Improvements in Rackets for Use in the Game of Lawn Tennis and like Games.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 7th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 7th May, 1898
PROVIDIUNAL DIECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rackets for Use in the Game of Lawn Tennis and
like Games.
I, GEORGE HENRY SHEPHERD, of 1, Rue Caumartin, Paris, France, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in rackets for use in the game of lawn-
tennis, tennis, rackets, battledore and shuttlecock or like games, and it has for its
object to strengthen the racket at its weak part, that is to say, at the union of the
frame with the handle.
It is a well-known fact that the weakest part of a racket is that portion of the
frame which is contracted upon the tongue, because the holes pierced at that place
for the passage of the cords deprive the wood of a great deal of its strength.
Now, as it is this weak part which has actually to stand the greatest strain, the
result. is that when a racket breaks-which is often the case when the ball, instead of
striking upon the cords, strikes against a part of the frame of the racket, or when the
said frame is struck violently against the ground, or is unintentionally struck against.
any obstacle-it more often breaks at that part.
Now my invention consists in the application at that part of the racket of a
metallic or other armature or fitting through holes in which the cords are passed,
and which, while of itself strengthening the racket, leaves to the wood all its strength
by enabling the holes which are ordinarily pierced in that part to be dispensed
with.
In order that my invention and the manner of carrying it into practice may
be clearly understood, I shall proceed to describe it with reference to the accom-
panying drawings, in which :-'
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a racket provided with my improvement, and Fig. 2 is a
section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.
a is the frame of the racket; b is the handle; c the tongue; and d the interlacing
cords stretched in the frame //.
All these parts are and may he of any ordinary or suitable construction.
At the lower part of the frame a where it is united to the handle b, I apply,
along the inside of the said frame, and at the top of the tongue c, an armature
which may he made of any suitable material, but which is preferably of a light.
metal such as aluminium. This armature, which follows closely the curvature of
the frame, is made preferably as shown, of 1 section, that is to say, it comprises
preferably a sole piece e which fits accurately the inside of the frame a and the
tongue c against both of which it is held in place by means of screws
(Fig. 2)

page_text: and also a rib el which projects from the centre of the said sole-piece and, as
shown, extends along the whole length of the latter.
In the rib e' are pierced the holes g for the passage of the cords d. It is to
be understood, however, that I do not limit myself strictly to this form of
armature, because instead of the section above described and shown in the accom-
panying drawings any other suitable form may be used, which will allow of holes
being pierced therein for the passage of the cords so as to avoid the use of
whipping or lacing, whilst imparting at that place greater strength to the frame.
Dated this 3rd day of March 1898.
Improvements in Rackets for Use in the Game of Lawn Tennis and
like Games.
I, GEORGE HENRY SHEPHERD, of 1, Rue Caumartin, Paris, France, 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 improvements in rackets for use in the game of lawn-
tennis, tennis, rackets, battledore and shuttlecock or like games, and it has for its object
to strengthen the racket at its weak part, that is to say, at the union of the frame
with the handle.
It is a well-known fact that the weakest part of a racket is that portion of the frame
which is contracted upon the tongue, because the holes pierced at that place for the
passage of the cords deprive the wood of a great deal of its strength.
Now, as it is this weak part which has actually to stand the greatest strain, the
result is that when a racket breaks-which is often the case when the ball, instead of
striking upon the cords, strikes against a part of the frame of the racket, or when the
said frame is struck violently against the ground, or is unintentionally struck against
any obstacle it most often breaks at that part.
Now, my invention consists in the application at that part of the racket of a
metallic or other armature or fitting constructed as hereinafter described through
holes in which the cords are passed, and which, while of itself strengthening the
racket, leaves to the wood all its strength by enabling the holes which are ordinarily
pierced in that part to be dispensed with.
In order that my invention and the manner of carrying it into practice may be
clearly understood, I shall proceed to describe it with reference to the drawings
accompanying my Provisional Specification, in which :-
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a racket provided with my improvement, and Fig. 2 is a
section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.
a is the frame of the racket; b is the handle; the tongue; and d the inter-
lacing cords stretched in the frame a. All these parts are and may be of any ordinary
or suitable construction.
At the lower part of the frame a where it is united to the handle h, I apply, along
the inside of the said frame, and at the top of the tongue c, an armature which may
be made of any suitable material, but which is preferably of a light metal such as
aluminium. This armature, which follows closely the curvature of the frame, is made
preferably as shown, of 1 section, that is to say, it comprises preferably a sole piece e
which fits accurately the inside of the frame a and the tongue c against both of

page_text: which it is held in place by means of screws f (Fig. 2), and also a rib e¹ which projects
from the centre of the said sole-piece and, as shown, extends along the whole length
of the latter. In the rib e' are pierced the holes for the passage of the cords d.
It-is-to-be-understood, however, that I do not limit myself strictly to this form of
armature, because instead of the section-ubove-described and shown in the accom
panying drawings any other suitable form may be used, which will allow of holes
being pierced therein for the passage of the cards so as to avoid the use of whip-
ping-or-lacing, whilst imparting-at-that-place greater strength to the frame.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a racket, the combination with the frame and the tongue, of an armature of
metal or other suitable material of 1 section screwed or fixed in any other suitable
manner, to the inside of the said frame and against the top of the tongue, and in
which holes are pierced for the passage of the cords, substantially as and for the
purposes described, and as shown in the accompanying drawing.
2. The improved racket substantially as described above and illustrated by way of
example in the accompanying drawings.
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.