US236225A - William l - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

WrL. HUNT. Gymnastic Projector. N0. 236,225. Patented Jan. 4,1881.

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UNITED STATES,

ATENI FFICE.

GYMNASTIC PROJECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 236,225, dated January 4, 1881. Application filed August 19, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. HUNT, of Port Hope, in the county of Durham and Dominion of Canada, have invented an Improvement in Gymnastic Projectors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mechanism designed to project a gymnast or other performer into the air and propel him to a considerable distance; and my invention consists, essentially, of a lever provided with a rigid fulcrum and carrying; a support for the gymnast on the longer end of same, and asprin g or power apparatus, or its equivalent, attached to and operating the lever in such a manner that it is suddenly oscillated with great force to project the performer into and throughmhe air.

My invention further consists in the construction of minor details, all of which are fully set forth in the following specification, shown in the accompanying drawings, and referred to in the appended claims.

Heretofore I have projected a performer direct from the spring-trap; but I find that although it is eifective for short distances it will not throw the gymnast to a sufficient distance for all performances. The object of this invention is to overcome this objection to my old apparatus, for by the aid of the lever I can cause a gymnast to be projected to a great distance with case.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus embodying in it my invention. Fig. 2 is a modified form of same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the latching mechanism. Fig. 4 is a section of latching mechanism especiallyadapted to apparatus shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of trigger-bar of same. Fig. 6 is'another form of latching mechanism.

A is the oscillating lever, and is supported in bearings B, held rigid by guy-ropes b, or other equivalent means. Upon the longer end of the lever is located a platform, 0, upon which the gymnast or other performer to be projected rests, and the opposite or shorter end, at D, is attached to one end of the rope or bar E, the other end of which is connected with the spring apparatus F. The spring apparatus consists of a frame working on a pivot and carrying a number of springs the upper ends of which are secured to a plate, which, in turn, is secured to the rope E. The frame consists of the upper and lower heads, G and K, connected together by braces, and provided with guideways 9. The frame is pivoted at L to a baseplate, M, whichis secured to the floor or ground. The end of the rope E is attached to a ringpiece,-H, and this, in turn, is secured to the plate I, provided with arms 73, which move in the guideways 9. To the lower head, K, is secured spring J, of rubber or other suitable material. the upper ends of which are attached to the plate I. The rope E moves between two idler grooved rolls, Q, secured to and carried by the upper head, G. Secured to the head G and projecting downward is a bracket, 0, and pivoted to this bracket, at n, is a lever, N. Pivoted at p to the head G, and directly opposite the bracket 0, is a parallel-armed curved lever, P, carrying a cross-piece, p, and to the bottom or other convenient part is attached cord 19, which is connected to the lever P. This latching mechanism is shown in Fig. 3.

In operating, the apparatus is worked as follows: The long end of the arm of the lever A is pulled down, thereby raising plate I in the frame and putting the springs J under tension, as shown in Fig. 1. Then the lever N is passed through the ring H, and the end is rested upon the cross-piece p of the curved lever P, thereby preventing the springs pulling down the plate I and oscillating the lever until the latch is opened. To prevent any possibility of the apparatus being operated before its time the operating-lever P is secured by a catch, 9. When the gymnast or other performer has taken his position on the platform or support 0, as shown in Fig. 2, the operator moves the lever- P out, and, through the agency of the cord 19 the curved lever P is withdrawn sufficiently to allow the lever N to fall, the end of which is guided by the lower arms of the curved lever, and the plate I bein g released, the springs J causeit to be pulled down quickly, causing thelever A to be oscillated, as desired. After operation the apparatus is in the position shown in.dotted lines.

During the operation the frame of the power apparatus oscillates upon the pivot L, and the movement of the pivot or pin D to its lowest position is not sufficient to allow the plate I to strike the lower head, K.

In place of the catch or latching mechanism just described, that shown in Fi Gmay he used. It consists of a Y-shaped piece, secured to the plate I, and attached to the arms of this piece are bell-crank levers, it, which work on pivots w, and secured to the lower or longer arm of one of these levers w is a bar, Y, to the other end of which is fast ened a cord, \Vhen the plate I is pushed up the levers w are opened, and are then closed over a ring-piece, X, which is secured to the upper head, G, and the shorter arms of the levers w are kept closed by inserting the bar Y between the ends of the longer arms, as shown. To operate the apparatus the cord y is pulled, moving the pieceY away from the lever 10 at one side, and the pressure immediately causes the shorter arms of the levers to fiy open, allowing the plate I to descend. This latch would be arranged slightly to one side of the cord E.

The apparatus heretofore described is used when there is plenty of room and the oscillating or projecting lever is of the first order, or with the fulcrum in the middle. In some cases it is advisable to make the lover of the third order, or with the fulcrum at the end and the power in the middle, and to do this a slight modification of the apparatus is necessary. This is shown in Fig. 2, in which A is the lever of the third order, and is pivoted at B. The power is applied at I), and the spring or power apparatus F is substantially the same as that already described, except that the springs J are secured to the upper head, K, instead of the lower head, and instead of a rope a rigid bar, T, is required to operate the lever A. The whole may be inclosed in a suitable box or frame, It. Alatching mechanism, S, more especially adapted to this form of apparatus, is shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5, in which the lower head, K, is provided with a shoe, U, having a square hole therein, firmly secured to it, and the spring-plate I has secured to it a corresponding square foot, T, which fits into the hole in the shoe. \Vhen these two are fitted together a hole is bored through them, the center of which is on one of their sides of contact, half of the hole a being in the shoe U and the other half, t, be ing in the foot. Through this holeis inserted a shaft or trigger-bar, V, provided with a slot or flattened part, 71, in length equal to the width of the foot. Vhen this bar or shaft is turned, as shown in Fig. 4, thelatch is closed; but upon its being turned to the left, or when the solid part lies within the shoe, then the latch is free, and the foot is withdrawn from the shoe by the springs. To prevent concussion, a rubber cushion, I, or other equivalent device, may be secured to the plate I to strike the head K.

I do not confine myself to the particular form of apparatus, for my invention consists, broadly, in operating a lever by any power so as to throw a gymnast to a great distance through the air. I might use other powers besides rubber springs, but I prefer them.

By this apparatus the gymnast is thrown through the air to a great distance, but can, at will,turn a somersault or come to the ground in any desired position by peculiar movements of the body, known to all gymnasts.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Apparatus to project a gymnast or other performer into and through the air, consisting of an oscillating lever and mechanism to cause such lever to be oscillated with force, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. Apparatus to project a gymnast or other performer into and through the air, consisting of an oscillating lever, in combination with springs or their equivalent to cause such lever to oscillate, and a catch orlatching mechanism to hold theleverdown againstthe pressure of the springs, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. Apparatus to project a gymnast or other performer into and through the air, consisting of mechanism to cause the gymnast to be projected by a movement of the sul'iportingplatform or support, which movement shall be greater than the movement developed in the spring or power apparatus, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4:. In apparatus to project a gymnast or other performer into and through the air, the lever A, in combination with a power apparatus, F, pivoted at L, means to connect the power developed with the lever to oscillate the same, and a catch or latching mechanism to control the operation of the power, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. Apparatus to project a gymnast or other performer into and through the air, consisting of ring II, bracket 0, lever N, curved levers 1?, provided with cross-piece p, and cord 12', or its equivalent, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

(3. Apparatus to project a gyn'mast or other performer into and through the air, consisting of frame It, lever A, having a fulcrum at B, bar or rod T, cushion I, mechanism to project the rod toward the lever, and a latching mechanism to hold the bar in place until it is to be projected, all constructed substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

WM. L. HUNT.

Witnesses:

G. F. PARISH, J. H. Foxwonrnr.

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