Improvements in the Construction of Tennis Racquets.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Nov., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 28th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 28th Sept., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Tennis Racquets.
WILLIAM HEYGATE BUTLIN, Clerk in Holy Orders, of The Vicarage Leonard
Stanley Stonehouse Gloucestershire do hereby declare the nature of this invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TENNIS RACQUETS to be as follows:-
The wedge shaped piece on the jaws of the Racquet to be morticed into the frame on
each side & also held in position by a wood plug, or plugs; passing through the frame
& wedge & also fastened if required by two metal plates, one on the front & the
other at the back rivited together through the frame & wedge piece.
The handle to be the reverse of the present common shape namely oval at right
angles to the frame, instead of as now oval horizontal with the frame or in other
words, the broadest way of the handle at right angles to the frame.
Dated this 28th day of November 1887.
W. H. BUTLIN.

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Tennis Racquets.
1, WILLIAM HEYGATE BUTLIN Clerk in Holy Orders, of the Vicarage, Leonard
Stanley, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire 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:-
In the construction of a Tennis Racquet under my invention, I arrange in the first
place the tongue or wedge within the jaws of the Racquet by mortising the samo into
the said jaws instead of fastening the same by means of glue only, which is commonly
donc. The said mortising is effected by cutting in a suitable manner a groove
about a quarter of an inch wide and also of the same depth in the jaws of the
racquet and by leaving a tenon of corresponding size upon the said tongue or
wedge.
In mortising and fitting the said wedge within the jaws as before mentioned, and
for the more perfect securing of the same therein I use glue, and I also bore suitable
holes from the outside of the jaws of the said racquet frame, immediately above that
part which forms the handle, through the said frame and partly into the said wedge,
and I then insert plugs made of wood or other suitable material and I further secure
the same by means of glue. I use one or more plugs as aforesaid on each side of the
wedge and frame and do not bind myself to any particular number.
By these means greater rigidity and endurance are imparted to the racquet than
has hitherto been practicable, and a person using a racquet made under this my said
invention has greater control over the same than over an ordinary racquet owing to
the unflinching adherence and complete union of the racquet to and with the handle
thereof.
And in order to add further to the said rigidity, endurance and control, I complete
the said handle as follows:-The handle of the ordinary racquet is oval in shape the
major axis of such oval being horizontal with the head or frame, but under my
invention reverse this and I arrange the major axis of the oval aforesaid at right
angles to the head or frame of the racquet.
In other words I make the narrowest section of the handle parallel with the head
or frame.
In the annexed Drawing
Fig. 1 is a plan view.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof as taken through the dotted line A. B.
(Fig. 1).
Fig. 3 is a cross section thereof as taken through C. D. (Fig. 1) and looking
towards the handle x.
E is the wedge; F shews the dotted line representing the mortised portion of the
said wedge and G G represents the plugs.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1) In Tennis Racquets the mortising of the tongue or wedge into the jaws of the
racquet, and
(2) The adjustment of the broadest section of the handle so that the same shall be
at right angles to the head or frame of the racquet substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore described.
W. H. BUTLIN.