improvements in Dumb Bells for Physical Culture Exercises.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1899
Complete Specification Left. 15th Feb.. 1900-Accepted, 12th May, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
improvements in Dumb Bells for Physical Culture Exercises.
I, EUGEN SANDOW, of 32, St. James Street, Piccadilly, London, Athlete, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
.
This invention relates to an improvement in or that is applicable to an ordinary
solid dumb-bell, and consists of a spring or springs, or other elastic attachments
fitted to any ordinary dumb-bell in such a manner as to make it necessary to grip
such springs or attachments on the dumb-bell with the hand when being used.
The object of my invention is to cause a tension of the muscles of the arms in
the person using them and thereby obtain strength and health with less exertion
and in less time than when an ordinary dumb-bell is used without my said
improvement.
For the purpose of this invention I fit along the side of the handle of any solid
dumb bell such as is or may be formed either of wood of metal, steel springs whose
ends rest on the ends of the dumb bell so as to leave a space around the handle of the
dumb bell between said springs and handle, and secured to the ends of the
dumb bell in such a manner as will permit the steel springs to retain their
elasticity; or I place around the handle of the dumb bell metallic or other strips
resting on suitable springs that are connected to the handle or to the ends or
knobs of the dumb bell; or elastic bands are attached to and stretched between
the ends of the dumb-bell, said bands being composed of india rubber, or of
leather cords or strands.
By these means an ordinary form of dumb bell may be employed in combination
with springs attached to or fitted on the outside of said dumb bell, and tension
of the muscles of the arms when used for physical culture exercises thereby
obtained. The herein before described springs may be either permanently affixed
to the dumb-bell or may be detachable..
1
1000
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
Agents for the Applicant
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.
Improvements in Dumb Bells for Physical Culture Exercises.
I, EUGEN SANDOW, of 32, St. James Street, Piccadilly, London, Athlete, do
ereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
[Price 8d.1

page_text: be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:—
My invention relates to improvements in dumb-bells, and consists in the 'appli
- cation of one or more springs to an ordinary dumb-bell so as to cause the same to
require a firm grip when held in the hand. This firm grip of the dumb-bell is
intended to, and does cause a continuous tension of the muscles of the arms, wrists
hands, and fingers when used for physical culture exercises.
The invention consists in the application of flat, curved, or spiral springs, or a
combination of several springs to the exterior portion of an ordinary dumb-bell
in such a position and manner that when the handle is grasped by the hand the
spring or springs will be compressed.
The dumb-bells may be constructed of wood, compressed pulp, metal or other
suitable material.
The manner in which my invention is to be performed or carried into practical
effect will be readily understood on reference to the sheet of drawings hereunto
annexed and the following explanation thereof.
It will be obvious that various ways of giving an expansive or a compressive
action to the bar or handle of the dumb-bell may be adopted without departing
from the distinctive features of my invention, but for the sake of illustration I
have shewn on the drawings different forms which the invention may take.
Figs. 1 and 2 are illustrations of ordinary forms of solid dumb-bells such as
may have springs applied either-as-shown-in-Eigs. 3_to_13_or other equivalent
manner so as to obtain an elastic or compressible handle in accordance with this
invention. For illustration a dumb-bell as Fig. 2 is represented in Figs. 3 and 4
with narrow round edged steel springs formed so as to clip on over the solid
ends of the dumb-bell and retained by having their ends turned up and
covered by a grooved disc m placed thereon, said disc being secured to the end
of the dumb-bell by a screw t.
In Fig. 5 round edged steel springs are placed around the solid handle a of
a like form of dumb-bell as Fig. 2, the ends of said springs being retained in
holes drilled or otherwise formed around the inner side of the bell; Figs. 6 and 7
show an ordinary solid dumb-bell such as is represented in Fig. 1, with round
edged steel springs placed around the dumb-bell and secured in the same manner
as Figs. 3 and 4, but with coil springs inserted between the springs / and the
bells b.
Figs. S and show a solid dumb-bell as Fig. 1 with round edged springs
formed with shoe ends * placed around the handle a and retained by india rubber
rings, against which the aforesaid shoe ends of the springs press.
Figs. 10 and 11 show bands of india rubber or an elastic belt formed with
thickened ends stretched between the bells and secured thereto by thin
imetallic casings having a groove on the inner edge to receive the aforesaid
thickened ends of rubber or other elastic substances; said casings may be formed
in two parts and secured to the bell by screws. Figs. 12 and 13 show the
application of a compressible handle to an ordinary dumb-bell by enclosing the
solid handle a in a pneumatic tube as y. For convenience of fitting said tube
on the solid handle one of the bells b may be made to screw on to the handle a
after the tube y has been placed thereon; a valve for inflation is fitted in one
of the bells b and connected with the tube y.
It is obvious that other forms of springs than those shown on the drawings may
he fitted to a dumb-bell externally without departing from my invention.
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 improvements in dumb-bells for physical culture exercises which consist
in making the handle or bar (which unites the two bells) resilient by means of

page_text: springs, so that when in use the grasp of the hands compresses the springs thus
causing a continuous tension and play of the muscles of the arms, wrists and
hands, thereby enabling a person using these dumb-bells to gain strength and
health in a much more efficient manner and with less exertion than with the
ordinary dumb-bells, in the manner substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. A dumb-bell that is formed solid as an ordinary dumb-bell fitted with springs
placed thereon or secured thereto externally so as to obtain a resilient or com-
pressible handle adapted to be compressed by the hand substantially as described
and as shown on the drawings.
3. A dumb-bell that is formed solid as an ordinary dumb bell with elastic bands
or pneumatic cushions placed around the handle of said bell by which to obtain
a resilient or compressible handle adapted to be compressed by the hand sub-
stantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
Dated thin 144h
1000
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
Agents for the Applicant
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester..