Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Facilitating Walking, Running, Skating, or the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th May. 1895-Accepted, 29th June, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
1
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Facilitating Walking,
Running, Skating, or the like.
I, IBRAHIM G. KHEIRALLA, a citizen of the United States of America, residing
at 112 Dearborn Street, in the City of Chicago, County of Cook, and State of
Illinois, one of the United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
Dature 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 object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for assisting the muscles
in lifting the leg and moving it forward in the act of locomotion, whether of
walking, running, skating, or snow-shoeing, which is extremely light, comfortable
to the wearer, and designed to be worn under or concealed by the clothing.
To this end my invention consists in providing an apparatus having a flexible
contractile connection attached to the body of the wearer above the hip joint,
mounted to the outer side of each leg, confined at the knee, and connected to the
foot of the wearer below the ankle joint, whereby I utilize the vertical movement,
lateral sway, and weight of the body through the alternate straightening and
flexure of the knee and ankle joint, to cause said contractile connection to expand
and contract and assist the muscles in lifting the leg and carrying it forward, and
prevent fatigue.
In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this Specification,
Figure 1 is a side view of a man in the act of walking, showing my apparatus
in operative position ;
Figure 2 is a like view, showing a man in the act of running;
Figure 3 shows the apparatus detached;
Figures 4 and 5 show detail views of the foot harness.
Referring more particularly to the drawings, A, A, denote elastic lifting straps
mounted to the outer side of each leg. a, a, denote metal loops attached to the
lower ends of said straps, and a', a', denote buckles for adjusting the length and
regulating the tension of said straps; said buckles are located near the lower ends
of said straps in order that they may be accessible without removing the clothing.
.B, C, and D, denote three straps fastened together forming a harness which is
expressly designed to allow free movement of the ankle joint, and to afford a sling
or support for the foot and heel. Said straps meet under the instep and above the
ankle joint and pass back of said joint and above the heel and in front of and
above the ankle joint, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the former showing the left
foot upon the outer side, and the latter the right foot inside. Said harness is
united to the loop a through the strap B, which is the longer, and the straps C
and D are sewed on bias to the upper and lower ends of the strap B. This foot
harness is designed to be worn over the sock or stocking, and under the shoe.
E, E, denote straps which are loosely mounted to the lifting straps by loops e e,
and provided with buckles e', e¹. Said straps are secured around the legs below
the knee joints, as shown in the drawings, and serve to confine the lifting straps to
the outer side of each leg and prevent said straps from drawing back of the legs
as they are lifted and carried forward when a step is taken. The loops or
guides ee allowing the vertical play of said lifting straps as they stretch and
contract.

page_text: The upper ends of the lifting straps are connected to V-shaped stirrups F, F,
each formed of a single strap suspended by its ends from a hip band, hereinafter
described, and folded bias at the center and sewed, as shown in Figure 3.
G, G, denote two hip bands united by lacings g, g, in front and back, and designed
to form together a support for the lifting straps to be attached about the waist and
above the hip joints. H, H, denote two supporting straps, which are fastened by
buckles to the front and rear portions of the bands G, G; said straps cross on the
back of the wearer, pass over his shoulders, and are secured in front, as shown in
the drawings. They serve to support the bands G, G, by suspending the same
from the shoulders, and distribute the weight of the legs upon the upper part of
the body.
In attaching the apparatus, the bands G, G, are first adjusted upon each side of
the body above the hips, the V-shaped loops passing upon each side of the hip
joint, and the front lacing fastened. The straps B, C, D, are then secured to the
foot under the instep and back of the heel, as shown in Figures 4 and 5; the tension
of the lifting straps is then adjusted by the buckles a, a, to suit the confort of the
wearer. The straps H, H, are then fastened over the shoulders, but the latter may
be dispensed with, and good results obtained by supporting the lifting straps by the
bands G, G, only, in which case, however, they should be laced tightly, to provent
the lifting straps drawing them down over the hips.
In operation, my apparatus assists in relieving the muscles which are constantly
brought into play in lifting the weight of the leg, clothing, and foot wear, in the
act of locomotion. Where heavy shoes and boots are worn, or in snow-shoeing
and skating, where an additional weight is placed on the foot, my invention is of
especial value. In walking, the lifting strap is stretched as the leg is straightened
under the body, which occurs when the weight of the body is thrown upon it, thus
employing the weight and momentum of the body to stretch said strap and increase
its contractile tension, which is utilized to lift the leg and foot in rear of the body
and assist it forward to the next step.
When the straps H, H, are in place, the vertical movement and forward and
lateral sway of the upper part of the body is also utilized to stretch the lifting
straps. As the body moves forward upon the right foot, the right side of the body
and shoulder is elevated and swayed forwardly and laterally; the body harness
communicates these movements of the right side of the body to the lifting strap
upon the left leg, which at this juncture is in rear of the body and being lifted.
As the body moves forward upon the left leg the same movements of the left side
of the body are utilized to operate or stretch the lifting strap upon the right leg.
As a corollary, the body harness also serves through the medium of the lifting
straps on each side, as a means for reducing an abnormal lateral or vertical
movement of the body in walking.
:
The straps E, E, may be secured above or below the knee, aud I do not confine
myself to the means described for attaching the elastic straps to the trunk and
feet.
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 1
claini, is :-
1. An apparatus for assisting locomotion and preventing fatigue, consisting of a
body harness having depending elastic straps mounted to the outer side of each
leg, guides for said straps. confined to the outer side of each leg above or below the
knee, and a sling or harness passing under the foot of the wearer and connected to
the lower ends of said lifting straps; substantially as shown and described.
2. An apparatus for assisting locomotion and preventing fatigue, consisting of an
. elastic strap mounted to the outer side of each leg and connected at their upper
ends to hip bands secured upon each side of the body, and at their lower ends to a
foot sling consisting of three straps united under the instep and above the ankle

page_text: joint and passing above the heel and in front of and behind
substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 28th day of May 1895.
ne
JENSEN & SON,
77 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.