Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 7th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 13th Apr., 188
I, ROBERT WOODGATE, of 3, Bridge Street, Andover, in the County of Hants,
Cricket Bat Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My Invention has for its object to impart increased elasticity or flexibility to
the handles of cricket bats in order to increase the driving power of the bat and
avoid the jarring sensation which is apt to be transmitted to the hands of the
batsman in striking a hard blow especially near the lower end of the blade.
The mode in, and point at, which the greater elasticity is imparted to the handle
also has the effect of relieving the shoulders of the blade from liability of splitting
which occurs when the handle is reduced in sectional area at a point just above
the splice as is sometimes done for the sake of making it more elastic.
My Invention consists in turning a number of circumferential grooves in the
handle at about the middle of its length and filling the grooves with india-rubber
packing rings.
By this means, flexure of the handle is permitted at each of the grooves owing to
the compressibility of the rubber and to the diminution of the cross-sectional area of"
the cane handle at those points, but the elasticity of the rubber causes the handle to at
once spring back to its original straight form.
Dated this 12th day of December 1888.
R. WOODGATE.
By A. M. & Win. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Cricket Bats.
I, ROBERT WOODGATE, of 3 Bridge Street, Andover, in the County of Hants,
Cricket Bat Manufacturer, 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 :-
My Invention has for its object to impart increased elasticity or flexibility to
the handles of cricket bats in order to increase the driving power of the bat and
avoid the jarring sensation which is apt to be transmitted to the hands of the
batsman in striking a hard blow, especially when the point of impact is situated
near the lower end of the blade. The mode in, and point at, which the greater
elasticity is imparted to the handle also has the effect of avoiding all liability of
the blade splitting at the shoulders which sometimes happens if the sectional area
of the handle is reduced at a point just above the splice for the sake of making it
more elastic.
My Invention consists in turning a number of circumferential grooves in the handle
at about the middle of its length and filling the grooves with india-rubber packing
rings. By this means flexure of the handle is permitted at each of the grooves owing
to the compressibility of the rubber and to the diminution of the cross-sectional area
of the cane handle at those points, but the elasticity of the rubber causes the handle
to at once spring back to its original straight form.
In order that the invention may be more readily understood, I have illustrated it
in the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, wherein figure 1
represents a face view of the cricket bat, the wrapping of the handle being partly
removed. Figure 2 is a full size view of the middle part of the handle, the wrapping
and rubber rings being in section. Figure 3 is a cross section of the handle on
line 1-1 figure 2. Figure 4 shews one of the rings before being sprung into place.
The same letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.
a is the ordinary handle made of canes in the ordinary way, and 6 are four
circumferential grooves turned in about the middle portion of the handle at intervals
of about three-quarters of an inch apart, each groove being about ths of an inch
in depth and breadth so that the diameter of the handle is reduced at each groove
to about three quarters of its full amount. These grooves are filled with rings c
of the best vulcanized india rubber, which are sprung over the handle and forced
tightly into the grooves, the rings being of such original dimensions that they will
fill the grooves tightly and form an elastic packing which will permit, but at once
commence to oppose, the flexure of the handle at these points. The handle thus
constructed may be wrapped directly with waxed thread wound on it in the usual
manner or, preferably, the middle part of the handle at which the grooves are
situated is wrapped with a single layer d of calico, or other fabric, over which is
applied another layer e of the same fabric extending from top to bottom of the
handle, and the waxed string wound over all.

page_text: I would observe that my invention is not limited to the number of grooves
above mentioned or to the dimensions indicated as the same may be varied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that' what I
claim is:-
A cricket bat handle having one or more circumferential grooves near the middle
of its length packed with india-rubber, as and for the purpose specified.
1000
R. WOODGATE.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.