Improvements in Exercising Apparatus for Developing the Human Body.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 18th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 2nd Jan., 1897
SPEC
TION.
Improvements in Exercising Apparatus for Developing the Human
Body.
I, ALGERNON HERBERT SPENCER, of Netherby, The Avenue, Gipsy Hill, in
the County of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The invention relates to a simple and effective arrangement of apparatus to be
used in exercising the human body.
For this purpose I employ two sets of sheaves or pulleys, each set being mounted
in a separate block or frame, and I use in combination therewith a rope running
over the various pulleys, the whole being arranged as what is known as "block
and tackle" or "fall and tackle."
The "standing pulley " block or frame is preferably mounted so as to be capable
of swivelling, whilst the "running pulley " block or frame is attached by a spring
to a fixed point.
One end of the rope is attached to the "standing pulley" block or frame, whilst
the other end is free and is provided with two rope ends and grips or handles.
The apparatus above described can be mounted on a board or frame, which can
be fixed to a wall or other support; or the brackets carrying the "standing pulley"
and the spring attached to the "running pulley" may be separately attached to a
wall or other support.
By holding the grips or handles in the hands and pulling on the rope, the arms,
chest, and body can be exercised, the spring exercising a force against that exerted
on the grips or handles.
A hand or pointer may be mounted on one of the running pulleys and a scale
may be attached to the board upon which the brackets are mounted or directly
to the wall or other support, thus showing the equivalent of the weight which
would be raised by a similar exertion.
Dated this 18th day of February 1896.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in Exercising Apparatus for Developing the Human
Body.
I, ALGERNON HERBERT SPENCER, of Netherby, The Avenue, Gipsy Hill, in
the County of Surrey, 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:-
The invention relates to a simple and effective arrangement of apparatus to be
used in exercising the human body

page_text: In order that my invention may be clearly understood I have illustrated my
apparatus in the accompanying drawing, which represents a side elevation of
the same.
According to my invention I employ two sets of sheaves or pulleys, each set
being mounted in separate blocks or frames a b, and I use in combination there-
with a rope c running over the various pulleys, the whole being arranged as what
is known as "block and tackle" or "fall and tackle."
One of the said pulley frames, say a, is provided with a screw-threaded stud d
at one extremity and screw nut d', for the purpose of mounting it, preferably with
capability of swivelling, on a fixed bracket e. The pulley frame b is similar to
the frame a, bat instead of the screw-threaded stud I provide an eye or hook f to
enable it to be attached to one end of a coiled spring g, whose other end is
preferably attached to a swivelling hook mounted in a fixed bracket i.
The apparatus as above described may be mounted on a board or frame k, which
can be fixed by any suitable means to a wall or other support, or the brackets a
and b carrying the "standing pulley" and the spring attached to the "running
pulley," may be separately attached to a wall or other support capable of with-
standing the strain caused by pulling the rope c.
One end of the rope c is attached to the eye provided for that purpose at the
free end of the pulley-frame a, then carried alternately round all the pulleys in a
well known manner, whilst the other end is attached to the eye or hook of a yoke l.
To the latter I fix a rope or ropes m provided with two grips or handles nn.
It will be clear that, by holding the said grips or handles in the hands and
pulling on the rope, the arms, chest and body can be exercised in a most
advantageous manner. The spring g opposes a force against that exerted by a
person on the grips or handles nn, and pulls the rope in so that the hook attachment
of it with the yoke l comes to rest against the head of the fixed bracket e, although
in the drawing the rope has been shown drawn out to some extent for greater
clearness.
When desired a hand or pointer may be mounted on one of the running pulleys
and a scale may be attached in any suitable place in proximity to the said pointer
to enable readings to be taken showing the equivalent of the weight which would
be raised by a similar force. As, however, this latter device is no part of my
present invention, it has been omitted from the drawing.
It will be evident that other descriptions of springs than that shown in the
drawing may be employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The peculiar construction and combination of parts forming the apparatus for
exercising the human body substantially as herein shown and described.
2. In exercising apparatus for developing the human body, the combination of
two sets of sheaves or pulleys mounted in separate blocks or frames, one block or
frame being fixed at one end to a fixed point, whilst the other block or frame is
connected to a spring, a rope fixed at one end to the "standing pulley" and passing
round the various pulleys, and grips or handles fixed to the loose end of such rope,
substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 18th day of November 1896.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.