Year: 1885

page_text: I, JOSEPH DAVENPORT, Manufacturer, of Finsbury Pavement, in the City of
London, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to cricket bats, tennis bats, or other implements of the
like kind in which the bat itself has attached to it a handle by which it is held by
the person using or striking with it.
It has for its object a novel method of making the handles of such bats or
implements, so that they are light, strong, durable, and more elastic when used for
striking, with consequently less jar or concussion to the person using them than in
any bats as heretofore made for the same purpose.
Supposing that my invention is to be applied to a cricket bat, the handle of
which is formed separately and let into and attached to the body or blade of the
bat, I make such handle in the usual way of a sufficient number of strips of cane,
whalebone, or other suitable material, rectangular in cross section and united
together by glue or other means so as to form a solid rectangular bar of the
requisite size.
«
I interpose between the strips upon each side of a central plane passing from
ond of the handle a flat thin strip of the material well known in commerce as
spongio lignine" this strip being arranged so that it will be in a plane parallel to
the face of the finished bat, the longitudinal strips being cemented or attached to
its back and front faces. The compound handle so formed is fitted to and fixed
into the blade of the bat, and is turned or otherwise reduced to the proper size and
shape, and if desired is then bound round with twine or other material in the
usual way,
A cricket bat constructed of the materials and in the manner described, with a
strip of spongio lignine running longitudinally down the centre of the handle, has
more elasticity and driving power and causes less jar or concussion to the hands of
the person using it, than any other bat heretofore constructed.
Instead of one strip of spongio lignine two or more may be used, and the
invention may be applied to all kinds of bats, the form and material of which they
are composed being varied as may be necessary, and in some cases the spongio
lignine may be applied in the form of an external covering to the handle.
EDWARDS & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant,
35, Southampton Buildings, London.

page_text: Improvements in Cricket Bats, Tennis Bats, and other Implements
of the like kind.
I, JOSEPH DAVENPORT, Manufacturer, of Finsbury Pavement in the City of
London 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 and accompanying drawing, (that is to say) :—
My invention relates to cricket bats, tennis bats, and other implements of the
like kind, in which the bat itself has attached to it a handle by which it is held
by the person using or striking with it.
It has for its object a novel method of making the handles of such bats or like
implements, so that they are light, strong, durable, and more elastic when used for
striking, with consequently less jar or concussion and more comfort to the person
using them, than in any bats as heretofore made for the same purposes.
Supposing that my invention is to be applied to a cricket bat, the handle of
which is formed separately and let into and attached to the body or blade of the
bat, I make such handle in the usual way of a sufficient number of strips of cane,
whalebone, or other suitable material, rectangular in cross section and united
together by glue or other cement or other means, so as to form a solid rectangular
bar of the requisite dimensions.
Instead, however, of forming the handle entirely of the solid strips so fitted and
united together, I interpose between them, in a central plane passing from end to
end of the handle, a flat thin strip of the material well known in commerce as
spongio-lignine," this strip being arranged so that it will be in a plane parallel to
the face of the finished bat, the longitudinal strips which form the handle being
fitted against and attached to its front and back faces. The compound handle so
formed is fitted into and fixed to the blade of the bat and is turned or reduced
and formed to the proper size and shape, and if desired can then be bound round
with twine or other material in the usual way.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of my invention, figure 1 being a
front view of a cricket bat; figure 2 an edge view, with the twine or cord
removed from the handle; figure 3 an end view of the handle, and figure 4 a
section through the handle.
a is the blade of the bat, having fitted into it at b in the usual way the handle c
composed of a number of longitudinal strips of cane or other material as shewn.
d is the flat thin strip of spongio-lignine interposed between the strips c in the
centre of the handle. e in figure 1 shews the twine or cord wound round the
handle in the usual way.
A cricket bat constructed according to my invention of the materials and in the
manner described, with a strip of "spongio-liguine" running longitudinally down
the centre of the handle, possesses more elasticity and driving power, and causes
less jar or concussion to the hands of the person using it, than any other bats
heretofore constructed.
Instead of using one strip only of "spongio-lignine" as described, two or more
may be used, and the invention may be applied to all kinds of bats, the form and
material of which they are composed being varied as may be necessary.

page_text: In some cases, as for instance for handles of lawn tennis bats, I use the spongio-
lignine in the form of an external sheath or covering to the handle, such sheath
affording a good grip with comfort to the user and with an absence of jar or
concussion to the hand.
I do not claim generally making cricket bats, tennis bats, and other such
implements, with compound handles formed of cane, whalebone, and other elastic
material, but having now 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 method of forming the handles of cricket bats, tennis bats, and other
implements of the like kind, of cane, whalebone, or other suitable material,
combined with one or more strips of spongio-lignine, substantially in the manner
and for the purpose described and shewn in the drawing.
2. In lawn tennis bats and implements of the like kind, the combination with
the ordinary handle of an exterior sheath or covering of spongio-lignine, sub-
stantially as and for the
purpose described.
Dated this 24th day of September 1886.
EDWARDS & Co.,
Agents for the Inventor,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.