Improvements in Cricket Balls.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Feb., 1893-Accepted, 4th Mar:, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cricket Balls.
We, JAMES WILLIAM WEEKS, of 45 King's Street, Maidstone, in the County
of Kent, Cricket Ball Maker, and HENRY LUFF, of 21 Cranbourne Street, in the
County of Middlesex, Cricket and Lawn Tennis Outfitter, 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:-:
This our invention relates to improvements in cricket balls, and our invention
consists in the details of manufacture hereinafter described and set forth.
The object of our invention is to manufacture a ball which shall be more elastic,
have a better flight, be more durable and less liable to injure the bat or the hands
of the fieldsmen than a ball made in the ordinary and well known manner.
In cricket balls as at present constructed, there is used a core or centre of cork
which is surrounded by layers of cork covered and bound by strands of worsted or
other twine, the outer layer being covered with a casing of leather which is made
in sections and stitched upon the ball. A ball made in this manner is extremely
hard is not sufficiently elastic while a blow from a ball is liable to cause a serious,
if not fatal, injury to a fieldsman.
In carrying our invention into practice we propose to combine with the cork
used in the manufacture of the ball, an elastic material (preferably india-rubber)
thereby overcoming the objectionable features of balls composed entirely of cork as
previously described.
In the accompanying drawings we have illustrated several methods by which
our improvements may be carried into practice, similar letters being used to
identify corresponding parts.
By the first method illustrated in Figure 1, we employ a core or centre of india-
rubber or other elastic material, of a suitable diameter a surrounded by layers of
cork 6 and worsted, the ball being encased in the usual quilt and outer leather
covering c.
By another method illustrated in Figure 2, we manufacture the ball with a core
or centre of cork b which is surrounded by a layer of india-rubber a or other
elastic material, of a suitable thickness, alternate layers of cork and worsted being
used to make the ball up to the required diameter.
A third method illustrated in Figure 3, is to provide alternating layers of india-
rubber or other elastic material, and cork, secured by strands of worsted until the
desired size is obtained.
A fourth method consists in forming a ball of shreds of cork and india-rubber or
other elastic material intimately mixed and combined together so as to form a
compact mass, and bound with worsted or other suitable material as shown in
Figure 4, the ball being encased in the usual leather covering in each of the before
mentioned methods of manufacture.
By the use of india-rubber or other elastic material, combined with cork in
either of the methods before described, a more elastic ball is provided and it will
be found much more suitable for the purposes of the game for which it is intended
to be used.
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 a cricket ball the use of a core or centre of india-rubber or other elastic
material, in combination with layers of cork and worsted, the whole being arranged
as illustrated in Figure 1 in the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 2. A cricket ball having a core or centre of cork surrounded by a layer of india-
rubber or other elastic material, said india-rubber or other elastic material, enclosed
by alternate layers of cork and worsted and provided with the usual covering,
substantially as illustrated in Figure 2 in the accompanying drawings.
3. A cricket ball composed of alternate layers of cork and india-rubber or other
-elastic material, secured by strands of worsted and encased in the usual covering,
substantially as illustrated in Figure 3 in the accompanying drawings.
4. A cricket ball formed of shreds of cork and india-rubber or other elastic
material, intimately mixed together and enclosed in the outer covering, substantially
as illustrated in Figure 4.
Dated this srd day of repruary 1000.
HORN & SON,
Applicants' Agents.