New or Improved Appliances for Ascending and Descending Strained Inclined Cables, for the use of Gymnasts.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 26th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 1st Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Appliances for Ascending and Descending Strained
Inclined Cables, for the use of Gymnasts.
I, CATO QUEGERO, of 76 York Road, Lambeth, in the County of Surrey,
Gymnast, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
In carrying my invention into effect I employ, by preference, a rope formed of a
number of strands, each composed of a fibre centre and a number of external wires
twisted around the fibre. These compound strands are twisted together to form a
cable, which is then covered with a plaited fibre sheath.
For ascending an inclined cable, strained tightly to prevent excessive vibration,
I employ boots formed with leather uppers and a wood or other rigid sole; I also
pivot to each side of the said sole, in line with the ankle joint, an upwardly
extending iron or other metal stay shaped at its upper part to fit against the leg of
the gymnast, and I employ straps, bands, or laces, to fix the boot on to the
gymnast's foot and leg. To the bottom of the sole I fix two downwardly projecting
feet, the lower ends of which are formed of V shape, or otherwise hollowed out,
and I line such part with stout vulcanized rubber, to form a suitable gripping
surface for the cable. A gymnast shod with boots of this description will be enabled
to walk up a strained inclined cable.
To provide facility for descending such a cable I employ a sledge or carriage
provided with a groove on its bottom to receive the cable, and such sledge or
carriage may be provided with a projecting longitudinal bar on its upper surface
to fit a groove on the sole of one of the gymnast's boots, and it is also fitted with a
loop through which the toe of the boot is passed; the lower end of the carriage or
sledge is fitted with a foot stand formed on one side with a metal strip to fit into a
recess in the sole of the gymnast's other boot and on the other side with a rising
plate to fit against the side of the foot by which means the gymnast's foot is held
securely against displacement. Thus the gymnast can stand securely on the sledge
or carriage and can descend the inclined cable.
In some cases I form the sledge or carriage to represent a butterfly, moth, or
dragon, and I fit it with a seat for the gymnast and with a loop or stirrup for the
toe of one foot to pass through. In this latter case the wings of the butterfly,
moth, or dragon, are formed with steel ribs covered with Japanese silk or other
suitable material and such wings are raised so as partially to conceal the limbs of
the gymnast. The wings act also and mainly to balance the sledge or carriage.
Dated this 2nd day of December 1891.
CATO QUEGERO,
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Appliances for Ascending and Descending Strained
Inclined Cables, for the use of Gymnasts.
I, CATO QUEGERO, of 76 York Road, Lambeth, in the County of Surrey,
Gymnast, 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 carrying my invention into effect I employ, by preference, a rope formed of a
number of strands, each composed of a fibre centre and a number of external wires
.

page_text: on each side of the fore part of the foot and the heel against the back part of the
straps d, which latter are fastened around the foot. The strap e is employed for
fastening the upper part of the stay to the leg of the gymnast. Thus, whilst
the boot is firmly fixed to the gymnast's foot and leg, free motion is permitted to
the ankle joint by reason of the stay c being jointed to the sole a as above
described. The straps d are connected to the soles a by means of strings (l' as
shown, so that the straps d can form a support for the back of the heel.
I will now describe the carriage or sledge represented at Figures 4, 5, 6. g is
the body of a sledge or carriage, which formed with a groove gl to fit the strained
inclined rope; this groove is preferably formed by means of two strips of leather
or other suitable material fixed to, and extending a suitable distance below, the
body g, and the head of the said groove is preferably lined with a strip of
canvas . To afford the gymnast a suitable foothold on the sledge or carriage I
fix a cross piece to the front or lower end of the body g, and I cover said cross
piece with roughened india rubber or other material which will afford a good
holding surface for the foot, and to the centre of said cross piece I fix a metal
tongue to fit into a socket or pocket formed transversely of the sole of the
gymnast's boot or shoe. At the other or upper end of the sledge or carriage I form
a recess 9, and I fix over part of said recess, a shoe front or strap to receive the
front portion of the gymnast's foot. Thus the gymnast will place one foot length-
wise of the cross piece h, taking care to cause the metal tongue to enter the
socket made transversely of his boot or shoe, whilst he will place his other foot in
the recess and under or within the shoe front or strap is by this means he will
obtain a firm foothold. If desired however the body g of the sledge or carriage
may be provided with a longitudinal rib to fit a corresponding groove made in the
sole of the gymnast's boot or shoe.
i
I will now describe the sledge or carriage shown at Figures 7 and 8. In this
case the body g of the sledge or carriage is of similar form and is provided with a
groove g', made in like manner to those of the sledge or carriage shown at Figures 4,
5, 6, but said body g is provided with a swan shaped head and neck 9°, wings 96
and a cross seat g', a socket or recess 8 being formed in the lower part of the swan
neck to receive one foot of the gymnast. The cross seat g' may be made and
strengthened in the manner shown in the drawings or in other suitable manner.
will be readily understood that the sledge or carriage may be constructed of other
ornamental forms.
It
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and iu what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is:
1. A boot constructed substantially as shown and described with respect to
Figures 1, 2, 3, and for the purpose stated.
2. A sledge or carriage constructed substantially as shown and described with
respect to Figures 4, 5, 6, or 7 and 8, and for the purpose stated.
Dated this 26th day 01 A.UĽUST 1094.
Dated this 20th day of August 1892.
CATO QUEGERO,
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.