Improvements in Gymnastic Apparatus.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 12th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 7th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gymnastic Apparatus.
HERBERT FERDINAND WOODGATE Captain H.M.R. South Wales Borderers
of The Gymnasium Woolwich in the County of Kent and EUGEN SANDOW
Athlete of 24 Hyde Park Mansions Loudon in the County of Middlesex do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improved mechanism for muscular developement
especially of the leg and thigh. For this reason we construct a wooden or metal
base or other suitable substance, consisting of two or more arms at an angle
of 120° from each other or other suitable angles.
Two of these arms serve as the base of the machine, the third serving as a
support and in order to give greater stability.
From the centre where these arms join, and from the extremities of two of them
perpendicular props or poles are fixed which are suitably guyed to the base and to
each other.
On the centre pole are attached two arms which revolve freely, and are of the
desired height from the stand, that their centres are the height of the top of a
man's knees sitting down.
From the extremities of each of the arms which are padded, rise a perpendicular,
either the same height, or above or below the other props or perpendiculars.
These perpendiculars may also be connected for strength to the centre rod, on
which they revolve.
To the top of each of the perpendiculars on the arms, are attached a cord or
other suitable material, which passing over revolving wheels on the top of the outer
props or perpendiculars support weights.
The action of which weights is to draw the arms apart, but when the cords are
crossed is to draw the arms together.
Another method we may employ is to use strong elastic rope instead of weights
& cords.
Dated this Fourth day of November 1892.
HERBERT F. WOODGATE.
EUGEN SANDOW.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gymnastic Apparatus.
We, HERBERT FERDINAND WOODGATE Captain H.M.R. South Wales
Borderers of The Gymnasium Woolwich in the County of Kent, and EUGEN
SANDOW Athlete, of 2 Hyde Park Mansions, London in the County of Middlesex,
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 special mechanism forming an improved apparatus for
developing the muscular system, and especially the muscles of the legs and thighs.
It consists of a base or platform at the ends of which are two vertical standards.
Connected to these standards are india-rubber tension springs which are so fitted
as to be readily attachable to leather straps, which carry staples or eyes to receive
them. These straps are buckled round the thighs of the operator, and the springs
are so connected to these straps that a person sitting on a chair placed near, and

page_text: moving the thighs to and fro horizontally or otherwise encounters the opposition of
the springs in every direction.
I will now describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which
Fig. 1, shows an elevation of the apparatus in the working position, with the
lower part of a human figure added to indicate mode of use.
a is the base or platform, which for convenience of packing is hinged at b, so as
to fold into a shorter space. c, c, are the two standards which by preference are
made of hollow metal tube, and are screwed into sockets and flanges at d. e, e, are
loops forming handles on top of the standards c. c. To these loops the upper
springs, are attached. f is a straining rod placed between and connected to the
standards cc, to keep them rigidly upright. It is either jointed or screwed
together at the centre by means of the winged nut g. h, h, are two sliding
adjustable sockets carrying eyes j, to which the lower springs k are attached.
m, m, are two straps to go round the thigh, and carry loops n, n, to which the outer
ends of the springs can be attached. Two of the springs are shewn attached to the
straps on each side. It will be observed that each of the upper springs lis
connected to the farthest strap from its starting point, and each of the lower
springs k, k, to the nearest strap. In this way the leg cannot move in any direction
without encountering the resistance of a spring.
The mode of action is to place the straps and springs as shewn, and move the
limbs to and fro and up and down so far as possible. When the muscular power
of the hip and leg is increased additional springs can be attached.
The upper springs can also be used for exercising the arms if desired, by fitting
handles to their ends.
Instead of the india-rubber springs, steel springs can be used, or cords and
weights with pulleys, but from practical experiments we find india-rubber of suitable
strength, yield the best results.
The apparatus unscrews and takes to pieces and can be packed in a box of
moderate size.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A gymnastic apparatus for exercising the muscles of the hip and thigh, as
herein described and set forth.
2. In a mechanical apparatus for developing the muscles of the hip and legs, the
base a, the standards c, c, the springs k, l, the sliding eyes h, h, loops e, e, jointed
stay bar f, and straps m, m, as herein described and set forth.
Dated this 12th day of Angust. 1893.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Patent Agent.