Improvement in Cricket Bat, Lawn Tennis Racquet, and all Handles to Instruments used in Out-door Games.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Aug., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 7th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1899
PIVOVIDIONAL
Improvement in Cricket Bat, Lawn Tennis Racquet, and all Handles
to Instruments used in Out-door Games.
CHARLES THOMAS HORNSEY, 118, Portway, West Ham, Essex, Cricket Bat
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
That in the insertion of indiarubber between cane or other substances my inven-
tion consists in the following method viz.:-The insertion of one, two or three
strips of indiarubber laid zigzag or corrugate fashion the whole length of the
bat handle between cane or other pliable substance. The construction of the
handles by my invention secures greater elasticity and driving power and a
uniform distribution of the strain occasioned by striking and thus obviates the
unpleasant sensation of stinging often felt by the user.
1000
Improvement in Cricket Bat, Lawn Tennis Racquet, and all Handles
to Instruments used in Out-door Games.
I, CHARLES THOMAS HORNSEY, of 118, Portway, West Ham, London, E., Cricket
Bat Maker, 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 relates to improvements in the handles of cricket bats, lawn tennis
rackets, hockey clubs, and other like articles used in outdoor games, and has for
its objects, that of imparting to the said handles increased spring and greater
resilience, thereby enabling a cricket bat or the like to be used with better effect,
and also obviates the unpleasant sensation of stinging or jarring experienced in
the hands of the user, as occurs with those at present now in use.
My invention consists of attaching several lengths of cane or other pliable
wood or material, by means of glue or other suitable adhesive compound, and
thereby form a width of cane or the like of about its own thickness, and when
this has well dried and set, I form channels or grooves on either or both surfaces
thereof, so that the surface of one thickness will correspond with that of another
thickness. Now between said widths of cane I place a strip of india rubber or
other similar material, and by means of any suitable adherent cause same to
adhere to the corrugated or recessed surfaces of the widths of cane between which

page_text: it is interposed. The said strip of india rubber or the like extends from the end
of the handle to that part which forms the beginning of the splice, or to the
shoulder of the bat when same has been fitted thereinto.
To enable my invention to be more clearly understood, I have hereunto
appended a sheet of drawings in which all the figures shewn are cross sections at
or about the middle of the length of a cricket bat handle.
Figs. 1, 2, and 3 illustrate the manner of arranging the recessed surfaces of
the said widths of cane for the employment of one two or three strips of india
rubber respectively.
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 shew the employment of corrugated surfaces for a like purpose.
In bringing my invention into effect I take several lengths of cane or the like,
and form one or more flat surfaces on each, and cause them to adhere by the
application of glue or its equivalent to the said surfaces, and thereby form a
width of cane or the like a, slightly greater than the thickest part of a finished
cricket bat or like handle, and when such width a has well set, I form in the
whole length or only a portion thereof of one or both surfaces that form the said
width, recesses or corrugations e by any suitable means, such for instance as a
moulding plane or its equivalent. In building up a bat or like handle, I take
one or more, preferably two of the widths of cane a recessed or corrugated as
before described, and place therebetween a strip of india rubber or similar
material, as at Figs. 1 and 4, or take three strips thereof and place one strip
between said widths and one on each outer surface thereof as shown by Figs. 3,
and 6, or when making use of two strips of india rubber or the like d, I prefer
to use one width of cane a and place one on each recessed or corrugated surface
thereof as shewn by Figs. 2 and 5 respectively, but whichever arrangement I may
employ the strip or strips of india rubber or the like d extend from the end of
the handle to the beginning of the spliced portion thereof, and between each
layer of cane and india rubber, a suitable adhesive compound is placed and by
the addition of the widths of cane e the whole can be clamped together and
allowed to thoroughly set, after which it can be trimmed or turned up, and made
ready for splicing and stringing in the usual way. Of course it is understood
that the widths of cane a and strips of india rubber or the like run in a plane
similar to the face of the blade of the cricket bat.
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
The improved manner of constructing the handles of cricket bats, lawn tennis
rackets, hockey clubs, and other like articles used in out door games, consisting
of the formation of recesses 6 or corrugations c in the widths of cane a and the
interposing of strips of india rubber or similar material d between same or on the
outer surfaces thereof, as substantially described and shewn by the appended
drawings.