Improved Apparatus for Healthful Exercise and Physical Development.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 15th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 21st Sept.,
1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Healthful Exercise and Physical
Development.
I, MARY. ANNE CHREIMAN, of 39 York Place, Portland Square, London W.,
Spinster, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to construct a new form of apparatus for enabling
persons to take healthful exercise in the playroom, study, office, dressing room, or
other suitable place, and to provide children, ladies, invalids, and sedentary
persons with such exercises; my invention being intended to be called the "hippo-
therapist."
My invention consists of a standard formed of iron, steel, or other suitable metal
and of any suitable construction, and capable of being readily secured to an ordinary
floor by means of keyhole plates and fly nuts and bolts or other suitable means.
The upper part of this standard carries a spring and a bridle tree, fixed by means of
flynuts and bolts, so as to be readily detachable. The upper part of the spring is
carried in a horizontal direction, and fitted with an adjustable saddle. Reins are
fitted to the bridle tree, of a suitable length to reach the hands of the sitter.
Two spring stirrups are detachably fitted to the standard, for receiving the feet
of the operator, consisting of tubes having internal coiled springs, or equivalent
appliances, the stirrups being fixed to rods, having discs attached thereto, which
press upon the springs.
In using this part of the apparatus the operator sits upon the saddle, inserts the
feet in the stirrups, and holds the reins. Then by alternately pressing upon the
stirrups, and pulling upon the reins, a motion very much like riding a horse is
obtained by the rider.
To another part of the apparatus, I affix a pair of attachments to receive the feet,
the operator being enabled to assume a more or less horizontal position and exercise
the muscles of the body.
I also affix springs and other appendages to other parts of the apparatus, for
exercising the body in any required manner. Various movements of the body
being utilised in causing sympathetic movements of the various parts and appendages
of the apparatus.
Dated 15th November 1904
GEO.
DOWNING,
8 Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.
J
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Healthful Exercise and Physical
Development.
I, MARY ANNE CHREIMAN, of 39 York Place, Portman Square, London W.,
Spinster, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention 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 construct a new form of apparatus for enabling
persons to take healthful exercise in the play room, study, office, dressing room, or
other suitable place; and to provide children, ladies, invalids, and sedentary

page_text: persons with such exercises; my invention being intended to be called the "hippo-
therapist."
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascertained,
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar figures of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 an end elevation of my invention.
3 is a standard formed of iron, steel, or other suitable metal, and constructed as
shown, or in any other suitable manner, and capable of being readily secured to an
ordinary floor by means of screws and fly-nuts 4, 4, and key-hole plates fixed to the
floor, or by other suitable means. 5 and 6 are two springs and 7 is a bridle tree,
all fixed to the standard by bolts and fly-nuts 8, 8, so as to be readily detachable.
9 is a spring saddle fitted to the upper, horizontal portion of the spring 5, by the
screw 10 passing through a slot in the spring 5, for the purpose of adjusting the
position of the saddle. Reins 11, 12, are fitted to the bridle tree 7, of a suitable
length to reach the hands of the sitters. 13, 13, are spring stirrups, of which there
are four, for receiving the feet of the operators. The stirrups are attached to
rods 14 sliding in tubes 15, having internal coiled springs 16, or equivalent
appliances. The tubes are fitted into detachable sockets 17 screwed to the floor,
and sustained by brackets 18 attached to the standard. 19, 19, are pins passing
through the tubes to support the lower ends of the springs and regulate their
compression and power. 20 is a lever or link pivoted to the foot of the standard
at 21 and carrying another lever 22 at its upper end. 23 is a spring, linked at one
end to the lever 22, and at the other end to the spring 5 by means of a chain. The
spring is attached to the lever 22 when the latter is in a raised position, and the
spring is extended to the required tension by adjusting the chain-moving
the lever 22 downwards, and fastening the same by a hook 24, as shown in Fig. 1.
In using this part of the apparatus the operator sits upon the saddle 9: inserts
the feet in the stirrups 13, and holds the reins 11. Then, by alternately pressing
upon the stirrups, and pulling upon the reins, a motion very much like riding a
horse is obtained by the rider.
The saddle 25 is shown mounted upon a lighter spring 6, which may be used in
a similar manner to that above described, the feet being inserted in the stirrups 13.
A cushion or pad is fitted to the springs where necessary, as shown at 26, to
prevent the chafing of the thighs of the operator by contact with the springs.
The apparatus may be fitted so as to allow the body to assume a more or less
horizontal position, the supports for the feet, and other parts of the apparatus being
varied for that purpose.
I also affix springs and other appendages to other parts of the apparatus for
exercising the body in any required manner, sometimes using hand stirrups 27
slung in any convenient manner; whereby various movements of the body may be
utilised in combination with sympathetic movements of the various parts and
appendages of the apparatus.
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 improved apparatus for healthful exercise and physical development
substantially as described.
2. In apparatus for the purposes aforesaid, the combination of a standard fitted
with springs carrying saddles, a bridle tree fitted with reins or their equivalents,
adjustable spring stirrups, and other appliances, substantially as herein before
described and illustrated by the drawing.
Dated 15th August 1895.