IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO HAND-GRIP TESTERS
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1886.
Complete Left, 29th Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 31st May; 1887.
I, GEORGE BENEDICK FOWLER, of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings, and State of
New York, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO HAND-GRIP TESTERS "
to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to a device for testing and registering the gripping power of
the human hand; and it consists of a standard and movable arm connected by
intermediate mechanism with a pointer on a scale.
An upright post or standard is mounted on a flat circular base. To the lower end
of the standard is hinged one end of a vertical arm, which is held in position by the
pressure of a coil spring interposed between the said arm and post. The outer edge
of this movable arm is provided with a series of depressions which receive the fingers
when the instrument is grasped in the hand, and on the top edge of same is secured a
plate which projects out beyond the arm to prevent the fingers from slipping upward.
On the upper part of the standard is secured a horizontal bar, the outer end of
which rests in a slotted plate projecting from the top of the movable arm.
serves as a guide bar for the arm, and a stud on the end of the bar prevents the arm
from being forced off by the pressure of the spring.
This
A curved scale or register, graduated to indicate pounds pressure, is secured to the
standard, and carries a pointer which is connected to the movable arm by a rod which
passes through, and has a lateral movement, in a vertical guide-bar on the top of the
movable arm, so that, when the instrument is gripped in the hand, the movable arm
will be forced inward, and the amount of gripping power exerted will be registered
on the scale by pound pressure.
The upper part of the standard is made hollow and contains a spring-actuated push
rod carrying two cutting blades for clipping off the ends of cigars, which are
introduced through apertures in the case.
Dated this 19th day of May. 1886.
GEORGE BENEDICK FOWLER.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: CUM LEIE SIECIFICATION..
Improvement in and relating to Hand-grip Testers.
I, GEORGE BENEDICK FOWLER, of 72 Ryerson Street, in the City of Brooklyn, in
the County of Kings, and State of New York, United State of America, Inventor, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO
HAND-GRIP TESTERS" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to a device for testing the gripping power of the human
hand; and it consists of a post having a spring-actuated arm hinged to its lower end
and connected with a pointer on a registering plate or scale, whereby the amount of
gripping power applied to the arm is recorded.
In the accompanying drawings which fully illustrate the novel features of my
invention,
Figure 1, is a side elevation of a gripping device embodying my improvements.
Fig. 2, is an enlarged view, in perspective, of the mechanism connecting the movable
arm and pointer; and
Fig. 3, is a similar view of a modified form of connection.
A, is an upright post having the base portion B. To a collar C, on the lower end
of the post, having lugs D, is pivoted the lower end of an arm E. On the outer
edge of this arm are provided a number of depressions F, which receive the fingers
when the instrument is grasped by the hand. G is a spiral spring interposed
between the post and hinged arm, the ends thereof being held loosely in suitable
bearings in the same. On the top of the movable arm is provided an angle plate I,
the horizontal portion of which serves as a bearing surface for the upper fingers
when grasping the arm, and prevents their slipping upward, while the extension
or side portion I', acts as a shield to protect the mechanism connecting the arm
with the pointer from any accidental contact of the hand. From this plate project
two lugs K, which embrace the lower edge of the scale plate L, and serve as
guides for the arm in its to and fro movement on the edge of the scale. plate. A
cross pin projecting from each side of the scale plate limits the forward movement
of the arm. The scale plate L is provided with numbers on its face which indicate
pounds pressure. O is a pointer which is pivoted to the scale plate and connected to
the upper end of the movable arm E by means of a bar P, which is secured at its
inner end by a slot N, and pin N1, with the lower end of the pointer, as seen in
Figs. 1 and 2.
The scale plate L is secured at one end to the post A, and to its upper edge is
attached, in any suitable manner, a panel Q, adapted to receive a card Q¹, having on
its face any sentence or words desired.
From the upper part of the post A projects a bar R, against which the palm of the
hand may rest when the fingers are grasped around the instrument.

page_text: In Fig. 3, the arm and pointer are shown as connected by means of a rod S which
passes through and works in a slotted guide J projecting from the top of the arm,
and provided with a head or stop pin T, to prevent the arm from slipping off of the rod.
The post A is inade hollow throughout, and contains in its upper end a cigar
clipping device consisting of a shank a provided with two cutting blades, and having
the head b, on its upper end. A coil spring c encloses the shank, and holes d, d, of
different sizes are provided in the post to permit of the insertion of the tip of the cigar
beneath the knives, or cutting blados.
In the bottom of the post A is mado an aperture e which is closed by a plug g,
having projecting from its inner surface two spring arms or jaws, which yield
sufficiently to allow the plug to be inserted into the aperture, and by their expansion
hold it in position when placed therein. As the clippings of the cigars fall to the
bottom of the post they may be removed by taking out the plug.
In operation, the instrument is embraced by the hand with the fingers resting in
their respective recesses on the outer edge of the arm. As the arm is pressed
inward, the pointer will be caused to travel on the scale plate, and the amount of
gripping power applied to the arm will be registered on the scale, and indicated by so
many pounds pressure.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:
1. A hand-grip tester, consisting of a post having an arm hinged thereto and held
apart by a spring, and the said arm connected with a pointer on a scale, as and for
the purpose set forth.
2. A hand-grip tester consisting of a standard, a hinged arm, an interposed spring,
and a pointer having a link connection with said arm, with a registering scale, as
set forth.
3. In a hand-grip tester, a hollow post having a cigar clipping device arranged in
its upper end, and provided with an aperture in the bottom closed by a removable
plug, in combination with a spring-pressed arm pivoted to said post and adapted to
operate a pointer on a scale plate, as set forth.
4. The post A, having hinged arm E, spring G, lugs K, slotted bar N, with pin N',
pointer O, and scale plate L, all arranged as and for the purpose set forth.
5. The combination with the post A, arm E, spring G, bar N, with pointer O, and
scale plato L, of the shield plate I, and bar R, as and for the purpose set forth.
6. The combination with the post A, arm E, with scale plate and pointer, of the
card receiver Q arranged above the scale plate, as shown and described.
7. The combination with the post A, of the arm E, provided with finger recesses in
its outer edge, as shown.