Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 15th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 13th Mar., 1897
THOMAS HENRY SHORT of 39, Highbury Quadrant, N., Mechanical Engineer
and GEORGE WILTON LENNOX SHORT, of 39 Highbury Quadrant, N.,
Insurance Agency Inspector, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
Our invention refers to cricket gloves for right and left hand similar to the
ordinary cricket gloves with the exception that the protection used for the fingers
and hand consist of rubber tubing of semicircular sections and sealed at both ends.
The pneumatic protections are attached to an india rubber sheet lining cut to the
shape of the fingers and hand and which is underlined with a soft material,
preference may be given to chamois skin. Each section is made separately to
cover the joints of the fingers and back of the hand.
Dated thie 17th day of March 1806
THOMAS HENRY SHORT.
GEO. W. LENNOX SHORT.
We, THOMAS HENRY SHORT Mechanical Engineer and GEORGE WILTON
LENNOX SHORT, Gentleman both of 39 Highbury Quadrant, Highbury, London, 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:-
The object of our invention for improvements in or connected with cricket
gloves, is to construct same so that when a cricket ball strikes upon such a glove
in position upon the hand of a player, the impact is taken up by a cushion, and the
hand of the player is thereby protected from being injured by the blow; and this
invention is essentially an improved construction of such a cushion as applied to
cricket gloves.
We are aware that it is quite common to make cricket gloves having sections of
tubular elastic material, with their ends open, such sections forming cushions
arranged so as to cover the back of a players hand; when a ball strikes with some
force upon these tubular sections the air contained within the tube has a free and
unobstructed passage to the surrounding atmosphere, and as the elastic tubular
cushion is compressed the air rushes freely out at each end, the elastic resisting
properties of the cushion being thus only derived from the elasticity of the material
of which the tubular section is composed.
According to our invention we employ closed or nearly closed hollow chambers
formed of some elastic material; such chambers we will hereinafter term sections.

page_text: In order that our said invention may be readily understood we will now
particularly describe same with reference to the accompanying drawings, whereon
Figs. 1 and 2 shew respectively left and right hand cricket gloves or protectors,
Fig. 3 being a cross section about the line X Y of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 a longitudinal
section shewing a closed elastic hollow chamber, the latter figure being drawn to a
larger scale than Figs. 1, 2 and 3 ;
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section shewing an elastic chamber where the same is
nearly closed, and
Fig. 6 is a part plan view shewing the curved chambers of Fig. 1 in a sub-divided
construction.
Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures of the
drawings.
A A are the hollow closed chambers or sections formed of elastic material such
as india rubber, those shewn by way of example being somewhat semi-circular
in cross section, although the shape may be varied as required or desired; each of
the sections A contains air at or about atmospheric pressure, and is secured to a
backing of india rubber B, Figs. 1 and 2, and 3. Such rubber backing B is
generally lined with fabric C, and is provided with loops C or other equivalent
means by which the glove or protector may be adjusted to the hand of the
wearer.
When these sections A are compressed, say by receiving the impact of a cricket
ball, the air contained within same is also compressed, and the elasticity of the
material of which the section A is made, is combined with the resistance of the
elastic body of air, this arrangement forming a most effective cushion.
In carrying out our invention it is preferable that each section A forming a
single cushion should be proportioned so that a large part of the whole internal
space is materially reduced, when such an object as a cricket ball strikes upon
and compresses it. Tuus if the sections A were of a great length, and of small
bore, upon being compressed at one point such as by the action of a cricket ball,
the pressure of air within such a section would vary but slightly, before and after
compression. We therefore arrange a number of such sections A proportioned as
aforesaid, and secure same to a suitable backing B as before stated, so as to be
capable of covering that part of the hand of a player exposed and likely to be
struck while playing. In some cases, and as shewn at Fig. 5, we form small holes or
air vents as at A' in each section, so that the air cannot rush out rapidly when the
elastic material forming the section is compressed, but is retained sufficiently to be
compressed to such a degree as to materially assist in forming an elastic cushion, in
conjunction with the elastic material of the section, and after such compression the
air within same would assume its normal quantity by drawing into the section,
through the air vents aforesaid, the requisite quantity, as the section expanded.
Such an air vent A' may be fitted with a metallic or other ferrule or lining, as
shewn.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In cricket gloves the application thereto of a number of hollow closed
chambers, composed of an elastic material, containing air at or about atinospheric
pressure, such chambers being properly located and arranged to receive the impact
of the ball, substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. In cricket gloves the application thereto of a number of hollow chambers,
composed of an elastic material, each having a small air vent hole, such chambers
being properly located and arranged to receive the impact of a ball and to protect
the hand of the wearer, substantially as described.
3. A cricket glove, having applied thereto a number of hollow closed chambers
composed of an elastic material, containing air at or about atmospheric pressure,
such chambers being properly located and arranged to receive the impact of a ball,

page_text: while the cubical contents and formation of the chambers are such that the impact
increases the pressure in such a proportion as to tend to prevent the walls of the
chamber meeting, all substantially as and for the purposes described.
T1007
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for the Applicants.