US2069384A

US2069384A - Exercising device

Info

Publication number: US2069384A
Application number: US58638A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ogden Henry George
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-01-11
Filing date: 1936-01-11
Publication date: 1937-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 1954-02-02

Description

Feb. 2 1937. H. G. OGDEN 2,069,384

EXERCISING DEVICE Filed Jan. 11, 1936 INVENTOR.

BY M W ATTORNEYJ.

Patented Feb. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES EXERCISING DEVICE Henry George Ogden, Galien, -Mich.

Application January 1 1 Claim.

This invention relates to exercising devices, and particularly to a device by the use of which practically all of the muscles of the body, and the muscles of the feet as well, may be exercised.

In most exercising devices the use of weights, springs and the like is resorted to for the purpose of creating resistance to operation to be overcome by the muscular exertion of the exerciser. As a general rule, any such device has limitations with respect to the extent or number of muscles brought into play in use thereof, and with respect to the fact that the resistance to be overcome is fixed, whereby, in order to obtain a given amount of exercise, the exerciser must use the device for a fairly definite extent of time or number of operations.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a device of this character by which an exerciser may both bring all of his muscles into play and may control the amount of muscular activity required for any one cycle of operation or use of the device.

A further object is to provide a device of this character whose use entails the opposition of certain muscles of the body to other muscles to thereby effectively exercise substantially all muscles.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects will be apparent from the description and the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view illustrating the manner in which my device is used.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the device taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates one embodiment of the invention, the numeral Ill designates a frame which is preferably formed of sheet metal and which is shaped to provide a symmetrical plan outline including a rear edge parallel side edges I2, and converging side edges I3 defining the front portion thereof. A longitudinal central slot I4 is formed at the front of the frame. Each of these edges is provided with integral downturned wall portions for purposes to be hereinafter set forth. Intermediate the edges I2, and slightly forwardly spaced from rear edge thereof, is provided a pair of comple- 1, 1936, Serial No. 58,638

mentary integral off-sets I5 which comprise circular upwardly tapered wall portions I6 and a cup-shaped concave portion ll within wallportion I6. Three or more wheels mount the frame H1 in substantially horizontal position, there being illustrated a construction in which the depending wall portions I8 extending below side edges I2 are each provided with an aperture I9 substantially intermediate the height thereof and in forwardly spaced relation to edge I I and in substantially rearwardly spaced relation to the transverse center line of off-sets I5. Through these apertures I9 extends a transverse rod or shaft 20 whose ends mount collars 2| bearing against walls I3 at their inner ends. A Wheel 22 is rotatably mounted on each collar 2|, and is held in place thereon by a nut 23 threaded on the end of shaft 2t and bearing against the outer end of the adjacent collar 2|. The nuts 23 are of a size larger than the diameter of the collars 2| to prevent displacement of said wheels, and serve to lock the shaft 20 and collars 2| against lateral displacement. The opposed walls 24 depending from opposed parallel edges of slot I4 are provided with a set of opposed apertures 25 which mount opposite ends of a shaft 26 whose central portion between said walls 24 mounts a collar 27. A wheel 28 is rotatably mounted on collar 21. Nuts 29 are threaded on the ends of shaft 26 and bear against the outer sides of walls 24. The

wheels

22 and 28 are preferably of equal diameter which exceeds the width of the depending marginal walls I8, 24, etc., whereby the device will roll freely on said wheels. The depending walls serve both to facilitate mounting of said wheels and to reinforce and strengthen frame I0.

To use the device, the exerciser assumes a sitting position on the floor or other supporting surface, preferably horizontal and smooth, and places the heels of his feet in the concave portions ll of the frame. He then grasps his feet, as illustrated. For purposes of description, the position illustrated in Fig. 1 Will be considered the starting position, the exerciser therein being assumed to have extended his legs tothe full extent permitted by his grasp of his feet, and to be urging his feet toward facing relation of the bottoms or soles thereof. From this starting position the exerciser pulls his feet toward him, using, of course, the muscles of his hands, arms, back and neck in so doing. To increase the exertion to which these muscles are subjected, the muscles of the legs and abdomen may be tensed to oppose the pulling by the arms, etc. As the feet are pulled by the arms, the knees are prefer- 55 ably spread, so that when the knees have been bent to their full extent, the soles of the feet will be brought to full face pressing engagement. From this position the legs then push forwardly toward the starting position, opposed by the arm and related muscles. The wheel mounting of the device permits this forward and reverse movement of the feet without rubbing of the heels on the supporting surface, though permitting application of downwardly directed pressure by the feet; and the cup-shaped portions I! of the device prevent the feet from sliding from the device. It will also be noted that the positioning of the heel receiving parts l5 intermediate the axes of the supporting wheels renders the device stable, so that it will not tilt and cause the feet to fall therefrom during use thereof; while the spacing of said off-sets IS in comparatively adjacent relation to the rear wheels and rearwardly of the longitudinal center of the device, renders the steering of the device during its use relatively easy. The construction of the device of sufficient strength to sustain considerable weight and to permit the exerciser to press his feet thereon enables the exerciser to readily balauce himself, particularly where the position assumed by the exerciser includes grasping of his feet by his hands.

I claim:

An exercising device comprising a horizontal member, a front wheel rotatably connected to the front center portion of said member, a pair of rear wheels rotatably connected to the sides of said member adjacent the rear thereof, and shallow cups carried by said member substantially in the plane thereof for receiving only the heels of a user seated on a supporting surface on which said wheels roll, whereby the feet extend freely above the horizontal member and the user may grasp his feet while his heels are in said cups, said cups being positioned in adjacent forwardly spaced relation to said rear wheels and in equispaced opposite relation to the longitudinal center line of said member.

HENRY GEORGE OGDEN.