IMPROVEMENTS IN HANDLES FOR BATS AND OTHER ANALAGOUS PURPOSES
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I RALPH SLAZENGER Moss trading as Slazenger and Sons of the National
Liberal Club Trafalgar Square in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the
nature of my Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN HANDLES FOR BATS AND OTHER
ANALAGOUS PURPOSES to be as follows:-
Whereas the handles of bats and other articles are usually made of a plain form,
whether of a cylindrical or other section, the sides being parallel and affording but
little means for gripping the same firmly and securely.
Now I have discovered that an ordinary shin bone furnishes a very superior
model for such purposes, and, by utilising the principle which consists of two
opposite grooves, I obtain a symmetrical handle with the beneficial means of
obtaining a firm grip.
I construct such handles with a longitudinal groove on two opposite sides of the
handle, such grooves extending in length as far along the handle as the hand is
likely to be applied thereto.
I also form an enlargement at the outer end of the handle in which the grooves
are continued on each side.
The effect of the above arrangement is that an operator can know by feeling the
handle how he is holding the instrument without taking the trouble to look at the
handle for that purpose; his hold of the handle is also very firm and secure from
the increase of surface in contact with the hand; the enlargement at the end also
enables the operator to hold the handle at a farther distance from the striking or
operating part of the bat or other instrument, thus affording a more powerful
stroke and additional force, and the handle is not likely to slip out of the hand.
My said Invention is applicable to cricket tennis and other bats and to other
analagous purposes.
Dated the 1st love of Tenue 1001
GEO. DOWNING,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I RALPH SLAZENGER MOSS trading as Slazenger & Sons of the National Liberal
Club Trafalgar Square in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of
my Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN HANDLES FOR BATS AND OTHER ANALOGOUS
PURPOSES, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Whereas the handles of bats and other articles are usually made of a plain form,
whether of a cylindrical or other section, the sides being parallel and affording but
little means for gripping the same firmly and securely.

page_text: Now I have discovered that an ordinary shin bone furnishes a very superior
model for such purposes and by utilizing the principle which consists of two
opposite grooves, I obtain a symmetrical handle with the beneficial means of
obtaining a firm grip.
I construct such handles with a longitudinal groove on two opposite sides of the
handle such grooves extending in length as far along the handle as the hand is
likely to he applied thereto.
I also form an enlargement at the outer end of the handle in which the
grooves are continued on each side.
The effect of the above arrangement is that an operator can know by feeling the
handle, how he is holling the instrument, without taking the trouble to look at
the handle for that purpose, his hold of the handle is also very firm and secure
from the increase of surface in contact with the hand; the enlargement at the end
also enables the operator to hold the handle at a farther distance from the striking
or operating part of the bat or other instrument thus affording a more powerful
stroke and additional force, and the handle is not likely to slip out of the hand.
My said Invention is applicable to cricket, tennis, and other bats and to other
analogous purposes.
And in order that my said Invention may be clearly understood, reference is
hereby made to the accompanying Drawings in which similar letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts in the several Figures.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of my improved bat, the handle being constructed in
accordance with my Invention having a groove c as hereinbefore mentioned for the
purpose of affording a firm grip, when held in the hand at play. e is the enlarged
end of the handle.
Fig. 2 is a section on the line ab of Fig. 1 to an enlarged scale in which the
grooves c. c are clearly shewn,
Fig. 3 shews (in section) another method of forming the projections & which
projections are varied in size and proportion to suit the taste and fancy of the
players. The pieces d d inay be formed of cane, vulcanite, rubber, composition, or
other suitable material.
Fig. 4 represents another method of forming the handle with additional grooves
c¹ c¹ between the pieces d d and the grooves may be varied both in the form and
number and the pieces added thereto may be so fashioned and arranged as to form
regular or irregularly formed grooved handles.
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. The method of constructing the handles of bats for the purposes aforesaid
having grooves and an enlarged end substantially as hereinbefore described and
shewn on the Drawings.
Dated 28 March 1884
GEO. DOWNING,
Agent for Applicant.