Improvements in Exercising or Gymnastic Apparatus.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 30th May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Exercising or Gymnastic Apparatus.
I, FREDERICK HULSMANN, of No. 61 Rebecca Street Allegheny, State of
Pennsylvania, United States of America, Teacher of Physical Culture, 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 certain new and useful improvements in and apparatus
for promoting physical culture, and relates more particularly to that class of
inventions known as exercising machines.
The invention has for its object the provision of novel means whereby the
muscles of the neck may be developed and strengthened furthermore, the apparatus
may be advantageously employed to develop the chest and the muscles of the
arms.
The invention has for its further object to design an apparatus of the class.
referred to that will be strong, durable, and comparatively inexpensive to.
manufacture.
A still further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the
apparatus may be conveniently attached to almost any fixed object that may be.
convenient.
With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel
construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more
specifically described.
In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying
drawing wherein like figures of reference indicate similar parts throughout the
several views.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved exercising machine.
Figure 2 is a side view of the same.
1 designates a band composed of fabric carrying on its free end a keeper 2 and
forming a loop 3 the band is further provided at its other end with a keeper 4
which is adapted to engage rubber tubes 5 5 said tubes may be made of any
elastic material the ends of which engage eyelets 6-6 of the forked wire 7-7
forming the handles 8-8.
The operation of the device is as follows:-When it is designed to develop the
muscles of the arms and develop the chest, the loop 3 is slipped over a stationary
object, the handles are grasped and the arms exercised in the well known manner,
the elastic material forming a yielding connection serves to afford means for
accomplishing this purpose. If it is desired to exercise the muscles of the neck,*
the handles are fastened to a stationary object, and the loop 3 of the band passed
around the head of the operator, the head may then be moved from side to side,
the rubber tubes forming a yielding connection as described above.
It will be seen that a great advantage is obtained by the use of my improved
apparatus, as certain muscles in the body may be strengthened, and developed by
the proper application of the above described apparatus.
It will be noted that various changes may be made in the details of con-
struction of my improved apparatus without departing from the general spirit of
the invention.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The exercising machine composed of a band having keepers or stirrups secured
to its respective ends and itself looped through one of said keepers, an elastic tube
or section passed through the other keeper or stirrup and connected to said strap
and the handles connected by the forked connection to said elastic section or tube
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 20th day of February 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.