Improvements in Fishing Rods, Tennis or Cricket Bats, and other Articles for the Alteration of Centre of Gravity or Balance.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Sept., 1889-Accepted, 1st Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fishing Rods, Tennis or Cricket Bats, and other
Articles for the Alteration of Centre of Gravity or Balance.
We WILLIAM HARDY and JOHN JAMES HARDY of Alnwick in the County of
Northumberland Fishing Tackle Manufacturers do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to counterpoise or balance in Fishing rods Tennis or Cricket
bats or other articles, and has for its primary object the alteration of the centre of
gravity, in order to shift the counterpoise or balance at the will of the user.
Our improvement is a weight placed in such a position, on or in any article, so that
by a mechanical arrangement it can he shifted to the correct adjustment required.
This may be accomplished by having a cavity in the article, in which is placed a long
screw, on which is a metal or other weight, fixed in such a way so that by turning the
screw the weight is made to travel either up or down as required. Or by having a
long screw with a weighted end fixed into the handle or other part and by screwing or
drawing out the same. Or by having a long screw on which is fixed a carriage to
connect it with a reel or other weight on the outside of the article, and by turning
which the reel or other weight is made to travel. Instead of a screw we may apply a
slide, or in place of either a weighted band made so that it can be shifted by a screw
or otherwise. In all cases our improvement is so designed that it can be shifted by a
screw or otherwise, as opposed to any fixed arrangement.
Dated this Thirty first day of October 1888.
WILLIAM HARDY.
JOHN JAMES HARDY.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fishing Rods, Tennis, or Cricket Bats, and other
Articles for the Alteration of Centre of Gravity or Balance.
We WILLIAM HARDY and JOHN JAMES HARDY of Alnwick in the County of
Northumberland fishing rod manufacturers, trading under the style and firm of
Hardy Brothers Alnwick do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be perforined, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to improve fishing rods, tennis or cricket bats so that
the counterpoise or balance can be altered at will to suit the user.
•
Our invention is a weight placed in such a position, so that by a mechanical
contrivance it can be moved to the correct adjustment required. This can be
accomplished by having a cavity in the article, in which is placed a long screw or
spindle on which is a metal or other weight, arranged in such a manner, so that by
turning the screw the weight is made to travel up or down as required. Or by having
a long screw with weighted end fixed into the handle or other part, or by drawing out
the same on a sliding spindle, or by having a long screw-which is fixed to a carriage
on which a reel or other weight is fixed on the outside of the article, and by turning
the reel or other weight, is made to move as required. Or by having a spindle over
or around which the weights are placed, subdivided by duplicates of a lighter substance,
which can be interchanged at will to alter the balance or counterpoise. Or the same
without a spindle. Instead of a screw or spindle we may have a slide upon which the
weight may travel. In all cases our invention is so designed that the weights can be
moved by a screw or slide, or by simply removing weights and substituting a lighter
material.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1. illustrates a fishing rod butt, with fittings complete, f,,, are the reel
fittings, D is an indiarubber button, B, brass ferrule next to button & e, brass
ferrule, on the other end of butt, through which are screwed or driven two brass
pins.
Fig. 2. shows a complete section of Fig. 1. the main body of which is of wood,
cane, or other suitable material & has an oval, or other hole running from indiarubber
button D, a little past N.: A is an oval or other shaped lead weight which travels on
the spindle from A to A', the spindle M works through a tapped hole in A & is fixed
longitudinally by two pins (e), which are driven through the brass or other metal
ferrule at e, & behind the head of the spindle at G, an indiarubber button is cast onto
the other end of the spindle, shown at D.
Fig. 3. is end view of indiarubber or wood button at D.
Fig. 4. section of wood part of butt at e, showing oval hole.
Fig. 5. section through B at small end of ferrule.
Fig. 6. same through ferrule, wood, & weight at N..
Fig. 7. section at e showing how the pins are placed at either side of head on the
end of spindle to prevent it moving longitudinally on turning button.
Fig. 8. shews plan view of tennis racquet.
Fig. 9. illustrates section of Fig. 8 showing the handle to be perforated longitudinally
from f to e, in the centre of this hole is a spindle having one end fastened by a screw
passing through a hole in spindle at D, the other end of the spindle is screwed so that
the aperture in the end of the handle can be closed or opened at will by screwing or
unscrewing a metal cap onto the end of the spindle. It also shows a series of
wood (B, B,) & metal (A) washers fitting loosely into the cavity & over the spindle C
so that, by taking away the cap, the washers A, A, can be taken out & distributed
along the handle to suit individual tastes.
Fig. 10. section at D' shewing full sized view of wood part of handle & metal washer
at Di
Fig. 11. section at H full sized, showing wood (D¹) metal washers (A), small part
of cap () & spindle C.
Fig. 12. section at G where the spindle c & small & large part of f is shown.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what wo
claim is
(1) Fishing rods, tennis bats, cricket bats & other articles constructed so that, their
centre of gravity can be altered at will, as herein illustrated & described.
Dated this 29th day of August 1889.
WILLIAM HARDY.
JOHN JAMES HARDY.