Improvements in Dumb-bells and the like used for Physical Culture Exercises.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Dec., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 17th Sept., 1900-Accepted, 29th Sept., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Dumb-bells and the like used for Physical Culture
Exercises.
I, ECGEN SANDOW, of 41, Albemarle Street, Piccadilly, London, Athlete,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention relates more particularly to that class of dumb-bells known
as the "bar-bell" consisting principally of a long bar intended to be grasped
by both hands at once and having a weight or knob at each end, and used for
exercising the muscles of the arms, back, and chest, and which may be swung
backwards over the head of the operator.
The object of this invention is to exercise certain muscles which have not
hitherto been acted upon by any bar-bell, that is ordinarily used as a dead
weight, which only brings into play the supporting muscles, whilst in this
invention it acts in addition on the pulling, and pushing muscles also, and at
the same time to more effectually exercise the usual muscles, and this I propose
to effect by giving to the bar between the two bells, weights, knobs or pro-
jections, a certain amount of resilience in a longitudinal direction by making
the same in two parts (either telescopically or otherwise) and providing such
parts with a coiled or other suitable spring or springs so applied that the operator
besides using the bar-bell in the ordinary manner as a dead weight, may also
lengthen the bar by moving his hands or elbows outwards and force or slide
the two ends apart against the resistance of the spring or springs which always
have a tendency to bring the two ends towards the centre and thus reduce the
bar to its normal or shortest length.
The springs may be applied in various ways: For example, the bar may be
made in a telescopic form one part sliding in the other, a bell or knob being
permanently fixed to the outer end of each, and the coiled spring placed inside
the tubular part so as to resist the solid portion or rod from being drawn or
forced outwards.
Or, the bells or knobs may be permanently fixed at each end of a single bar
and consequently always at the same distance apart. The bar in this case is
grasped by means of two tubular handles capable of sliding thereon, a coiled
spring being placed on the bar between the outer end of each handle and the
inner side of the bell or knob, so that the bells or knobs are always the same
distance apart but the tubular handles can be forced outwards against the
resistance of the springs, or inwards against the resistance of an inner spring,
which spring may be used outside or inside the telescopic or tubular bar.
It is evident that the same effect may also be produced in other similar ways
so that whilst the bar-bells are used in the ordinary manner the muscles can
be at the same time further exercised by forcing the hands asunder against the
resistance caused by the compression or extension of the spring or springs.
Or instead of the dumb-bells the same effect could be obtained by having a
simple rod or bar made of any suitable material (without any weighted ends or
knobs formed in two parts capable of sliding or telescoping into each other,

page_text: and provided with suitable spring or springs, for pulling or pushing the parts
together, or asunder.
In some cases the bar may not be rigid, but may be made out of such material
that it may bend.
1000
Improvements in Dumb-bells and the like used for Physical Culture
Exercises.
I, EUGEN SANDOW, of 41, Albemarle Street, Piccadilly, London, Athlete,
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 more particularly to that class of dumb-bells known
as the "bar-bell" consisting principally of a long bar intended to be grasped
by both hands at once and having a weight or knob at each end, and used for
exercising the muscles of the arms, back, and chest, and which may be swung
backwards over the head of the operator.
"
The objects of this invention are to exercise certain muscles which have not
hitherto been acted upon by any bar-bell" which is ordinarily used as a dead
weight, and which only brings into play the supporting muscles, whilst in this
invention it acts in addition upon the pulling and pushing muscles also; and
at the same time to more effectually exercise the usual muscles.
The manner in which my said 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.
According to my invention I propose to effect the objects above mentioned
by giving to the bar, between the two bells, knobs, weights, or other projections,
a certain amount of extensibility and resilience in a longitudinal direction,
by making the same in two parts (either telescopically or otherwise) and pro-
viding such parts with a coiled or other suitable spring or springs so applied
that the operator, besides using the "bar-bell" in the ordinary manner as a
dead weight, may also lengthen or extend the bar by moving his hands or
elbows outwards and force or slide the two ends apart against the resistance of
the spring or springs which always have a tendency to bring the two ends
towards the centre and thus reduce the bar to its normal or shortest length.
It will be evident that the springs may be applied in various ways. For
example (as illustrated partly in section by Fig. 1 of the annexed drawings)
the bar aa may be made in a telescopic form, one part a sliding within the
other a, a bell or knob b being permanently fixed to the outer end of each, and
the coiled spring placed inside the tubular part so as to resist the solid
portion a¹ from being drawn or forced outwards so as to lengthen or extend the
bar, and to return it to its normal position when released.
Or, the bells or knobs b, may be permanently fixed at each end of a single
bar a (and consequently always remain at the same distance apart (as illus-
trated by Fig. 2 on the drawing)
The bar a, in this case, is grasped by means of two tubular handles d capable
of sliding endwise thereon. a coiled spring e being placed on the bar between
the outer end of each handle d and the inner side of the bell or knob b, and a

page_text: third coiled spring f being placed on the bar a between the two handles, so
that the bells or knobs b, are always the same distance apart, but the tubular
handles d can be forced outwards against the resistance of the springs e or
inwards against the resistance of the central spring f.
It is evident that the same effect may also be produced in other similar ways
so that whilst the "bar-bells" are used in the ordinary manner the muscles can
be at the same time further exercised by forcing the hands either asunder or
bringing them towards each other against the resistance caused by the compres-
sion or extension of the spring or springs.
Or, instead of dumb-bells the same effect could be obtained by having a simple
rod or bar, made of any suitable material (without any weighted ends or knobs)
formed in two parts sliding telescopically or provided with sliding handles, and
having a suitable spring or springs so arranged as to pull or push the parts
together, or asunder, as described.
In some cases the bar may not be rigid, but may be made of such material
that it can also be bent so as to bring other muscles into play.
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 used for physical culture by making the
bar which connects the two "bells" or weight in two parts sliding telescopically
so that the length of the bar may be extended or contracted in a longitudinal
direction and providing the said two parts with a spring or springs which is or
are so arranged as to offer resistance to such extension or contraction.
2. I claim a single bar having a bell" or weight at each end, and provided
with tubular handles capable of sliding thereon, and providing the said bar
with spiral or other springs so arranged as to have a tendency to keep the said
sliding handles always at a certain normal distance from the centre, but at the
same time to allow of their being forced asunder outwards, or brought nearer
together against the resistance.
3. I claim the application of the said previously described arrangements or
any modification thereof to a plain bar or rod without
< bells" or weights
substantially in the manner and for the purposes described.
4. I claim the manufacture of a dumb-bell or bar or the like, used for
physical culture exercises, provided with a spring or springs so constructed and
applied as to allow of the two hands when grasping such bar to be moved farther
apart or brought closer together on the bar against the contracting or expanding
resistance (or both) of such spring or springs substantially in the
herein before described and shown on the annexed drawings for the purpose of
exercising the pulling or pushing muscles of the arms of the operator, as well
as exercising the supporting muscles in the ordinary manner.
Dated this 15th dow of Cantanation 1000
manner
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
Agents for the Applicant, 4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.