An Improved Apparatus for Exercising and Rendering Supple the Finger Joints.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 15th July, 1892
Complete Spécification Left, 14th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 20th May, 1593
PROVISIONAL DE MULTIVATION
An Improved Apparatus for Exercising and Rendering Supple
the Finger Joints.
We THEOLINE CHARLOTTE GUILLARD Professor of Piano, and VICTOR
EUGENE CATHERINET Professor, both of 27 Avenue Quihon, Saint Mandé in
the Department of Seine France do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for mechanically exercising the finger joints
with a view to render the same supple in order to facilitate the playing of musical
instruments or to remedy the effects of corporeal affections by which the movements
of the fingers may be paralysed or impeded.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
Specification wherein
Figure represents in horizontal sectional plan view an example of the
apparatus drawn to an enlarged scale. Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same and
Figure 3 represents in part sectional elevation and plan one of the actuating
levers drawn to a larger scale.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
The apparatus by which to and fro movements are imparted to the fingers of
either hand so as to flex the fingers alternately, or consecutively for two or more
fingers or otherwise in any order desired, comprises a box casing a preferably of
oval form containing mechanism consisting of a spring barrel & actuating a circular
pin plate e provided with pins which by acting on inclined tappets e effects the
oscillation of a series of levers about their respective centres of motion g. Each
lever has a longitudinal sloth in which, is engaged a stud i affixed to a corre-
sponding rod k adapted to slide through a hole in the side of the casing a and
terminating externally in a finger ring the inner end of each rod sliding also
through a guiden and having applied to it a spring m which tends to slide the
rod in the opposite direction to that in which it is slid by the contact of one of
the pins d'with the tappet e on the corresponding lever f. The range of motion
of the levers is indicated in Figure 1 by the radii and arcs shown in dotted lines
and the corresponding motion of one of the finger rings is similarly indicated.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
The spring barrel b rotates the disc c whereof the pins d come in contact with
the tappets e fixed obliquely to the levers f. These levers in oscillating about
their axes g draw inwards the rods and the rings in which the fingers have
When
been inserted so as to cause the fingers to be flexed towards the casing a.
the pins d escape from the tappets e the rods and levers are returned to their initial
position, and the fingers are straightened, by the action of the springs m:
The positions of the pins d upon the disc c are dependent on the nuniber,
sequence, and intervals of the movements to be imparted, and by suitably arranging
the pins the succession of movements of the different fingers may be varied
indefinitely and may be made to agree for example with the exercises practised
by pianists and other instrumentalists. The apparatus may be placed above or
within the grasp of the hand and may be attached thereto by straps or other
means.

page_text: It will be obvious that the form and dimensions of the apparatus may be varied
without in any way departing from the invention.
Dated this 15th day of July 1892.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Exercising and Rendering Supple
the Finger Joints.
We, THEOLINE CHARLOTTE GUILLARD, Professor of Piano, and VICTOR
EUGENE CATHERINET, Professor, both of 27, Avenue Quilon, Saint Mandé, in
the Department of Seine, France, 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 invention relates to apparatus for mechanically exercising the finger joints
with a view to render the same supple in order to facilitate the playing of musical
instruments or to remedy the effects of corporeal affections by which the movements
of the fingers may be paralysed or impeded.
Reference is to be had to the drawings left with our Provisional Specification
and also to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this Specification, wherein
Figure 1 represents in horizontal sectional plan view an example of the apparatus,
drawn to an enlarged scale. Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same and
Figure 3 represents in part sectional elevation and plan one of the actuating
levers, drawn to a larger scale.
Figure 4 represents a part-sectional side elevation with one side of the casing
removed, of a modified arrangement of the apparatus, adapted to be worked by a
treadle.
Figure 5 is a front elevation, with the front of the casing removed, and
Figure 6 a plan of the same with the casing removed.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
The apparatus by which to and fro movements are imparted to the fingers of
either hand so as to flex the fingers alternately or consecutively for two or more
fingers or otherwise in any order desired, comprises a box-casing a preferably of
oval form containing mechanism consisting of a spring barrel b actuating a circular
pin plate e provided with pins & which by acting on inclined tappets e, effects the
oscillation of a series of levers f about their respective centres of motion g.
Each lever has a longitudinal slot in which is engaged a stud i affixed to a
corresponding rod k adapted to slide through a hole in the side of the casing a
and terminating externally in a finger loop 1, the inner end of each rod sliding]
also through a guiden and having applied to it a spring m which tends to slide
the rod in the opposite direction to that in which it is slid by the contact of one
of the pins d with the tappet e on the corresponding lever f. The range of motion
of the levers is indicated in Figure 1 by the radii and arcs shewn in dotted
lines and the corresponding motion of one of the finger loops is similarly indicated.
In the modified arrangement shewn in Figures 4, 5, and 6, the treadle
mechanism drives a horizontal cylinder c provided with pins d acting on the
ends e of levers mounted to oscillate on a rod g. To each of said levers fis
jointed a connecting rod k to which is attached a jointed channelled finger loop!
in which the fingers are inserted. m is a spring for returning lever and rod k
to their position of rest after they have been acted on by the pins d of cylinder c.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-The spring barrel or treadle

page_text: draw
rotates the disc or cylinder c whereof the pins d come in contact with the tappets e
fixed obliquely to the levers f. These levers in oscillating about their axes
inwards the rods & and the loops in which the fingers have been inserted, so as to
cause the fingers to be flexed towards the casing a. When the pins & escape from
the tappets e the rods and levers are returned to their initial position and the
fingers are straightened, by the action of the springs m.
The positions of the pins d upon the disc or cylinder c are dependent on the
number, sequence, and intervals, of the movements to be imparted, and by suitably
arranging the pins the succession of movements of the different fingers may be
varied indefinitely and may be made to agree for example with the exercises.
practised by pianists and other instrumentalists. The apparatus may be placed
upon or within the grasp of the hand and may be attached thereto by straps or
other means.
It will be obvious that the form and dimensions of the apparatus may be varied
without in any way departing from the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is―
a
The herein described apparatus for mechanically exercising and rendering supple
the finger joints, consisting in the combination of the rods k carrying finger loops
with levers provided with tappets e and with a disc or cylinder rotated by
motor and provided with pins d acting on said tappets and arranged in any
desired order so as to impart to and fro movements to the levers and finger rods,
alternately or simultaneously, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
LOUIS 1400
A DTH 18NO.
HIS EDLY OF ADTTE LOND
T. C. QUILLARD,
V. E. CATHERINET,
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.