Improvements in Apparatus for Exercising the Fingers, Hand, and Wrist.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 6th July, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 30th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 17th June, 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Exercising the Fingers, Hand,
and Wrist.
I, WILLIAM LOWES RUSHTON, of 28, Croxteth Road, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Barrister-at-Law, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
-
This invention has for its object to provide an apparatus for developing the
strength and pliability in various muscles and ligaments in the fingers, hand
and wrist, especially those which are brought into use in performing on the
pianoforte and many other instruments, and in operating type-writing machines,
and other key actuated mechanism, which apparatus shall be portable and occupy
but a small compass.
In carrying my invention into effect, I provide a frame having a base and
two uprights hinged to the base so that they may fall flat thereon or stand at
right angles thereto. Mounted in these uprights there is a rotary bar removable
therefrom together with several pieces of elastic, spiral springs, or other resilient
connection which connects the bar to the base. These elastics or springs hook
on to the base and on to the bar, and one or more of them can be used at a time
according to the amount of exertion desired, and thus the rotary bar may be
acted upon with more or less force according to the strain which is desired to
bring upon the muscles of the. fingers, hand and wrist of the operator. To
exercise the fingers the bar is rotated with the right and left hand alternately
so as to wind the elastics or springs on to the bar, and this may be done either
with the hands in pronation and the elastics stretching from the off side of the
bar, with the hands in supination and the elastics stretching from the off side
of the bar, with the hands in supination and the elastics stretching from the near
side of the bar, or with the hands in pronation and the elastics stretching from
the near side of the bar. These exercises may be varied by winding and un-
winding of one hand in pronation, and the other hand in supination or otherwise.
One or two revolutions of the bar at a time will be sufficient and care should be
taken not to stretch the elastic too much. It will be seen that by using this
invention the winding and unwinding of the elastics on the bar cause a gradual
increase and decrease of exertion, and that the strain on each finger_varies
according to their strength and that the various muscles of the hand and wrist
and the ligaments connected therewith are thereby thoroughly exercised with
obvious advantage. The apparatus is comparatively light and portable so that
it can be carried about from place to place. To collapse the apparatus all that
is necessary is to uncouple the elastics, remove the bar and fold down the uprights
on to the base. It can then be packed into a small compass.
Dated this 5th day of July 1898
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Exercising the Fingers, Hand,
and Wrist.
I, WILLIAM LOWES RUSHTON, of 28, Croxteth Road, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Barrister-at-Law, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has for its object to provide an apparatus for developing the
strength and pliability in various muscles and ligaments in the fingers, hand
and wrist, especially those which are brought into use in performing on the
pianoforte and many other instruments, and in operating type-writing machines,
and other key actuated mechanism, which apparatus shall be portable and occupy
but a small compass.
The invention will be understood from the following description, reference
being had to the accompanying drawing, which shows a general view of my
apparatus.
Referring to this drawing, I provide a frame having a base A and two uprights B
hinged to the base so that they may fall flat thereon, or stand at right angles
thereto. Mounted in these uprights there is a rotary bar C removable therefrom.
D are elastic springs or other resilient connection which connect the bar C to
the frame. These elastic springs D are coupled to the frame at d and to the
rotary bar C through the cords E passing over guide pulleys F. One or more
of these springs can be used at a time according to the amount of exertion
desired, and thus the rotary bar C may be acted upon with more or less force
according to the strain which it is desired to bring upon the muscles of the fingers
and wrist of the operator.
To exercise the fingers, hand and wrist, the bar is grasped in the right and left
hand alternately and rotated so as to wind the cords E on to the bar, and this
may be done either with the hands in pronation and the cords winding on the
off side of the bar, with the hands in supination and the cords winding on the off
side of the bar, with the hands in supination and the cords winding on the near side
of the bar, or with the hands in pronation and the cords winding on the near
side of the bar. These exercises may be varied by winding and unwinding with
one hand in pronation and the other in supination or otherwise. One or two
revolutions of the bar at a time will be sufficient. It will be seen that by using
this invention the winding and unwinding of the cords on the bar cause, by
means of the springs, a gradual increase and decrease in exertion, and that the
strain on each finger varies according to their strength and that the various
muscles of the hand and wrist and the ligaments connected therewith are thereby
thoroughly exercised with obvious advantage.
The apparatus is comparatively light and portable so that it can be carried
about from place to place. To collapse the apparatus, all that is necessary is
to uncouple the elastics D from the frame, remove the bar and fold down the
uprights on the base. It can then be packed into a small compass. Instead of
using cords, the elastic spring might be arranged to wind direct onto the rotary
bar.
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. In exercising apparatus, the combination with a frame of a rotary bar
adapted to be grasped hy the right and left hand altamatal-

page_text: fastened to this rotary bar and thence passed over guide pulleys to springs or
other resilient connection secured to the frame, whereby by turning the bar in
one direction or the other, with the hands in supination or pronation a gradual
increase or decrease in exertion is obtained with a thorough exercise of the
muscles and ligaments of the hands, fingers and wrist substantially as described.
2. In exercising apparatus, the combination of a frame having a base and two
uprights hinged to the base so as to fold thereon when required, a rotary bar
mounted between these uprights, and springs so arranged as to connect the bar
to the frame, substantially as described.
3. The general combined arrangement and construction of parts forming my
improved exercising apparatus substantially as described.
Dated this 29th day of March 1899.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Patent Agents,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and London.