An Improved Exercising Apparatus.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 16th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 19th May, 1894
An Improved Exercising Apparatus.
I, RICHARD HENRY BATH, of 23, Daleham Gardens, South Hampstead, in the
County of London, Fruit Grower, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
--
This invention relates to a novel and simple construction of apparatus to enable
persons to obtain exercise similar to that obtained in horse riding.
In carrying out my invention I employ a saddle or seat mounted on springs in
such a manner that the said saddle or seat can be moved up and down as well as
laterally by the person using the apparatus, that is to say, the seat or saddle is
mounted on a kind of universal joint, suitable guides being provided to limit the
amount of play of the seat in any direction.
In order to obtain the peculiar "bumping" effect obtained in horse riding buffers
are provided which are made adjustable so that the amount of bump may be
regulated, and to further allow of such regulation I employ springs preferably in
the form of rubber cords or bands, provided with means for increasing or diminishing
the tension thereof.
Stirrups or foot-rests are attached to the apparatus to enable the person to
operate the saddle or rest to obtain the required movement.
Dated this 1st day of November 1893.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
An Improved Exercising Apparatus.
I, RICHARD HENRY BATH, of 23, Daleham Gardens, South Hampstead, in the
County of London, Fruit Grower, 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 a novel and simple construction of apparatus to enable
persons to obtain exercise similar to that obtained in horse riding.
In carrying out my invention employ a saddle or seat mounted on springs in
such a manner that the said saddle or seat can be moved up and down by the person
using the apparatus, suitable guides being provided to limit the amount of play of
the seat in any direction.
In order to obtain the peculiar "bumping" effect obtained in horse riding, buffers
are provided which are made adjustable so that the amount of bump may be
regulated, and to further allow of such regulation I employ springs preferably in
the form of rubber cords or bands.
Stirrups or foot-rests are attached to the apparatus to enable the person to operate
the saddle or seat to obtain the required movement.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same by
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved exercising apparatus; and,
Figures 2 and 3 are side and end elevations respectively of the said apparatus:
ID 07

page_text: Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus on the line 4-4, Figure 3;
and,
Figure 5 is a plan:
Figures 6 and 7 are views of a detail hereinafter described.
a is the framing of the apparatus which supports a platform band is provided
with four legs c, c extended upwards to form posts d, d bars e, e connecting the front
posts and back posts respectively near their upper ends.
fis the saddle which is carried upon a board g and mounted upon springs h, h
upon the platform bin such a manner that when a person seated upon the saddle
bumps upon the same the springs will be depressed and then react. As long springs,
that is to say,-continuous springs, between the saddle and the platform would be
liable to bulge laterally when depressed, I preferably employ short springs as
shewn in Figure 4, the different sets of short springs being separated by boards i, i.
These boards also serve for the attachment of a leather or other covering around
the springs. Openings k, k are formed in this cover and preferably filled with
netting as shewn in Figure 3, in order to allow the escape and ingress of air during
the motions of the saddle.
is a standard pivotted to the front bar e and carrying handles m for the rider to
grasp when exercising. By pivotting the standard the handles may be adjusted
towards or away from the rider, for instance, as indicated by dotted lines in
Figure 4.
In order that the saddle shall move vertically, guide-pins n, n are fixed to the
front and rear of the saddle or to the board g carrying the same, and guides o, o are
fixed between the plate and the bars e, e in which the said pins n, n work.
In order to limit the extent to which the saddle shall be depressed when
exercising, adjustable blocks p, p carrying india-rubber buffers q, q are arranged in
the said guides o, o, the pins n, n striking against the said buffers which thus not
only limit the downward movement of the saddle but also impart a certain amount
of rebound thereto. The said blocks p, p are advantageously provided with bolts
whereby they can be clamped in position in the guides o, o by nuts p, p and
plates p², p². By arranging the buffers q, q at different heights it is obvious that
one pin n will strike its buffer before the other and thus impart a kind of trotting
movement to the saddle. r. r are also buffers arranged at the upper ends of the
guides o, o to limit the upward movement of the saddle and preferably made of
elastic material to lessen the shock. By providing the saddle with only single
guide at each end I am enabled to obtain a rocking motion in addition to an
np-and-down motion, the said pins n, n serving as the centre of oscillation.
a
The pins n, n are provided with collars s, s and washers s', s which prevent the
saddle from touching the framing or the guides at either end.
t, tare auxiliary springs for use when required, the said springs being attached
to hooks on the posts d, d and to other hooks upon the saddle, as shewn most
clearly in Figures 2 and 5, so as to allow of their being readily connected or
disconneted.
it, u are brackets having a series of slotted holes for carrying foot-boards v, v,
the said foot-boards being provided with studs adapted to pass through the holes
and enter the slots of the said brackets. Instead of using boards v, v I may use
stirrups or foot-rests w, one of which is shewn in end and side elevation respectively
in Figures 6 and 7; these foot-rests are also adapted to be carried by the
brackets u, u. Or instead of using either foot-boards or rests I may provide the
saddle with stirrups in the ordinary manner.
I may also, if desired, employ a saddle provided with a pommel to enable the
apparatus to be used by ladies.
, are feet fixed to legs pivotted inside the frame a which feet, when turned
outwards as indicated in Figures 3 and 5, steady the apparatus when in use.
It will be obvious that I may employ adjustable springs for allowing the
apparatus to be regulated to suit different requirements.
I sometimes for instance when the apparatus is intended for use by children

page_text: arrange in conjunction with the spring and other parts the representation of a
horse, the saddle being upon the back of the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An exercising apparatus in which a saddle is mounted upon springs and
provided with pins working in guides, the said guides having adjustable buffers
arranged in them against which the said guide-pias impinge, substantially as, and
for the purposes, described.
2. In an apparatus of the kind referred to in the preceding claiming clause the
employment of short springs arranged between boards, substantially as, and for the
purpose, described.
3. The combination with an apparatus of the kind referred to in the first claiming
clause, of auxiliary springs such as t, t as described.
•
4. The manufacture and use of the improved exercising apparatus hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 16th day of April 1894.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, Loudon, Agents for the Applicant.