An Apparatus to be Worn Round the Wrists and Ankles for the Purpose of Increasing Muscular Strength.
Year: 1888

page_text: ¡Date of Applicati n. 5th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 28th June. 1889-Accepted, 5th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Apparatus to be Worn Round the Wrists and Ankles for the
Purpose of Increasing Muscular Strength.
CHARLES FRISCH Katherine House Lower Addiscombe Road Croydon Surrey
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Apparatus consists of compound leathern bands for the wrists and ankles
and provided with steel sockets for the reception of weights, so as to be capable
of a gradual increase in weight from ounces to pounds, and of such compact form
as to be worn under the ordinary clothing.
Its purpose is to enable persons not engaged in manual labor and who cannot
afford the time for athletic exercises, to acquire muscular power and consequently
improved health by a system of training free from the disadvantages attending the
means hitherto employed, which costing money and time, are inaccessible to thousands
of poor brain-workers and even if accessible can only be resorted to at intervals,
when they are liable to prove injurious through being overdone, whereas the
Training by this Apparatus is:
1stly, constant, as every movement of the body with the weighted extremities
exercises a salutary strain on the muscles, thus taking the place of manual labor
and the bands are only removed when rest is required or when an unusual demand
is made on the strength of the body.
2ndly, gradual & therefore safe & 3rdly, not interfering with the daily occupations
of life.
Croydon, October 5th 1888.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Apparatus to be Worn Round the Wrists and Ankles for the
Purpose of Increasing Muscular Strength.
CHARLES FRISCH Katherine House Lower Addiscombe Road Croydon Surrey
Gentleman 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 apparatus consists of compound leathern Bands for the wrists and ankles
and provided with steel sockets for the reception of weights, so as to be capable
of a gradual increase in weight from ounces to pounds, and of such compact fortn
as to be worn under the ordinary clothing.
Its purpose is to enable persons not engaged in manual labor and who cannot
afford the time for athletic exercises, to acquire muscular power and consequently
improved health by a system of Training free from the disadvantages attending the
means hitherto employed, such as gymnastics, athletic sports, massage etc., which
costing money and time, are inaccessible to thousands of poor brain-workers and
even, if accessible can only be resorted to at intervals when they are liable to prove
injurious through being overdone whereas the training of the body by this
Apparatus is
1. Constant, as every movement of the body with the weighted extremities exercises
a strain on the muscles, thus taking the place of manual labor, the Bands being only
removed when rest is required or when an unusual demand is made on the strength
of the body.
2. Gradual and therefore safe.

page_text: The leathern bands are five inches long A and provided for the fastening round
wrists and ankles with hooks B and eyes C at the lower end and with Band H
and straps D and buckles E at the upper end.
Round the lower and sixteen steel-sockets F are rivetted on the leather for the
reception of sixteen weights consisting of small leaden bars each weighing about
three ounces G and which are held in their places by the sockets at the lower end
and by the Band H and strap and buckle at the upper end.
The four bands are worn at first empty (without the weights) untill all
inconvenience from wearing them has disappeared, then one weight after another
is introduced into the sockets in such gradual succession as to increase imperceptibly
the strain on the muscles, until these muscles by the gradual strain exercised on
them, have become so strong as to bear without undue inconvenience the whole
number of the weights, which on the four bands would be sixty-four weighing
altogether about twelve pounds and the more gradually this increase of weight in
the bands is regulated the more safe and effective will be the increased power of
the muscles constituting this new system of training the body and securing to the
brain-worker the same chance of health which the manual labourer enjoys.
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
The benefit to health to be derived from the use of the said Apparatus as set forth
in the before mentioned three main points.