IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF RACQUETS FOR USE IN PLAYING LAWN TENNIS, RACKETS AND OTHER GAMES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Aloysius Adkins of Upper Charles Street,
Clerkenwell, in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF RACQUETS FOR USE IN PLAYING LAWN TENNIS,
RACKETS AND OTHER GAMES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Aloysius Adkins aţ
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th April 1883.
GEORGE ALOYSIUS ADKINS of Upper Charles Street Clerkenwell in the County
of Middlesex IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF RACQUETS FOR USE IN
PLAYING LAWN TENNIS, RACKETS AND OTHER GAMES
The Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of racquets,
for use in playing Lawn Tennis, Rackets and other games and relates to a novel
construction of the frame whereby I secure a greater amount of spring or elasticity
combined with greater strength at the neck than has heretofore been obtained.
In carrying my Invention into effect I form the inner and outer parts of the
frame and handle of two different materials the outer part being made of ash or
other wood and the inner part of whalebone, cane, hard india rubber or other
suitable material and in order to effect a solid union between the outer and inner
portions of the frame and handle I form the meeting faces of such parts with
tongues and grooves which may be rectangular, undercut or of any suitable form.
This I effect when the parts are straight, then when the parts are properly prepared
I glue them together and afterwards shape them.
The outer and inner portions of the frame and handle I form of the full length
required to form the bow and the handle, when the frame is shaped the inner
portion of each part of the handle meets along the centre thereof and the two parts
are glued together.
The above construction also has the effect of keeping the frame in its proper
shape unaffected by damp or wet and also keeps the gut always at the required
tension.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Aloysius Adkins in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th October 1883.
GEORGE ALOYSIUS ADKINS of Upper Charles Street Clerkenwell in the County
of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF RACQUETS FOR USE IN
PLAYING LAWN TENNIS, RACKETS AND OTHER GAMES
"
The invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of racquets
for use in playing Lawn Tennis, Rackets and other games and relates to a nuovel
construction of the frame whereby I secure a greater amount of spring or
elasticity combined with greater strength at the neck than has heretofore been
obtained.
In carrying my invention into effect I form the inner and outer parts of the
frame and handle of two different materials the outer part being made of ash or
other wood and the inner part of whalebone, cane, hard india rubber or other
suitable material not liable to twist or get out of shape by damp or use and in
order to effect a solid union between the outer and inner portions of the frame and
handle. I form the meeting faces of such parts with tongues and grooves which
may be rectangular undercut or of any suitable form. This: I effect when the
parts are straight then when the parts are properly prepared by steaming and
bending around a suitable form I glue them together and afterwards shape them to
the required sectional form.
The outer and inner portions of the frame and handle I form of the full length
required to form the bow and the handle; when the frame is shaped the inner
portion of each part of the handle meets along the centre thereof and the two
parts are glued together.
"
The above construction also has the effect of keeping the frame in its proper
shape unaffected by damp or wet and also keeps the gut always at the required
tension.
And in order that my said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a side view Figure 2 is a cross section and Figure 3 is an end view
of the handle of a lawn tennis racquet constructed according to my invention. In
carrying my invention into effect I form the inner and outer parts of the frame
and handle of two different materials the outer part a being of ash or other wood
and the inner part of whalebone, cane, hard india rubber or other suitable
material and in order to effect a solid union between the outer and inner portions a
and b of the frame and handle I form the meeting faces of such parts with tongues
and grooves which may be rectangular as shown or they may be undercut or of
other suitable form. This I effect when the parts a and b are straight then when
the parts are properly prepared by steaming and bending on a suitable form I glue
thom together and when dry I shape the frame and handle to the required sectional
form as shown at Figures 2 and 3 or to other suitable form.
Each of the outer and inner portions a and b of the frame and handle I form in
one piece of the full length required to form the bow and the handle; when the
frame is shaped the inner portion b of each part of the handle meets along the
centre thereof and the two parts are glued together and if required a covering
piece c is glued to each side to make up the required substance of the handle.

page_text: The above construction also has the effect of keeping the frame in its proper
shape unaffected by damp or wet and also keeps the gut always at the required
tension.
Having thus described the nature of my said invention and the mode in which I
carry the same into effect I would have it understood that what I claim is forming
the frame and handle of a racquet of two pieces of different material grooved and
tongued on their meeting faces and glued together substantially as herein shown
and described and for the purpose stated.
In witness whereof I the said George Aloysius Adkins have hereunto set my
hand and seal this fourth day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.