Electro-therapeutic Exercising Apparatus.
Year: 1897

page_text: Electro-therapeutic Exercising Apparatus.
I, ABRAHAM MARTIN, of 11, Boulevard Magenta, Paris, France, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to a system of electro-mechanical exercising apparatus
whereby in addition to the muscles being mechanically exercised all or any part
of the human organism is subjected to electrical action proportional to the power
developed. In addition to the uses above mentioned, the apparatus may also be
employed for reducing obesity.
My apparatus not only permits of producing power but also of giving to the body
a general course of gymnastics by employing the individual strength to set in
movement a magneto-electric generator or its equivalent, which when in action
generates a current which may be caused to pass through the entire organism or
certain parts of the body only. Thus if it is desired to electrize the arms it is
simply necessary to place the hands upon the contacts on the crank handle in
order to feel the magnetic effect. For the abdomen a belt would be employed
provided with metallic plates connected with the dynamo. For the legs, two
bands also connected to the poles of the generator would be applied either on the
ankles or at the knees. For the spine a kind of back support would extend from
the nape of the neck to the lower part of the vertebral column provided with a
metallic plate at each end. It will be however readily understood that the current
may be applied to any other parts of the body than those mentioned, it being simply
necessary for this purpose to provide at suitable points contacts connected with the
poles of the electric generator. The length of the crank arm is such that its throw
is sufficient when the apparatus is in use to compel the body to assume a con-
siderable degree of inclination, which stimulates respiration and circulation and
at same time developes the flexibility of the body.

page_text: It will be seen from the foregoing that the apparatus may be thus utilized for
performing exercises of strength and movement while at same time producing an
electric action.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1
represents a face view and Figure 2 a corresponding side view of the apparatus.
The same letters of reference denote like parts in both figures.
a is the frame of the machine upon which is mounted a shaft carrying a
pulley by which is driven a magneto-electric generator d. One of the poles
is connected by a cord e to one of the hand grips f of crank handler, the
other pole being connected by the cord g to the other hand grip f. Upon shaft b
is mounted a drum encircled by segments i about which is wound a cord kone
of whose ends is attached to a spring balance / and the other end to a pulley m
so as to act as a band brake on the drum h. A lever n provided with notches,
each of which represents one kilogramme, enables the spring of balance to be put
in tension for the purpose of increasing the pressure of the brake upon the drum
and consequently of increasing at will the resistance to movement. A graduated
dial plate o is revolved by a worm on shaft b in relation to a pointer p and indicates
the number of revolutions of the crank handle, a gong 9 being sounded at every
ten revolutions.
The counter in combination with the graduation of the spring balance serves
to indicate the power which has been developed. For example if the resistance
equals say 20 lbs. on the spring balance, each revolution of the crank handle
represents say 60 foot pounds and when the gong sounds after ten revolutions it
represents six hundred foot pounds.
The pulley c which drives the magneto-electric generator may be disconnected
from shaft b so as to allow of the apparatus being used for exercising purposes
only.
Total this l
Y
1
1007
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.
I, ABRAHAM MARTIN, of 11, Boulevard Magenta, 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 a system of electro-mechanical exercising apparatus
whereby in addition to the muscles being mechanically exercised, the whole or any
part of the human organism is subjected to electrical action proportional to the power
developed. In addition to the uses above mentioned, the apparatus may also be
employed for reducing obesity.
•
My apparatus not only permits of producing power but also of giving to the body
a general course of gymnastics by employing the individual strength to set in
movement a magneto-electric generator or its equivalent, which when in action
generates a current which may be caused to pass through the entire organism or
certain parts of the body only. Thus if it is desired to electrize the arms it is
simply necessary to place the hands upon the contacts on the crank handle in
order to feel the magnetic effect. For the abdomen a belt would be employed

page_text: provided with metallic plates connected with the dynamo. For the legs, two
bands also connected to the poles of the generator would be applied either on the
ankles or at the knees. For the spine a kind of back support would extend from
the nape of the neck to the lower part of the vertebral column provided with a
metallic plate at each end. It will be however readily understood that the current
may be applied to any other parts of the body than those mentioned, it being simply
necessary for this purpose to provide at suitable points contacts connected with the
poles of the electric generator. The length of the crank arm is such that its throw
is sufficient when the apparatus is in use to compel the body to assume a con-
siderable degree of inclination, which stimulates respiration and circulation and
at same time developes the flexibility of the body.
It will be seen from the foregoing that the apparatus may be thus utilized for
performing exercises of strength and movement while at same time producing an
electric action.
My invention is illustrated in the drawings accompanying my Provisional
Specification in which Figure 1 represents a face view and Figure 2 a correspond-
ing side view of the apparatus. The same letters of reference denote like parts
in both figures.
a is the frame of the machine upon which is mounted a shaft 6 carrying a
pulley by which is driven a magnetic-electric generator d. One of the poles
is connected by a cord e to one of the hand grips f of crank handle r, the
other pole being connected by the wire g to the other hand grip f. Upon shaft b
is mounted a drum h encircled by segments i about which is wound a cord k one
of whose ends is, attached to a spring balance 7 and the other end to a pulley m
so as to act as a band brake on the drum h. A lever n provided with notches.
each of which represents one kilogramme, enables the spring of balance to be put
in tension for the purpose of increasing the pressure of the brake upon the drum
and consequently of increasing at will the resistance to movement. A graduated
dial plate o is revolved by a worm on shaft 6 in relation to a pointer p and indicates
the number of revolutions of the crank handle, a gong 7 being sounded at every
ten revolutions.
The counter in combination with the graduation of the spring balance serves
to indicate the power which has been developed. For example if the resistance
equals say 20 lbs. on the spring balance, each revolution of the crank handle
represents say 60 foot pounds and when the gong sounds after ten revolutions it
represents six hundred foot pounds.
The pulley which drives the magneto-electric generator d may be disconnected
from shaft so as to allow of the apparatus being used for exercising purposes
only.
The form and details of construction of the apparatus may be varied without
in any way departing from the principle of the invention.
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
1st. A system of electro-mechanical apparatus for exercising the muscles of the
human body and thereby generating an electric action applicable to the whole or
any part of the body, comprising a frame a, shaft b pulley e actuating a magneto-
electric generator d whose poles are respectively connected to the hand grips f
of crank handle r, a brake drum h encircled by brake shoes, segments i embraced
by a cord connected to a spring balance and also to a regulating pulley m
adjustable by means of a notched lever n to vary the tension of the cord and
spring balance substantially as specified.
2nd. In an electro-mechanical gymnastic apparatus of the kind specified in the
preceding claim, the counter comprising a graduated dial o operated by a worm on
shaft and moving past a pointer p for indicating the number of revolutions of
the crank handle and the gong q sounding every ten revolutions.

page_text: 3rd. In an electro-mechanical gymnastic apparatus of the kind specified, the
combination of the counter with the graduated spring balance for indicating the
power developed as described.
Dated this 9th day of August 1898
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.