Exercising Machine.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 20th Feb., 1897
Exercising Machine.
I, ALEXANDER ANDERSON WHITELY, of Grace Hotel, Chicago, County of
Cook and State of Illinois, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to exercising machines and has for its object to provide
certain new and useful improvements in exercising machines, and particularly to
provide what I would describe as a double acting machine or a machine capable of
being used from the top or bottom. It is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
wherein
Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine attached in readiness for use;
Figure 2 is a view looking down on the upper support.
Like parts are indicated by the same letter in all the figures.
A is the top support, preferably made in substantially the shape shown with the
hook B at its upper middle part whereby it may be attached to the fixed eye C.
At each end it is provided with a hook D and it is also provided with the two
opposed curved hearings E E set as indicated. F F are preferably clastic or
flexible stops adjustable on the screws G G, which project from the support A.
The bottom support J is of similar form with the hook K to engage the eye L.
It is provided with the two hooks M M placed near the middle, the two hooks N N
placed near the ends. It also has the adjustable stops FG, the same as in the case
of the top support. I have used the term top and bottom support with reference to
the machine as shown in Figure 1, but of course it will be evident that the machine
is interchangeable or reversible so that either support can be the top or bottom
support. O is a handle secured by the swivel O' to the elastic cord O which
passes over the pulley Os adapted to be hooked into the hook M by the swivel
eye O. This cord also passes over a like pulley O adapted by the swivel O to
be secured on the hook D and is provided with the swivel O' whereby the handle O
is secured to it. P is a like handle with the swivel P¹ securing it to the cord P
which passes over the pulley Ps attached by the swivel P' to the other hook M.
P is another pulley over which the cord P passes and which is secured by the
Swivel P to the other hook D. At the end of this cord is the swivel P' whereby
the bandle Ps is secured thereto. These cords are of course elastic and preferably
elastic substantially throughout their length as indicated. Obviously there may
be considerable changes in the form and shape of the several parts and in their
various relations and yet the spirit of my invention be made use of.
I will now describe the use and operation of my invention.
It is my wish to produce an exercising machine in which there will be no
occasion to adjust, remove or vary the connection of the several parts when it is.
desired to change the angle of operation. That is to say, I wish a machine which
may be used pulling from the top or downwardly or from the bottom.or upwardly
without the necessity of removing or changing the relation of any of the parts.
Now, I accomplish this in the manner indicated in the drawing. In such a machine
several features are important, if not necessary, to be present. For example,
in a machine of this kind, if entirely satisfactory, there must be no engagement at
any time of the handles or any of them with the wood work or frame on which
the machine is supported, for if there is such engagement, it will interfere with the
action of the machine in various ways and among other things will make noise aud

page_text: alsagure the wood. It is therefore important to have the handles kept at all times
parallel or substantially parallel with the flat surface upon which the machine is
secured. Moreover, in the use of such a machine it is highly desirable that the
various lengths or strands of the elastic.cord will not at any time cross, over-lap or
interfere with each other, hence it is necessary that the handles on one support
shall be placed outside the pulleys associated with said support, while the handles
at the other support are placed when out of use inside or between the pulleys of
such support. These are the features and advantages obtained in the construction
described. If the operator desires to pull from above or from the top of the
machine, he takes the handles 08 and P, disengages them from their supporting
hooks at the bottom-and begin to operate the machine, thus it is evident that he
will pull from the top and also it is evident that the elastic cords being put under
pressure by this operation, from end to end, will tend to hold all the parts iu fixed
relation. The two handles O and P being supported in the opposed parts EE are
tightly clamped in that position and kept parallel with the book so that there is no
tendency on their part to engage the wall or to make any noise. The entire cord
is utilized in tlie action." Now, when the operator desires to work from the other
end of the machine, he will hang the two handles OP on the lower hooks as
indicated and will take down the handles O and P from their supports, whereupon
the action is the same as before, in effect, the squared ends of the hand portions of
the handles 08 Ps engaging the hooks N N and the pressure being applied to said
handles through the elastic cord they tend, naturally, to remain in a parallel position
with the hook. This action is also aided by the line of draught of the handles
which is through one side thereof, as indicated in Figure 1.
are preferably held mid-way and are kept out from the wall by the adjustable
Both of the supports
stops. These stops are made adjustable so as to vary the position of the machine
to accommodate it to inequalities of the wall surface.. Of course, these supports
might be secured in other ways.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. An exercising machine having the parts arranged, substantially as shown and
'described and for the purpose specified.
2. In an exercising machine the combination of two supports with a pulley on
one end and a hook on the other, an elastic cord passing over the pulley, a handle
on the cord, and a hook adapted to receive such handle so that the line of draught
from the hook to the pulley through the elastic cord is.at, one side of the body of
the handle.
3. In an exercising machine the, combination of suitable elastic cords and
pulleys and supports, with a handle on each end of the cord, said handle having a
squared end portion and a. securing device on one support which the handle is
adapted to engage, this square end resting against the same so that the handle is
held in parallelism with the wall to which the machine is attached.
4. In an exercising machine the combination of suitable elastic cords and pulleys.
and supports with a handle on each end of the cord,, said haudle having a squared
end portion and a securing device on one support which the handle is adapted to
engage, this square end resting against the same so that the handle is held in
parallelism with the wall to which the 'machine is attached, and the parts related
so that the lines of draught from the 'securing device through the cord and over its
pulley will be through one side of the handle.
Dated this 23rd day of December.1896..
"DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
"Chartered Patent Agents,
321 High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.