Improvements in Electro-therapeutic Exercising Apparatus.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electro-therapeutic Exercising Apparatus.
I, ABRAHAM MARTIN, of 202, Rue du Faubourg, Saint Denis, Paris, France,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention relates to improvements in the electro-mechanical exercising
apparatus forming the subject of a previous Application for Letters Patent bear-
ing date the 22nd day of November 1897 and numbered 27,387. These improve-
ments consist more particularly in providing means whereby the exercising of
the muscles is utilized for producing at same time an electrical action upon
parts of the human organism and more particularly to the spine and legs
simultaneously.
My improved apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein
Figure 1 represents a face view and Figure 2 a corresponding end view of the
entire arrangement. Figure 3 is a plan of the sliding foot-plate and Figure 4
a plan of the base of the apparatus with the sliding foot-plate in position, both
these figures being drawn to a smaller scale. The same letters of reference
denote like parts in all the figures.
The arrangement and mode of working of the apparatus is the same as
described in my former application before referred to and I will here describe
the novel parts only. Upon a shaft is keyed a toothed wheel r¹ which transmits
motion by means of an endless chain s to a toothed wheel t keyed on a shaft u
provided at one end with a crank v connected by a rod a to a sliding foot-plate y
provided with rollers z capable of running in guides 1 fixed on cross-bars 2
attached to the base 3 of frame a. The foot-plate y is provided with curved
metal strips 4 within which the feet are to be placed and is electrically connected
with a magneto-electric generator d.
↑
The action is as follows:-The operator is seated with his feet placed upon
the foot-plate y and in position to turn the crank arm so as to thereby
reciprocate the foot-plate y which will necessitate the legs being extended at
same time that the body will be bent in bringing back the crank handle to its
starting point. The arrangement is such that the bending forward of the body
is effected simultaneously with the extension of the legs and the straightening
of the body is effected simultaneously with the drawing back of the legs to
their original position! These alternate and simultaneous movements of the
body and legs serve to produce flexibility of the body while at same time exciting
heat to the organs to be treated or exercised as well as producing an electrical
action.
To economize space when the apparatus is not in use, the crank handle may
be folded back against the crank arm r for which purpose the handle is divided
and notched at 5 and provided with a joint pin 6 and one of the metallic sheaths f
on the handle is made removable so as to be capable of sliding along the handle
to allow of folding it up or to be slipped over the joint to hold the joint rigid.
One pole of the magneto-electric generator d is connected with the sliding

page_text: sheath by means of the ferrules 7 and the wire which connects the other pole
to the sheath f at the opposite end of the handle is also divided, the interruption
being closed by a spring contact 8 for ensuring the current passing when the
handle is in position for use.
1000
Improvements in Electro-therapeutic Exercising Apparatus.
I, ABRAHAM MARTIN, of 202, Rue du Faubourg, Saint Denis, Paris, France,
Engineer, 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 improvements in the electro-mechanical exercising
apparatus forming the subject of previous Letters Patent bearing date the 22nd
day of November 1897 and numbered 27,387. These improvements consist more
particularly in providing means whereby the exercising of the muscles is utilized
for producing at the same time an electrical action upon parts of the human
organism and more particularly to the spine and legs simultaneously.
My improved apparatus is illustrated in the drawings accompanying my
Provisional Specification wherein Figure 1 represents a face view and Figure 2
a corresponding end view of the entire mechanism. Figure 3 is a plan of the
sliding foot-plate and Figure 4 a plan of the base of the apparatus with the
sliding foot-plate in position, both these figures being drawn to a smaller scale.
The same letters of reference denote like parts in all the figures.
The arrangement and mode of working of the apparatus is the same as
described in my former application before referred to and I will here describe
the novel parts only. Upon a shaft is keyed a toothed wheel ¹ which transmits
motion by means of an endless chain s to a toothed wheel t keyed on a shaft u
provided at one end with a crank connected by a rod a to a sliding foot-plate y
provided with rollers z capable of running in guides
fixed on cross bars 2
attached to the base 3 of frame a. The foot-plate is provided with curved
metal strips 4 within which the feet are to be placed and is electrically connected
with a magneto-electric generator d.
The action is as follows:-The operator is seated with his feet placed upon
the foot-plate y and in position to turn the crank arm
SO as to thereby
revolve shafts 6 and u and reciprocate the foot-plate y which will necessitate
the legs being extended at same time that the body will be bent in bringing
back the crank handle to its starting point. The arrangement is such that the
bending forward of the body is effected simultaneously with the extension of the
legs and the straightening of the body is effected simultaneously with the draw-
ing back of the legs to their original position. These alternate and simultaneous
movements of the body and legs serve on the one hand to produce flexibility of
the body while at same time exciting heat in the organs to be treated or exercised
and on the other hand to produce an electrical effect by the generation of
electricity in the dynamo.
To economize space when the apparatus is not in use, the crank handle may
be folded back against the crank arm for which purpose the handle is divided
and notched at 5 and provided with a joint pin 6 and one of the metallic sheaths

page_text: on the handle is made capable of being slid along the handle so as to uncover
the joint in order to allow of folding up the handle, the sheath when slipped
over the joint serving to hold the joint rigid.
One pole of the magneto-electric generator d is connected with the sliding
sheath by means of the ferrules 7 and the wire which connects the other pole
to the sheath at the opposite end of the handle is also divided, the interruption
being closed by a spring contact for ensuring the current passing when the
handle is in position for use.
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:-
In a system of electro-mechanical exercising apparatus such as specified, the
sliding foot-plate y geared to the driving shaft b by chain gear, shaft U₂ crank v,
and connecting rod r, for obtaining simultaneously alternating movements of
the body and legs substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
drawings.
Dated this fith day of Tonuam 1900
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.