Patent GB-1114494-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to exercising devices
IPC: A63B21/002
Filed: 1965-07-12
Abstract: 1,114,494. Exercising apparatus. J. W. WILLIAMS. 12 July, 1965 [15 July, 1964], No. 29450/65. Heading A6M. An exercising device comprises a base to which a grip, to be held by the user, is connected by one or more flexible, substantially inelastic straps, each strap being connected to a selective take-up and release mechanism mounted in the base, said mechanism enabling the strap to be readily released, to allow the grip to be adjusted to a suitable distance from the base, and then restrained against pull exerted' on the grip by the user. One embodiment of the invention includes a generally rectangular base housing 10 and separate straps 15, 16 extending from within to form under tension an inverted V-shaped configuration. At bights 19, 20 a grip 24 fitted with antifriction rollers is engaged with the straps by retainers 25. This arrangement permits ready extension or complete retraction of the straps, so that the desired position of the grip may be achieved. At 18, strap 16 passes over a retention boss 30, opposed by an eccentric 31 formed on a retention link 33, and over idlers 34, 35 to storage reel 45. Upward tension applied to the strap tends to reinforce tension on link 33 applied by a spring 37 and the eccentric is forced towards the retention boss, thus preventing further withdrawal of the strap. Depression of the footcontrolled release plunger 41 engages it with arm 40, which with link 33 forms a bel-crank system; tension is overcome and the eccentric is thereby disengaged from the strap which can then be further withdrawn or rewound on to its reel. This mechanism is duplicated for strap 15. The two storage reels 45, 47 are rotatable, via central shafts 48, with pinions 49,50; intermediate pinions 51, 52 complete a system whereby rotation of one reel under tension induces equal and opposite rotation of the other reel. The provision of a coil spring attached at one end to the shaft of pinion 51 and secured at the other end to a fixed base plate 58 (Fig. 3, not shown) of the housing permits rewinding on to the reels, or extension, of the strap under tension when the eccentric is released. The forward flights of the straps after entering the housing are formed into loops 64, 65 encircling offset tension arms 70, 71 of a tension shaft 72 which fixedly engages a tension beam 75. This beam rests on a pin 76 attached to a block 77 which is mounted on a rock shaft 79 and carries an indicator 80; the arrangement is such that tension applied to rock beam 75 is recorded visually by movement of the indicator. A spring 81 acts, in opposition to applied tension, on the underside of the end of the beam and causes a coil spring 85 encircling shaft 79 to act on the pin 76 and thus move the indicator, to a zero position determined by the setting of a screw  84. In order to retain the indicator in the position previously achieved when the applied tension is released, there is provided a brake lever 88, with attached shoe 90 which can engage shaft 79, attached to a strong spring 91 which causes engagement of the brake; the force applied by this spring overcomes the effect of spring 85 but is itself overcome when tension is applied by the user. Depression of the foot button 94 causes rod 95 to act on the brake lever: the braking effect is thus removed and the indicator returns to its zero position. In an alternative embodiment, tension resistance is by means of a variable fluid resistance device, wherein resistance to motion of the belts in response to applied tension is provided by a hydraulic circuit incorporating a cylinder piston and valve: suitable valves are described. In this embodiment, the forward flights of the straps do not extend inwardly at the base and locking of the belts at their rear entrance to the base is omitted, in view of the means of operation of the fluid resistance device.