IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EXERCISING THE FINGERS, HAND AND WRIST
Year: 1885

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, JAMES BROTHERHOOD, a Subject of the Queen of Great Britain residing at
Stratford, Ontario, Canada, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EXERCISING THE FINGERS, HAND
AND WRIST, and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to provide apparatus for most thoroughly
developing strength and pliability in various muscles and ligaments of the fore-arm,
fingers, hand and wrist, especially those which are brought into use in performing
upon the piano-forte, and many other musical instruments, and in operating type-
writing machines and other key-actuated mechanism.
The object sought is attained by alternately manipulating the respective parts of
the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawings, in which-
Figure 1 is a front view of the entire apparatus.
:
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the central portions of the apparatus, and Figure 3
a plan view thereof.
, i
Figure 4 is a side elevation of that portion of the apparatus seen at the left hand
side of Fig. 1.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of that portion of the apparatus seen at the right
hand side of Fig. 1.
Figure 6 is a sectional view, and Figure 7 a plan view, showing details of that
part of the apparatus represented by Fig. 5.
A. proper bed or base A, which may be placed upon a stand, table, or other
appropriate support, has the different parts of the apparatus suitably mounted
upon it, so that they may be used in turn as desired without interfering the one
with another.
.
The part B is constructed with uprights b, b, pivotally supporting a lever C upon
which coiled springs c, c, (or one such spring) act with a tendency to draw down.
ts longer or handle end. The springs are adjustably connected with the opposite-
ides of the lever in suitable way, as by means of pins as clearly shown. By
ttaching the upper ends of the springs to the lever nearer to or farther from its
andle the lever may be acted upon with more or less force, according to the strain
which it is desired to bring to bear upon the muscles of the hand, etc., of the

page_text: operator. A pad D of leather, rubber, or similar material is secured to the upper
side of one end-the shorter end-of the lever, and a finger engaging ring
or loop D¹ of leather, or its equivalent, such as metal lined with leather or rubber,
is adjustably secured to the upper surface of the lever between its pivot a and
handle. As shown the finger loop is provided with a hook for engagement with
any desired one of a series of eyes d on the lever. According to the adjustment
of the finger loop more or less force is required to operate the lever in manner
presently to be made obvious.
To exercise the fingers in one way by the lever C, they are in turn inserted in
the finger loop (see dotted lines Fig. 4) and vibrated up and down by flexing them
at the knuckle joints. By the upward play of the finger the lever is moved against
the force of its springs, and the springs move the lever downward as relieved of
strain by the finger. Another way of exercising by the use of this lever is, as
partially represented by dotted lines Fig. 4, by resting the arm beneath the lever
with the palm of the hand upward and the fingers bent to reach above and play
upon the pad D when it is properly depressed by elevating the handle end of the
lever. The different fingers are brought into action as desired upon the pad to
work the lever against the force of the springs c, c.
The part E is provided with inclined ribs e, e, converging toward their upper
ends and formed of leather, rubber, or equivalent material, or faced with such
material. This part of the apparatus is designed to stretch the ligaments between
the knuckles and so give a certain pliability to the fingers. It is used by placing
the inner surfaces of the ends of adjacent fingers against the outer surfaces of the
opposite ribs. and then forcing the hand toward the ribs, thereby causing these
fingers to spread apart at the knuckles, and stretching the ligaments referred to.
By inclining the ribs, as shown, they are suited to any sized hands, and to the
'different fingers of the hands, as is obvious.
The part F consists of a series of yielding or spring levers or key-like arms feach
secured at one end to the cross piece g of a suitable base G, and terminating at its
opposite or free end adjacent to and above the level of a padded support or rest H
for the wrist or base of the hand. Intermediate their ends the levers f rest upon
adjustable posts h. There is an adjustable post for each lever. These posts are
lugged or tenoned at their bases to engage with and slide back and forth in guide
grooves, as will readily be understood. See dotted lines Fig. 2. Obviously the
position in which a lever supporting post is adjusted determines the degree of force
required to depress the lever.
In using the part F the hand is rested upon the pad H and the levers manipulated
by the fingers as will readily be understood. This part F slides in and out between
the brackets I, I, and guide rails i, i, and may be removed from the base A. for the
purpose of adjusting the posts, as desired.
The part J of the apparatus is in some respects similar to the first described
part B, there being provided a lever K, pivoted near one end to posts L, L, and
acted upon with a tendency to draw down its opposite or longer end, by an
adjustable spring (or springs) j. A knob or lug 7 faced or padded with leather, or
equivalent material, projects downward from the longer end of the lever. A jointed
prop I serves to hold up this end of the lever when it is not in use. Instead of the
spring or in connection with it, if preferred, an adjustable weight M may be
employed to regulate the degree of force required to move up the longer end of the
lever. This weight is of cross shape, its side arms m, m fitting in notches n, n, at
the opposite edges of the upper surface of the lever, whilst the body or main
portion of the weight rests in a longitudinal channel in the top surface of the lever,
By lifting the weight it may be adjusted back and forth end wise of the lever.
The manner of using the part J will be understood from inspection of Fig. 5, in
which by dotted lines is shown the arm of the operator resting upon the support N
beneath the lever with the back of the hand uppermost so that the fingers may be
worked in turn, as desired, or all the fingers worked simultaneously, or the fingers
kept stiffened and the hand moved bodily up and down, against the pad this

page_text: latter movement giving pliability to the wrist. In this way the lever is alternately
lifted and allowed to descend.
It will be seen that by alternate and proper use of the different parts of the
apparatus the various muscles of the hand and wrist, and ligaments connected
therewith, may be thoroughly exercised with obvious advantage.
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. The part B, provided with the lever C pivoted to the uprights b, b, acted
upon at one end by the adjustable springs, and having the pad D projecting
upwardly from its opposite end, substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. The combination of the spring-actuated pivotally-supported lever O, and
the finger loop adjustably secured thereto, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
3. The part E provided with the converging ribs formed of or faced with
leather, or specified equivalent material, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
4. The part F provided with the series of spring levers resting upon the
adjustable posts, substantially as and for the purpose described.
5. The combination of the spring levers, the base G with which they are con-
nected at one end, the rest H, and the base A with which the base G is adjustably
connected, substantially as and for the purpose described.
6. The part J provided with the pivotally supported lever K. acted upon at one
end by the spring or springs, or in the equivalent way described (by the adjustable
weight,) and having the downwardly projecting pad at its opposite end, substantially
as and for the purpose described.
7. The combination of the lever K, the posts to which it is pivoted, the spring,
or specified equivalent thereof, the pad on the underside of the lever, and the
arm support beneath the lever, substantially as and for the purpose described.
8. The parts B, E, F, and J, arranged upon the base A, all constructed and
operating substantially as described.
Dated this 29th day of January 1880.
5 Witness:
NELLIE L. HOLMES.
E. C. DAVIDSON.
JAMES BROTHERHOOD.
Carpmael & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.