Year: 1886

page_text: I, JAMES GEORGE HEARD Manager of the firm of Edward J. Page & Co.
188 & 190 Kennington Park Road in the County of Surrey.do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in cricket stumps so that when
the stumps are placed in position in the ground the bails can be more readily
adjusted thereon, without having to turn or partly turn the stump round ready to
receive them.
For this purpose I form the stump with a head or top part mounted thereon
male of india rubber gutta percha or similar substance which head has a groove
or slot formed on the top in the ordinary manner to receive the bails and is free to
revolve horizontally. Thus when the stump is driven into the ground the top part
can be readily moved round so as to bring the grooves for the bails into line
without having to twist the stump itself round.
Or in order to effect the same object the stump may be made without the
revolving head but with double or crossed grooves on the top at or about right
angles to each other thus the stump can never require more than one eighth turn
to bring the bail grooves into the required position."
I am aware that revolving heads have previously been applied to stumps but
they have been constructed of metal or other hard material and been found
dangerous in practice owing to their liability to be knocked off and causing injury
to the players in the immediate vincinity which danger is obviated by the substi-
tution of india rubber or similar substance.
'
:

page_text: I, JAMES GEORGE HEARD Manager of the firm of Edward J. Page & Co.
188 & 190 Kennington Park Road in the County of Surrey 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 has for its object improvements in cricket stumps so that when
the stumps are placed in position in the ground the bails can be more readily
adjusted thereon without having to turn the stump round as heretofore ready to
receive them.
For this purpose I form the stump with a head or top part mounted thereon
made of india rubber, gutta percha or similar substance which head is free to
revolve and has a groove or slot formed on the top in the ordinary manner to
receive the bails. Thus when the stump is driven into the ground the top part
can be readily moved round so as to bring the grooves for the bails into line
without having to twist the stump itself round.
Or in order to effect the same object the stump may be made without the
revolving head but with double or crossed grooves on the top at or about right
angles to each other thus the stump can never require more than one eighth turn
to bring the bail grooves into the required position.
In the drawing hereto annexed Figure 1 shows plan of top of stump having the
cross bail groove therein and Figure 2 side elevation of top part of a cricket stump
having cross grooves as in Figure 1.
I am aware that revolving heads have previously been applied to stumps but
they have been constructed of metal or other hard material and been found
dangerous in practice owing to their liability to be knocked off and causing injury
to the players in the immediate vicinity which danger is obviated by the substi-
tution of india rubber or similar substance.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The improved construction of cricket stumps by forming them with cross bail
grooves substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and represented
in the annexed drawings.
2. The improved construction of cricket stumps substantially as herein
described,