IMPROVEMENTS IN ROWING MACHINES
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Feb., 1888
Specification Accepted, 4th May, 1888
I, ALFRED HENRY HOWARD, of 220 Devonshire Street Boston, Suffolk County,
State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
naturo of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROWING MACHINES" 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 Rowing Machines, so termed, and belongs to that class
of exercising appliances in which, when in use, a weight carrier, or one or more
weights are lifted by an individual by means of a ropo, connected therewith, and
which passes about one or more supporting sheaves or grooved wheels, the effort
required by the person, so employed in actuating the weight upward, serving to
exercise his muscular system.
The drawings represent in Fig. 1a perspective view of a rowing machine
embodying my invention. Fig. 2, is a detail view in section of the adjustable sheavo
and its bracket; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of my mechanism or an appliance,
adapted to the chest muscular system. Fig. 4 is a front and Fig. 5 a side elevation
of a machine, as modified for the abdominal system. Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view
of the auxiliary swivel and its supporting bracket. Fig. 7 is a plan of the weight
carrier. Figs. 9, and 10 are detail views showing locking mechanism for rowing
frame. The dotted lines in Fig. 5 represent the position in side elevation of the fixed
and movable ends of the rope, as shown in Fig. 3.
In said drawings A represents a rowing machine, as an entirety, consisting of twin
appliances 2, 2; one adapted for each arm of the person, when exercising. Since
each machine is a duplicate of the other in construction and operation, the description
of one will suffice to explain the nature and novel features embodied in both and in
the machine as a whole.
In the drawings 3. denotes a weight-carrier, consisting of a base 4, and a furcated
column 5, erected thereupon, such base and column being with projections 6, 6,
and 7, 7, extending from them, as shown, and notched or grooved vertically to span
and slide on two stationary vertical and parallel rods 8, extending downward from a
bracket 9, which, when the mechanism is in use, is to be fastened to a suitable
support, as the side of a room, for instance, the rods at their lower ends being secured
to the floor of the room, or to a bar fixed thereto.
The bracket 9, supports a swivel 10, within which is a sheave or grooved wheel 12

page_text: that is arranged between the arms of the swivel and sustained so as to be capable of
free revolution. The upper part of the swivel extends between a stationary arm 13,
projecting from the bracket, and an angular lever 14, fulcrumed to the bracket and
arranged directly over the said arm.
A screw 15 is entered into and through the shorter or upper arm of the lever 14
and against the bracket, such screw being inclined, as represented, to the arm, in
order that the bearing end of the screw may rest at its periphery, instead of its center
against the bracket, whereby the screw is less liable to be accidentally revolved than
would be the case wore it pointed or conical at its lower end and the point bore at its
apex against the bracket. Both the arm 13 and the longer arm of the lever 14, are
socketed, as shown at 16, and 17, to receive and hold wooden or other suitable
bearings 18, into which project the metallic conical pivots 19, extending from the
swivel. By withdrawing the screw 15, the lever 14, may be moved to admit of the
detaching of the swivel from the bracket. By having the lever and its screw upon
the bracket, the pivoting of the swivel on a screw provided with a check-nut is
avoided, as used in machines for exercising, such screw being liable to work loose under
the friction and lateral movoments of the swivel.
Going through the oyo 20 in the lower part of the bracket is a rope 21, provided
at its free end with a hook 23, large enough to keep the rope from being drawn back
through or out of the eye. From the latter, as a starting point, the rope is led down-
ward to and partly around a sheave or grooved wheol 25, arranged within the fork
of the column 5, of the weight-carrier and adapted thereto, so as to freely rotate
therein. From the said grooved wheel 25, the rope is led upward to and around the
upper half of the grooved wheel 12 of the swivel, such rope having fixed to its free
end a stirrup or handle 26, and thence extends downward and about the lower part
of the sheave 27, mounted in a swivel 28 open at one side after the manner of an
ordinary snatch-block, so called, to allow the rope to engage, or be disengaged from
said sheave. Moreover this swivel is adjustably mounted upon a carriage 29, which
slides on vertical guides 30, formed on the auxiliary bracket or standard 31, the latter
being fastened to the floor laterally of the base or support of the rods 8, 8. A set
screw 32 holds the carriage in any desired position to suit the individual at
exercise.
Midway between the appliances 2, 2, extending at right angles thereto and resting
upon the floor of the room I have arranged a rectangular oblong frame 34 upon
which slides a seat 36. The end of the frame, adjacent to the appliances 2, 2, is
provided with two short metallic arms 37 with hooks 38; the latter engago with the
auxiliary bracket 31 and are disengaged therefrom only by raising up the outer free
end of the frame, which then may be drawn back and set away for further use.
The operation of the machine A is very similar and the physical effects are identical
with those produced when rowing a boat. The person takes his position upon the
scat 36, with his feet against a brace 39, fixed to the frame 34, then grasps the
handles 26, one in each hand and then goes through the motions as in rowing, thereby
causing the weight-carrier to be successively and repeatedly raised between its
guides. In practice such weight-carrier is provided with a series of weights, each
of which is notched to enable it, when in place, to receive and span the weight-
carrier column, the lowest of such weights rosting directly upon the base of the
carrier.
It is evident that by means of very slight modifications, the exercise rowing
machine, above described, may be adapted to special portions of the body, in lieu of
exercising the entire muscular system, as before explained, by rowing.
Fig. 3 represents what I term a "chest machine;" in this modification the rowing
mechanism and the adjustable sheave 27 are not used, but in lieu thereof an eye-
bolt 24 is inserted in the floor and the hook 23 is drawn down and lo:ked therein.
In this event the rope 21 starts from the floor as an initial point, extends upward
through the eye 20, thence down around the lower half of the wheel 25, and is led up
again and about the upper half of the sheave 12, the stirrup or handle being then in
position, hown in said Figure 3,

page_text: In the rowing machine Figure 1, the hook 23 on the rope 21 is shown as in
engagement with the eye 20, but as the machine may be adapted for different
purposes and to enable the same rope to be used under varying circumstances, as for
instance in the chest-machine, shown in Fig. 3, where the handle 26 is elevated some
distance from the floor, 1.propose securing the hook 23 in any position, whereby the
rope may be adjustably shortened the requisite amount without cutting it.
To effect this result I have shown the rope end having the hook 23 brought down
and secured in an eyebolt 24 on the floor, but it may be secured elsewhere, or coiled
upon a drum, or other fixture, whereby its length may be increased, or diminished
to suit, and thus adapt the machine to the special purpose desired by the individual.
exercising.
A further modification is represented in Figures 4 and 5, in which the rowing
mechanism alone is discarded, but the adjustable auxiliary sheave 27 is employed to
create, what I term the "abdominal exercising machine." In this latter construction
the hook 23 in the end of the rope 21 engages the eye 20 extends down beneath the
sheave 25, thence up and over the grooved wheel 12 and beneath the adjustable
sheave 27, the free end of the rope with its handle 26, resting in front of said sheave.
Under these circumstances the person, if erect, in exercising pulls obliquely upwards
on the handle, but if in a sitting position upon the floor, the pull is nearly horizontal
and is brought entirely upon the abdominal muscles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1st. In a rowing machine the combination with rowing mechanisin, as described,
of an appliance composed of the rope 21 secured at one end and extending downwards
in the form of a loop, thence about a serios of sheaves or wheels and coöperating
therewith to actuate a weight-carrier, secured to one of said wheels hung in said loop,
and with the projecting guides and vertical rods, to engage said guidos substantially
as explained.
2nd. In a rowing machine the combination with the vertical rods 8, 8, the
movable weight-carrier 3 with its grooved wheel 25, the rope 21 fastened at one end
and extending downward in the form of a loop, which engages said grooved wheel
and passes over the wheel 12, of the swivelled sheave 27, adjustable vertically, beneath
which the free end of said rope passes and the fixed frame 34 with its sliding seat
and interlocking arms 37, all coöporating, substantially as herein before described
and set forth.
3rd. The combination of the rope 21 fastened at one end substantially, as described
and extending downwards in the form of a loop and thence over a sheave or wheel
to a handle, as set forth, with the weight-carrier 3 provided with a grooved wheel 25
hung in said loop and with the projecting guides 6, 6, 7, 7, and with vertical rods 8, 8,
to engage such guides, all being substantially as shown and set forth.
4th. The combination of the bracket 9 provided with the stationary arm 13, the
angular lever 14, and the screw 15 thereof screwed through and inclined to the upper
arm of said lever and the part of the bracket against which the said screw bears, with
the swivel 10, pivoted to such arm 13 and lever 14, the guide rods 8, 8, extending
down from the brackets, the weight-carrier 3 arranged to slide on such rods and the
rope 21 fastened to and depending from the bracket and extending about the grooved
wheels of such swivel and weight-carrier, and provided with a handle as set forth.
5th. The combination of the rope 21 fastened at one end, as described, and
extending downward as a loop, and thence over a sheave or wheel to a handle, as
represented, a bracket 9, and its swivel 10, for supporting such sheaves, guide-
rods 8, 8, leading downwardly from such bracket, and a weight carrier provided
with guides to move upon said rods and having a grooved wheel 25 hung in said loop,
all being substantially as set forth.
6th. The combination of the swivel supporting bracket 9, provided with the
stationary arm 13, with the lever 14, fulcrumed to such bracket and provided with

page_text: the screw 15 and with the swivel 10 pivoted to such arm and lever and provided with
the grooved wheel 12, substantially as heroin specified.
7th. The combination of the vertically adjustable carriage 29, its auxiliary swivel 28,
provided with the sheave 27 and connected with the floor by the stationary supporting
bracket 31 with an exercising mechanism, substantially as set forth, consisting of the
rope 21 with its fixed end upon the bracket at the eye 2., the bracket 9, its operating
parts and the weight-carrier 3, its guide rods 8, 8, and sheave 25, as described, such
rope 21 going through the eye 20 of the bracket 9, being extended downward under
the sheave 25, and thence upward to and over the sheave 12, thence downward
beneath the sheave 27 and is fastened to a handle 26, as set forth and for purposes
described..
8th. The combination of the fixed bracket and auxiliary sheave 27 rotating therein,
with an appliance comprising the rope 21, the bracket 9, its wheel 12 and the guide
rods 8, 8, with the weight-carrier 3 carried upon and operated by the rope fastened
at one end and furnished with the handle 26 secured to the actuating end substantially
as stated.
Dated this 21st day of January 1888