US1688188A - Finger-exercising machine - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 16, 1928;

J. V. JUGO FINGER EXERC I S ING' MACHINE Filed March 4, 1926 machine according to the invention with an 'tained. the fingers are caused to rest or press Patented @ct. 16, 1928.

; 1,688,! ,ATENT OFFICE.

JOSE VICTOR JUGO, OF BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA.

FINGER-EXERCISING MACHINE.'

Application filed March a, race. Serial No. 92,188.

This invention relates generally to exercise machines for the development of the human body and 111 particular to a machine or instrumentalit for develo 3111 the fin ers] and increasing the strength, lightness and quickness of the opflfiion of a pianists fingers. I-Ieretofore it has been necessary for a pianist to spend hours practicingfinger exercise on the piano in the development of touch and greater facility and dexterity. The present invention seeks to substitute a mechanical device which shall be more efficient and expeditions in the results at- In accordance with the invention down upon supports which are given a reciprocal movement so that each finger is moved in substantially the sameinanner as that in playing finger exercises, but'to an exaggerated degree and with greater rapidity. This is preferably accomplished by motor driven actuating mechanism which may be caused to selectively reciprocate the supports in the desired sequence.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect,

the same will now bedescribed more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings" illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, in which:

Figure 1 1s a view showing the exercise electric motor as the prime mover whereby thespeed of operation of the machine may be varied to suit conditions of the user.

Figure 2 is a transverse view taken in the plane indicated by the line 22 in Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows and showing one of the instrumentalities by which a finger is manipulated;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view, taken in the plane indicated by the line 8-3 in Fig. 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows and showing details of the structure by which selective reciprocation of the finger supports is attained.

It is sought by the present invention to obtain a movement of the fingers similar to that in playing finger exercises on the piano, but to an exaggerated" degree and with greater rapidity, as it is well understood that the movement or exercise of any muscle of the body so develops the control thereof as to enable in time the acquisition of a greater faculty for the desired movement.

of development versa.

each finger and thumb on two hands, ten

in all, are indicated at a 3, a a, a (LG, a a3, a, a upon which the fingers are to be rested or to be pressed down upon. These supports are given a reciprocal movement in a vertical directionby mounting them upon "spindles or rods Z) slidable in bearings and formed upon individual brackets C The supports are preferably elongated as shown and rotatable about the rods 6 and in which adjust-ed position they are secured by set screw a so that they may be adjusted to assume various positions with respect to one another to conveniently receive the fingers in normally extended fashion. l Vhile various mechanical movements may be availed of to cause the reciprocation of the spindles, it has been found convenient to utilize eccentric motion effected by a cam or eccentric (Z for each spindle loosely mounted upon a shaft 6 journalled in the brackets c and adapted to reciprocate the spindles by means of an annulus (f) freely movable about the eccentrically mounted circular disc (cl) and pivot-ally connected as at f to the spindle 0). lrovision is then made for causing the rotation ofthe disc or discs with the This is effected by, say, a clutching shaft. element splined on the shaft as at g and adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the cooperating clutching element d on the disc (0?) by a bifurcated lever (It) which may be pivoted for convenience upon a transversely extending bar In the illustrated embodiment ten such reciprocating instrumentalities and their as sociated clutching devices are shown disposed along the shaft (6) and the shaft is illustrated as being rotated through suitable gearing, (j, 7c) from a motor (Z) carried for convenience upon the base (m) to which the ten standards 0 are secured.

In practice, as will be understood, it is desirable to causea movement of the fingers in succession or in various combinations. For instance, in one exercise the thumb, middle and little fingers would be caused to strike the keys together, while the index and third or ring finger is raised and vice To effect such movement, the following may he followed in setting the machine. First, all the discs cl are unclutched from the shaft (6). The discs are then turnedso that thefcam portions controlling the movement of supports 09, a a, a a, are on the lower side of the shaft. The

rings of course, turn with respect'to the discs, but move downwardly relative to the shaft to cause the said supports to assume this lowermost position. Supports a say a foot pedal not shown to which the chain n is connected.

By the construction described, a particularly effective machine is provided for developing the manipulation of the fingers ano increasing their dexterity by constrained movements of the fingers to an exaggerated and rapid degree. I

It is to be understood that the invention in its broadest aspects is not to be deemed limited to the precise instrumentality illustrated for causlng elevation and depression of the supports, but that various mechanical movements may be availed of and other prime movers used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: V

1. In an exercise machine, in combination, a plurality of finger supports, vertical reciprocating rods upon which thes'upports are carried, a rotative shaft, a plurality of circularfdiscs eccentrically mountedupon.

the shaft, annular members within which the discs are disposed pivotally connected with the rods, clutching devices between the shaft and the discs, means to rotate the shaft (and means to control the rotation of the shaft.

2. In an exercise machine, in combination, a plurality of supports, arms upon which the supports are carried, a rotatable shaft transverse to the arms, eccentric devices carried with the shaft and selectively actuating the arms and clutching mechanism between the eccentric devices and the shaft.

8. In an exercise machine, in combination, a plurality of supports, vertical rods upon which the supports are carried, a rotatable shaft transverse to the rods, eccentrics carried loosely with the shaft, operative connections between the eccentrics and the rods and clutching mechanism between the eccentrics and the shaft; j

4. In a finger exercising machine, the combination of a finger support mounted for reciprocating movement, a power shaft mounted for rotary movement, power trans- -1Illttil1 ,111Gt11S between the shaft and'su )ort for translating the rotary movement of the shaft into reclprocatory movement of the supports, said means including a manually actuated clutch for controlling the driving connection between the support and shaft,

5. In a linger exercising machine, in combination of an upstanding rod mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement, an elongated finger support mounted at the top of said rod and adapted to be-rotated about the axis of said rod and a set screw for securing the finger support in adjusted position on theroc. g

6. In a finger exercising machine, the combination with a driving shaft, of a plurality of rods each mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement disposed in linein a vertical plane and each rod'provlde'd with a finger support, a plurality of driving connections between the shaft and the rods, each of said connections including means for translating the rotary movement of the shaft into reciprocatory movement of the rods and associated: supports and said'means including adjustable parts for varying the relation between the shaft and any one of the rods whereby any 8 number of the rods may be adjusted vertically into different positions relative to each other and thus cause certain of the finger supports to be 1 descending n different relative positions while others are ascending when actuated by theshaft. i

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of of March A. D. 1926. r,

7 JOSE VICTORJJUGO.

New York this third day

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