Improvements in Apparatus for Applying the Muscular Strength of the Human Body as a Motive Power and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Aug., 1899-Accepted, 9th Dec., 1899
[Communicated from abroad by DUDLEY ALLEN SARGENT, of Cambridge, Middle-
sex County, Massachusetts, United States of America, Doctor of Medicine.]
Improvements in Apparatus for Applying the Muscular Strength of
the Human Body as a Motive Power and the like.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 relates to certain new and useful improvements in the art or
method of and mechanism for applying the entire muscular strength of the
human body as a motive power to the operation of stationary exercising machines
and to the propulsion of vehicles on land or water, for exercise, pleasure, or other
purposes, of which the following is a specification:-
My invention relates to the use of the body for either exercise or propulsion,
and consists in the method of its use and the mechanism by which this method
may be applied, and my purpose is, primarily, to utilize the entire muscular
strength by applying or communicating to various sorts of power-applying levers
(such as the wheels of vehicles, balance wheels; oars, sculls, paddles, paddle-
wheels, propeller-shafts, and the like) the power of the trunk, arms, legs and
feet simultaneously by bringing all these parts of the body to bear upon the
power-applying lever or levers at the same time.
In the accompanying drawings:-
-
Figure is a side elevation of a vehicle tricycle.
Figure is a plan of the same.
Figure is a sectional elevation of a single-scull boat provided with said
mechanism, and
Figure 4 is a plan of the same.
Figure 5 is a plan view of a boat, showing the application of power to one oar.
Figures 6, 7 and 8 are details hereinafter referred to.
Figure 9 is an elevation of a bicycle, provided with said mechanism.
Figure 10 is a detail of the clutch mechanism; and
Figure 11 is a section on line 11-11 of Figure 10.
The framework and the supported mechanism will vary according to the variety
of vehicle or stationary structure proposed.
In Figures and 2 is a supporting framework or truss. Travelling struc-
ture is a seat, having the seat-truck e shown as double, to hold it upon the
track, and the adjustable seat-back : travelling structure e is a foot-rest,
having the truck f like that of the seat-truck, and strap hand-levers;
k, the running-wheel or power-applying lever: the steering-wheel: m the steer-
ing rod, having a segment #: the steering-head, having the pinion . The
travelling structures composed of a seat and truck and of a foot-rest and truck
are shown mounted upon rollers on the track on the framework. If desired
the track may be double, and single rollers used. The back d is strong enough

page_text: to brace against, so as to apply the power of the trunk to the seat. The hand-
levers are pivoted to the framework. To the hand-levers are loosely pivoted,
the adjustable connecting rods gq, connecting to the travelling foot-rest, and
the connecting rods h, h, connecting the travelling seat. The connecting-rod s
extends from said seat to one crank t, and the connecting-rod u from said foot-
rest to the other crank t, upon the gear e, which meshes with the pinion w
on the axle of the power-applying lever or wheel k, which is tight on the axle.
A clutch or chain-and-sprocket mechanism could be used instead of the described
gears and w. Intermediate between the feet the steering-rod m plays between
The segment engages with the pinion on the steering-head, o, which
is socketed, in the forked standard carrying the forward and steering wheel 1.
The seat should have a strengthening brace; and the back d, to brace against,
is adjustable vertically and horizontally.
rolls ..
The operation of this apparatus is as follows: The occupant grasps the hand-
levers, and, the feet being confined upon the foot-rest by the straps and the
body braced against the seat-back as he leans back, exerts the strength of
the arms, legs, and body to carry the hand-levers with him and push the foot-
rest forward and the seat backward at the same time; thus straightening the
body backward, flexing the arms, and straightening the legs. At the next
movement, the occupant straightens the arms, bends forward the body, and
flexes the legs, whereby the hand-levers are pushed forward, the seat is drawn
forward, and the foot-rest is drawn backward, the entire strength of the body
being exerted upon the hand-levers, the seat, and the foot-rest.
Since the rod a connects the foot-rest to one crank and the connecting-
rods from the seat to another crank upon the gear e, which connects with
the running or power-applying lever-wheel k, this forward and backward motion
will apply the entire muscular force of the trunk, legs, and arms to the revolution
of the lever-wheel and thereby propel the vehicle. Of course, one of the
travelling structures may be made immovable, but this will greatly subtract
from the power applied.
The steering is accomplished by the rod m, whose segment
gears with a
pinion on the steering-head o, and plays between rollers in such a position
as to come normally between the feet of the occupant. The foot-rest e is so
constructed and arranged as to be capable of a vibratory movement, so as to.
move the rod m by the feet as desired. With a different vehicle, the foot-rest
may be divided, as shown later on.
In Figures 3 and 4, my invention is applied to a boat having two oars, and,
in Figure 5, is applied to one oar.
The framework A is placed on or part of the boat B, having the outriggers CC.
The oar-handles are DD, the blades thereof or power-applying levers not being
shown. To these handles at E are attached two cords, the one F, connecting the
oars with the foot-rest and seat by playing around rollers G; and the other H
connecting the oars with the foot-rest and playing around rollers 1. Straps J
(not shown Figure 5) limit the distance which the seat and foot-rest can travel.
The seat, seat-back, foot-rest, and rollers are so substantially like those of
Figures 1 and 2 as to require no further description. The operation employing
the body, arms, and legs, will be understood from the description of Figures
and 2. Figures 3 and 4 show the boat and oars in a position to make a stroke,
the legs being flexed and the arms being straight, and the body bent forward.
The oarsman leans back as he makes his stroke, thus pushing the seat toward
the bow and the foot-rest toward the stern. On the recovery, as he leans forward,
the seat is pulled toward the stern and the foot-rest toward the bow, while the
arms are straightened and the legs and body are flexed to enable repetition of
the stroke. It will be seen that the power of the body and legs applied to
and through these travelling structures contributes to return the car to position,
as well as to move the blades or power-applying levers on making the stroke,
and also that the movement of the foot-rest controlled by the cords is such as

page_text: to avoid the tendency to drive the boat astern, which occurs when the ordinary
stationary foot-rest is used.
In Figure 5, the boat B constitutes or supports the framework A, having
outrigger C supporting the handle of the oar 1 with its lever-blade (not shown).
Cord attached at E connects the handle of the oar with the seat by running
around rollers G on the framework and foot-rest and being fastened to the sides
of the seat; and the cord H fastened to the oar-handle at E, runs around rollers I
on the framework and foot-rest and is fastened to the framework at K. The
seat and foot-rest are substantially as already described, and the operation will
be understood without further description.
I show in details 6, 7, and S, some additional and slightly different adaptations
of my invention to different power-applying levers.
Thus, in Figure 6, L, the power-applying lever, is a paddle-wheel, having the
pinion M, which meshes with the gear, having the cranks t, to which are
connected the rods s, u, as described in describing Figures 1 and 2.
In Figures 7 and 8, 1 show the same levers, cranks, and gear meshing with
pinion M, and two bevelled gears N and 0 which turn the propeller shaft P' as
the power-applying lever, and balance-wheels Q to carry the cranks over the
dead centres.
In Figures 7 and 8, the connecting rods s, cranks, and gear à may be
applied simply to the turning of heavy balance-wheels Q (the remaining
parts N, O and P being omitted), thus furnishing a stationary exercising gym-
nasium apparatus, which, as a whole, is substantially like the mechanism shown
in Figures 1 and 2, except that balance-wheels (or, if preferred, friction-wheels)
replace power-applying lever-wheels.
Figures and 8 both show the adaptation of the mechanism to a propeller.
It will be seen that for a scull, paddle-wheel, or propeller boat, the required
steering apparatus may be substantially like that of Figures 1 and 2, by simply
adding a cross-bar and cords to run from it back to the rudder-bar.
The application of my invention to bicycles is shown in Figure 9. The principle
is the same; the mechanical differences arise only from a two-wheeled vehicle
being used. The chief differences are in the connecting mechanism for applying
the power of the handles and cords to the lever-wheel; but, mechanically, the
general mechanism therefor is equally well known. The seat is stationary (but
may be movable, as hereinafter explained) upon the upper part of truss a and
the foot-rest as travelling upon the upper and lower truss. The ordinary bicycle
pedals enable the rider to mount and start the bicycle as usual, the pedals being
connected, as shown, by an intermediate gearing with the driving or lever wheel.
The bicycle having been started, however, the rider can grasp the handles R
on cords S, which are fastened at the arms 4 on the steering-bar socketed in the
forward standard, play over a pulley 6 on the foot-rest and a pulley T on an
arm from the forward standard; while cords U, fastened at pins Von the foot-
rest, run around and are fastened to the free pulleys W W, at X (Figure 11),
and then run over pulleys Y on the forward standard and are fastened to pins
on the foot-rest. The clutch 1 has the gear e and ratchet 2 solid on shaft 3,
the revolving discs or pulleys W W, free to move in one direction to turn the
shaft and in the other without turning the shaft, and cylinder rolls. In
operation, when the bicycle is propelled through the pulleys, the rider drawing
back upon the handles pushes the foot-rest forward. As he bends forward, the
foot-rest is pulled backward and pulls the cords and handles forward, and thus
the rider takes a position to repeat the stroke. The steering is accomplished
by adjusting the pull upon the arms 4.
The foot-rest in Figure 9 may be (although not so shown) constructed in two
parts, and then the movements of the arms and legs may both alternate: that
is, as the right leg goes forward, the right arm is drawn back, and vice versa.
In such case, there must be two cords S upon two pulleys W W, Figure 11.
Figures 10, 11, show the bicycle clutch and ratchet imechanism by which, when

page_text: the rider bends forward and the foot-rest is drawn backward (or half the foot-
rest is drawn backward if it be constructed in two parts), the free pulley is
allowed to revolve in the opposite direction without affecting the gear. The
plate 5 is omitted in Figure 10, to show the roller clutch.
The seat in Figure 9 may, as above said, be made movable by attaching a
cord (not shown) to seat b, to run over a pulley on the head-bar, and be attached
to the foot-rest or such cord may be fastened to the seat and foot-rest as in
the apparatus of Figure 5. In such case, the back d should be adjustable and
part of the seat, in order to brace against it; but such arrangement will be readily
understood from the seat and seat-back of Figures 1 and 2.
It will now be seen that my invention enables me to accomplish the proposed
purposes by the means described and indicated, which are, of course, capable of
modification. The apparatus, as I have shown and described the same with
such equivalents or modifications as will be within the scope of mechanical skill,
is fitted to carry out my purpose to enable the simultaneous application of the
muscular power of the trunk, arms, and legs and feet, or of the trunk and arms,
or of the trunk and legs, or of the legs and arms, as I propose; either in
stationary exercising machines or in vehicles of various sorts for land and water
navigation, including sculling, paddling, and also ice and snow navigation, to
which my invention can be readily applied by adapting the power-applying lever
mechanism to the nature of the particular surface which is to be travelled or
navigated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The art of employing and applying the entire muscular power of the human
body to exercise or locomotion by simultaneously communicating the power to
power-applying levers by applying the power through the hands to hand-levers,
through the trunk to a sliding seat, and through the feet and legs to a sliding
foot-rest, said seat and foot-rest being connected with said hand-levers and with
the power-applying levers, all said devices being arranged upon a framework
adapted to receive the operator and to sustain the connected mechanism, sub-
stantially as described and shown.
2. In apparatus for applying the muscular force of the human body to exercise
or locomotion, operating hand-levers, power-applying lever or levers, a travelling
foot-rest, and connections running therefrom to the operating hand-levers and to
the power-applying lever or levers; substantially as described.
3. In apparatus for applying the muscular force of the body to exercise or
locomotion, the combination of a framework adapted to receive the operator and
to sustain the connected mechanism; a travelling seat provided with a back,
running upon and normally undetachable from said framework; a travelling
foot-rest provided with a foot-holding strap, running upon and normally unde-
tachable from said framework: hand-levers fulcrumed upon said framework and
adapted to be grasped by the hands of the operator; a power-applying lever or
levers and connections running from said travelling seat to the hand-levers and
to the power-applying levers, and connections running from the foot-rest to the
hand-levers and to the power-applying lever or levers; substantially as described
and shown.
4. In apparatus for applying the muscular force of the body to exercise or
locomotion, in combination with a supporting framework, a seat travelling upon
and normally undetachable from said framework; operating hand-levers ful-
crumed upon said framework: a power-applying lever or levers and connections
running from said seat to said operating hand-levers and to said power-applying
lever or levers; substantially as described and shown.
5. In apparatus for applying the muscular force of the body to exercise or
locomotion, in combination with a supporting framework and a seat thereon,

page_text: a foot-rest travelling upon and normally undetachable from said frame-work;
operating hand-levers, fulcrumed upon said framework; a power-applying lever or
levers and connections running from said travelling foot-rest to said operating
hand-levers and to said power-applying lever or levers; substantially as described
and shown.
6. In an apparatus for applying the muscular force of the body to exercise or
locomotion, the combination of the steering wheel ; two running wheels, on
one of which, the power-applying wheel k, is the pinion ; the gear and
cranks the framework ; the travelling foot-rest e, truck f whose double
rollers normally hold the same upon the track, and foot-retaining strap i; the
travelling seat b, double rollers e, and adjustable back ; the hand-levers j
fulcrumed upon the framework a; the connecting-rods pivoted to said seat
and to said hand-levers; the connecting-rod s pivoted to said seat and to a
crank the connecting-rod u, pivoted to said travelling foot-rest and to a
crank connecting-rods 9 pivoted to said foot-rest and to said hand-levers;
the standard o carrying the wheel 7; the pinion p and quadrant n gearing with
said pinion and the steering bar m adapted to be oscillated through the foot-
rest e: all substantially as described.
7. In apparatus for applying the muscular force of the body to exercise or
locomotion, in combination with the framework a, the travelling seat b, normally
undetachable rollers c, and adjustable back; the travelling foot-rest e, normally
undetachable rollers, and the foot-holding strap is the hand-levers j fulcrumed
upon the framework ; the power-applying lever-wheel : the small gear
and the gear, to which are attached the cranks ; the rod & running from said
travelling seat to one of said cranks: the rods running from said seat to the
handle-lever : the rod running from said travelling foot-rest to one of said
cranks ; and the rods running from said foot-rest to said handle-levers j;
all substantially as described and shown.
8. In apparatus for applying the muscular force of the body to exercise or
locomotion, in combination with the framework, the travelling seat b, normally
undetachable rollers e, and adjustable back : the hand-levers j fulcrumed upon
the framework : the power-applying lever-wheel : gear : gear, and a
crank t attached to gear : a rod w running from said travelling seat to crank ;
and the rods s running from said seat to the operating hand-levers : substan-
tially as described and shown.
9. In apparatus for applying the muscular force of the body to exercise or
locomotion, in combination with a framework and a seat, the travelling foot-
rest and rollers therefor normally undetachable from the framework; the
hand-levers j the lever-wheel k, pinion w, gear, and a crank t; the rod
connecting said foot-rest with crank t; and rods 9 connecting said travelling
foot-rest with said operating levers j: substantially as described.
Dated this 22nd day of August 1899
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.