Improvements in or relating to the Fixing of Stumps in the Game of Cricket.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 20th Mar., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Fixing of Stumps in the Game
of Cricket.
We, WILLIAM EDWARD NUTT 149 High Street Eastleigh in the County of
Hants, Machinist, and BERTRAND NUTT 9 Newland Place The Crescent Eastleigh
in the County of Hants, Tinsmith 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 :-
.
Our invention relates to an improved method of and means for supporting and.
maintaining in their relative positions, the stumps used in playing cricket. Some
of the advantages claimed for the invention are that it makes the setting up of the
stumps easier that it ensures the stumps being always at the required distauce
apart, and that it prevents the inconvenience attending the repeated knocking
down of the stumps whereby the ground becomes loose and necessitates beating
down before it will again properly hold the stumps. In carrying our invention
into effect, we proceed in or in about the following manner, making reference to the
accompanying sheet of drawings, in which the same letters denote the same parts
wherever they occur. We provide a metal plate of which Fig. 6 is a plan
having in it three holes G for the reception of special springs provided at the ends
of the stumps as hereafter described. This plate is provided with hinged spikes J
(one of them being shown in side view in Fig. 7.), which are driven into the
ground and keep the plate in place when in use. A hole A (Figs. 1. and 4.) is
provided axially at the bottom of the stump, and is of somewhat bell shape at the
lower end. In this hole A is driven a plug (see side view and end view in Fig. 2.),
having in it vertical grooves as shewn at C. In these grooves are placed the
peculiarly shaped springs H one of which is shewn in side view in Fig. 3. the
upper ends of the springs being bound to the upper end of the plug by the band D
(Fig. 4.) At the lower end of the stump is a plate of metal F (Figs. 4. and 7.)
having in it three radiating slots E (Fig. 5.), the plate being forced over the ends
of the springs H (the ends of which pass through E) and attached to the bottom
of the stump by the screws shewn between the slots E (Fig. 5). The outer
extremity of the slots E are on a circle of lesser diameter than the outer diameter
of the bent or "knee'd" part of the springs H projecting below the end of the
stump, so that when the plate F has been forced over the ends of the springs they
will spring out below the plate as seen in Figs. 4. and 7. In use the spikes J of
the plate having in it the holes G are opened, and driven into the soil, thus
keeping the plate in position on the surface of the ground. Each stump is then
taken and the end of the springs H forced into the holes G and as soon as they
have passed through as far as they can go, the bent or "kneed part of them
springs outwards and retains the stump in position by the outwardly tending part
of the springs clipping the three boled plate between them, and the plate Fat the
end of the stump, and so keeping the latter in position as shewn in Fig. 7.
I being the point where the springs H come in contact with the periphery of the
hole G.
We do not confine ourselves to the precise forms or relative proportions
or disposition of parts, shewn in the drawings or described in the above
specification, as they can be considerably varied without departing from the epirit
of our invention.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
CLAIMS.
1. The improved method of and means for maintaining cricket stumps in position
during the progress of the game, the said meaus consisting essentially in providing
the bottom of the stump with a number of radiating springs having projecting ends
passed through holes in a plate attached to the bottom end of the stump, the said
outwardly tending projecting ends of the spring being destined to be passed
through and spring out under a three holed plate kept in position on the surface
of the ground by downwardly driven spikes binged to the plate, the said outwardly
tending projecting ends of the springs clipping the three holed plate between
themselves and the plate at the bottom end of the stump, the whole provided for
and operating substantially as described in the above specification, and exemplified
in the accompanying drawings.
2. The improved method of and means for supporting cricket stumps in position
during play, the said method and means being provided for substantially as
described in the above specification, and exemplified in the accompanying
-drawings.
Dated this 19th day of December 1896.
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23, Coleman Street, London, E.C., Agents for Applicants.