Improvements in or connected with Exercising. App
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 7th July, 1899--Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1899
Improvements in or connected with Exercising. Appliances,
I, HENRY GARDNER, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agent,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention which has been communicated to
me from abroad by Abram Allan Hendrickson, of the City of New York (Jamaica,
Borough of Queens) in the County of Queens, and State of New York, United
States of America, Manufacturer, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The object of this invention is to provide a simple, economic and effective
device or appliances, especially adapted for developing the muscles of the fingers,
hand, wrist and fore-arm.
A further object of the invention is to provide a means that may be utilised-
as a handle for either weight or elastic exercising machines thus providing for
developing muscles not brought into play when the ordinary handles are used:
The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the
several parts as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out in the
claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in all the figures.
.
Figure 1, is a perspective view of the improved device, illustrating the manner
in which it is used.
Figure 2, is a horizontal section through the device, the section being taken
on the line a, a of Figure 3, and
Figure 3 is an end view of the device.
The body of the device is in the nature of a frame or handle A consisting of
side bars B preferably parallel and provided at their inner or base portions with
inwardly bent and opposing terminals C upon which terminals a roller D is
mounted adapted to be held in the palm of the hand. Outer or front bars E.
are connected with the outer end portions of the side bars B and these front bars E
extend outwardly in direction of and across one another, forming a loop Fin
crossing. The loop F is advantageously located when a line drawn through the
centre of the frame or handle passes through the centre of the loop.
Preferably the side bars B front bars E and loop F are made from one piece
of wire of suitable gauge and while the use of the roller D is preferred a
stationary palm grip of any desired character may be substituted.
A bar Gadapted to be gripped by the fingers of the hand is mounted to slide
upon the side members of the frame or handle A to and from the base or inner
end of the frame or handle as shown in Figure 2.
An elastic H which may be a plain rubber strap, a tape or a cord is employed
in connection with the movable finger bar. This elastic is secured between its
ends at the loop F by a clamp I or its equivalent or if the loop F be omitted
the elastic H is secured to the central portion of the outer end of the handle or
frame. The ends of the elastic are attached to the finger bar at or near

page_text: its extremities the attachment of the elastic being made at opposite sides of the
finger har as shown in Figures 1 and 3. By thus attaching the elastic H
to opposite sides of the finger bar at its ends. no matter how the finger bar is
grasped when it is to be drawn toward the base bar or roller D against the
tension of the elastic, the finger bar will always move parallel with the roller D
and consequently will not bind against its guides B.
In operation, the roller D or base bar of the frame A is held in the palm of
the hand by the thumb and the fingers of the hand are passed over the outer
surface of the sliding bar G.
The sliding bar is then drawn toward or to the roller D through the, act of
closing the hand and this movement is followed by that of opening the hand
without releasing the device, whereupon the elastic will quickly draw the finger
bar to its normal position.
The loop F enables the device to be attached to the terminals of any weight
or elastic exercising machine, and to serve as handles therefor. When..so
employed it is evident that the muscles of the wrist, fingers and fore-arm may
be exercised simultaneously with the muscles of the body.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. An exercising machine, comprising a frame, and a tension controlled bar
held to slide upon members of the said frame to and from a member located
between the guides for said tension controlled bar, for the purpose described:
2. An exercising machine, consisting of a frame, a finger bar having sliding
movement upon the side members of said frame, to and from the base member,
and an elastic connected with the finger bar at each side of the centre, said elastic
between its ends being connected with the frame for the purpose descrilied and
substantially as shown.
3. In an exercising machine a frame provided with a roller adapted to be held
in the palm of the hand and a tension controlled bar adapted to be gripped
by the fingers and having guided movement on the frame to and from the said
roller for the purpose described.
4. An exercising machine consisting of a frame, a bar mounted to slide upon
the frame, and an elastic connected between its ends to the frame and having
its ends secured to the said bar at opposite sides thereof, for the purpose described.
5. An exercising machine consisting of a handle having a roller section adapted
to be held in the palm of the hand, a bar adapted to be grasped by the fingers
and mounted to slide upon the side members of the handle to and from the
roller, and an elastic connected with the handle at the central portion of its
forward' or outer end; the ends of said elastic being secured to the sliding bar at
opposite sides of said bar near its ends whereby the said sliding bar will not bind
against its guides all as set forth.
Deted thic fith dow of Tule 1800.