US1572802A - Exerciser - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 9 1926.

C. D. LAYMAN EXERCISER Filed March 5, 1924 ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 9, 1926.

UNETED STA- ES' PATENT FFI CE.

CHARLEE I), LAYMAN, OF LOU SVILLE, KENTUCKY.

EXEBCISER.

Application filed. March 3, 1924. Serial N0. 698,633.

.To all whom it may concern:

.Be it known that I, CHARLES D. LAYMAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Louisville, in the county of Jefferson, State of Kentucky, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Exercisers, of

which the following is a full, clear, and

A further object of my invention is to provide an exerciser of the type described which may be manufactured at Very little expense, thus permitting the ordinaryperson not having access to a fully equipped gymnasiumto have the benefits of a rowing machine in his or her own home.

A further object of my invention is to provide an exerciser of the type described in which novel means is employed for vary ing the resistance-offered by the exerciser, so as to accommodate the device for use by children or grown persons.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described which is extremely compact in form, so that when the exerciser is not in use, it may not encumber the premises upon which it is kept.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the .accompanying drawings forming partof this application, in which- 7 Fgure l is a front elevation of an embodiment of my invention, i i I Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of a part of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 1, i

Figure 3 is atop plan view of the mech anism illustrated in Figure 2,

Figure l is an end elevation of a modified form of my invention, and

Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line 55 of Figure i.

In carrying out my invention I make use of a suitable supporting surface such as a door l. My purpose in choosing a door is so that when the door is folded and moved the manner shown in Figure 2.

back against the wall the exerciser is.

entirely out of sight. A bracket 2 is secured by meansof wood screws or the like ad acent the top of the door 1. This bracket 2is provided with a horizontal rod 3 having compression springs 4 and 5 secured .at opposite ends thereof, 'and arranged to, lie in a substantially vertical plane. i i i The lower ends of the compression springs eland 5 are provided with T-sliaped connecting members 6. These connecting members 6 are each connected with a pair of flexible cables 7.

Each pair of cables 7 is wrapped oncearound a fricti'ondrum hingedly supported atthe lower end of the door 1. These friction drums are more fully illustrated in Figures2 and and consist inga body member 8 having :a pair of, drumv members 9 formed by drawing the. inner portion of steel discs 10 inwardly, secured to each side of the body member 8 by means of afastening means 11, which may be the ordinary type of machine bolt and nut. The body member 8 is hingedly mounted upon a fastening plate 12 by means of a bolt 13 in The purpose =of mounting the body memberfS upon the hinged support is so that the drum element may swing from one side to another, and thus follow the natural arm imovements of the operator during the procass, of exercising, so that the cables may notbecome frayed through contact with the peripheral edges of the discs 10 and the peripheralzedge of the body member 8.

' The, outer ends of each pair of cables 7 have hand grips lsecured thereto so that the cables may be 'graspediby the/hand at their lower e'ndsand drawn awayfromthe drums against;the action ofthe springs 4t and 5. It should be noted that the, cables 7 are Wrapped about the drawn portions 9 of the drums once, so as to increase the snubbing effect occasioned by friction as the cables are drawn over the drums,

In this embodiment of my invention 1 have produced an exerciser in which movement of the cables 7 is a relatively short movement, similar to thestroke of an oar,

as in rowing, but if it is desired to increase the movement of the'cables, then the ordiv nary type of block and tackle used in the grav1ty exercising devices maybe employed. For all ordinary purposes, however, the form thereof may bereadilyunderstood. In order 'to accommodate m'y improved exerciser to the muscular capabilities ofthe person using the'device, 'tl1e exerciser shouldfirstbe adjusted't'o'r thatperson. Tliis rnay be done by a i any ottwo liffereiit \VZY'YS/ Firstyby elevatingor lowering the plate 2 upon'the door 1, and second, by engaging the. cables 7 with the drums. Instead of passing the cables once about each of the portions 9 of the drums,'the cable'may b'epass'edtwice around, if the person using the exerciser is particularly vigorous and strong. Once around the chains is suiiioient for the ordinary peraway with the springs 4 and '5,and substi- 'son.

"4 and i a'cliild isto use'thedevicmor "a personjn ot possessm'g the normal strength 'otan adult,thecablesT maybe passed under 'theidr'unis and not Wrapped about the drum. I In tliismaniieig'tlie 'forcerequ red'to draw the ables 7 against the actions of the springs 5 maybeyarledat will.

fllnusingimy improvedexerciser the op t'or may assume a sitting position and 'pr'ess'the feet uponthe door 1, or upon the floor and grasp one otthe hand grips lit in; each hand. The movement of the arms is practically identical to the movement of the arms ot'a person-rowing a boat. There is s'uliicient drag "upon the cables they pass 'over th'e drum to resist quick movement, but to p'ermit "a slow steady pull. hen the hand grips fl t are fdrawn'siiitioiently awayfromthe"door 'Lthe arms of theoperatormust permit some slack'ot the cables between the hand" 'grips and the drums, whereupon thesprings 4t and 5 WilldraW' the cables back to their original position,

whereby they are ready for anotherstro'ke. I

guresftfand 5 I heyeshown 'a'modim'of'theinvention, inwyhich I do I tied for V Qtute tlie fvoluntary j muscular force of a per- 5011. In this manner, two persons may beneporting inembersI'Z "so that aperson sitting hythe use of the device atthesarne time. To'this end lrprovidea platform 'lohjaying a seat portion 16 at each end thereof. A

pair of parallel drum supporting members 17 is disposedat each" side otthe platform at itsmid point. 'Suitable -foot boards 18 are disposed tran'syersely to the drum supthe cables '4 ing stroke and a return stroke, the return upon the seats 16 11iay1-Ph1ce his feet upon the 'toot' boards 18 and thereby brace himself against the force exerted by the opposite person pulling "upon the cables 7. In this form of the invention hand grips 14- are disposed at each end of the pairs of cables 7. The body member or central portion 8 of thc-drumsisnot provided with a hinged support 12, but the drums are mounted rigidly upon the drum supportin g "members 'l'T'by the projection of a bolt 19 in place'oi the bolt 11, which is also projected through the supporting member 17.

The Operation of thisforin of my invention is' practically thesa'me as that of the preferred form, except'that two persons may use the device at the same time, one'pulling "toward himself Wllll'O the oppos te'person exerts ust enough tension upon 'the cable's to satisfy tl1.e person drawing the cable, or simulati-ngthe inoi ement of the rowingjstroke. ln'thisi'orm oi the 111VG11-' tion, the operators alternately take a rowstroke being retarded suiiiciently to hold the cables taut.

I 1. An exerciser of the type descriln'al a non-rotatable friction drun'nimc'ans "tor'hin edly:"In'ouiitiiigsaid druiil upon a support- Ing surface, a tieiiible cable arrang gcd'itnf frictional engagement with said drum, a

handgrip associated "with saidcztblc at one end thereof, and means for oppd'ng inotement or said cablein'one direction as sociat'ed With-the opposite end oi the cable.

2. 'A'neX' eraiser ot the typedescribed pom prising a iioirriitzttable drunn' means for 'hingedlyiinount n'g said drum on a supportan; surface, a pair of cables arranged io'l' frictional engagement with said drum, a

"spring for resisting thennovement of said cable'in'ohe'direction, and a hand grip carried the ol'iposite end of sa id cable.

AneX'eroiserof the type described contprisingv a friction drum having its peripheral Wail s'e'p-arat ed'l'iy a-radiall'y extending flange extending the entire circumtercn'ce of the 'di'un'ntherebydividing said "friction drum into two parts; means for-securing said drum to a "supporting surface, a pair of flexible cables "frictionally, engagedwit-b tliesurfaccs of'saidjdi'uin on either side of said flangeby winding said cables around said drum, a hand grip associated with ad- "ja cent ends of said cables, and means for opposing the movement of said cables in one direction associated With the opposite ends thereof.

' CHARLES vn; L'AYMANQ the

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