Year: 1888

page_text: I, ROBERT PARKE of Hopwood Bank Terrace, Horsforth near Leeds in the County
of York, Drill and Calisthenics Master, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide apparatus for strengthening the muscles
of the body as well as to expand the chest and straighten the shoulders without the
danger of injuring the person using the appliances.
I provide a foot board which is placed on the ground and marked to shew the
positions in which the feet are to be placed thereon. Two poles are also provided
having projecting weighted knobs on the top, and the bottom of each is formed so as
to pass into holes provided in the board on the right and left side of them arked part
where the user has stand.
The user places the bottom ends of the poles in the aforesaid holes and stands on
the board on place marked out, seizing the poles at any suitable position of their length
with the hands. By working the arms in an outstretched position round towards the
back whilst hold of the poles the weighted ends have the effect of throwing back the
shoulders and expanding the chest, and by frequently applying this exercise drooping
or round shoulders are prevented, the spine and body generally strengthened and
invigorated. The aforesaid poles are marked or graduated alike so that the hands
may take hold of them at corresponding positions, so that the exercise may be of
same power on each side of the body.
I further apply another weighted projecting knob at the other end of each pole, and
forin of them "wands" which by being worked in different directions exercise the
muscles of the whole body. In this operation the user whilst standing on the foot
foot board seizes a pole at or near the centre and moves the hand outwards or inwards
on such pole as each movement requires.
J. W. HARDING,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: I, ROBERT PARKE of Hopwood Bank Terrace, Horsforth near Leeds in the County
of York, Drill and Calisthenics Master, do 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 :-
The object of my invention is to provide apparatus for strengthening the muscles
of the body as well as to expand the chest and strenghten the shoulders without the
danger of injuring the person using the appliances.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan shewing foot board. Fig. 2 shews
the poles. Fig. 3 is an elevation shewing a mode of attaching the poles to the foot
board Figs. 4 and 5 represent respectively. a girl and boy in the act of using the
apparatus.
At Figs. 1 and 2 I provide a foot board A which is placed on the ground; this foot
board A is marked at B to shew the position in which the feet are to be placed thereon.
Two poles C are also provided having weighted knobs D on the top, and the bottom
end E of each pole C is formed so as to pass into holes F provided in the board A on
the right and left side of the marked part where the user has to stand.
The user places the bottom ends E of the poles C in the aforesaid holes F and
stands on the board A on place B marked out, seizing the poles C at any suitable
position of their length with the hands.
By working the arms in an outstretched position round towards the back and front
alternately as shewn at Figs. 4 and 5 whilst hold of the poles C, the weighted ends D
have the effect of throwing back the shoulders and expanding the chest, and by
frequently applying this exercise drooping or round shoulders are prevented, the spine
and body generally strengthened and invigorated.
The aforesaid poles Care marked or graduated alike as shewn at G Figs. 2. 4 and 5
so that the hands may take hold of them at corresponding positions, and the exercise
may be of the same power on each side of the body.
In some cases by preference instead of placing the poles C in holes on the foot-
board, I place them in sockets H attached to a ball or other universal joint J fixed in
the foot board as shewn at Fig. 3, or when preferred the foot board
with.
may
be dispensed
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
.
2
3
1st. The arrangement and combination of foot board A with poles C, forming a 3
means or apparatus for gymnastic exercises, substantially as and for the purposes herein.
set forth..
2nd The arrangement, construction and application of poles C for the purpose of
gymnastic exercises, substantially as herein set forth.
Dated this 18th day of June 1900