Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 10th June, 1887
Complete Left, 8th Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 13th Apr., 1888
We FREDERICK HENRY AYRES of 111 Aldersgate Street in the City of London,
Manufacturer, and GEORGE EDWARD POTTS of the same place and in the employment
of the said Frederick Henry Ayres, Cabinet Maker do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
These improvements have reference to the strengthening of lawn tennis rackets at
the shoulder parts where the head joins the handle at which place fracture in use is
particularly liable to occur.
This strengthening we effect by splicing in or letting into the side frames of the
head running the splicing down into the handle more or less.
. The inlaid splice does not run completely around the head and thereby the splicing
being thicker at the parts where accession of strength is needed whilst by its dying
away gradually to a point to or towards the middle of the sides of head at either hand
the strength is increased without destroying in any degree the balance of the
implement or breaking the unity or solidity of the head and the ornamental appearance
of the implement is not detrimentally interfered with.
The splice may be cane inlaid into ash or other combined materials may be used.
Dated the 10th day of June 1887.
WM. BROOKES & SON,.
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in Lawn Tennis and such like Rackets.
We FREDERICK HENRY AYRES of 111 Aldersgate Street in the City of London,
Manufacturer, and GEORGE EDWARD POTTS of the same place and in the employment
of the said Frederick Henry .Ayres Cabinet Maker 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.
:―
These improvements have reference to the construction of the frames of lawn tennis
rackets or such like rackets so as to attain increase of strength at the shoulder parts
where the head joins the handle of the racket at which place fracture or springing in
use is particularly liable to occur, owing to the great strain at that part.
.
This strengthening we effect by splicing in or letting into the side frames of the
head cane or other material running the splicing down into the handle more or less
but preferably carrying the splicing down to the butt.
The inlaid splice does not run completely around the head and thereby the splicing.
being thicker at the parts where accession of strength is needed greatly increased
power can be safely exerted whilst by its dying away gradually to a point to or
towards the middle of the sides of head at either hand the strength is increased without
destroying in any degree the balance of the implement or breaking the unity or
solidity of the head and the ornamental appearance of the implement is not
detrimentally interfered with.
The splices may be made of cane inlaid into frames of ash or other wood or similar
woods or other combined materials may be used.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows the frame of a lawn tennis racket, without the stringing applied,
as that may be of ordinary kind, looking at the frame as laid down, a portion of the
substance of this frame being broken away from a to a to shew how the stringing
holes pass through both main frame and in-splice.
A is the main frame passing from the butt up the handle around the head and down
the other side of the handle back to the butt enclosing the wedge piece B and being
covered as usual by overlay pieces C. D D are the inlay splices here shown as
starting at the butt at each side frame centre and following the courses of the frames
through them at their junction at 1-1 with the head and dying away at 2-2 as
feather edges. These in-splices need not pass down the handle so far it being quite
sufficient if they pass to the grip of the handle.
Figure 2 shews a like view of a racket frame constructed according to a modification
of the foregoing. In this figure the former letters of references apply equally;
except that the splice D¹ is on the inner side of the main frame A instead of being
laid in the middle thereof.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In lawn tennis rackets or such like rackets or bats the splicing into the frame
of the bat or racket at and for some distance from the shoulder portion of strengthening
inlays as and for the purpose set forth in respect of Figure 1.
2. In lawn tennis rackets or such like rackets or bats the application of
strengthening portions at and for some distance from the shoulder of the frame as and
for the purpose set forth in respect of Figure 2.
3. The manufacture and use of lawn tennis and other like rackets frames as set
forth and shewn in the drawings.