US2714008A - Exercisers - Google Patents

Description

July 26, 1955 A. B. URBAN EXERCISERS Filed June 1953 'IIIIIII MM (I'll,

I VENTOR' 19722720725 Clrdarz United States Patent O EXEB EERS Anthony B. Urban,--Chicago,;lll. APRUWJ' QH 1 99 .5, .9. S a 1 19 2 Glaims. (61. 272 -839 My invention relates to devices employed for manual exercise, and more particularly to such devices. as are of a portable nature and employing springs. Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide an exerciser which is in the form of a bar and includes one or more springs designed to be tensioned when portions of the bar are maneuvered.

A further object is to employ a bar of the type referred to which includes one or more springs interposed between its sections at locations corresponding to the type of exercise desired.

A still further object is to provide an exerciser which includes a facility for exercising the arms, and is convertible to include a similar facility for exercising the wrists.

An additional object is to design the novel exerciser in a compact, elongated form, whereby to favor its storage in a narrow space.

Another object is to construct the exerciser as an assembled article which may be dismantled for packing in a compact bundle.

An important object is to include a minimum number of parts in the novel exerciser, whereby to render its manufacturing cost relatively low.

With the above objects in view, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is an elevation of the novel exerciser in the form designed for exercising the arms;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the exerciser converted to the form designed for exercising the wrists; and

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are, respectively, sections on the lines 3-3, 44 and 55 of Fig. 2.

In accordance with the foregoing, specific reference to the drawing indicates the main portion of the exerciser as a pair of alined bars and 11 which are spaced endw1se. is preferable for purposes of smoothness and compactness to make them of circular cross-section, as shown in Fig. 3.

A sturdy coil spring 14 is designed to be interposed between the inner ends of the bars 10 and 11; and the latter are formed with reductions 15 designed to receive and support the end portions of the spring, as shown in Fig. l. The diameter of the spring is substantially the same as that of the bar 11, so as to render the spring a continuation thereof.

While the spring 14 is supported endwise by the bars 10 and 11, as stated, no direct means are employed to attach the spring to the bars in order to connect the latter to the spring and against separation, this being for the reason that attaching devices between a sturdy spring and a support would either be too large in order to hold, or too weak if made small or compact. Accordingly, other means are employed for the contemplated purpose, such means primarily residing in a spring of small diameter passing through the center of the spring 14. The bars 10 and 11 are made with facing longitudinal cavities 21 into which the end portions of the internal spring While these bars may be of any cross-section, it

- 2,714,008 Patented July 26,

2 20 "lodge to a considerable extent. Set screws '22 passed through the extensions 15 are directed against the internal spring to complete the attachment thereof to the bars.

The form ofexerciser illustrated in Fig. '1 is completed by endwise extension with handlebars '25 In order to attach the latter to the bars 10 and 11, such bars are extended at their outer ends with reduced sections 27, while the handlebars 25 are extended inwardly with similar reduced sections 28. The facing ends of the bars 10 and "11 and the handlebars 25 are formed with facing bores 30, and a dowel 31 is lodged in such bore s, the dowel being fixed in position by the driving of screws '32 through the bars into engagement with the dowel. It is now seen that the dowels 31 form rigid connecting means between the handlebars and the main bars 10 and 11. With the exerciser constituted as described, gathering the handlebars 25 to arch the spring 14 will require the exertion of the arms with a rotary motion and constitute an exercise for the same. 7

In order to convert the exerciser into the form designed for the exercising of the wrists, the exerciser is constituted as shown in Fig. 2. Here, the main bars 10 and 11 are shown gathered endwise; and they are secured in the gathered position by the lodging of the dowel 31 in the cavities 21, set screws 35 being applied through the bars to secure the dowel in place. The exerciser is thus made rigid in the center.

The converted form of the exerciser employs a pair of shorter coil springs 37 between the outer ends of the main bars 10 and 11 and the handlebars 25; and a pair of internal springs 38 is disposed within the springs 37. The outer and inner springs are connected to the adjoining bars in the same manner as was described in connection with the disposal of the spring 14 in the original structure, so that the modified exerciser is formed with flexible elements near the ends instead of in the center. Now, when the handlebars 25 are swung toward each other, the tendency to curve the springs 37 involves the twisting of the wrists, this constituting an exercise for the same.

It will now be evident that the novel exerciser has a number of advantageous features. First, it embodies a pair of rigid elements at the ends which may be maneuvered to arch a yieldable element in the center, the re sistance of the latter requiring the effort of the arms to flex the exerciser, and such effort constitutes an exercise. Further, the exercise is convertible by simply dismantling the same and changing the order of assembly in a manner to provide springs in terminal regions and therefore require strength in the wrists in order to fiex the exerciser, this also forming an exercise. Further, the exerciser is in a long, one-piece form, which is simple to handle and similar to an exercising wand. Further, the exerciser is constructed in a manner to be readtily dis mantled and assembled into either form by simple means familiarto any person. Further, the exerciser utilizes simple and concealed means to secure its sections to each other and to a spring or springs intermediate thereof, retaining the neat and compact form of the device. Finally, the parts entering into the novel exerciser are of a nature readily available or produced by conventional shop methods, rendering the cost of the exerciser reasonable.

While I have described the invention along specific lines, various minor changes or refinements may be made in either of its forms without departing from its principle, and I reserve the right to employ all such changes and refinements as may come within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An exerciser comprising an elongated bar formed of two sections separated endwise, handles carried by the outer ends of the sections, and tension means between the sections designed to resist manual effort to swing the sections at an angle from each other, said tension means comprising a coil spring with ends applied to the inner ends of said sections, the same having cavities in the facing ends, an internal coil spring extending within the first-mentioned coil spring, the end portions of the in ternal coil spring loading in said'cavities, and means to secure said end portions to the respective sections.

2. An exerciser comprising an elongated bar formed of two sections separated endwise, handles carried by the outer ends of the sections, and tension means between the sections designed to resist manual effort to swing the sections at an angle from each other, said tension means comprising a coil spring'with ends applied to the inner ends of said sections, the same having cavities in the facing ends, an internal coil spring extending within the first-mentioned coil spring, the end portions of the in- ,4 ternal coil spring lodging in said cavities, and set screws to secure said end portions to the respective sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,587 Great Britain 1899

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