four wooden roof
extenders which are to hold the roof in position and to enable it to maintain its
rigidity. So that it will be seen that the one end of the roof extenders enters
the circular or square block through which the pole passes, whilst their other
ends are placed in the four pockets at either corner of the tent roof. These roof
extenders are either round or square.
the eaves.
The roof of the tent is made absolutely flat or it may be gored if necessary.
When the tent is fully erected the roof slopes in consequence of its centre being
raised by the pole; that is the material of which the tent roof is composed stretches
to such an extent as to form a sloping roof in consequence of the pole being
introduced in the centre to support it. Were the roof not made flat it would bag,
whereas this plan stretches it tight and renders it compact. In the centre of the
roof there is a small hole, and into the top of the pole I drive an iron pin which
passing through this hole in the centre of the roof of the tent keeps it in position,
the roof yielding to the necessary extent and sloping from the top of the pole to
The walls of the tent may be made so as to fall vertically or be
sloped which latter plan is perhaps the best since it gives the tent greater security
and affords more room for storage. At the bottom of the walls that is at the
four corners, there are iron rings or rings of some other metal sewn on to the
canvas or material of which the tent is made, through which in order to secure
the walls to the ground, I drive iron or wooden tent pegs as the case may be.
The walls I in most cases make separate from the roof, that is, I hook and
eye them on to the roof. In order to effect this I make the canvas in one piece
to go entirely round the tent and make the walls where they meet at the doorway
to overlap, so that they may be unhooked and hooked back, forming an opening
of any size required. In hot climates or in very warm weather where only shelter
from the sun is requisite the walls may be entirely removed, in which case I
sew strong iron rings to the four corners of the roof of the tent, to which rings I
attach ropes which are secured to the ground with the help of tent pegs. This
way of securing the roof when the walls are replaced gives the whole structure
additional security, so that no matter how strong the wind it is almost impossible
for such a tent to be blown down. The fact of the walls unhooking has this
advantage, that where ventilation is required or it is a mere question of protection
from wind or sun, the walls on two sides of the tent may be unhooked, there-
by making the tent a very shady and cool retreat during excessively hot weather
when it would be impossible to sit during the heat of the day in a tent from which
the walls could not be removed.
When making such tents for cold climates the walls are then sewn to the
roof, and the floor is provided with a ground sheet turned up all round, affording
absolute protection from damp ground.
As regards the wood and iron work already described, it may be of any size
according to the dimensions of the tent. The pole and the roof extenders may
also be jointed, and this I have already done in various ways. The pole,
especially if to carry a large tent, I construct in the following manner. I do not
shoulder the pole, but securing an iron collar to its upper extremity,
I bore in this upper end a hole to receive the extra wooden pole
which constitutes the upper part of tent support. That is, instead
of shouldering the pole at a certain point 7 or 8 feet from the ground,
I bore a hole into the top of this pole and into this hole introduce a pole of less
diameter, the difference between the diameter of the two poles furnishing the
necessary support upon which the circular block rests. This plan enables me
to produce a pole having extreme portability, since no part of it need exceed
7 or 8 feet in length, except when it is intended to support very large tents such
as marquees to accommodate a large assemblage of people.
A tent of any size may be constructed upon this principle, there is, in fact,

page_text: scarcely any limit to the size. A huge marquee may be constructed upon this
principle giving shelter to hundreds of people yet having only one centre pole
with the block and extenders I have already described, the fact being that the
roof extenders which extend and keep rigid the roof are not only supported at
the one end by the centre block through which the pole passes, but are supported
in like manner and with equal facility owing to the fact of their being introduced
into the pockets at the four corners of the roof of the tent, so that whilst one end
is in the block the other end is suspended to the roof.
Consequently, with one pole, one circular or square block, and four light wooden
rods I obtain a square tent with straight or sloping sides having everywhere a
sufficiency of head room. Owing to the fact of the walls overlapping at the
doorway there can be no draught from the door.
When these tents are used for military purposes in order to give light and
ventilation I provide them with windows, not of glass, but cutting out a square
opening in the canvas I substitute what the Willesden Canvas Company call
Serim Shading," that is, waterproof network, which although it admits the light
and secures ventilation, is to a certain degree opaque when any one is looking
from the outside of the tent into the interior, but not so from inside the tent.
In order to prevent rain beating through this network I have a canvas flap which
sewn to the walls of the tent can be let down over the opening or rolled up as
occasion may require. In addition to this means of securing ventilation I make
the roof of the tent with a valance, and the walls of the tent being hooked on to
the roof ample ventilation is obtained owing to the fact that between the walls
and roof a space exists, permitting the escape of hot or vitiated air. I would
also call attention to the fact that when the walls are released from the ground
the entire tent can be made to revolve with the mearest touch, seeing that the
circular block moves round on that part of the pole which has been shouldered
to receive it, there being nothing to prevent its so doing. This is one of the
chief features of my invention.
My invention is shown in detail in the attached two sheets of drawings.
Fig. 1, gives illustrations of the wooden supports of the tent. A, is the pole,
this pole has its upper extremity reduced some 7 feet from the ground, so that the
upper part of the pole is of less diameter than the lower part of the pole. The
length of the reduced part will depend entirely upon the size of the tent. As
shown in the drawing an iron pin is driven into the upper extremity of this
pole whilst the lower extremity of the pole is embraced by an iron collar to
prevent the pole splitting. Up the pole longitudinally a hole is bored into which
the pointed iron rod B fits. This rod B is driven into the ground for about 3 of its
length, the rod B then passes into the hole at the extremity of the pole and so
enables the pole to maintain an upright vertical position.
C is a circular block of wood turned in a lathe, through the centre of which a
hole is bored corresponding with the diameter of the upper part of the pole.
This block has holes on either side, either morticed or bored; it has four holes
into which four extending rods D E F G fit. These rods together with the block
can be made to move round on the pole with a mere touch, seeing that the block
works freely on the pole, being lodged securely on the shoulder. The drawing
which shows the pole standing erect with the block resting in its place and the
extenders securely fitted into the holes in the block, represents the entire wood
work necessary for the tent I have invented.
Fig. 2 represents the tent erected with the extenders fitting into the corner
pockets in the roof already described. This drawing shows the pole in the centre
of the tent with the iron pin at the top of pole passing out through the small
hole in the centre of roof. It will also be seen that the tent is secured to the
ground with tent-pegs at its four corners and in the front where the wales project.
The iron rings will also be seen at the corners of the roof where the roof meets
the walls, to which guy ropes can, if necessary, be attached, thereby rendering it
quite impossible for the tent to be blown over.

page_text: 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:
An improved construction of tent having head room throughout, capable of
being revolved on its centre to any point of the compass. Absolutely secure in
strong winds, and applicable to the requirements of travellers and soldiers,
particularly well adapted to military purposes, as substantially described and
illustrated.
Toted this 4th day of July 1800