US69956A - Bacon - Google Patents

Description

@glitten States4 @utent- @fitte GEORGE WASHINGTON BOON, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

i i Letti-rs Patent No. 69,956, dated October 2", 1867.'

GYMNASTIC APPARATUS.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONOERN:

Be it known that I, Guonor: WAsnINoroN Bacos, F. 1t. G. S., of Lockport, New York, new of No. 48 Paternoster Row, in the city of London, England, publisher, have invented certain new and usct'nl Improvement-s in Gymnastie Apparatus, parts of whichimprovements are applicable for Aother purposesg" and I do hereby declare that thefellowing is av full, olcur, and exact description thereof', reference being had to the annexed sheet of drawings, making a partof this specification, in whichv 3 Figure 1 represents a. front view of my improved gymnastic apparatussuspended for use.

Figure 2 represents a side view of the same.

Figure 3 represents the apparatus with a swing seat attached.

. Figure 4 represents the upper part of the apparatus with n. trapezc bar and brakes'nttached. 1

Figure 5 represents a front view of an upper buckle, .dc'tachcdf Figure 6 represents a central section of thc same.

Figpre 7 represents a front view of a lower buckle.

Figure 8 represents a centralscctlion of the same. v

Figures 9 and 10 represent lnodicd forms of buckles. l

Figure 11 represents one of the rings raised near the suspending hook. l

Figure 12 represents a cross-section of the tubular webbing with a central core.

Like letters refer to corresponding parts in the several figures.

The object of my invention is the construction of a portable,nneat, and cheap apparatus, upon which a great variety of gymnastic exercises can be performed in a limited space. 'lhis apparatus Iterin the Home Gymnasium. lhe said invention consists chiefly in the novel mode of and means for suspending and adjusting the several parts ofthe apparatus. v

A A are the hooks upon which the apparatus is suspended. These hooks 'are screwed into a. beam orjoist about eighteen inches apart. The apparatus can be instantly placed upon these hooks and as readily removed. B B are the suspending-links. These links are made of metal, and are so formed as t'o 'admit of their free i movement in any direction '.upon the hooks .A A. 'lhey are Aformed with an enlargement at the top, as shown,

to prevent their slipping off when thc exercises are being performed, while lthcymay be readily attached or removed Aby passing thel contracted portionof the link over the point of the hook. By the use of this link the friction caused by the swinging of the apparatus is also thrown upon thc joint between the hook and link, and the -wear of the strap is prevented. C C are the straps,'formcd of webbing, or leather, or other suitable material. When it is desirable that the webbing should be ornamental it may be made of silk or worsted, by which a display of colors may be secured, and'by making it in a tubular form, strip of strong linen or cotton webbing or` other suitable material may be passed through it to give/it thc required strength, thus lesscning the expense. The strap C is secured to the lower side ofthe slot'b in the link B, while the second layer of webbing is passed over the upper side, to prevent friction between the two contiguous laycrs.- The ring E is formed of a thin strip of wood wound round a. cylinder of the required size in parallellaycrs, one above another. These loyers are glued together as the strip is wound around, and the number of layers is sufficient -to give the required strength and thickness to the finished ring. lhc strip or sheet employed may be of sullicicnt width to be sawcd into several rings after'tbc cylinder is formed.' The rings are turned, to `give them the required shape and smoothf ness. I These rings are preferable to-metal, as they combine cheapness with great strength and lightness. D D are the buckles or Afriction-slides, the frame of which is somewhat similar to an ordinary buckle. The tongue d is made triangular in section, and is attached to the side of the buckle-frame'at'rightangles with thc strap or band, with its acute or'` thinner edge downward, either i-mmovobly orby a. hingedjoint on one side. To the top of the buckle-frame D is attached a. brake, d, tig. 5. The upper ends of thowebbing may be secured to the links by sewing, -rivcting,or in any other convenient manner, and the lower end of the webbing similarly secured to the part d2 of the bucklcfraine. Where the centre bar d of tho slide D is immovable, the lower end of the strap is first passed through said slide, (under its end pieces and over its centre bar,)v and then, after being passed through the ring' E, is brought back and secured firmly to the lower bar d of thcfsaid slide. Otherwise Y the'lower end of the strap is first attached to the slide or buckle D, aum-together with the same, is passed through the ring E. A loop of the strap is then passed into the said slidevor buckle-frame D, between the end pieces thereof, (its tongue or bar d being raised or removed for the purpose,) far enough to admit of the replacement of the bar or tongue il under the loop. Instead of riveting the strap or band to the lilik, as above described, a bucklel may be attached to cach end of the strap, (after passing it through the slot b.) When constructed in this manner the lower buckle is not used for adjusting tho rings, but merely when the rings are removed to put in the trapezc bar; and the adjustment is then performed by means of the upper buckle. The lower straps O are secured to the stirrup and to the part d: of the lower buckles in the same manner as the upper straps, and, are regulated and adjusted in all respects in the saine manner. They can be instantly removed or replaced, as the different exercises require. In performing the different exercises it is frequently necessary to change the height of the rings E and stirrups F, and to adapt the apparatus to the height of different performers, and for the different exercises. Some of the exercises require the rings to be adjusted with great precision, and the value of such an apparatus depends very much on the facility and accuracy of adjustment. In gymnastic apparatus heretofore in use, when adjustable rings have been employed, a separate point for attaching the end of the rope has b'cen used, and where the ordinary buckles are employed the precision of adjustment is limited to thc distance between the holes. But by the use of these buckles or slides, in connection with the link B, admitting the buckle to pass through it, I dispense with the necessity of a second point for attaching tho upper end of the rope or strap, and with thc surplus cords, hooks, and stays for adjusting the rings, and at the same time the rings may be readily raised and lowered and securely held at any desired height. It allows a loop of the band to be inserted at any point, without the necessity of passing the end through the buckle. It dispenses with holes, and thus increases the durability and enables webbing to be substituted for leather. rIhe whole is therefore more neat and simple, less evpeasive, occupies less space, and is better suited for use in dwellinghouses. Although I prefer the above form of buckle, there are several modifications by which the same objects may bc accomplished. A buckle may be employed in which the centre-bar (iig. l0) is immovable, and the straps are inserted through apertures 1', in the triangular sides iz', formed through any portion of the frame, the end of the strap being scwed to the centre bar. Or the frame may be made solid, as in fig. 9, and the triangular cross-bar guiado removable by first turning it into a. diagonal position, seas to free it from a projection formed on the interior of each side of thc buckle-framef. When turned in that position, this cross-bar can be taken out to allow the strap to bc inserted, and can then be replaced in a similar manner. When this form is used, the strap is secured to the part il" of the buckle-frame, iig. and the movable centre bar y and the part j aro triangular in shape. Ihe brake Z is so constructed that when the weight of the performer is applied to the ring the strain upon the strap produces a pressure upon the upper end of the lever, causing the lower end to press upon the buckle-tongue il and to bind the webbing so as to prevent slipping, and the greater the weight applied the greater the pressure on the lever. The upper end of this lever Z is bont forward, and a tab scwcd into it, and when the tab is pulled for sliding the buckle up, the pulling of it throws thc lever into a position which removes the pressure from the strap and allows the buckle to bc moved with easc.- When leather or linen webbing is lused, as in the lower straps, the brake is dispensed with, the action of the triangular tongue being suilicient to prevent the slipping when the weight of the performer is applied to the ring E, and at the same time the buckle can readily be moved upwards or downwards upon the strap when the weight is removed. The projecting edge ofthe buckle-tongue t? being downwards the buckle does not slip in that direction so readily as in the opposite direction, and thus the liability of slipping when the weight of the performer is applied to the rings or lstirrups is greatly' diininishel. When it is desirable to raise the rings higher than can be done by the strap being merely doubled once, it is done by unhooking the buckle D from the strap and passing it through the link B and attaching said buckle to one thickness ofthe strap again at any desired point. 'when the rings are required to be still higher, the buckle may new, without being unhooked, be drawn down upon the webbing through the ring and up again through the link. as shown at fig. 11, as many' times as is desired, until the ring is drawn close up to the suspending-link in the same manner as two pulley-blocks are drawn together, but having the advantage of keeping the end of the strap constantly wound upon said strap,"and capable of being stopped at any dcsircdheight without liability of slipping, and with ne loose end oir/slack to be disposed of. These fnietiou-slides or brakes can also bc advantageously employed in all cases wherevei it is-desirable to insert and remove the strap or band without passing its end through said slide, and also when it is desirable to avoid forming holes in straps or bands, er to adjust the strap to any desired point without being limited to tho distance of the holes from each other. The trapeze-bar G is made of wood, about thirty inches long, and ono and one-halt` inch in diameter, and is provided with a link, l, iig. 4, on each end. In using the apparatus as a trapezc, as represented in fig. 4, the hand-rings E are removed by unhooking the buckles, and the links on each end of the bar arc attached to the upper straps in the same manner as the hand-rings, and the bar is thus adjustable in the same manner by means of the friction buckle or slide I). In using the apparatus forthe exercises with the bar, the {lat strap will be found inconvenient for'holding firmly with the band. To obviatc this difiicnlty, and still retain the ilat strap for exercises with the hand-rings, I use a cylindrical piece of wood, II, to each end of which are attached metal slides, z", provided with a movable tongue similar to the other buckles, to admit ofthe strap boing inserted. When the cylindrical piece H, iig. 4, is adjusted in any desired position the operator grasps it and the strap in his hand, and is thus enabled to obtain a firm hold, and as long as he retains his hold the friction of the strap against the cylindrical piece prevents the latter from slipping, and when released the said slide can readily be moved up or down or removed from the straps. The same purpose may be accomplished by 'various other arrangements, the object being to combine the advantages of a flat strip with those of a round rope by means of a piece of wood to give a firm grasp.

The apparatus may also be converted into a swing for children by attaching e.Y flat board tothe stirrups I",

"as represented in fig. 3. The seat is formed with notches near cach end, and can be inserted through the stirrups when turned edgewise, but when placed in a level position it is bound by the Sides of the stirrup and cannot slip out.

While it is not necessary, nor practicable without illustrations,vtc describe the various gymnastic exercises that may be performed upon my improvedapparatus, it may be remarked that it is adapted to all or nearly all the exercises performed on the bars, ladder,rswing', and other apparatus of an ordinary gymnasium, while the cost of the apparatus is comparatively triiiing, and 'from its peculiar construction the exercises may be performed in a smallroom. It combines all the advantages of a public gymnasium without any of its inconven'l iences. Most of the exercises may b e performed by ladies without mpropriety. It proves an amusement to children', and, properly used, cannot failtc increase the strength of the muscles, and thevigor of both body and mind. v l I I do not claim the employment of rings and stirrups in themselves for gymnastic purposes, as I am aware that these have been used-in gymnastic apparatus of other constructions; nor, on the other hand, do I intend to limit myself to the details as herein set forth and illustrated, as these may be considerably varied without `departing from the principle of my invention; but what I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States,` is

1. The combination of a ring, E, with a friotiomslide or buckle, D, when the latter is secured to one en'd of a strap, C, and so arranged as to pass readily through said ring andrthrough a suspending-link, B, and slide upon the outside layer of the strap, all substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. 4The combination of a hand-piece, Il, with the straps'or bands C of my improved gymn'astc apparatus by means of adjustable slides secured thereto, substantially in the manner and vfor the purpose herein set forth.

3. The adaptation and combination of a swing seat with the stirrups F of a gymnastic apparatus, substan ytially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

4. The friction-slide or buckle D of my apparatus, consisting of a suitable metallicirame, in combination with a hinged or-movabie centre bar, d or g, constructed and operating substantially in the manner and 'for the purpose herein set forth. v

5. The use of a brake, d, in combination with a slide, D, substantially as and for the purpose herein speciiied. i

6. Constructing the rings E of my improved apparatus of layers of Wood, arranged and combined substamb tiallyin the manner and for the purpose herein set forth. p

y G. W. BACON.

Witnesses:

GEORGE HAsEL'TINn, HENRY MACKER.

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