Improvements in and appertaining to Exercising Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 15th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 15th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 13th June, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and appertaining to Exercising Machines.
I ROBERT JOHN PARKES of 2 Church Street Southport in the County of
Lancaster Medical Electrician do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention has for its object an improved exercising machine by the use of
which the limbs and various portions of the body may be exercised and strengthened
and in which the resistance offerred may be easily and conveniently adjusted to suit
the strength of the user and the effect desired to be produced.
A machine constructed according to my invention consists of a small heavy
vertical fly wheel mounted on a spindle and supported on standards affixed to a
stand or bed plate. The outside extremities of the spindle carry cranks and foot
pedals and the whole is so proportioned that the wheel may be conveniently turned
(equally well in either direction) by a person sitting on a chair or seat which may
either be separate or form part of the machine.
In order to vary the amount of resistance to the users efforts as required
I provide an adjustable braking device by means of which pressure may be
placed upon the wheel.
The periphery of the wheel is provided with a narrow turned groove and the
upper portion thereof is occupied by a wire forming a band brake whose one end
is fixed to or connected with the bed plate and which after partially embracing the
wheel passes under a small pulley near the bed plate on the side next to the user.
I provide a light standard adjacent to this pulley, which carries (at a convenient
height to be reached by the hand) a screw adjusting device to which the end of the
wire passing from the pulley is attached. By turning this adjusting device the
tension of the wire may be varied and the friction on the wheel regulated with the
greatest nicety.
The action of the machine is peculiarly smooth and agreeable.
The machine may also be used by turning by hand.
Improvements in and appertaining to Exercising Machines.
I ROBERT JOHN PARKES of 2 Church Street, Southport in the County of
Lancaster Medical Electrician 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 has for its object an improved exercising machine by the use of
which the limbs and various portions of the body may be exercised or strengthened
and in which the resistance offered to the efforts of the user may be easily and
conveniently adjusted to suit his strength and the effect desired to be produced.
[Price 8d.

page_text: A machine constructed according to my invention is particularly useful to people
who desire to take exercise indoors.
In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation & Fig. 2 an end elevation of a
machine constructed in accordance with my invention and are drawn about one
quarter full size though I do not limit myself to the size shown or to the precise
details of construction. I have however shown an example of machine that is very
successful and efficient in actual use.
It consists of a heavy vertical fly wheel A mounted on a spindle a supported on
standards B affixed to a stand or bed plate C. The outer extremities of the spindle
carry cranks D having pedals E and the whole is so proportioned that the wheel
may be conveniently turned in either direction by the feet of a person sitting on a
chair or seat. The seat may if desired_form a portion of the machine & be
attached to the stand C.
In order to vary the amount of resistance to the users efforts as desired I provide
an adjustable braking device by means of which pressure may be placed upon the
wheel. The periphery of the wheel is provided with a narrow turned groove F
and the upper portion is occupied by a wire G forming a band brake whose one
end is connected to the bed plate Cas by eye bolt g, and which after partially
embracing the upper portion of wheel A passes under a small pulley H near the
said bed plate on the side next to the user. I provide a light standard I adjacent
to the pulley which carries at a convenient height to be reached by the hand, a
screw adjusting device to which the end of wire G passing from pulley H is
attached. This is constructed as follows. At the upper end of standard I is a
small right angled projection l' which is perforated and through which passes a
bent piece of metal J whose upper end is screw threaded and engages a screwed
knob K resting on said angled piece I'. The lower end of piece J passes through
a slot L in standard I and is bolt headed as shown to prevent turning. The end
of wire G is fastened to the piece J so that by turning knob K the tension and
consequently braking power may be varied at will with the greatest nicety.
The action of the machine is found in actual use to be very smooth and
agreeable.
If desired the machine may be used by turning by the hand or hands and for
this purpose may be placed on a table.
Attached to standard I is a handle M for use in moving the machine about and
to further facilitate this I affix a pair of castors or small wheels N in the bevilled'
front of the base plate. These are normally just clear of the floor but when the
machine is canted over by the handle they come into play.
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. An improved exercising machine having a fly wheel, a pair of cranks and
pedals and a screw adjusting device whereby any desired tension may be employed,
substantially as described and shown.
2. In an exercising machine a fly wheel provided with a peripheral groove, a
wire lying in said groove, and a screw adjusting device for regulating the tension
on said wire.
3. The improved exercising machine taken as a whole substantially as described
and shown.
Dated this 14th day of April 1896