Apparatus for Facilitating Walking, Running, and Jumping.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 13th June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 12th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 19th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Facilitating Walking, Running, and Jumping.
1, NICHOLAS YAGN, of 25 Basseinaja, St. Petersburg, Russia, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In the Specification to my application for Letters Patent dated 29th January 1889
No. 1597 I described a method of and apparatus for facilitating walking running and
jumping wherein a person, in lowering the upper part of his body in bending the
knee, was made to compress springs or other elastic media, the power thus stored up
being afterwards usefully expended in raising the body again and propelling it
forward.
My present invention relates to a different construction of apparatus for carrying
out this method of operating, which I will proceed to describe with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which Figs. 1 and 2 shew respectively a side and back
view of a construction of apparatus for carrying out my said invention, attached to a
person; Figure 3 shews the same apparatus and person at the moment of beginning
to jump; Fig. 4 is a top view, Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a top view and side
view of the shoe (or overshoe) having in front a stirrup; Fig. 7 is a longitudinal
section of the front part of the shoe and stirrup.
As shewn on the drawings, the principal part of the apparatus consists of two
elastic bow-shaped springs B B, by preference of steel, the lower ends of which are
connected to the metal stirrups on the front part of the shoes or overshoes C, while
the upper ends are connected by means of hooks or screw bolts i to two leather
rings A, padded internally, through which the arms of the person are inserted in such
manner that they pass under the arm pits. These rings A A can be connected
together across the chest and the back by means of bands E and E¹ and also to the
belt by means of straps f. In order to prevent the springs B B from moving apart
laterally too much, the band E' has sewn to it two straps or two light wood bars G
covered with leather (Figs. 3 and 4) and having at their ends leather loops g
embracing the springs B.
It will be readily seen that the upper part of the body after each leap, in continuing
to descend by virtue of its momentum, will bend the springs B to an extent dependent
on their elasticity; immediately afterwards however, the springs B in endeavouring
to straighten themselves again, will draw up the upper part of the body by means of
the rings A A and will thereby almost force the person to make a second leap, and
80 on.
In order that the rapid unbending of the springs B B may not exert any detrimental
strain on the body of the person during a leap (that is, while the feet do not bear
upon the ground, and the whole body is stretched out) the rings A A are connected
to the lower ends of the springs B B by means of strong cords or chains 11. These
cords or chains can be connected at their middle to the looped leather-padded
bands H H which are passed over the feet and up the leg to the position indicated
(similarly to bands used for gymnastic exercises). Two springs I1 (of caoutchouc
or metal) transmit part of the lifting power of the springs B B to the looped bands H H
whereby, firstly, the pressure of the rings A A under the arm pits is diminished,
and secondly, any irregular distribution of the pressure of the springs B B on lowering
one of the shoulders more than the other (for instance by bending the body sideways)
is prevented by the elasticity of the springs.
In order to prevent the entanglement of the cords or chains
ment, guide rings k k are provided on straps at the knees.
during the move-
In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 is shewn a very convenient way of attaching the lower end of
the springs B to a metal stirrup D. In the example shewn, the stirrup D is provided

page_text: 4
with a hook shaped pin on to which the end of the spring B is hooked and then
secured by a nut o screwed on to the end of the pin. The shoe or overshoe Cis
provided with an elastic sole K which covers the under part of the stirrup, and it is
secured to the foot by a loop or strap L.
It will be evident that the details of the described arrangement can be modified
and the materials of which the parts are constructed, altered without departing from
the nature of the invention.
2.
Figs. 8 to 19 shew a modification of the above described apparatus in which the
upper ends of the springs B B instead of being connected to the shoulders are con-
nected to a belt F. attached round the waist and are provided with a special device
whereby they can be disconnected for allowing the free bending of the knees, and be
connected or locked at the desired moment.
Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 shew a person having the apparatus fitted to him, both in
an atlitude of rest and during different kinds of motion; Figs. 13 and 14 shew a
plan and side view of one of the stirrups to which the lower ends of the springs B B
are connected; Figs. 15, 16 and 17 shew the construction of a locking device for
locking and releasing the upper ends of the springs B B.
Figs. 18 and 19 shew the construction of the upper ends of each of the
springs B B.
As shown on the drawings, the upper ends of the springs B are not fixed
permanently to the belt F, but can slide along the guide bars E, thus allowing of a
perfect free bending of the legs in walking or running, as indicated at Figs. 11 and 12.
The upper ends of the springs B are automatically locked when the operator stretches
out the corresponding foot forward, so that on allowing the upper part of the body to
sink on this foot, the spring being locked, will in bending receive the momentum of
the descending body.
For this purpose the belt F has fixed on it two plates A A with the devices for
locking and releasing the ends of the springs B B. The device is the same for each
spring. Each plate A has a small lever (Figs. 15, 16, & 17) pivotted upon the
pivot. The upper arm of this lever terminates in a hook which at the proper
moment catches on to the end of the spring B Fig. 16.
Each of these springs is drawn into a bowed position by means of a flexible cord or
chain (Figs. 8, 12 & 16) so that on stretching out the leg the upper end of the
spring, in sliding along the guide rod E (consisting of a thick bent wire whose ends
are fixed to the plates A A), presses against the sloping head of the hook at the
upper end of the lever i, thereby first pressing it to one side and then passing under-
neath it so as to be held thereby, the lower end of the lever being pressed by the
spring n against the plate A. The lower end of the lever i is connected by means
of a link p with a wire forming the upper end of the cord or chain l, the link p
having a loop q attached to it through which the wire is free to slide. As above
stated, the upper end of the spring B engages with the hook of lever i on stretching
forward the leg; as the link p then hangs down loose, the spring n will hold the hook
so as to retain or lock the upper end of the spring B.
If now, in moving the body forward, the leg on which the body rests comes into a
rearward stretched position, the device p in following the motion of the leg will over-
come the resistance of the spring n and will draw the lower end of the lever i back
sufficiently to cause the hook at the upper end to release the upper end of the
spring B, so that at the following forward motion of the leg in taking the next step
the spring can slide freely up along the guide E, and will thus offer no impedi-
ment to such motion of the leg. It will be evident. that the arrangement for
alternately locking and unlocking the upper end of the springs B may be variously
modified; thus the arrangement shewn at Fig. 20 may be employed in which the
head of the lever i is made as a rack with ratchet shaped teeth, and the slide g
to which the end of the spring B is pivotted is formed with corresponding teeth,
which gear with those of the lever i, either at a higher or a lower position relative to
the belt.
In order to prevent any lateral deflection of the springs B B the lower ends

page_text: thereof are made to pass between a cushion b and a strap G Figs. 8 and 12, attached
to the foot.
As the guide rod E does not remain at rest during the movements of the body,
but is deflected in various directions, according to the different positions of the
body, the upper ends of the springs B are connected to the guide rod by an articulated
connection such as is shewn at Figs. 18 and 19, which allows of a free relative
motion between the spring and guide rod in every direction. This connection consists
of a the sleeve 9, sliding on rod E and to which is hinged a socket m into which
is screwed the end of the spring B so that it can turn in both directions.
The stirrup fastening D (Figs. 13 and 14) is substantially the same as that
described with reference to the first arrangement, at Figs. 5 6 and 7. The belt F is
connected to the feet by the straps fHIK and L, or in any other suitable manner.
It will be evident that the details of the above described apparatus, which it is
proposed to call "Elastipede" may be modified in a great variety of ways, both as
regards construction and materials employed, without departing from the essential
feature of the invention, which consists mainly in the utilisation of the elastic power
of springs or equivalent elastic means for facilitating walking, running, and jumping,
so arranged that they allow of the free forward motion of the leg in taking a step, and
take the full weight of the upper part of the body and of any load carried thereby
when the person bears upon the leg after having advanced it.
Dated this 13th day of June 1889.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Facilitating Walking, Running, and Jumping.
1, NICHOLAS YAGN, of 25 Basseinaja, St. Petersburg, Russia, 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:-
In the Specification to my application for Letters Patent dated 29th January 1889
No. 1597 I described a method of, and apparatus for, facilitating walking running and
jumping wherein a person, in lowering the upper part of bis body in bending the
knee, was made to compress springs or other elastic media, the power thus stored
up being afterwards usefully expended in raising the body again and propelling it
forward.
My present invention relates to a different construction of apparatus for carrying
out this method of operating, which I will proceed to describe with reference to the
drawings accompanying ny provisional specification, in which Figs. 1 and 2 shew
respectively a side and back view of a construction of apparatus for carrying out my.
said invention, attached to a person; Fig. 3 shews the same apparatus and person at
the moment of beginning to jump; Fig. 4 is a top view, Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively
a top view and side view of the shoe (or overshoe) having in front a stirrup; Fig. 7 is
a longitudinal section of the front part of the shoe and stirrup.
As shown on the drawings, the principal part of the apparatus consists of two
elastic bow shaped springs B B by preference of steel, the lower ends of which are
connected to the metal stirrups on the front part of the shoes or overshoes C, while
the upper ends are connected by means of hooks or screw bolts i to two leather rings A
padded internally, through which the arms of the person are inserted in such a
manner that they pass under the arm pits.
These rings A A can be connected together across the chest and the back by means
of bands E and E' and also to the belt by means of straps f. In order to prevent
the springs B B from moving apart laterally too much, the band E' has sewn to it
two straps or two light wood bars G covered with leather (Figs. 3 and 4) and having
at their ends leather loops g embracing the springs B.

page_text: It will be readily seen that the upper part of the body after each leap, in continuing
to descend by virtue of its momentum, will bend the springs B to an extent dependent
on their elasticity; immediately afterwards however, the springs B in endeavouring
to straighten themselves again, will draw up the upper part of the body by means of
the rings A A and will thereby almost force the person to make a second leap,
and so on.
In order that the rapid unbending of the springs B B may not exert any detri-
mental strain on the body of the person during a leap (that is, while the feet do not
bear upon the ground, and the whole body is stretched out) the rings A A are con-
nected to the lower ends of the springs B B by means of strong cords or chains 1 1.
These cords or chains can be connected at their middle to the looped leather padded
bands H H which are passed over the feet and up the leg to the position indicated
(similarly to bands used for gymnastic exercises). Two springs II (of caoutchouc or
metal) transmit part of the lifting power of the springs B B to the looped bands H H
whereby, firstly, the pressure of the rings A A under the arm parts is diminished,
and secondly, any irregular distribution of the pressure of the springs B B on lower-
ing one of the shoulders more than the other (for instance by bending the body
sideways) is prevented by the elasticity of the springs.
In order to prevent the entanglement of the cords or chains 11 during the move-
ment, guide rings k k are provided on straps at the knees.
In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 is shewn a very convenient way of attaching the lower end of
the springs B to a metal stirrup D. In the example shewn, the stirrup D is provided
with a hook shaped, pin h on to which the end of the spring B is hooked and then
secured by a nut o screwed on to the end of the pin. The shoe or overshoe C is pro-
vided with an elastic sole K which covers the under part of the stirrup, and it is
secured to the foot by a loop or strap L.
It will be evident that the details of the described arrangement can be modified and
the materials of which the parts are constructed altered without departing from the
nature of the invention.
Figs. 8 to 19 shew a modification of the above described apparatus in which the
upper ends of the springs B B instead of being connected to the shoulders are con-
nected to a belt F attached round the waist and are provided with a special device
whereby they can be disconnected or locked at the desired moment.
Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 shew a person having the apparatus fitted to him, both in
an attitude of rest and during different kinds of motion; Figs. 13 and 14 shew a
plan and side view of one of the stirrups to which the lower ends of the springs BB
are connected; Figs. 15, 16, and 17 shew the construction of a locking device for
locking and releasing the upper ends of the springs B B; Figs. 18 and 19 shew the
construction of the upper ends of each of the springs B B.
As shewn on the drawings the upper ends of the springs B are not fixed per-
manently to the belt F, but can slide along the guide bars E, thus allowing of a perfect
free bending of the legs in walking or running, as indicated at Figs. 11 and 12. The
upper ends of the springs B are automatically locked when the operator stretches out
the corresponding foot forward, so that on allowing the upper part of the body to sink
on this foot, the spring being locked, will in bending receive the momentum of the
descending body.
For this purpose the belt F has fixed on it two plates A A with the devices for
locking and releasing the ends of the springs B B. The device is the same for each
spring. Each plate A has a small lever i (Figs. 15, 16, and 17) pivotted upon the
pivot. The upper arm of this lever terminates in a hook which at the proper
moment catches on to the end of the spring B Fig. 16.
Each of these springs is drawn into a bowed position by means of a flexible cord
or chain (Figs. 8, 12 and 16) so that on stretching out the leg, the upper end of the
spring, in sliding along the guide rod E (consisting of a thick bent wire whose ends
are fixed to the plates A A) presses against the sloping head of the hook at the upper
end of the lever i thereby first pressing it to one side and then passing underneath, it
so as to be held thereby, the lower end of the lever being pressed by the spring n

page_text: against the plate A. The lower end i¹ of the lever i is connected by means of a link Р
with a wire forming the upper end of the cord or chain 1, the link p having a loop q
attached to it through which the wire is free to slide.
As above stated; the upper
end of the spring B engages with the hook of lever i on stretching forward the leg:
as the link p then hangs down loose, the spring n will bolt the hook so as to retain or
lock the upper end of the spring B.
If now, in moving the body forward, the leg on which the body rests counes into a
rearward stretched position, the device p in following the motion of the leg will over-
come the resistance of the spring n and will draw the lower end of the lever i back
sufficiently to cause the hook at the upper end to release the upper end of the
spring B, so that at the following forward motion of the leg in taking the next step,
the spring can slide freely ap along the guide E and will thus offer no impediment
to such motion of the leg. It will be evident that the arrangement for alternately
locking and unlocking the upper end of the springs B may be variously modified;
thus the arrangement shewn at Fig. 20 may be employed, in which the head of the
lever i is made as a rack with ratchet shaped teeth, and the slide g to which the end
of the spring B is pivotted is formed with corresponding teeth, which gear with those
of the lever i, either at a higher or lower position relative to the belt.
In order to prevent any lateral deflection of the springs B B the lower ends thereof
are made to pass between a cushion b and a strap G Figs. 8 and 12, attached to the
foot.
As the guide rod E does not remain at rest during the movements of the body, but
is deflected in various directions, according to the different positions of the body, the
upper ends of the springs B are connected to the guide rod by an articulated connection
such as is shewn at Figs. 18 and 19, which allows of a free relative motion between
the spring and guide rod in every direction. This connection consists of the sleeve g,
sliding on rod E and to which is hinged a socket m into which is screwed the end of
the spring B so that it can turn in both directions.
The stirrup fastening D (Figs. 13 and 14) is substantially the same as that described
with reference to the first arrangement at Figs. 5, 6, and 7. The belt F is connected
to the feet by the straps HK and L, or in any other suitable manner.
It will be evident that the details of the above described apparatus which it is
proposed to call "Elastipede" may be modified in a great variety of ways, both as
regards construction and materials employed without departing from the essential
feature of the invention which consists mainly in the utilisation of the elastic power of
springs or equivalent elastic means for facilitating walking running and jumping,
so arranged that they allow of the free forward motion of the leg in taking a step,
and take the full weight of the upper part of the body and of any load carried thereby
when the person bears upon the leg after having advanced it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this iuven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In apparatus for assisting the person in walking, running or jumping by causing
him, in lowering the upper part of the body to compress or bend springs, the use of
two bow shaped springs attached at the lower ends to the feet of the person and at the
upper ends to a convenient point of the upper part of the body, so that on the body
sinking down in walking, running or jumping the said springs are compressed or bent,
the force thus stored up being afterwards given out again by the springs in raising
the upper part of the body, substantially as herein described.
2. In apparatus such as is referred to in the preceding claim the combination of
bow shaped springs B B with loops or rings A A passed under the arm pits of the
person, and shoes or overshoes Chaving stirrups D to which the lower ends of the
springs are connected, substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 7
of the drawings.
3. In combination with the springs B B, rings A A and shoes C with stirrups D,
referred to in the preceding claim, the use of cords or chains / connecting the lower

page_text: ends of the springs B B with rings A and of spring attachment I connecting the
rings A with looped bands H, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In apparatus such as is referred to in the first claim, the combination of bow
shaped springs B B with a belt Fattached to the middle of the body to which the
upper ends of the springs are connected, and stirrups D D attached to the feet to which
the lower ends of the springs are connected, substantially as described with. reference
to Figs. 8 to 20 of the drawings.
5. In the arrangement of the apparatus referred to in the preceding claim, con-
necting the upper ends of the springs B B to the belt F by a locking device so
arranged that at one time the ends of the springs are free to slide up and down a
guide rod E, and at another time they are antomatically locked in position.
6. In the locking device for the upper ends of the springs B B referred to in the
preceding claim, the use of levers i pivotted to the belt F and having at their upper
ends a suitably formed catch for engaging with the end of the spring or of a sliding
sleeve pivotted thereto while their lower ends are acted upon by springs n which tend
to keep them engaged with the springs B while they are automatically drawn out of this
engaged position by a releasing device p when the leg is stretched backwards, sub-
stantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 15 and 16.
7. In apparatus such as is referred to in the preceding claims, the combination of
the belt F, springs B B, stirrups D, connecting straps or bands f H I K L and chains
or cords that keep the springs B B in a more or less bent position, substantially
as herein described.
Dated thin 10th dos.
Mach 1000
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.