Improved Apparatus for Use in Learning to Swim, and for other Athletic Exercises.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 30th May, 1894-Accepted, 7th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Use in Learning to Swim, and for other
Athletic Exercises.
I ROBERT EDMOND DEVOT of 21 Boulevard Poissonnière, Paris in the
Republic of France, Professor of Gymnastics, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists in an apparatus for use in learning to swim, and for other
exercises whereby the muscles of the chest are developed, and the execution of
perfectly rational movements is assured.
The apparatus consists of a frame having platforms or rests for the body, the
chin, and the thighs.
The chin rest is fixed at the end of a bent rod capable of adjustment in the
frame.
The thigh rests are mounted in forks carried by feet adjustable on arms hinged
to the frame, and provided with castors.
To the chin rest are attached, by elastic connections, handles for the hands, and
similarly attached to the thigh rests are shoes for the feet. Or the connection
between the shoes and the thigh rests may be partly elastic and partly adjustable
and hinged rods.
The apparatus of the form described is employed in the following manner :-
:-The
student places himself thereon, with his chest on the body rest, his chin on the chin
rest, his thighs on the thigh rest, his feet in the shoes, and his hands in the
handles, and then, in accordance with the word of command, makes the necessary
movements.
After a time, the handles, shoes, and chin rest are removed, and the student is
exercised without them.
Dated this 30th day of August 1893
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Use in Learning to Swim, and for other
Athletic Exercises.
I ROBERT EDMOND DEVOT of 6 Rue Jeanne Hachette, Paris, in the Republic
of France, Professor of Gymnastics 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 :-
The apparatus forming the subject of the present application for Letters Patent
surpasses any of the arrangements hitherto devised for the same purpose in simplicity
and efficacy as regards the development of the muscles and the chest.
It facilitates the attainments of skill in swimming by ensuring the performance of
perfectly rational movements, a feature which distinguishes it from similar apparatus
hitherto employed.
To illustrate the invention, I have shown one form of it, by way of example, in
the accompanying drawings to which, accordingly, reference shall be made in the
course of the present. Specification.

page_text: ig. 1, is a vertical longitudinal section of my swimming apparatus.
Figure 2 is a corresponding plan of top-view of the same.
Figure 3 is a rear-end view.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the complete apparatus.
Figure 5 shows the apparatus in operation.
Figure 6 is another perspective view thereof, with the accessory attachments
removed.
As shown in these several figures above enumerated, my apparatus comprises a
frame A of either wood or metal and of suitable shape and size, on which there are
mounted a platform B, a head-support C, the arms D and D' and the leg-supports E
and E¹.
The platform B has a cushion fitted to it, which may be either integral with, or
independent of, it.
This cushion, whether fixed or removeable, consists of either elastic straps,
springs or a simple wool or horsehair mattress, the nature or construction of the
cushion being unimportant.
The essential condition is that the platform, and the cushion, if it be provided
with one, should as nearly as possible fit the shape of the chest which it is intended
to support.
The head-rest C is a small pad or cushion secured to the end of a rod c which
is suitably bent and adapted to slide in the frame A, so that it may be adjusted to
the height of the person using the apparatus, however it may vary (see the dotted
lines Fig. 1). It receives the chin of the learner and obliges him, as he is trying to
swim, to keep the head raised.
A screw v² secures the head-rest in position, though there may be substituted for
this screw any stop-device or retaining mechanism that may be convenient.
The leg-supports E E¹ are resilient cushions of any suitable construction (similar
to the chest support) and they are fitted in forks e, e¹ integral with the standards f, f¹
erected upon the arms D, D¹.
The standards have castors g, g' attached to them at the ends resting on the floor,
and are slotted for the reception of the arm D, D', which arrangement enables the
distance of the leg-supports from the platform B to be adjusted so as to suit the
height of the learner (see the dotted lines Fig. 1).
A set screw serves to secure them in the required position, though any other
suitable means of adjustement may be substituted for the one herein mentioned by
way of example only.
The arms D, D₁ are hinged at d, d to the frame A, and thereby enable the
leg-supports E, E¹ to be moved away from each other the required distance (see
the dotted lines in Fig. 2).
This adjustement of the distance between the leg-supports is, besides facilitated
by the castors g, g' resting and easily rolling on the floor or ground.
Such being the main features of the apparatus I have devised, I supplement it by
the following accessory parts:
The handles P, P₁ are connected either by ordinary strings or elastic cords p, pl
(which may be made of india-rubber, spring-metal etc.) to the head-rest C.
The
To the leg-rests E, E' are similarly connected socks or slippers S, S¹, strings,
cords, or any suitable elastic connections ss' being used for the purpose.
connection of these cords, etc. s, s' instead of being direct, may be through the
medium of rods t t engaging in sleeves provided on the sides of the leg-rests.
These rods enable the point of attachment of the cords or the likes, s¹ to be raised
and adjusted as required (see the dotted lines Fig. 1). The distance of the socks
from the supports may be adjusted according to the height of the learner.
The screw or any other suitable retaining device may be employed to secure
the said rods t t' in position.
The cords p p of the handles P, P are attached to the head-rest or any other

page_text: convenient part of the frame A by means of a swivel-joint or any other device
enabling them to be readily removed in case of need.
The same remark applies to the cords ss' connecting the socks S S¹ to the
leg-supports, and this enables the learners to put the socks on before taking up
their position on the apparatus.
The socks or foot-cases S S¹ may be made in any suitable manner.
The cords sa pass, respectively, over rollers i, ¹ provided at the upper parts of
the rods t t and are attached each to the opposite rod.
The apparatus, on being fitted with all its accessory parts, and the learner
having put on the socks S, S' he takes up his position thereon as illustrated in
Fig. 5, placing his chin upon the pad C and grasping the handles P P'; the socks
being then connected with the cords s s².
Under the direction or guidance of the master, the student now performs the
movements necessary for swimming and owing to the construction of the apparatus,
does so almost unconsciously in the most perfect manner.
The accessories (viz.: the handles & socks) are taken off as illustrated in Fig. 6,
when the student has had sufficient practice.
He is then simply carried by the platform and the leg-supports, and has to carry
out the swimming movements without any assistance.
It will thus be seen that my swimming apparatus is the most complete structure
of the kind, while being at the same time extremely simple. It may serve, not
only for learning to swim but also for gymnastics generally, whether or not, it be
provided with the accessories above mentioned.
In conclusion, it will be understood that the shapes, dimensions & materials of
all or any of the parts of the apparatus may be varied without departing from the
principle of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is:
1. An improved apparatus for learning to swim, comprising a chest-support B,
mounted upon a frame or stand A; leg-supports E, E¹, a head-rest C ; handles P, Pi
attached to elastic cords or ties p, p, and socks S, S₁ attached by elastic cords 3, 31
to rods t, t¹ integral with the said leg-supports É, E'; all arranged, constructed
and operating in the manner and for the first purpose above specified with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
2. The simplified arrangement of the apparatus referred to in the preceding
claim, wherein it comprises only the platform B, leg-supports E, E¹ and head-
rest C.
3. In the said apparatus, the special arrangement of the leg-rests E E¹ mounted
upon standards ff provided with castors and fitted with arms D D' hinged to the
frame A supporting the chest-support B, for the purpose of permitting and assisting
or guiding the movements of the legs, substantially as described.
4. In the said improved apparatus the combination of the leg-supports E E¹ with
socks S S¹ attached to them by elastic cords or ties s s¹ tied crosswise to opposite
rods t t¹ of adjustable length, forming part of the said leg-supports, substantially as
described.
5. In the said improved apparatus the peculiar arrangement of the handles P P¹
connected by elastic ties p p¹ to the head-rest or to any other convenient part of
the improved apparatus, substantially as described.
Dnted thin 20th don of M. 1904
FRANÇOIS THÉMOIN,
Agent for the Applicant.