US1534447A - Center strap for tennis nets - Google Patents

Description

April 21, 1925.

S. HARDY CENTER STRAP FOR TENNIS NETS Filed July l0, 1922 PaieniedApr. 2i, 1925.

"i UNITED "STATE- S PATENT FFICE.

siiivroar. HARDY, OF HORORENNW JERsRY, AssreNoRiro a. e. srALnrNe a BROS., or

NRW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or NEW JERSEY. v

CENTER STRAP FOR TENNIS NETS.

Application iled July 1Q, 1922. Serial No. 574,020.

construction, effective in operation, con-` venient for installationand adjustment, and durable. `The improved construction includes a hook at the lower end of the center strap which is swiveled in such manner as to permit the strap to revolve about the axis of the shank without twisting. Ithas been found in known constructions that the anchorage for center straps has been unsatisfactory inithat it has not provided for convenient installation and has not been of sucli character as to adapt itself to twisting of the strap. The improved hook employed in i the anchorage, in the present case, includes,

in the preferred forni, a snaflie which facilitates attachment and detachment from the anchor and positively holds the strap against accidental disengagement. Another feature of the invention is the association `with a hook of the character described of a center strap which comprises an endless band ad justable through a buckle and extendingA `through a slot in the base of the hook. Free sliding movement of the strap in this base andfree adaptationof the strap to the net without twisting, by virtue of the swiveled shank of the retaining hook increases the life of the center strap materially since it protects it againstfundue strainsand stresses and insures its constant change of position with respect to the top of the net where the greatest wear is ordinarilyencountered.

rlhe preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with refer ence to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view' in elevation of a section` of a tennis net equipped with the iinproved. strap.

Figure 2 is a detailed view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the center strap and its retaining hook.

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation` ofthe strap shown in Figure 2. v

The lawn tennis net a may be secured at its side edges by any suitable means and retained in placeadjacent to its mid-section by the improved center strap I). This center strap comprises an endless strip of fabric such as canvas, one end of which carries a suitable buckle o adapted to be engaged with the free end of the strap whereby the length thereof may be adjusted conveniently'. A fingerpiece c on the buckle o` facilitates this' adjustment in accordance with usual practice where buckles or the equivalent are employed. The strap b passes through a slotted base cl in which is swiveled a vertical shank e for a hook e which may be closed by a spring oressed snaftle c2. It will be observed that the axis of the shank c is vertical and substantially coincident with the median line of the vertical strap o when in position. The hook cmay be engaged with any suitable anchor illustrated for convenience as a horizontal pin f supported in an anchor g. TheI invention is not concerned with the character of the anchor. i

From the description it will be evident that the strap Z) being formed as an endless loop passing through the slotted base d is free to move longitudinally therein and so change its bearing section on the upper edge of the tennis net c. This is important inasmuch as `such straps are subject to hardest wear at this point. Further, the buckle c affords a most ready means of adjusting the effective length of the loop formed by the strap Z) so that the latter may under chang ing conditions of weather which might cause stretching or shrinking, always be pulledso asto hold the upper edge of the tennis net at the regulation distance from the surface of the ground. Again, the swiveledshank c i `permits twisting of the strap to` any degree necessary to insure ready conformation to distortion in the net. .The result is that the strap isnot subjected to undue stresses or strains such `as might be brought about by twisting.` The snaffle e2 affords a positive closure for the hook c so that it maybe positively engaged with the anchor and all` of the parts held in desired relation against accidental disengagement.

'Vhat I claim is:

In combination with thefoenteistiap for a tennis net i'foi'ined as an endless band, a buckle to secure the 'free ends of the-bands adjustably together, ahool having a slotted base through Which the .strap .is loosely passed, a vertical Ashank 'for the' hook swiveled in the base with its axis substantially in 10 This .specification signed this 5 datv olj 1 July A. D. 1922.

SAMUEL IARDY.

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