Implement handle

Jan. 21, 1936.

A. A. MacPHERSON

2,028,291

IMPLEMENT HANDLE

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Patented Jan. 21, 1936

2,028,291

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,028,291

IMPLEMENT HANDLE

Albert Alfred MacPherson, Five Dock, near Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Application September 12, 1935, Serial No. 40,340 In Australia June 6, 1934

Claims. (CI. 273—75)

This invention relates to implements of all kinds that are provide with handles to enable the implement to be wielded manually for working or recreation purposes. Instances of such S implements are hammers, tennis rackets, golf clubs, cricket bats etc.

In such implements it is found that users require a certain “balance” of the implement that is to say the centre of gravity of the implement 10 must be at a definite distance from the user’s hand for efficient and untiring use.

Now this invention has been devised to· enable the centre of gravity of such implements to be adjusted as required. This desiderata being ef15 fected by providing an axial recess within the handle wherein a weight is housed having devices to adjust its position longitudinally of said recess and devices to retain said weight in any such adjusted position.

But in order that this invention may be read;ily carried into practical effect it will now be described with reference to the drawing wherein Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of one end of an implement handle. Fig. 2 is a section on line 25 2—2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 1 showing a modified embodiment of the invention. Fig. 4 is a section on line 4—4 in Fig. 3 and Fig. 5 is a similar view to Figs. 1 and 3 of a further embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 the handle 6 has axial recess 7 which is counterbored as shown at 8. Within the counterbore is a plug 9 providing end support for keys or runner guides 10 which are supported at their other ends in the 35 bottom II of the recess 7. A weight 12 has grooves 13 to engage the guides 10 and said weight is medially screwed for a lead screw 14 having bearing in the plug 9 and a slotted head 15. A spring washer 16 is interposed between 40 the plug 9 and the head 15 and the thrust of said washer is counteracted by an annular abutment disc 17 affixed to the end of the handle by screws or the like (not shown).

In use the weight 12 is adjusted longitudinally 45 by rotation, of the screw 14 and is retained in such position by the thrust of the spring washer 16 preventing rotation of said screw 14. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 the handle 18 has recess 19, plug 20 and pad 23 of felt or the like and 50 guides 21. The weight 22 has grooves for the guides 21 and as well has end flanges 24 between which is retained a sleeve 25 of rubber or the like which resiliently grips the outer sides of the guides 21 and the weight 22. The weight 55 22 has one end countersunk and provided with screwed orifice 26 intended to receive the screwed end 27 of a thrust rod 28 which loosely fits orifice 29 in the plug 20.

In use the weight 22 is adjusted longitudinally by screwing the end 27 of the thrust rod 28 into 5 orifice 26 and thrusting or pulling said rod 28 until the weight is in the desired position. The weight 22 is retained in position by the sleeve 25 gripping on the guides 21.

Referring to Fig. 5 the handle 30 has recess 10 31 plug 32 and a pad 33. The weight 34 has end flanges 35 between which is retained a rubber or like sleeve 36 which neatly fits the recess 31. In use the weight is moved as previously described in connection with Figs. 3 and 4 and is 15 prevented from moving of its own accord by the neat fit of the sleeve 36 in the recess 31.

It will be observed with respect to the Figs. 3 and 5 embodiments of the invention that they disclose different mechanical embodiments of 20 the generic idea of employing a resilient friction member resiliently engaging means extending longitudinally of the handle to hold the weight in any position to which it may be forcibly adjusted along the bore, thereby permitting the use 25 of an adjusting member which is normally disengaged from the weight and which is engaged therewith only when an adjustment is desired. In the Fig. 3 form of thei invention the means extending longitudinally of the handle and en- 30 gaged by the friction member are the rods 21, while in the Fig. 5 form it is the wall of the bore 31.