Improvements in Gymnastic Exercising Apparatus.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 14th June, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 17th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gymnastic Exercising Apparatus.
I, ANTOINE BÉRANGER PUPIL, of 16 Rue Drouot, Paris, in the Republic of
France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object a new gymnastic apparatus, which I call a
"Hygienic walker" (marcheuse hygiénique) because it allows of all the exercise
and the muscular development which are the result of walking, or even running,
being obtained on the spot. This apparatus allows then of the action of walking
being performed on one spot, developing the muscular organs contributing thereto.
From a hygienic point of view, it enables persons having a tendency to obesity
to maintain themselves at a suitable degree of stoutness. It may also be advan-
tageously employed for producing rapidly, and without moving from the spot,
re-actions which must precede and follow a so called hydro-therapeutic treatment.
My apparatus is composed of an inclined plane, the angle of which may be varied as
desired, formed of a series of rollers arranged in such a way as to allow of their
revolving freely on their axis, and on which a person can only stand by making a
movement of his legs similar to that of running. The persons keep on this
constantly moving floor by holding on to handles fixed vertically or horizontally.
This apparatus is, therefore, as may be seen, a novel application of a principle
already employed in certain agricultural machines, in which a horse, or other
suitable animal, placed on a movable inclined floor, produces, by the regular
movement of its legs, tho shifting of the inclined plane forming the floor from
which a longitudinal motion results which is easily transformed into a continuous
circular one.
The apparatus may consist of an inclined plane formed of a series of rollers
held at each side by trunnions or preferably by a series of pointed pegs in the
supports or cross_bars, constituting the frame, which is suitably stayed, of the
inclined plane. These supports are connected by means of a sliding fastener,
which may be fixed in the vertical support in such a position as may be desired,
this vertical support serving simultaneously to sustain the cross bars and to form
a "point d'appui " (support) for the person making use of the apparatus by means
of two handles at the top of the support. The connection is maintained and the
support kept vertical by means of a bar hinged on the frame and connected to
the vertical support by a slide fastening allowing, together with the fastener, the
inclination of the plane being varied at will.
The cylinders or rollers are of any suitable material, but preferably of wood
coated with india-rubber in order to give a better foot hold. As above mentioned,
a method of mounting by means of pointed pegs may be adopted, which gives an
excellent result as far as mobility is concerned.
The apparatus works in the following manner :-
The person who desires to make use of it mounts on the rollers, where, in con-
sequence of the effect of the weight, he moves rapidly towards the bottom, if he
does not make a motion with his legs equivalent to that of a person running, a
motion which brings him constantly towards the top of the plane, thus compelling
him to make a gymnastic exercise which rapidly produces, in the body of the
individual, a re-action of heat equal to what would result from a long walk or
even a run; thus, without moving from the spot, very favourable hygienic results

page_text: may be obtained, and especially a simple and commodious method of destroying
obesity in persons who have a tendency thereto.
Dated this 13th day of June 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gymnastic Exercising Apparatus.
I, ANTOINE BERANGER PUPIL of 16 Rue Drouot, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Gunsmith, 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 has for its object a new gymnastic apparatus, which I call a
"Hygienic walker" (marcheuse bygiénique) because it allows of all the exercise and
the muscular development which are the result of walking, or even running, being
obtained on the spot. This apparatus allows then of the action of walking being
performed on one spot, developing the muscular organs contributing thereto. From
a hygienic point of view, it enables persons having a tendency to obesity to main-
tain themselves at a suitable degree of stoutness. It may also be advantageously
employed for producing rapidly, and without moving from the spot, re-actions
which must precede and follow a so called hydro-therapeutic treatment.
My apparatus is composed of an inclined plane, the angle of which may be varied
as desired, formed of a series of rollers arranged in such a way as to allow of their
revolving freely on their axis, and on which a person can only stand by making a
movement of his legs similar to that of running. The persons keep on this
constantly moving floor by holding on to handles fixed vertically or horizontally.
This apparatus is, therefore, as may be seen, a novel application of a principle
already employed in certain agricultural machines, in which a horse, or other
suitable animal, placed on a movable inclined floor, produces, by the regular
movement of its legs, the shifting of the inclined plane forming the floor from
which a longitudinal motion results which is easily transformed into a continuous.
circular one.
In order to facilitate the comprehension of this Specification, reference is made
to the accompanying drawing which represents as an example-
Figure 1 a side elevation of an apparatus on my system ;
Figure 2 a front elevation of the same;
Figure 3 a detail of the construction and of the mounting of one of the cylinders
or rollers.
The same reference letters represent the same parts in the various drawings.
The apparatus consists of an inclined plane A formed of a series of rollers B
held at each side by trunnions or preferably by a series of pointed pegs C,
Figure 3, in the supports or cross bars A, constituting the frame, which is suitably
stayed, of the inclined plane. These supports are connected by means of a sliding
fastener d which may be fixed in the vertical support D in such a position as may
be desired, this vertical support serving simultaneously to sustain the cross bars A
and to form a "point d'appui" (support) for the person making use of the
apparatus by means of two handles P P at the top of the support. The connection
is maintained and the support kept vertical by means of a bar E hinged at a on the
frame and connected to the vertical support D by a slide fastening e allowing,
together with the fastener d, the inclination of the plane A being varied at will.
The cylinders or rollers B are of any suitable material, but preferably of wood
coated with india-rubber in order to give a better foot hold. Figure 3 shows a
method of mounting by means of pointed pegs C which gives an excellent result as
far as mobility is concerned.

page_text: The apparatus works in the following manner-
The person who desires to make use of it mounts on the rollers B, where, in:
consequence of the effect of the weight, he moves rapidly towards the bottom, if he
does not make a motion with his legs equivalent to that of a person running, a
motion which brings him constantly towards the top of the plane, thus compelling
him to make a gymnastic exercise which rapidly produces, in the body of the-
individual, a re-action of heat equal to what would result from a long walk or even
a run; thus, without moving from the spot, very favourable hygienic results may
be obtained, and especially a simple and commodious method of destroying obesity
in persons who have a tendency thereto.
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 improved gymnastic apparatus consisting of a series of rotatable rollers
mounted in inclined supports in such a way that the tangential action of the weight.
(of a person) forces them to rotate compelling a person standing on these rollers to
make all the motions which would be necessary for walking or running, in order to
maintain his position, the apparatus being completed by an arrangement of vertical
supports (or handles) with suitable cross bars attached to the inclined supports;
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The combination and arrangement of parts forming the improved gymnastic:
apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
Dated this 16th day of Fahma 1902
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.