Improvements in Electro-Medical and Exercising Apparatus.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Electro-Medical and Exercising Apparatus.
I, WILLIAM ALFRED WEBB, residing at No. 176 Calyer Street, in Brooklyn,
King's County, in the State of New York, U.S.A., Manufacturer, 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 electro-medical and exercising apparatus; and it con-
sists in the improved construction and arrangement of appliances hereinafter fully
set forth.
Although generally applicable to exercising apparatus, the invention is more
particularly disclosed in connection with dumb-bells. I have devised a novel con-
struction of exercising device for such purpose and also provision for permitting
its weight to be imperceptibly increased, as required. I have also provided con-
venient means for supporting the battery, induction-coil, and circuit-breaker on
the person of the operator.
The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and represent what
I consider a good means for carrying out the invention.
Figure 1 represents my improved apparatus in use.
The succeeding figures are on a larger scale.
Figure 2 is a side view of a dumb-bell.
Figure 3 is a central longitudinal section on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2.
Figure 4 is a face view of the induction-coil case in the form of a short cylinder
adapted to hang on the breast of the operator when in use.
Figure 5 is a vertical section through the same in a plane at right angles to
the axis.
Figure 6 is a central vertical section of the same in the plane of the axis.
Figure 7 is a view of the same part from below.
Figure 8 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the parts in the induction-
coil case.
The parts exterior to said case are indicated in greatly reduced dimen-
sions.

page_text: Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where
they appear.
A is a metal cord insulated and serving to connect with a source of electricity
and connecting by a screw-cap A¹ with a metal tube B, the latter of sufficient size
to serve as a convenient handle for a dumb-bell. CC are hemispheres, of cast-iron
or other suitable material, each provided with a neck C₁ by which they may be
socketed upon the ends of the tube B. The necks C¹ and the ends of the tube B
may, if preferred, be provided with engaging screw-threads, so as to insure còn-
nection between them independently of other means. Each is equipped to form
a half of a flat face M, in which is an aperture m for receiving coins N, or analogous
weights of metal, and is equipped with provisions for retaining such, as will
appear further on.
DD are hollow hemispheres corresponding in size and designed to match a
little within the rim C, as shown, and adapted to constitute the other half of the
flat face M. These parts D are equipped with further provisions for automatically
closing the aperture m, and are also each adapted to receive one the head E¹ and
the other the screw-thread E2 on the axial rod E, which extends longitudinally
and when properly adjusted binds the whole securely together.
B, C C, D D, and E E¹ E³; constitute the dumb-bell. When the device is in
use, the wires A communicate with a source of electricity, the wire to one dumb-
bell being positive, and the wire to the other being negative, so that when the
hands of the operator grasp each a proper tubular handle B, the current from the
positive wire A is received through the corresponding tube B into the hand grasp-
ing it, and through the arms and chest of the operator and the other hand to
the tube B and corresponding wire A, which leads to the negative pole of the
battery, to be described further on.
F is a case which hangs on the breast of the operator. I will call it the "induc-
tion-coil" case. It contains an induction-coil G and a vibrating contact-breaker H,
with the ordinary provisions for maintaining a vibrating motion in the latter by
the force of a gentle electrical current communicated, through the wires I and I
with a battery K, which is inclosed in a convenient case J. The flexible connec-
tions I are each a conductor with an insulated covering. These wires I perform
the double function of suspending the attached parts and also communicating the
current, one connecting with the positive pole and the other with the negative pole
of the battery K.
It will be noted that the body of the case F is presented by a block F which has
an eccentrically located recess f, for the reception of the induction-coil G, thus
Jeaving a considerable portion at one end of the case for the formation of a tangen-
tial recess f¹ for the location of the circuit-breaker H. This latter recess f¹ can
be securely closed by a concentrically-sliding cover F1, which moves in guides pro-
vided therefor in the case. The cover can be slid back to afford access to the
recess f without objectionably projecting from the case. Hence the latter and
parts immediately carried thereby are securely and strongly associated..
By having the battery and induction-coil case suspended at the back and front,
respectively, of the wearer, they tend to counterbalance each other, and hence the
combined weight represented by both will hardly prove onerous.
Any battery may be used in the casing J. I prefer, for obvious reasons, some
of the forms of what are known as "dry" batteries.
N N are metallic discs of moderate size. They may be pennies or other con-
venient coins of a size which will allow their being introduced one by one into
the interiors of the hollow dumb-bells through the apertures m. I have devised
means for easily admitting such and securing against their escape.
PP are
round-headed "buttons" mounted in the sides of the passages and provided with
loosely fitted guiding-stems, as shown. These serve as automatic valves. When
a coin or analogous weight is introduced through the aperture m, it acts wedge-
wise between the rounded faces and separates these buttons. As soon as it has
passed inward and the device is tilted or shaken, the buttons move again into con-

page_text: tact, thus retaining the coin or other weight. In order to remove the whole or a
portion of the weights thus added, the device must be dis-membered. There are
intentional difficulties interposed in the unscrewing of the bolt E. The operation
can only be effected by a proper tool. Further security against too easily per-
forming such abstraction may be obtained by applying a seal over the head E.
After the operator has become well accustomed to working with these dumb-
bells at a certain weight the introduction of coins or other discs through the valved
aperture m allows the weight to be increased gradually and according as the
strength and ambition of the operator shall elect.
To use the apparatus, it is taken down from the suspending-nail or other con-
venient storage-place and hung on the person of the operator. The dumb-bells, if
not already in circuit, are connected by the binder screw-cap A' with the wires A,
and on grasping both handles B the current flows, properly interrupted or reversed
by the vibrating contact-breaker H, and is continued through all the exercises,
gentle or violent, graceful or acrobatic, in which the operator chooses to indulge.
The current will stop whenever the operator takes either hand out of contact.
The dumb-bells may be left connected or not.
There may be the ordinary means for specially insuring against short-circuiting.
One of my improved dumb-bells may be used without the other by providing any
suitable conductor from the hand or any other part of the person of the operator
back to the magnet-case F, so as to complete the circuit.
"
I use the term dumb-bells to indicate any exercising appliance of analogous
character. The invention applies well to the form generally known as "Indian
clubs."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is: ---
1. The combination is electro-medical exercising apparatus, of a battery, a case
containing a circuit-breaker, circuit connections for adapting said battery and case
for suspension at the rear and front respectively of the person's body, and an
exercising device in partial circuit with the circuit-breaker to be in closed circuit
therewith when grasped, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination in electro-medical exercising apparatus, of a case F con-
taining a circuit-breaker and provided with a sliding cover F1, a battery, and an
exercising device in partial circuit with the circuit-breaker to be in closed circuit
therewith when grasped, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination in an electro-medical exercising apparatus, of a case F
having a body provided with eccentric and tangential recesses f, f', an induction-
coil and circuit-breaker located respectively therein, a sliding cover F1 for the
recess f, a battery, and an exercising device in partial circuit with the circuit
breaker to be in closed circuit therewith when grasped, substantially as herein
set forth.
4. In electro-medical exercising apparatus, the combination with a suitable
battery, of an exercising device comprising a cylindrical handle in partial circuit
with the battery to be in closed circuit therewith when grasped, and detachably
carrying a weighted body, substantially as herein specified.
5. As an electro-medical exercising apparatus, a pair of weights adapted to be
held in the hands of the operator, provided with flexible insulated conductors lead-
ing to a source of electricity, the weights being hollow to receive additional weights
to be stored within the main weights, all arranged for joint operation substantially
as herein specified.
6. A dumb-bell or equivalent exercising weight in six parts, B, C C, D D, and E,
provided with apertures m and provisions P for allowing the introduction and
retention of additional weights N at will, as herein specified.
7. In electro-medical exercising apparatus, the casings F and J, with flexible

page_text: connections I, adapted to perform the double function of suspending the casings
on the person and electrically connecting a battery and magnet, all substantially
as herein specified.
Dated this 28th day of October 1897
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.