Improvements in Racket Presses.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 11th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 3rd Jan., 1891
Improvements in Racket Presses.
I, WILLIAM GAMMON GRENVILLE, of 49 Corporation Street, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Athletic Outfitter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :-
This invention relates to the construction and arrangement of presses, for preserving
or recovering the flat or uniform shape of the frames of lawn tennis or other similar
rackets, that is, to prevent such frames from twisting, or to remedy such twists when
they exist.
Racket presses are now made of a cross form, and of a triangular form, the former,
acting upon the racket in four places, while the latter act upon it in five places, one
of such places in the latter, being at the top central part. In either case, between
such points of contact a large portion of the frame of the racket is left exposed, and it
is to remedy this defect, that I have made this my invention.
In my invention, I form the press with four sides; the base, two angular or curved
sides, and a cross top piece, which is parallel to the aforesaid base. At each junction
of these parts, I provide an ordinary fly nut and screw, whereby the two parts (one
upon either side of the racket) are firmly brought together.
The frames may be made of wood, or metal, and if of the former, may be provided
with corner metal fittings to receive the screws. If made of metal, each frame may
be of a cast form in one piece, or such frame may be made of a tubular form in one or
more parts, and suitably connected together.
Thus by this my improved form of press, the racket is held in six places, that is, at
two points along the base, and two points along each angular, or curved side. If
desired, this my improved forra, further admits of the upper part or crown of the
racket frame, being passed to some extent between the two top cross pieces, so that
such cross pieces, take hold of a long length of the said crown or top of the frame;
also, with the curved sides to the press, such sides may follow more or less to the
shape of the racket, and thus embrace a much larger portion of the sides of the racket.
Dated this 27th day of March 1890.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Racket Presses.
I, WILLIAM GAMMON GRENVILLE of 49 Corporation Street in the City of Birmingham,
Outfitter 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 the construction and formation, of presses,
or holding means, for clamping and keeping true, or correcting distortions in figure,
of lawn-tennis rackets, or other such like articles.
The said presses are simple in their construction, and the number of contact points
increased over those of the ordinary kind, and in addition it gets more pressure in the
right places, and does not strain the racket at all.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, represents in front elevation, a lawn-tennis
racket, clamped between a racket press, constructed and arranged according to one
form of my invention. It is understood that the said press, is for the purpose of

page_text: preserving, the figure of the said racket, or correcting any inequalities or irregularities
which may occur in the same, consequent upon the warping of the wood, or the
straining of the gut.
The press consists essentially of two enclosed frames, connected together at the
junctions of their sides, by clamping devices, passing through them respectively, and
between which frames, the racket is held.
Figure 2 represents an edge view of Figure 1, with the lower portions of the frames,
in section, showing how the clamping screws pass through them, and how they are
connected together.
Figure 3 represents a complete racket, and press, upon a smaller scale.
Figure 4 represents a front and edge view of one of the joints of the upper frame,
and Figure 5 à front and edge view of one of the joints of the lower frame.
a
a is the upper frame of the press, and b the lower one. The upper frame a, consists
of two opposite and obliquely directed sides a², and unequal opposite sides a³, a*. The
frame b, consists of like sides 62, 63, and 6', as the frame a. These frames a and b, are
clamped together, by clamping screw pins c, directed through holes, made through
the overhanging parts or angles at the corners of the said frames, while tension is put
upon them, by means of thumb screws, or fly nuts d, taking upon the outer ends of
the said clamping screws or fly nuts.
e is a lawn-tennis racket, with frame e², and handle e³.
It will be observed, that the frame e², of the racket, is practically held or clamped
at six points, thereby preventing the same from changing its figure, and further, by
constructing frames as described, the rackets admit of being introduced into the press,
quickly and easily, and by the screwing of the tension devices, equal, or unequal
pressure can be applied at the points of contact ; and further, I wish it to be under-
stood, that the lengths of the upper and lower bars of the frames a³, a*, can be varied
according to the inclination required of the sides, and the amount of cross gripping at
head and base.
Figure 6 represents a press, constructed according to another form of my invention,
and is a four sided plane figure, whose perimeter is arranged symetrically. This plane
polygonal figure, admits of the racket frame being held or clamped at many points, in
manner that both the heads, sides, and bottom, are held uniformly, so that change of
figure or twisting, is prevented.
a is the top frame of the press, and b is an under one, with the sides a², 6², parallel
and equal, and clamped together at their angles, by clamping screws c, and fly nuts d.
e is a racket, with frame e², and handle e³, which is clamped between the top and
bottom frames a and b, as aforesaid.
Figure 7 represents in front elevation, upon a smaller scale, a racket, held within a
press, constructed according to another form of my invention.
It will be seen that the head of the racket, is embraced by the crown part of the
frame, whilst the base of the said frame, crosses the lower part of the racket frame.
a, b, are top and bottom press frames, with heads a², 62, and with the said frames
connected together, by clamping screws and fly nuts c, d, as in the previous arrange-
ments.
The crowns of the said frames constituting the press, have loops f, for the hanging
up of the same.
I wish it to be understood, that I do not limit myself to the number of sides which
the frames of the press shall have, save that of a triangle, as a quadrilateral, curvilinear,
(or combinations of them.) or other enclosed figure, may be employed, save as afore-
said, that of a triangle, which is deficient in points of contact over that of other
enclosed figures.
Instead of the lower frame, or instead of both lower and upper frames, being open
at their middles, they may be closed, or made in the form of panels or boards. Or
these said frames, may be pierced with an ornamental or other shaped opening.
The base of my racket press, may be made perfectly rigid, and in manner that it
admits of being affixed to a wall or other surface. Or the said wall or other surface,
may be provided with outstanding clamping screws, and may constitute the base or

page_text: under framing of my said press; so that in this latter case, one removable frame only
is necessary.
The whole of the presses consisting of double frames, are provided with hanging up
loops or eyes, marked f, as in Figure 7.
In addition to obtaining an increased number of points of contact, of the holding
frames, the head of the racket, or nearly the whole of it, is extensively or completely
held.
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 :-
First A racket press, consisting of two enclosed four sided frames, or panels, or
pierced panels, connected together at their angles respectively, or at the junctions of
their sides, by clamping devices, substantially as described and set forth in Figures 1,
2, 3, 4 and 5, whereby the holding points of contact, are numerous, and brought to
bear at the right places.
Secondly A racket press, consisting of two frames, panels, or centrally pierced
panels, clamped together at their angles, and of the figure of a square, substantially as
set forth in Figure 6.
Thirdly A racket press, consisting of two enclosed frames, panels, or pierced
panels, semi-circular at their head ends, and connected together by clamping devices,
substantially as described and set forth in Figure 7.
Fourthly-A racket press, consisting of two enclosed frames, panels, or pierced
panels, of the figure of the boundary edges of the racket frame, or of a quadrilateral
or polygonal figure (which is arranged to follow or cross the boundary edges of the
said frame) save that of a triangle, substantially as set forth.
Fifthly A racket press, consisting of a single frame, with a fixed or removable
base, substantially as described.
Doted this 28th day of October 1890
WILLIAM GAMMON GRENVILLE.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.