Improvements in the Handles of Bats for Cricket and other Games.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Sept., 1891-Accepted, 10th Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Handles of Bats for Cricket and other Games.
I, WILLIAM ALFRED WOOF, of 4 Suffolk Road, Cheltenham, in the County
of Gloucester, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to
be as follows : —
The object of my invention is to effect improvements in the handles of bats for
cricket and other games.
In carrying out my invention, I fit a steel or other metallic spiral spring round
the handle, the spring gripping the cane from the neck to the knob very firmly, so
as to compress the fibres of the cane and thereby stiffen and strengthen the same,
and thus keep it straight. I then inlay the handle, between the coils of the spring,
with india rubber, leather, vulcanite, gutta percha, canvas, or other suitable
material, whereby the surface is "faired." The handle may then be bound with
cord or other material in the usual manner.
In forming handles of small diameter, I sometimes place the spring inside the
handle, and fill up the space with the above mentioned materials.
Dated 2nd December 1890
GEO. DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.
J
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Handles of Bats for Cricket and other Games.
I, WILLIAM ALFRED WOOF, of 4 Suffolk Road, Cheltenham, in the County
of Gloucester, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 to effect improvements in the handles of bats for
cricket and other games.
In carrying out my invention I fit a spiral spring, formed of steel or other
suitable metal, coiled round the handle, the spring gripping the cane, from the neck
to the knob, very firmly, so as to compress the fibres of the cane and thereby stiffen
and strengthen the same, and thus keep it straight. I then inlay the handle,
between the coils of the spring, with india rubber, leather, vulcanite, gutta percha,
canvas, or other suitable material, whereby the surface is "faired." The handle is
then bound with cord, or other suitable material, in the usual manner.
In forming handles of small diameter, I sometimes place the spring inside the
handle, and fill up any space which may be left, with the above mentioned, or any
other suitable materials.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascertained,
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 illustrates one form of my invention, in which the coil is fitted so as to
grip the cane forming the bulk of the handle, from the neck to the knob; the
drawing showing some of the spaces filled in.
Fig. 2 illustrates the other arrangement, partly in section, showing the coil partly
covered in.
Referring to Fig. 1, a a is the cane forming the main body of the handle, which
is slightly reduced in diameter to receive the coiled spring b. This coiled spring
may be formed of square, round, channel, or tubular steel, or other suitable metal

page_text: After fitting the coil 6 and the cap or knob e, the spaces left between the coils are
filled in with india rubber, leather, vulcanite, gutta percha, canvas, or other suitable
material, as shown at cc, whereby the handle is "faired." The handle is then bound
with cord, or other suitable material in the usual manner. is the blade of the bat.
The coils may be made wide apart, or more or less close together, according to
the degree of elasticity required, the diameter of the handle, and the weight of the
blade.
Referring to Fig. 2 a central recess is provided in the handle of the bat, as shown.
In this recess the coiled metallic spring is inserted. The spaces in and around
the coil are then filled in with solutions of india rubber or gutta percha; or a
mixture of granulated leather with india rubber, vulcanite, gutta percha, or other
suitable material, which is poured in while in a fluid state and afterwards solidifies,
as indicated at. c c. The coil is then covered in with cane and "faired" and bound
with cord or other suitable material in the usual manner.
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 :-
1. In the construction of the handles of bats for cricket and other games, the
combination therewith of a coiled spring, formed of steel or other suitable metal,
enclosing and gripping the cane substantially as herein before described and illustrated
by Fig. 1. of the drawings.
2. In the construction of the handles of bats for the purposes aforesaid, the com-
bination therewith of an enclosed coiled spring formed of steel or other suitable
metal, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by Fig. 2 of the
drawings.
3. The general construction, arrangement and combination of the several and
respective parts together forming my improvements in the handles of bats for
cricket and other games, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by:
the drawings.
Dated 2nd September 1891.
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.