Improvements in Apparatus for Calisthenic Exercises.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1896
Improvements in Apparatus for Calisthenic Exercises.
I, HERBERT TOM LANSDOWNE, of 134 Coventry Road in the City of Birminghain,
Teacher of Calisthenics, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for use in calisthenic exercises,
my object being to provide simple and effective means for guiding the movements of
the limbs without impairing the necessary freedom of action.
In the application of my invention in one convenient manner I employ a pair of
rods, preferably of wood, each 'having a flange or terminal piece at one end, and a
metal hook or other attachment at the opposite end for engagement with a belt
secured around the waist of the pupil or exerciser. The rods are fastened on opposite
sides of the belt and at such a position as to cause no inconvenience.
Upon each rod I place a handle of wood or other material which is free to slide up
or down with the movement of the arms of the pupil who grasps each handle during
the exercises. The joint or connection between the rods and the belt is of such a
description as to permit of free movement of the rods in any direction and thus
whilst serving as guides they do not obstruct the effective performance of the drill or
exercise. The flange or terminal piece at the outer end of each rod prevents the
detachment of the handles during their sliding movement.
I preferably employ a buckle on each side of the belt for the purpose of forming
the connections with the guide rods, each buckle having a bow or staple piece fitted
upon it to which the hook or attachinent of the rod is secured.
Instead of employing sliding rods as herein before described, of wood or other rigid
material, I sometimes form my guides from strips of elastic of obstensible material
which I attach to the belt and arrange for convenient grasping by the pupils in the
performance of the drill.
I modify the construction of my improved apparatus and the method of
attachment to the pupil to meet the requirements of varying drills or calisthenic
exercises.
I HERBERT TOM LANSDOWNE of 134 Coventry Road in the City of Birmingham
Teacher of Calisthenics, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
Price 8d1

page_text: manner the saine is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-.
This invention relates to improvements for use in calisthenic exercises my object
being to provide simple and effective means for guiding the movements of the limbs
without impairing the necessary freedom of action.
In the application of my invention in one convenient manner I employ a pair of
rods a, preferably of wood each having a flange or terminal piece at one end b, and a
metal hook or other attachment at the opposite end c for engagement with a belt d
secured around the waist of the pupil or execiser. The rods are fastened on opposite
sides of the belt and at such a position as to cause no inconvenience. Upon each rod
I place a handle of wood or other material e which is free to slide up or down with
the movement of the arms of the pupil who grasps each handle during the exercises.
The joint or connection between the rods and the belt is of such a description as to
permit of free movement of the rods in any direction and thus whilst serving as
guides they do not obstruct the effective performance of the drill or exercise. The
flange or terminal piece at the outer end of each rod prevents the detachment of the
handles during their sliding movement.
I preferably employ a buckle on each side of the belt for the purpose of forming the
connections with the guide rods, each buckle having a staple piece or bow fitted upon
it to which the hook or attachment of the rod is secured. Instead of employing
sliding rods as herein before described of wood or other rigid material, I sometimes
form iny guides from strips of elastic or extensible material which I attach to the
belt and arrange for convenient grasping by the pupils in the performance of the
drill.
I modify the construction of my improved apparatus and the method of attachment
to the pupil to meet the requirements of varying drills or calisthenic exercises.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the said is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
To have provided an improvement in Calisthenic apparatus by means of the two
rods, which, while fixed to the waist are in consequence of the sliding handle and the
attachment to the belt moveable in all directions and thus guide the movements of
the limbs without impairing the freedom of action.
1007