US1075309A - Exercising apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

M. J. SULLIVAN.

EXBRGISING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 1912.

1 075,309, Patented Oct. 7, 1913. 9 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

la' I I 10 2 M. J. SULLIVAN.

EXBRGISING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAB..30, 1912.

Patented Q01 7, 1913.

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nxnnorsme APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 7, 1913.

Application filed March 30, 1912. Serial No. 687,338.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARK J. SULLIVAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Exercising Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numbers of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Although the importance and necessity of consistent and regular exercise is generally recognized, and although many different forms of exercising apparatus have heretofore been constructed, their use has been quite generally neglected, owing, in some in-' stances, to the difliculty in obtaining suflicient space for installation.

No suitable apparatus has devised for the use of those who, illness or accident, are confined, for considerable portions of time, to their beds. In consequence, recovery or convalescence is retarded. Furthermore, in many cases of illness or injury, it is exceedingly diflicult to turn or move the patient in the bed, owing to the lack of suitable means whereby the patient may assist the nurse in effecting such movement.

The object. of this invention is to afford a cheap, simple and exceedingly strong and durable exerciseing apparatus, adapted for use in connection with a bed, and whereby the user, while recumbent upon the bed may, by the use thereof, obtain adequate exercise for the requirements of health.

It is also an object of the invention to afford a device such as described whereby the user, upon awakening, maybe able to exercise to the desired extent before arising.

It is also an object of the invent-ion to afford a construction whereby invalids or those confined to the bed through injury, may be able to exercise the various limbs and parts of the body to aid in restoring health, and whereby also the patient may assist the nurse in raising, moving or turning the body by means of such apparatus, or in many instances, effect such movement entirel without the assistance of the nurse and with but little physical effort.

It is also an' object of the invent-ion to afford a construction adapted for attachment in operative position, on, or in conheretofore been through v nection with any metal bedwithout injuring or defacing the bed.

It is also an object of theinvention to afiord a construction adapted for attachment to wooden beds, if desired, and whatsoever the kind of bed to which the device is. attached, to so connect the device as to support the same upon the bed and permit the bed to be moved as desired, without the necessity of detaching the device or any part thereof.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully defined.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof. Fig. 3 is a section on line '33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detail face view and section of the standard and swinging bracket arms. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on line 55 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, sectional detail of the standard, and means for attaching the bracket arms thereon with one of the bracket arms broken away or in section. Fig. 7 is an enlarged section on line 77 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a view in elevation of a detachable form of leg exercising means embodying a part of my invention. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary, sectional detail of the standard and the collars are secured in spaced relation.

As shown in the drawings: Thebed is indicated as a metal bed, constructed as usual, of pipes 1, and having at the ends thereof a transverse head rail 2, and a foot rail 3, each an inwardly facing angle bar. The side bars or rails 4, (also angle bars, as shown) rigidly connect the head and foot of the bed by engaging said transverse head and foot rails together, as shown in Figs. 1 and2, affording a rigid interior frame.

The exerciser comprises a standard or tube of vsufficient size and strength, and which extends upwardly at the inner side of the head rail of the bed at the center thereof, and to the desired height above the bed. Said rod or standard is engaged to the head rail 2, by any suitable clamp, (a convenient and effective form of which is illustrated in the drawings) and comprising upper and lower U bolts 6, which engage around the shaft or standard 5, and

collars and illustrates the manner in which shaft 5, consisting of a steel bar, rod or.

extend one above, and the other below the head rail 2, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. A clamping plate 7, is engaged against the web of said head rail, and through. which the threaded ends of the U bolts extend, and against which the nuts 8, on said U bolts bear to hold the same at all times in firm engagement. Conveniently, a suitable filler block 9, is engaged in the angle of the head rail, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and may be notched slightly 'to receive the shaft or standard therein. Secured on the lower end of said shaft or standard is a collar 10, afi'ording a footpiece, and which is provided on the under face with a pad 11, of felt or other suitable material, to avoid injury to the floor, as shown in Fig. 1. Secured at the lower end of said shaft or standard, and extending obliquely upward and rearwardly, is a strong wlre cable 12, which extends around the foot rail 3, as shown in Fig. 1 and the end thereof is adjustably engaged upon itself by means of the clamp 13, of familiar form, to permit the tension of the cable to be adjusted as described.

At a point above the head rail 2, and bear mg againsttwo or more of the rods 1, forming the head of the bed, is a transverse bar or plate 14,- faced with felt l5, on the face thereof adjacent to said rods, and having secured on the outer side thereof adjustable clips or hooks 16, also faced with felt, adapted to en age between, and bear against said IOfS 1, to steady the upper end of the shaft or standard, and secured to said plate or bar 14, and near the middle thereof, is a metallic strap 17, affording an eye to receive the shaft therethrough, and which is rigidly bolted in place.

Slidably and adjustably engaged on said shaft, is a lower upwardly facing collar 18, and an upper, downwardly facing collar 19, each of which is provided with a screw 20 and 21, respectively to engage the same in adjusted position on the shaft. Said collars at their adjacent faces are provided with alined channels therein surrounding the shaft, as shown in Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive, and Fig. 10 and are rigidly engaged together by means of a rod or bolt 22, which extends at its ends into said channels in said collars, and is rigidly secured to each.

Bracket arms 23, two in number, are

each provided at their inner ends with a head having a flange thereon, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, adapted to fit into the channels of said collar, and directed ob liquely to said arms, so that when engaged in place,

the arms extend radially from the shaft. As shown, thelower collar 18, is provided with a relatively broad peripheral flange 25, which extends beneath a suitable shoulder on each of said arms toafiord a bearing therefor, andto support the same at some distance from the axis of the shaft.

I truding Thearms may, of course, be of any suitable design or configuration and taper outwardly toward their extremity.

Each of the arms at its outer end, is provided with a downwardly directed threaded:

aperture, adapted to receive the cap screw 26,. therein, and which is retained in place by the nut 27 thereof, on the upper proend of said cap screw, and which, as shown, affords an eye 28. Swiveled on the lower or threaded end of the cap-screw, is a'hand grip 29, of any suitable or convenient form. Said arms are of a length to extend sufficiently outward from the standard, to enable the user to conveniently grasp thesame above his chest while lying upon the bed, as shown Fig. 1, and, as shown in dotted lines in- Fig. 3, said arms may be engaged together at their outer end by the horizontal bar 30, the reduced ends of which extend through the eyes 28, on the outer ends of said arms, and may be held in place by means of collars or stops 31, releasably engaged in any suitable manner upon the extremities of the bar. Said bar, 0" course','may be grasped by the hands in performing any of the desired gymnastic exercises by the user, and when engaged in place as described, cannot accidentally become released from the eyes. Any ornamental cap 34, to afford a finish, may be secured upon the upper endof the, shaft or standard, if desired, and, of course, the construction as a whole may beof any desired material or finish.

The operation is as follows: In adjusting the device to the bed, if a metal bed such as shown and described be used, the shaft is engaged in the proper position by means of the U bolts, the cable is attached as shown in *ig. 1, and drawn to the required tension and the clamp 13, utilized to hold the same from slipping. The plate or bar 14, is next adjusted suitably at the head of the bed to hold the upper end of the shaft or standard from any tendency to lateral movement. The arms are now adjusted to the desired height above the mattress. For this purpose, the set screws 20. and 21, are released, and the collars, with the arms engaged therebetween, are slipped up or down upon the shaft as required, to the desired position, and again engaged in place by means of the set screws, either or both of whichmay be used in holding the collars as adjusted. The bracketarms are normally supported fiat against the head of the bed, as shown in-tlotted lines in Fig. 3. The user may nowen'gage the hand grips and swing the same inwardl above the chest, as shown in Fig. 1, W ere a large variety of arm, chest, abdominal and back and neck movements are possible, with the aid thereof, and if desired also, such exercises can be taken with the operator lying upon his back, upon his face, or upon either norasoe side, as required. Leg movements, may of course, be also employed simultaneously with the other exercises and without the aid of other apparatus, or, if preferred, strong resilient bands or springs 36, may be engaged by means of snaps 37 in the eyes 28, and the feet may be engaged in stirrups 38, therefor, as shown in Figs. 1 and 9, and the leg movements may be effected against the resiliency of said bands or springs. At the same time, or in conjunction therewith, the operator may utilize the hand grips, as before described, to afford a large number and variety of gymnastic movements. The horizontal bar 30, is used as its character would indicate, and serves the double purpose of spacing the outer ends of the arms apart to enable the pull upward to be effected advantageously and without cramping the chest to any degree, as might occur should this movement be effected with the arms close together.

Should it be desired to attach the device to a wooden bed, it is. only necessary to bore through the-end rail to permit engagement of the U bolts therethrough, or to afford any other suitable clamp for this purpose, and to extend the bar 14, (which may be, of course, as ornamental as desired) to a length to engage around the posts of the bed head, thus obviating any necessity of marrin-geven a wooden bed if the device is to be installed thereon.

In practice, it has been found that invalids, through the use of a device such as described, are enabled to obtain such exercise as facilitates their recovery to health,

and at all times are able to assist themselves in moving or turning. Furthermore, the advantageous results due to exercising when first awakening are readily .attained, and while the operator is in recumbent position,

and with little danger from theinjury sometimes resulting from the use of certain classes of gymnastic apparatus heretofore quite generally employed.

Of course, It am aware that clamps of any kind may be incorporated in connection with my invention; that instead of one tension guide line, lines may be extended from the foot of the shaft to the side rails of the bed as well. When secured to the bed, it is obvious that the bed may he moved as desired without disturbing the attachment of the exerciser thereto.

l have shown but a preferred form of my invention, and am aware that numerous details of construction and application may be varied without departing from the rinciples of the invention. 1 therefore 0 not purpose limiting the patent to be granted on this application otherwise than necessitated bv the prior art.

1 claim as my invention:

1. A standard adapted to be attached to a standard, a set screw bed at the head thereof, arms swingingly engaged thereon and adjustable as to height above the bed, and a hand grip at the extremity of each arm.

2. In a device of the class described a standard adapted to be detachably engaged at the head of a bed and supported upon the floor, bracket arms connected with said standard to swing horizontally above the bed, a hand grip at-the extremity of each of said arms, and means for adjusting the arms simultaneously as to height.

3. A device of the class described embracing a standard adapted to be inserted in advance of the head rail of a bed and rest upon the floor, a clamp engaging the standard to the head rail of the bed, means engaging the upper end of the standard with the head of the bed to hold the same from lateral movement, a cable engaged at the lower end of the standard and adjustably engaged in tension around the foot rail of the bed, bracket arms adj ustably and swingingly engaged on the standard and adapted to swing horizontally over the bed, and means attaching a horizontal bar to the outer end of said bracket arms.

4. A device of the class described embracing a standard adapted to rest upon the floor, a padded foot piece for the standard, a clamp adapted to engage the standard to the head rail of a bed, a clamp for engaging the standard to the head of the bed above the rail, swinging bracket arms adapted for adjustment horizontally over the bed, a h and grip engaged on the under end of each, an eye at the outer end of each bracket arm, a horizontal through said eyes at its ends and acting to space the hand grips apart, and means adjusting said bracket arms as to height above the bed.

5. A device of the class described embracing a standard adapted, to be supported upon the floor, means for engaging the same at the-inner side of a bed, a cable for engaging the foot thereof with the foot rail of the bed, swinging arms adjustably secured on the standard and adapted to extend over the bed, a hand grip on each, and foot and leg exercising means adapted for engagement on the outer end of said arms and embracing each a resilient band and a stirrup on the outer end of the band.

6. in a device of the class described a standard, a collar on the lower end thereof and a pad secured thereon to rest upon the door, means for engaging said standard with a bed head, to sustain stresses laterally and longitudinally of the bed, oppositely faring grooved collars slidable on said adapted to engage each to the standard, a rod rigidly connecting said collars, bracket arms flanged at their inner extremities to engage in the channels in the collars and adapted to swing therein over against the head of the bed or rearwardly over the bed, threaded apertures extending downwardly through the outer end of the arms, a cap screw threaded therein, head of the cap screw below the arm, a nut affording an eye threaded on the cap screw above the arm, a horizontal bar adapted to engage in said eyes at its ends, and means for retaining the same in place.

7. In a device of the class described a standard, means for engaging said standard upon a bed head, oppositely facing grooved collars slidable on said standard, a rod rigidly connecting said collars, bracket arms flanged at their inner extremities to engage in the channels in the collars and adapted to swing therein over against the head of the bed or rearwardly over the bed, a hand grip secured on each arm, and a horizontal bar adapted to space the free ends of said arms apart.

8. In a device of the class described a standard, means for engaging said standard upon a bed head, oppositely facing vertically adjustable grooved collars on said standard, a member connecting said collars, and bracket arms flanged at their inner extremities to engage in the channels in the collars and adapted to swing therein over against the head of the bed or rearwardly over the bed.

9. In a device of the class described a standard, means for engaging said standard upon a bed head, oppositely facing collarson said standard, a member connecting said collars, bracket arms engaged to said collars and adapted to swing therein over against the head of the bed or rearwardly over the bed, a hand grip secured on each arm, and foot and leg exercising meansadapted for engagement on the outer end of said arms and embracing each a resilient band and a stirrup on the outer end of the band.

10. A standard adapted to be attached to a bed at the head thereof, and arms swinga hand'grip secured on the.

justably engaged in tension to the article of furniture, bracket arms adjustably engaged I on the standard and adapted to swing horizontally and means for attaching a horizontal bar to the outer end of said bracket arms.

12.;A device of the class described embracing a standard adapted to be connected with an article of furniture, means for engaging the standard to the article of furniture, swinging bracket arms adapted for horizontal adjustment, a hand grip engaged on the under side of the outer end of each, a horizontal .bar adapted to space the hand grips apart, and means for vertically adjusting said bracket arms.

13. A device of the class described embracing a wertical standard, means for engaging the same to an article of furnlture, swinging arms adjustably secured on the standard, a hand grip on each, and foot and leg exercising means adapted for engagement on the outer end of said arms and em bracing each a resilient band and a stirrup on the outer end of the band.

14. In a device of the class described a standard, means for engaging said standard upon a bed head, to sustain stresses laterally and longitudinally of the bed, oppositely facing collars slidable on said standard, a member rigidly connecting said collars, bracket arms engaged to the collars and adapted to swing over against the head of the bed or rearwardly over the bed,-a hand grip secured on each arm, and a horizontal bar connected with said arms.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARK J. SULLIVAN. Witnesses CHARLES W. HILLS, Jr., Gaoncn R. Moons.

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