Improvements in the Construction of the Handles of Lawn-tennis and other Bats.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 31st Mar., 1892-Accepted, 7th May,
1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of the Handles of Lawn-tennis
and other Bats.
I, GEORGE JOHNSON trading as Edward J. Page and Co. of 188 and 190
Kennington Park Road, London S.E., Bat, Ball and Athletic Game Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved method of constructing the handles of bats,
such as those used for lawn tennis, rackets, cricket and the like, the object of which
is to provide a greater amount of flexibility in such handles, as compared with those
hitherto made and used.
It has hitherto been customary in the making of the handles of such bats, to
construct them of a number of strips of cane glued or otherwise fastened together
parallel with each other, and the mass thus formed is afterwards suitably shaped,
and one end tapered and inserted within a similar shaped recess formed in the blade
of the cricket bat, or between the ends of the bent wood forming the frame of the
head of the lawn tennis or similar bat.
The improvement constituting my invention consists of the employment of strips
of cloth, canvas or similar or other suitable fabric, fastened together in pairs by the
means of india rubber solution, and the duplex strip or strips thus formed I place
between the strips of cane before mentioned, in such a manner that, the flat surfaces
of the said strip or strips of fabric when the bandle is glued up and finished and
fastened into the head of the bat as described, is in alignment with the flat surfaces
of said head, so that when impact occurs between the bat and the ball, the elasticity
or flexibility of the handle so constructed prevents vibration being felt in the arm
of the player, and prolongs the life of the bat. The handle is bound and finally
finished in the usual way.
This cond do. of Wahuan 1000
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of the Handles of Lawn-tennis
and other Bats.
I, GEORGE JOHNSON trading as Edward J. Page and Co. of 188 and 190
Kennington Park Road, London S.E. Bat, Ball and Athletic Game Manufacturer,
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:—
My invention relates to improvements in the manner of building or constructing
the handles of lawn tennis, racket, cricket and similar bats, by which I am enabled
to provide a greater amount of flexibility and elasticity in the direction in which
the handle would vibrate when impact occurs between the ball and the head or
blade of the bat, as compared with the handles of such bats as hitherto made and
used.
It has hitherto been customary in the making or building of the handles of such
bats, to construct them of a number of pieces or strips of cane, glued or otherwise
fastened together parallel with each other, and the mass thus formed after being

page_text: subjected to pressure in order to remove the superfluous cement, is, when dry or set
suitably shaped, and one end tapered and inserted within a similar shaped recess
formed in the blade of the cricket bat, or between the ends of the bent wood
forming the frame of the head of the lawn tennis or similar bat.
The improvements constituting ny invention consist of the interposition of
strips of cloth, canvas, rubber or other suitable elastic or resilient material, fastened
together in pairs by the means of india rubber solution, between the strips of cane
before mentioned, in the manner hereinafter explained, and rendered more clear by
the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which I have chosen to illustrate my
invention in connection with lawn tennis and similar bats, although the same is
equally applicable in the construction of the handles of bats as used for playing
cricket. But I wish it understood that my invention does not refer to improve-
ments in the construction or formation of the blade or head of the bat, but
applies exclusively to improvements in the construction or building of handles
therefor.
Fig. 1 is a view representing in plan so much of a lawn tennis bat as to fully
illustrate the manner of carrying my invention into effect, the handle being broken
to facilitate this, and for the convenience of space.
Fig. 2 is the same, viewed edgewise.
Fig. 3 is a cross section of the handle, in which I have chosen to illustrate the
employment of two compound elastic strips, although any number may be employed
according to the number of strips of cane used in the building of the handle.
Fig. 4 is an external view of part of a handle according to my invention to be
hereinafter fully explained.
In carrying my invention into effect I employ the use of strips of cloth, canvas,
india rubber or other suitable and similar fabric or material, of a length corre-
sponding to that of the handle or nearly so, which I fasten together in pairs in the
manner previously described, and the duplex strip or strips thus formed I place
between the strips of cane, parallel therewith, during the building of the handle, in
such a manner that, the flat surfaces of the said duplex strip or strips when the handle
is glued up and fastened into the head of the bat in the usual manner, is or are in
alignment with the flat surface of the said head. In this manner I may use as
many of the duplex strips of elastic material as there are cross sectional joints in the
handle, but I prefer to use only two such strips with one layer of cane strips
interposed therebetween, the remainder of the cane strips being placed next to,
and the handle built up from the said elastic strips. This will be more clearly
understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which A is the frame of
the bat, B the compound cane handle fixed therein, and C, D the two duplex
strips of elastic material referred to.
It will be understood that the duplex strips of elastic material are incorporated
with the mass during the forming and building up of the handle, and glued up with
the cane strips in the manner described, and this when trimmed to shape is inserted
and fastened into the head of the bat in the usual way.
It is customary with certain class goods to cover these handles with some kind of
soft material such as cork, rubber or the like, but I prefer to provide in said handle
'at suit intervals, annular grooves a, in which I place rings of rubber, cork, leather
or other similar material b, and the whole of the handle may if desired be afterwards
covered with any suitable soft material, or the said rings b and the surface of the
handle may be finished flush with each other, as in Fig. 4, without the said covering,
if required.
By constructing the handle in the manner described, and according to my
invention, a greater amount of elasticity is given thereto in the direction necessary
to counteract vibration, and prevent jar from being imparted to the hand and arm
of the player, at the moment of impact between the ball and the bat, and at the
same time preserving all the necessary rigidity to enable the player to as effectually
deliver the ball as in any of the methods of constructing such handles hitherto
employed.

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.
For improvements in the construction of the handles of lawn-tennis, racket,
cricket and similar bats, the employment of strips of canvas, cloth, rubber, leather
or other elastic material, fastened together flatwise in pairs, by the means of india
rubber solution, and the use of any number of such duplex strips inserted between
the strips of cane, or the like, of which the handle is built, and glued up or other-
wise cemented together therewith, in such a manner that, the flat surfaces of said
duplex elastic strips are in alignment with the flat surfaces of the head or blade of
the bat, substantially as, and for the purposes herein set forth, and described, and
shewn by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 30th day of March 1892
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.