Improvements in Cricket Bats.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application; 22nd Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Aug., 1894-Accepted, 22nd Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cricket Bats.
I, GEORGE WILLIAM BELDAM, (M.A. Cantab.,) of Bridge House, London
Road, Isleworth, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object to provide improvements. in connection with
cricket bats by which their driving power, both for hitting and cutting, shall be
improved and at the same time effect a cushioning of the blow given, and so prevent
any jarring or any unpleasant feeling in the hand, no matter under what conditions
the hit may take place in "playing" a ball.
According to this invention, I combine in the handle of a cricket bat, a wooden
outer and main portion, and an internal spring or core of steel or other suitable
metal, adapted to lie in a recess in the wooden outer part; the handle in some
cases being made in halves, or in parts, while in other cases it is made in a single
part.
In some cases I combine. with the outer or main wooden part, the spring, and
india-rubber strips or the like lining the recess in which the spring lies,
whereby the spring rests in or is embedded in india-rubber or is cushioned with
same.
In another arrangement a rubber or like bladder or bladders is or are provided
in a recessed or hollow outer main part of a handle. This may be combined with
the spring in some cases; whilst in other cases no spring is employed.
in some
The outer wooden part may be spliced and fitted in the usual way; or,
cases the splice only may be glued and fitted in the usual manner, the halves of the
handle being bound together with strong twine instead of being glued. Or, a peg
or pegs may be put through the handle to keep the parts together; or this
done by collars or the like.
may be
The spring is adapted to be in contact with the sides of the groove or aperture
(or lining thereof) and slightly in compression.
The spring or springs may be in different forms or constructions in different
cases.
In one form it may be of wave construction, and within a suitable space in a
handle, extending from near the top thereof to below the shoulder of the bat, say
nearly up to the end of the splice therein. At this lower portion, the spring may
in some cases be made wider than the upper portions thereof, and may be at this
part embossed, corrugated, or of other suitable form or forms so as to give to it the
desired strength and elasticity.
In some cases the shoulder or blade of the bat may be of extra thickness or
strength; or it may be strengthened up by binding, or metallic sleeves, or
plates.
The rubber may be used as a lining to the aperture in which the spring lies,
and may be carried up equally throughout, or in some cases may be solid at
parts (say at the base or the shoulder), and constituting a lining only at others.
In the case of a bladder being used, such bladder may be of rubber, or rubber
and other material, or other suitable material; and this may be disposed within the
handle, or handle and shoulder, or neck of the bat, and it may be provided with a

page_text: suitable stopper or valve, say at the top, by which the bladder may be closed and
inflated with air under pressure when required.
In some cases the spring is not employed inside the bladder, and it may be
provided with a bladder on each side of it. In another case, a central bladder
may be used with a spring on either side of it. When of this latter construction,
in some cases, the aperture in the neck or shoulder of the bat may be extended
laterally or the steel may also be so extended as may be deemed desirable.
According to one modification, the outer main part of the handle, with a
recess or chamber therein or made hollow, and the rubber or other bladder,
inay be used in combination, i.e. without the metallic spring or springs herein
specified.
Although I have described or specified certain special forms and constructions of
parts, and combinations, it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted
to these particular or special constructions or forms, they being only given as eo
many examples, under the invention and application.
Dated this 20th day of November 1893.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.
Improvements in Cricket Bats.
I, GEORGE WILLIAM BELDAM, M.A. Cantab., of Bridge House, London
Road, Isleworth, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, 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 has for its object to provide improvements in connection with
cricket bats by which their driving power, both for hitting and cutting, shall be
improved and at the same time effect a cushioning of the blow given, and so prevent
any jarring or any unpleasant feeling in the hand, no matter under what conditions
the hit may take place in "playing
a ball.
According to this invention, I combine in the handle of a cricket bat, a wooden
outer and main portion, and an internal spring or core of steel or other suitable
material, adapted to lie in a recess in the wooden outer part; the handle in some
cases being made in halves, or in parts, while in other cases it is made in a single
part.
In some cases I combine with the outer or main wooden part, the spring, and
india-rubber strips or the like lining the recess in which the spring lies, whereby
the spring rests in or is embedded in india-rubber or is cushioned with same.
In another arrangement a rubber or like bladder or bladders is or are
provided in a recessed or hollow outer main part of a handle. This may be
combined with the spring in some cases; whilst in other cases no spring is
employed.
The outer wooden part may be spliced and fitted in the usual way; or, in some
cases the splice only may be glued and fitted in the usual manner, the halves of the
handle being bound together with strong twine instead of being glued.
Or, a peg
or pegs may be put through the handle to keep the parts together; or this may be
done by collars or the like.
The spring is adapted to be in contact with the sides of the groove or aperture
(or lining thereof) and slightly in compression.
The spring or springs may be in different forms or constructions in different
cases.
In one form it may be of wave construction, and within a suitable space in a
handle extending from near the top thereof to below the shoulder of the bat, say

page_text: nearly up to the end of the splice therein. At this lower portion, the spring may
in some cases be made wider than the upper portions thereof, and may be at this
part embossed, corrugated, or of other suitable form or forms so as to give to it
the desired strength and elasticity.
In some cases the shoulder or blade of the bat may be of extra thickness or
strength; or it may be strengthened up by binding, or metallic sleeves, or
plates.
The rubber may be used as a lining to the aperture in which the spring lies,
and may be carried up equally throughout, or in some cases may be solid at
parts (say at the basis of the shoulder), and constituting a lining only at others.
In the case of a bladder being used, such bladder may be of rubber, or rubber
and other material, or other suitable material; and this may be disposed within
the handle, or handle and shoulder, or neck of the bat, and it may be provided
with a suitable stopper or valve, say at the top, by which the bladder may be closed
and inflated with air under pressure when required.
In some cases where the spring is not employed inside the bladder, it may be
provided with a bladder on each side of it. In another case, a central bladder
may be used with a spring on either side of it. When of this latter construction,
in some cases, the aperture in the neck or shoulder of the bat may be extended
laterally or the steel may also be so extended as may be deemed desirable.
According to one modification, the outer main part of the handle, with a
recess or chamber therein or made hollow, and the rubber or other bladder,
may be used in combination, i.e. without the metallic spring or springs herein
specified.
In the drawings hereto annexed I shew a bat according to my invention.
Figure 1 shews the bat in back elevation, Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation,
and Figure 3 a cross section at A A Figure 1.
a
Figures 4 and 5 are side and front sectional elevation, respectively, shewing a
bat according to this invention having a wave spring, and a rubber bladder in
connection with same, in which air is contained under pressure; and Figure 6 is a
side sectional elevation of a modified arrangement of same.
Referring in the first instance more particularly to Figures 1 to 3 of the
drawings, a is the blade of the bat, b is the handle, 6' being the splice or splice
portion thereof; c is a wave or corrugated spring; d represents an outer cover or
lining of india rubber or other suitable material; and e are pieces-preferably of
wood, say willow-let in to the blade of the bat.
The spring and rubber laminæ lie in a groove in the handle and upper part of
the blade, such groove being of the same size and shape as the spring, which, as
will be seen from Figure 1, is spoon shape in elevation, that is, it is, at its lower
end which fits in the blade, enlarged, and is corrugated or of wave form preferably
throughout its length.
The spring is, when in place, under compression; and to attain this effect the
depth of the waves or corrugations thereof should be such as to make the total
depth of the spring greater than the depth of the space in the groove in which it
is disposed and held.
The india rubber laminæ & constitute elastic pads, and produce, or aid in
producing, the cushioning action or effect afforded by this bat, but in lieu however
of rubber, any other suitable elastic pads may be used. One convenient form of
laminæ d, when of india rubber, consists of a tube in which the upper parallel
part of the spring is placed, and sheets or flaps for the lower enlarged part, of the
same size as such part.
As regards the strength and nature of the steel spring, a suitable one, when it is
of about the width shewn, is about 24 B.W.G. thick; but I do not confine myself
to this strength of spring.
According to one mode of making the bat, the handle b is made up in halves, of
which the front half will be first secured in the blade in the ordinary way, a groove
or recess being formed in it to receive the parallel part of the spring, while in the

page_text: splice and upper part of the blade of the bat, a recess is provided to receive the
enlarged part of the spring. Then the spring, and the rubber lamina on either side
of the spring, is placed in position in the said recesses. Then the pieces e are placed
in the recesses on each side of the handle in the blade to receive them, and lastly
the other half of the handle is placed in position, and secured in the blades, thereby
forcing at the same time the pieces e home into the recesses in which they are to
be held. When so forced in and held, the inclined or dovetailed formation of the
sides of the recesses, and the outer edges of the pieces, key them in position, and
so make a firm holding.
When the manner of fitting the parts together as above described is used, the
different parts, namely, the splice, and the pieces e, may be securely fastened by
glueing or fastening them in the usual way. The two halves of the handle are in
some cases glued together from top to bottom; whilst in other cases at the splice
only, the top part or handle being held together by string, binding, wash leather,
or other suitable material.
In the modification shewn in Figures 4 and 5, a steel wave spring cand a rubber air
filled bladder d are used in combination in the handle, and the upper part of the
blade of the bat. In the arrangement in these figures, two springs c are employed,
having between them the india rubber bladder d, which is filled with air, forced
into it under a pressure greater than that of the atmosphere, having a valve and
stopper c' at the upper end of same, which may be similar to any of those used in
connection with wheel pneumatic tyres. This bladder d is extended at its lower
part in the head of the bat, whilst it is correspondingly recessed out to
receive it.
In the modification shewn in Figure 6, the construction is similar to that specified
with reference to Figures 4 and 5, except that in lieu of using a single bladder
between two springs, a single spring is employed, and two bladders are used, one
on either side of same.
In the case of the air filled bladders being used alone in a bat handle, that is,
without a spring, it would fill the aperture in the handle and head of the bat; it
being inflated to a pressure above that of the atmosphere, through, the filling valve,
as above described.
By this invention, amongst others, the following effects in a cricket bat are
obtained(1) The driving power of a bat both for hitting and cutting is
improved; (2) a cushioning of the blow on the bat is effected or produced;
(3) the blade is preserved; and (4) all jarring is prevented, the blow being in
some cases hardly felt, and producing the pleasing feeling so well known to batsmen
when they have timed and hit the ball well.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inveu-
ion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The herein described improved cricket bat, that is to say, a cricket bat having
in its handle a metallic spring; arranged and operating substantially as aud for the
purposes set forth.
2. A cricket bat having the improvement herein described, namely, a spring of
wave or corrugated form under compression, and extending from between and in
the handle and the upper part of the blade of the bat.
3. A cricket bat having the improvement herein described, namely, a spring of
wave or corrugated form, and extending from between and in the handle and the
upper part of the blade, and having a lamina or laminæ of material as specified in
connection with same; substantially as herein set forth.
4. In a cricket bat, the particular form and construction of spring c set forth
with reference to and shewn in the drawings; for the purposes specified.
5. A cricket bat having the improvement herein described, namely, a bladder in
the handle and upper part of the blade, filled with air under pressure; substantially
as herein set forth.

page_text: 6. The cricket bats having parts constructed, arranged, and combined,
particularly as set forth with reference to and shewn in the drawings.
Dated this 21st day of August 1894.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.