GB2093556A

GB2093556A - Spliced joints

Info

Publication number: GB2093556A
Application number: GB8204864A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: PROCHAZKA RUDI
Current assignee: PROCHAZKA RUDI
Priority date: 1981-02-20
Filing date: 1982-02-18
Publication date: 1982-09-02

Abstract

Sports implements such as shinty sticks, hockey sticks and cricket bats have two parts which are spliced together, namely, a head or blade 30, and a handle 32. Known forms of splicing often require additional support by way of tape or the like wrapped firmly round the spliced portion of the article. In accordance with this invention, the parts to be spliced together have complementary tongues 40 and grooves 38 which mate when the surfaces 34, 36 of the parts are brought into engagement thereby to increase the grip between the joined parts. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Splicing sports implement This invention relates to a method of splicing a sports implement and sports implements formed thereby.

Sports implements such as shinty sticks, hockey sticks and cricket bats have two parts which are spliced together, namely, a head or blade and a handle.

One known form of splicing is to cut a first surface in the head or blade (in the form of a V-shaped notch), shape the handle to terminate in a complementary second surface (V-shaped end) and secure the V of the handle in the V-shaped notch.

Shinty or hockey sticks formed by this method require additional support at the splice, and this takes the form of tape or the like wrapped firmly round the spliced portion.

Another known method of forming shinty and hockey sticks is to provide the head with a first surface in the form of a long tapering face and the handle with a complementary tapered face forming a second surface. These are brought together and secured and further supported by tape. This method is disadvantageous in that the tapered faces are relatively long, the angle of taper being about 10 to the longitudinal axis of the stick. In addition,taping is necessary and thus adds to the cost and time of producing the article.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the aforesaid disadvantage and to provide an improved splice.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of splicing the head or blade of a sports implement to the handle thereof, said method including the steps of preparing a first surface on the head and a complementary second surface on the handle, locating in the first and second surfaces a complementary tongue and groove arrangement, applying adhesive to the first and second surfaces and mating said surfaces.

Preferably, the or each tongue and groove of the tongue and groove arrangement runs longitudinally of the surface.

Preferably also, said first and second surfaces are formed by making an angled cut lengthwise of one head and handle whereby, said surfaces abut by one overlying the other.

Alternatively, said first and second surfaces are V-shaped, the surface in the blade being a V-shaped recess and the surface on the handle being a V-shaped projection whereby said surfaces abut when the projection is located in the recess.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sports implement formed by the method as defined in the preceding four paragraphs.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an illustrative view of the parts of a shinty stick, according to the invention; Figure 2 is an illustrative view of a cricket bat, according to the invention; Figure 3 illustrates the grooved parts of a shinty stick prior to being joined, and Figure 4 illustrates to an enlarged scale the two parts partially joined.

In the first embodiment (Figure 1) the sports implement is a shinty stick, although other similar types of stick are applicable, i.e. for hockey, icehockey, hurley or la crosse.

The stick has a handle 10 and a head 12 which, for the purpose of reducing waste of wood, is made separately from the handle and joined to it by splicing.

The splice comprises two complementary surfaces 14, 16 on the head and handle, respectively, each being formed by making a lengthwise cut at an angle of, e.g. 25 - 30 to the longitudinal axis. The sloping cut face is on the side of the head which has a concave curve of the ball-contacting end 18 of the head. So far the procedure is common to known methods, the angle of the cut on the head and handle is steeper than previously. In addition, the prepared surfaces 14, 16 are then grooved, preferably longitudinally, i.e. along the grain of the wood, so that the grooves 20 are complementary, and a tongue and groove arrangement is formed, tongues 21 being formed by the material left between adjacent grooves 20.Glue or like adhesive is applied to the prepared surfaces and when they are brought together they not only abut face-to-face, but interlock by the tongue and groove arrangement. The resulting splice is strong enough to avoid the need for support binding.

In a second embodiment, the sports implement is a cricket bat which is also formed from two parts, namely, the blade 30, which has a V-shaped recess, and the handle 32 the lower end of which terminates in a V-shaped projection. As in the first embodiment, these complementary surfaces 34, 36, are grooved at 38 so as to form a tongue 40 and groove 38 arrangement, and preferably, the grooves run longitudinally. When the handle is inserted into the recess, the resulting splice is improved by the tongue and groove arrangement.

A sports implement formed as hereinbefore described is advantageous over known forms of splicing in that a more solid grip is obtained between the joined parts.

1. A method of splicing the head or blade of a sports implement to the handle thereof, said method including the steps of preparing a first surface on the head and a complementary second surface on the handle, locating in the first and second surfaces a complementary tongue and groove arrangement, applying adhesive to the first and second surfaces and mating said surfaces.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the or each tongue and groove of the tongue and groove arrangement runs longitudinally of the surface.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which said first and second surfaces are formed by making an angled cut lengthwise of the head and handle

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Splicing sports implement This invention relates to a method of splicing a sports implement and sports implements formed thereby. Sports implements such as shinty sticks, hockey sticks and cricket bats have two parts which are spliced together, namely, a head or blade and a handle. One known form of splicing is to cut a first surface in the head or blade (in the form of a V-shaped notch), shape the handle to terminate in a complementary second surface (V-shaped end) and secure the V of the handle in the V-shaped notch. Shinty or hockey sticks formed by this method require additional support at the splice, and this takes the form of tape or the like wrapped firmly round the spliced portion. Another known method of forming shinty and hockey sticks is to provide the head with a first surface in the form of a long tapering face and the handle with a complementary tapered face forming a second surface. These are brought together and secured and further supported by tape. This method is disadvantageous in that the tapered faces are relatively long, the angle of taper being about 10 to the longitudinal axis of the stick. In addition,taping is necessary and thus adds to the cost and time of producing the article. It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the aforesaid disadvantage and to provide an improved splice. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of splicing the head or blade of a sports implement to the handle thereof, said method including the steps of preparing a first surface on the head and a complementary second surface on the handle, locating in the first and second surfaces a complementary tongue and groove arrangement, applying adhesive to the first and second surfaces and mating said surfaces. Preferably, the or each tongue and groove of the tongue and groove arrangement runs longitudinally of the surface. Preferably also, said first and second surfaces are formed by making an angled cut lengthwise of one head and handle whereby, said surfaces abut by one overlying the other. Alternatively, said first and second surfaces are V-shaped, the surface in the blade being a V-shaped recess and the surface on the handle being a V-shaped projection whereby said surfaces abut when the projection is located in the recess. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sports implement formed by the method as defined in the preceding four paragraphs. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an illustrative view of the parts of a shinty stick, according to the invention; Figure 2 is an illustrative view of a cricket bat, according to the invention; Figure 3 illustrates the grooved parts of a shinty stick prior to being joined, and Figure 4 illustrates to an enlarged scale the two parts partially joined. In the first embodiment (Figure 1) the sports implement is a shinty stick, although other similar types of stick are applicable, i.e. for hockey, icehockey, hurley or la crosse. The stick has a handle 10 and a head 12 which, for the purpose of reducing waste of wood, is made separately from the handle and joined to it by splicing. The splice comprises two complementary surfaces 14, 16 on the head and handle, respectively, each being formed by making a lengthwise cut at an angle of, e.g. 25 - 30 to the longitudinal axis. The sloping cut face is on the side of the head which has a concave curve of the ball-contacting end 18 of the head. So far the procedure is common to known methods, the angle of the cut on the head and handle is steeper than previously. In addition, the prepared surfaces 14, 16 are then grooved, preferably longitudinally, i.e. along the grain of the wood, so that the grooves 20 are complementary, and a tongue and groove arrangement is formed, tongues 21 being formed by the material left between adjacent grooves 20.Glue or like adhesive is applied to the prepared surfaces and when they are brought together they not only abut face-to-face, but interlock by the tongue and groove arrangement. The resulting splice is strong enough to avoid the need for support binding. In a second embodiment, the sports implement is a cricket bat which is also formed from two parts, namely, the blade 30, which has a V-shaped recess, and the handle 32 the lower end of which terminates in a V-shaped projection. As in the first embodiment, these complementary surfaces 34, 36, are grooved at 38 so as to form a tongue 40 and groove 38 arrangement, and preferably, the grooves run longitudinally. When the handle is inserted into the recess, the resulting splice is improved by the tongue and groove arrangement. A sports implement formed as hereinbefore described is advantageous over known forms of splicing in that a more solid grip is obtained between the joined parts. CLAIMS

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which said first and second surfaces are formed by making an angled cut lengthwise of the head and handle whereby, said surfaces abut by one overlying the other.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, in which the cut is at an angle of 20 to 30 to the longitudinal axis.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which said first and second surfaces are V-shaped, the surface in the blade being a V-shaped recess and the surface on the handle being a V-shaped projection whereby said surfaces abut when the projection is located in the recess.

6. A sports implement formed by the method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

7. A method of splicing the head or blade of a sports implement to the handle thereof, substantially as hereinbefore described.