An Improvement in Cricket Bats.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 9th June, 1892-Accepted, 15'h Oct., 1892.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Cricket Bats.
FREDERICK WILLIAM THOMPSON, of 4 Christine Terrace, Lyham Road,
Clapham, London, S.W. Builders' Draughtsman & General Assistant, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The actual feature of novelty on account of which this claim is made, is constituted
in the substitution of india-rubber in tension for the substances in use at this time
in that portion of the bat handle towards the flat side or face of the bat, called
here the "front of the handle."
By "india-rubber in tension" is meant---india rubber extended, by means of its
quality, extreme elasticity, beyond its normal condition when at rest and not acted
upon by any other than its own power.
The india rubber is retained upon the bat and forms part of the bat while so
extended; its actual position being & forming the front portion of the handle,
covering that portion usually spliced & being attached to blade of bat.
Dated this 30th day of May 1892.
F. W. THOMPSON.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Cricket Bats.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM THOMPSON of 4 Christine Terrace, Lyham Road,
Clapham, S. W. London, Builders' Draughtsman & General Assistant 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 front portion of the bat handle, i.e. that portion towards the flat side or face
of the bat is of india rubber. This india-rubber, by means of its elasticity, is
stretched beyond its normal length, i.e., its length when in a state of rest, to any
required degree of tension, and is, while so stretched, fixed to the bat and forms
part of the bat while in this state of tension.
The operation is as follows, with reference to the accompanying drawing in
which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the indiarubber & Fig. 2 a side view & Fig. 3 a
front elevation shewing the indiarubber stretched on the bat.
One end of the india rubber is round, the exterior of this forming the line of
enlargement at the top of the bat handle D¹. This round enlarged end is hollow,
forming a cap, which is drawn on the top of the handle, this being tenoned and
shouldered down to receive it.
From this round end, which is about an inch long, a clip or shank A is continued
down the front of the handle; this is in one piece with the cap C, and lies on the
handle D' taking the place of the front part of the cane handle, cut away to allow
the handle to retain its usual roundness and dimensions, when it is fitted with the
india rubber.
The length of this shank A varies according to the tension required; and its
sectional shape and dimensions vary according to the tension, strength, and
conditions required in any particular bat, the essential purpose of this invention
being to give any required amount of pliability or rigidity to the bat to which it
applied and of which it forms part.
The bottom end of the india rubber shank A is fixed to the bat D after the

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rubber has been pulled out to the required length, thus holding the india rubber in
tension.
This fixing will be,-by means of a small metal box or frame B into which
the end of the shank is secured, sunk into the face of the bat and held by screws;
or in any way suitable or desirable in any particular case.
The above constitutes the operation which is new, and is the subject of this
claim.
The completion of the operation will be, in some cases, accomplished by uniting
the stretched india rubber, by an adhesive substance, to the other portion of the
bat handle; but this is not an essential portion of the operation, as it affects neither
the resistance to strain, or the durability of the india rubber.
In this invention the present forms of blade and handle are in no way altered as
regards shape, dimensions: and twine binding.
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 :-.
That the application of india rubber in a state of tension, i.e. india,rubber
stretched beyond its length when not acted upon by any external agency, or other
power than that natural to itself, to the cricket bat, and more particularly to that
part of the handle towards and nearest the flat side or face, is entirely new, and
that it is solely my invention.
Dated this the 8th day of June 1892.
FREDK. W. THOMPSON.