Improvements in Apparatus for Adjusting and Measuring the Heights Reached by Athletes when Jumping.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 20th Aug.. 1894-Accepted, 22nd Sept. 1894
ROVISIONAL DIVIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Adjusting and Measuring the
Heights Reached by Athletes when Jumping.
We, EUGENE CLEMENCET, and FIRMIN SÉRIE, both of 11, Passage
St. Sebastien, Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our present invention has for its object an improved apparatus for determining
and measuring the heights reached by jumpers in gymnasia, athletic schools, and
the like, such apparatus having the advantage over similar ones heretofore used,
that the fall of the standards is prevented and the entanglement of the cord or
tape round the feet of the jumper cannot take place, and accidents are consequently
avoided.
Moreover our improved apparatus occupies little room and is consequently very
portable, and the cord can be readily kept stretched.
The improved apparatus consists of vertical standards, properly graduated on
one or more of their sides and connected by a cord or tape which is very readily
disengaged when struck. Each standard consists of two parts, one sliding in or
against the other, so that they can be adjusted to any required height. The upper
parts are kept in the desired position by means of springs pressing against the lower
part, or by a set screw, cam, key, or other equivalent device.
The standards are kept in a vertical position by three or more fixed or jointed
legs at their lower ends, the jointing allowing the apparatus to be folded up into a
smaller space. The position of the legs when extended is maintained by a hook
jointed to each of them and engaging at its inner end with a ring fixed for the
purpose at the bottom of the lower part of the standard.
Or the legs may be held in position by other equivalent means.
The two standards described, being arranged at a sufficient distance apart, are
connected together at the required height by two cords or bands one end of each
of which is connected to one of the standards by an india rubber ring attached to
a spring ring which can slide with sufficient friction up and down the graduated
part of the standard.
Or sometimes the tension of the cords or tapes may be secured by means of
balance weights working in the hollow standards and connected to the end of the
cord or tape, which passes over a pulley fixed to the top of the standard and thence
down and under a similar pulley carried by the spring ring sliding on the standard
as already described. This arrangement has the advantage that it prevents the
cords or tapes from becoming wound round the standards, when released as herein-
after described.
The ends of the two cords or bands are connected together by a simple device
consisting of a conical plug fixed to one of them and fitting sufficiently tightly into
a short india rubber tube carried by a cap fixed to the other cord or tape. Or
instead of this arrangement, a pin having a knob or head may be fastened to one of
the ends and a spring gripper of three or more branches to the other end, the two
ends being connected together by pressing the knob into the spring gripper.
By the arrangements described if the cord or tape is struck by the jumper its
two ends are instantly released.
The legs upon which the standards is supported may be jointed to a plate or
disc into which the lower end of the standard is screwed, the legs being opened out
by the pressure exerted by the screwed end against projections formed upon
them.

page_text: The improved apparatus, especially when intended for amateurs, may be arranged
so that it may be entirely included in a hollow cane or walking stick, the knob or
handle of which is also hollow and contains the cord or bands together with the
attaching and releasing apparatus described.
The improved apparatus may be constructed of any suitable size and material.
Dated this 21st day of November 1893.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Adjusting and Measuring the
Heights Reached by Athletes when Jumping.
We, EUGENE CLEMENCET, and FIRMIN SÉRIE, both of 11 Passage
St. Sebastien, Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineers, 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 and
accompanying drawing, that is to say :—
Our present invention has for its object an improved apparatus for determining
and measuring the heights reached by jumpers in gymnasia, athletic schools, and
the like, such apparatus having the advantage over similar ones heretofore used
that the fall of the standards is prevented and the entanglement of the cord or
tape round the feet of the jumper cannot take place and accidents are consequently
avoided.
Moreover our improved apparatus occupies little room and is consequently very
portable and the cord can be readily kept stretched.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of our invention.
Figure 1 is a general view of the apparatus,
Figure 2 a plan of the spring ring,
Figure 3 shews in detail the disengaging device,
Figure 4 a modified form of device for the same purpose,
Figure 4 a simple form of support,
Figure 5 a simple form of foot and standard,
Figure 6 the same apparatus enclosed in a walking stick, and
Figure 7 a method of arrangement of balance weights for keeping the cord or
tape stretched.
The improved apparatus as illustrated in Figure 1, consists of either one or two
vertical standards, properly graduated on one or more of their sides and connected
Each standard
by a cord or tape which is very readily disengaged when struck.
consists of two parts A and B one sliding in or against the other so that they can
be adjusted to any required height. The upper parts B which slide sufficiently
tightly against the lower ones, are kept in the desired position by means of
springs b pressing against the lower part or by a set screw, cam, key, or other
equivalent device.
The standards are kept in a vertical position by three or more fixed or jointed
legs d at their lower ends as shewn, the jointing allowing the apparatus to be folded
up into a smaller space. The position of the legs when extended is maintained by
a hook g jointed to each of them and engaging at its inner end with a ring ƒ fixed.
for the purpose at the bottom of the lower part A of the standard.
. Or the legs may be held in position by other equivalent means.
The two standards described being arranged at a sufficient distance apart, are
connected together at the required height by two cords or bands j, j¹, one end of
each of which is connected to one of the standards by an india rubber ring i
attached to a spring ring which can slide with sufficient friction up and down the
graduated part of the standard.

page_text: Or sometimes the tension of the cords or tapes may be secured (as illustrated in
Figure 7) by means of balauce weights & working in the hollow standards and con-
nected to the end of the cord or tape which passes over a pulley fixed to
the top of the standard and thence down and under a similar pulley u carried by
the spring ring sliding on the standard as already described. This arrangement
has the advantage that it prevents the cords or tapes from becoming wound round
the standards when released as hereinafter described.
l
The ends of the two cords or bands j, j', are connected together by a simple
device (illustrated in Figures 1 and 3) consisting of a conical plug fixed to one
of them and fitting sufficiently tightly into a short india rubber tube m carried by
a cap fixed to the other cord or tape j¹. Or, (as illustrated in Figure 4) instead
of this arrangement a pin having a knob or head may be fastened to one of the
ends j, and a spring gripper of three or more branchess to the other end j' the two
ends being connected together by pressing the knob into the spring gripper s.
By the arrangements described if the cord or tape is struck by the jumper its
two ends are instantly released.
In Figure 5 the legs o, o, o, upon which the standard D is supported are shewn
jointed to a plate or disc into which the lower end of the standard D is screwed,
the legs being opened out by the pressure exerted by the screwed end against
projections formed upon them.
The improved apparatus especially when intended for amateurs, as in the
arrangement just described and illustrated in Figure 5, may be arranged so that it
may be entirely included as illustrated in Figure 6 in a hollow cane or walking
stick L, or other article of the like kind, the knob or handle of which is also hollow
and contains the cords or bands ; together with the attaching and releasing
apparatus described.
The improved apparatus may be constructed of any suitable size and material.
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 :
:-
1. The improved apparatus for adjusting and measuring the heights reached by
athletes when jumping, consisting of the sliding supports, carried by fixed or jointed
legs and connected together by a cord or tape, substantially as described and
illustrated.
2. The methods of attaching the ends of the cord or tape by an attachment
capable of being easily released, substantially as described and illustrated.
3. The method of constructing the apparatus so that it can be enclosed in a
hollow walking stick or article of the like kind, substantially as described and
illustrated.
Dated this 20th day of August 1894.
EDWARDS & Co.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.