IMPROVEMENTS IN EXERCISING APPARATUS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George William Wood, of New York, in the State of New
York, United States of America, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
EXERCISING APPARATUS.”
Sealed the 22nd June 1877, and dated the 5th April 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George William Wood at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th April 1877.
GEORGE WILLIAM WOOD, of New York, in the State of New York, United States
of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXERCISING APPARATUS."
These improvements relate to an elastic tube of india-rubber that is adapted to
being grasped and stretched, thereby allowing a person to exert more or less
muscular force, and to give greater or less movement to the different parts of the
body for increasing the strength of the muscles, and promoting the general health
and vigor of the body.
The elastic tube is of a suitable size and length, and within the ends are inserted
plugs that form handles, and between these plugs there is a cord within the tube to
limit the extent of motion. A hook or eye is introduced at the end of the plug, and
handles can be hooked into these, or the eye at one end is hooked to an eye or hook
in a wall, post, or floor, so as to allow for a direct pull.
If desired a lever like an oar can be used, connected near the middle to said elastic
tube, and having a rubber cap or hook at the end to rest upon the wall or against
the floor, or be hooked into an eye, so that movements similar to rowing, pumping,
and other movements can be obtained by the use of this lever and elastic tube.
It is generally preferable to use rubber for the plugs, and to have necks formed
in them so that the tube ends are confined to the necks of the plugs by elastic bands
around them.
Handles with eyes may be used at the ends of the tube, the handles projecting
laterally, and the tube passing through the eyes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George William Wood in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
October 1877.
GEORGE WILLIAM WOOD, of New York, in the State of New York, United States
of America. "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXERCISING APPARATUS."
This improvement relates to an elastic tube of india-rubber that is adapted to
being grasped and stretched, thereby allowing a person to exert more or less
muscular force, and to give greater or less movement to the different parts of the
body for increasing the strength of the muscles, and promoting the general health
and vigor of the body.
The elastic tube is of a suitable size and length, and within the ends are inserted
plugs that form handles, and between these plugs there is a cord within the tube to
limit the extent of motion. A hook or eye is introduced at the end of the plug, and
handles can be hooked into these, or the eye at one end is hooked to an eye or hook
in a wall, post, or floor, so as to allow for a direct pull.
If desired a lever like an oar can be used, connected near the middle to said
elastic tube, and having a rubber cap or hook at the end to rest upon the wall or
against the floor, or be hooked into an eye, so that movements similar to rowing,
pumping, &c., can be obtained by the use of this lever and elastic tube.
It is generally preferable to use rubber for the plugs, and to have necks formed
in them so that the tube ends are confined to the necks of the plugs by clastic bands
around them.
Handles with eyes may be used at the ends of the tube, the handles projecting
laterally, and the tube passing through the eyes.
In the Drawing,―
Fig. 1 is a section and elevation of the ends of the tube; and
2 is a perspective view of the same and the lever bar employed therewith for
varying the leverage, and exercising in imitation of rowing, &c.
The india-rubber tube is provided with the two plugs b, b, one at each end, to
which the limiting cord c is connected. These plugs are preferably of rubber,
and made with tapering bodies extending into the tube sufficiently to be bent by
the pull on the tube when passing off at an angle to the plug, and thereby lessening
risk of injury to the tube.
Each plug has a neck in it, and there are india-rubber or elastic bands & around
the outside of the tube a to press said tube into the neck, and confine the same
firmly, but said elastic bands will yield sufficiently with the tube when under strain
to lessen risk of injury to the tube a.
An eye or hook fis attached to each plug, and projects from the end thereof;
this allows the exercising tube to be hooked at one end to an eye or staple, and at
the other end to a handle or lever, so that the tube will be stretched uniformly, and
without any angles or bends such as occur when the tube is stretched by grasping
the end with the hand.
The lever g is made with a hook or staple near the middle thereof to receive the
hook or eye at one end of the tube a, and this bar can be grasped with both hands,
and the exercise results from stretching the tube a, the other end of such tube being
hooked to the wall or the floor.
When hooked to the wall, and the lever g applied in a horizontal position, with
one end resting upon the wall, a movement similar to that in rowing can be made
with the body. The end of this lever g can be armed with an india-rubber cap o to
prevent injury to or slipping from the wall, or an eye or staple s may be employed
at the end of the said lever to hook into an eye or staple secured to the floor or wall,
as illustrated in Fig. 3.
The limiting cord c prevents over stretching of the india-rubber tube d, preserves
it from injury, and makes it lasting.
What I claim as my Invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-
E

page_text: First. In combination with the exercising tube a the plugs b, having necks and
the elastic bands d, confining the tube into the said necks, substantially as set
forth.
Second. The combination with the elastic exercising tube, and the end plugs
thereof, of the hooks or eyes fattached to said plugs, substantially as set forth.
Third. In the exercising apparatus the combination with the elastic tube and
connecting eyes or staples of the lever g, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The application of the limiting cord c to the tube a, arranged and com-
bined substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George William Wood, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
GEORGE WILLIAM WOOD. (L.S.)