US218404A - Improvement in gymnastic apparatus - Google Patents

Description

W. C. SHIMONEGK Gymnastic Apparatus.

No. 218,404. Patented Aug 12, 1879.

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UNITED STATES PATENT GEEIcE.

WILLIAM C. SHIMONEOK, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN GYMNASTIC APPARATUS. I'

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 218,404, dated August 12, 1879; application filed June 9, 1879.

To all whom it may concern.'

Beit known thatI, WILLIAM C. SHIMoNEcK, of Washington,in the District ot' Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Physical Oulture andGymnastic Exercise; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part, of this specification.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved apparatus with the parts in position for use, and Fig. 2 a view with the parts secured together for transportation or storage.

This invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus to be employed for physical culture and gymnastic exercises, and it has specially for its object to prevent the accidents in vaulting and leaping consequent upon the rigidly-fixed horizontal bars usually employed, and also to provide a means for readily adjusting the bar to anydesired height, and indicating the elevation thereof, to secure the uprights which support the bar upon their base, and to provide for rigidly securing the horizontal bar to its supports when required for other exercise than vaulting or leaping.

To this end the invention consists of two uprights or vertical standards secured to a suitable base provided with means for fastening it rigidly to the ground, said uprights being provided with suitable braces to maintain them rigidly in an upright position, and having graduated ways, upon which are adapted to it movable slides provided with weighted trip-levers adapted to support the horizontal bar in such manner as to release the bar when struck by the gymnast and drop it out of his way, and thus avoid tripping him, and at the same time the trip-levers return to their former places to receive the bar, thus making them self-setting.

In the drawings, the letter A indicates a base ot any suitable material, having'a transverse groove, B, on its upper side, in which is fitted a slide, C, provided with a staple, D, chain E, and pin F, the latter of which may be driven into the ground to hold the base rigidly thereto. The letter G represents two uprights or vertical standards secured in mortises in the base A, and I brace-rods secured to said uprights or standards, and pointed or sharpened at their4 lower ends, so as to fasten into the base and support the standards in an upright position. The letter K represents a hooked rod pivoted to each upright or standard, and secured at its lower end to a staple, L, at each end of the base, in

order to hold the su orts against anv vertical movement and keep them in their mortises. The letter M indicates two graduated ways, one on each of -the uprights or vertical standards, upon which are adapted to iii'- and travel the slides N, which are held in place by means of spring-pawls O, which bear against the graduated faces of the ways and serve the additional purpose of indicating the elevation of the slides upon the said graduated faces ot' the ways. To the said slides are pivoted the trip-levers I), which are hooked at one end and weighted at the other, so that when in a normal position they will hold and support the bar R, and when bar It is struck by the gymnast will trip and drop the bar, and thus prevent accidents, said trip-levers P returning to their former positions. Said bar R is formed with rectangular ends r, which are adapted to set into mortises or sockets S in uprights or supports to hold said bar rigidly in position when so required.

The operation of the apparatus is'as follows: When the gymnast, in leaping over the bar supported on the trip-levers, happens to l strike the same, said levers will give and allow the bar to drop out of the way, thus preventing the gymnast from tripping and injuring himself.

The braces by which the uprights are held in position, in connection with the hooked bars for holding the uprights down, it will be observed, will become gradually and more rigidly fastened to the bed should any oscillation of the uprights occur during exercise.

The slides which carry the trip-levers may be elevated in any suitable manner; but for the sake of convenience they are provided with rods T extending downwardly within easy reach.

The lower portions of the uprights, below 2. The combination,willi thehase .Lof the uprights or standards (l, re|no\'ahl secured I in mortises in the base by means of the bracerodsI and hooked rods K, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In oomhination with the uprights or standards and their graduated ways, the slides carrying' the. Weighted trip-levers for snpportimgr the horizontal bar R, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of June, 1879.

WM. C. SHIMONECK.

Witnesses:

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