IMPROVEMENTS IN CRICKET BATS
Year: 1885

page_text: I RICHARD FREDERICK JAMES COBBETT ALLEN of 29 Grove Road, St Johns
Wood in the County of Middlesex Cricket Bat Manufacturer do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CRICKET BATS" to be as
follows:-
:-
The object of my invention is the production of a cricket bat which shall have
the requisite amount of elasticity and strength, together with lightness and which
is not so liable to jar the hand when struck by the ball as those now in use.
For this purpose I employ a thin metal strip or strips preferably of steel which
is or are adapted and applied to the well known composite cane or other handles
fitted to cricket bats in the following manner.
In order to carry out my invention I select a very thin plate or foil of metal
which I have found is best to be of steel, this plate or foil I cut into suitably
shaped strips one or more of which I insert between the layers of cane or other
material employed to form the handle of the bat, securing them by means of short
rivets. When the handle has been glued it is turned as required and wooden pegs,
preferably of ash on account of its lightness and strength, are driven into the
handle through holes made in the steel or other metal strip thus holding the
different component parts of the handle firmly in place. It will be clearly under-
stood from the fore-going statement that the parts of the handle coming against or
in contact with the metal and which are not sufficiently secured by the glue and
rivets are held together as required by the addition of the wooden pegs above
referred to.
After the pegs are driven into place the ends are rasped off level with the sides
of the handle and the whole handle and bat are finished off in the usual manner.
I am aware that leather felt and other like materials and fabrics have been
employed in the manufacture of the handles of cricket bats, but I have found that
the adaptation and application of a very thin strip or strips of metal between the
cane or other material forming the handle of the bat produces a lighter and more
perfect bat than those substances hitherto employed.

page_text: I RICHARD FREDERICK JAMES COBBETT ALLEN of 29 Grove Road St John's
Wood in the County of Middlesex Cricket Bat 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:-
The object of my Invention is the production of a cricket bat which shall have
the requisite amount of elasticity and strength together with tightness and which
is not so liable to jar the hand when struck by the ball as those now in use.
For this purpose I employ a thin metal strip or strips preferably of steel which
is or are adapted and applied to the well known composite cane or other handles
fitted to cricket bats in the following manner.
In order to carry out my Invention I select a very thin plate or foil of metal
preferably of steel; this plate or foil I cut into suitably shaped strips one or more
of which I insert between the layers of cane or other material employed to form
the handle of the bat securing them by means of short rivets or pins. When the
handle has been glued it is rasped and turned as required and wooden pegs
preferably of ash on account of its lightness and strength are driven into the
handle through holes made in the steel or other metal strip or strips thereby
holding the different component parts of the handle firmly in place.
It will be clearly understood from the foregoing statement that the parts of the
handle coming against or in contact with the metal and which are not sufficiently
secured by the glue and rivets or pins are held together as required by the addition
of the wooden pegs above referred to.
After the said pegs are driven into place the ends are rasped off level with the
sides of the handle and the whole handle and bat are finished off in the usual
manner,
I am aware that leather felt and other like materials and fabrics have been
employed in the manufacture of the handles of cricket bats but I have found
that the adaptation and application of a very thin strip or strips of metal between
the cane or other material forming the handle of the bat produces a lighter and
more perfect bat than those substances hitherto employed.
Having thus stated the nature of my said. Invention and in order that it may
be fully understood I will proceed to describe it more particularly by the aid of
the accompanying drawings in which are represented the parts of the improved
cricket bat.

page_text: C is the steel or other metal strip (one strip only being shown in the drawings)
showing the breadth in Fig. 1 and the thickness in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3.
The rivets or pins are shown at D in Fig. 1 and the wooden pegs are shown at
E in Figures 1 and 2.
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
First. The adaptation and application of a strip or strips of metal preferably of
steel to the composite cane or other handles fitted to cricket bats substantially as
and for the purposes herein before described.
.
And secondly. The method of compacting and securing the said handles of
cricket bats by means of rivets or pins and pegs substantially as hereinbefore
described.