US1088780A - Electromedical exercising apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

J. KATZ.

ELEGTROMEDIOAL EXEROISING APPARATUS. APPLICATION IILIID 311115, 1913.

1,088,780. Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

GEORGE J. KATZ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTROMEDIC'AL EXERCISING APPARATUS.

Application filed July 5, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnouon J. KA'rz, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain. new and useful Improvements in Electromedical Exercising Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The main objects of this invention are, to render certain forms of exercising apparatus more efficient; to provide a self-contained exercising apparatus having an electrical device and contacts adapted for delivering electric current of suitable character to the user; to provide a dumb-bell, containing a battery, induction coil and terminals adapted for contact with the hand of the user for delivering alternating electric current when in use; and to provide an apparatus of the character described having a switch adapted and arranged to remain normally open when not in use, but to be readily closable by the hand of the operator in gripping the handle while exercising.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a longitudinal axial section of a dumb-bell, showing a battery in one end and an induction coil in the opposite end. Fig. 2 is an end elevation partly in section of the end. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the end containing the induction coil with the end cap removed. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the electrical circuit. Fig. 5 is a cross section of the induction coil on the line A A of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a cross section of the handle on the line BB at the switch. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the switch plate.

In the construction shown, the dumb-bell is formed substantially in the usual general shape with a pair of heads 1 and 2 connect ed by a handle or grip 3. The heads and handle are of hollow construction and comprise a rigid and substantially integral frame, consisting of a pair of cup-shaped end members 4 arranged with their concave faces turned outwardly and a hollow cylindrical coiinecting member 5 extending through the handle and having the end members 4 connected permanently thereto as by soldering. In connection with each cup 4: there is provided a complementary cup-shaped member or cap 6 having its concave face turned inward and having an edge adapted to fit the edge ofthe corresponding Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914:.

Serial No. 777,562.

end member 1 as at 7. The caps 6 may be secured by any convenient detachable means, a pan of clamping studs 8 being preferred for each cap, said studs being interiorly threaded at; their ends and suitable screws 9 being provided therefor, and the complementary head members t and 6 being perforated to receive said screws.

The handle 3 is provided with an insulat- 1ng sleeve 10 inclosing the cylinder On one end of the sleeve 10 is provided an insulated ring 12 covering somewhat less than half the length of the sleeve 10. The ring 12 is secured by a screw 13 fitting in a perforation therein and driven into and through an insulating block 15, the frame cylinder 5 and sleeve 10 being perforated in registry to hold said block. On the opposite end of the sleeve 10 is mounted a resilient, yieldable, metallic plate 17 of substantially the same length as the said ring, and spaced apart therefrom. The plate 17 is curved to fit the sleeve 10 but is set normally to stand apart slightly therefrom except at the outer end 19 where it is held by screws 21. The end 19 is formed narrow and substantially flat so as to yield readily for closing the switch when pressed by the hand in gripping the handle. A block of insulation 23 within the cylinder 5 is engaged by the screws 21 and is pierced by one of them. The cylinder 5 is perforated for the screws 21 but is insulated therefrom.

The sleeve 10 is perforated at 24: to receive an inwardly projecting contact shoulder or tongue 25 struck up from the inner portion of the plate 17, said tongue serving as a switch contact for electrical connection between plate 17 and the frame cylinder 5.

A mounting plate 27 formed of suitable insulating material is carried transversely of the main axis in the head 2, and. is supported rigidly on the clamping studs 8. On the plate 27 is mounted an induction coil 29, interrupter 31 and a group of suitable terminal posts. The induction coil comprises a hollow spool 33, a magnetic core 34 within the spool and a pair of coils, primary 35 and secondary 36, upon saidspool. The spool comprises a cylindrical body 37 formed preferably of suitable non-magnetic and non-conducting material, and a pair of insulating heads 38. The ends of the secondary coil 36 are connected by conductors 39 and 39.1 to the terminal posts 40 and 41. The primary coil 35 has one end connected by conductor 42 to the interrupter post 43 which carries the. contact spring 4.45 on which the magnetic armature 45 is secured. A terminal post 46 is connected by conductor 4L7 to the back contact post l8 which is provided with an adjustable con.- tact screw 49, against which the spring lt bears when the armature 45 is released, The other end of the primary coil is connected by conductor 50 to the terminal Po t The induction coil core 8st is held rigidly at the inner or vibrator end within the cylindrical body 37 by means of a short bushing 53 fitted closely upon the end of the core. and also fitting closely within the end of the spool. The opposite end and intermediate portion of the core is surrounded by an open space which is at times occupied by a cylindrical damping member 55 which fits closely but slidably upon the core 8th. The damping cylinder 55 is formed of thin metal, preferably brass, and in the form shown is open at the inner end for receiving the core 84, and closed at its opposite outwardly projecting end, which is provided with a knurled handle 57 adapted to facilitate holding for sliding in and out by hand. The spool body 37 may be of any sufliciently rigid material as for instance very thin metal- A perforation 58 is provided in the head 2,, in which the damper fits loosely, the outer end of the latter being readily accessible for longitudinal adjustment, according to the strength of current desired in the secondary coil, the strength being increased by drawing the damper outward. If desired the damper may be entirely withdrawn and removed giving full maximum strength.

Current for the primary coil is provided for by one-0r m re cells 9, preferably of .dry battery, housed in the head 1 where in case two cells are used, they are held in place on opposite sides of the studs 8 by suitable means such as a metal strap or wire til suitably held, as by soldering its ends to the inner face of the adjacent cup member 4E. at points 62 and 6,3. The cells 59 are connected in series by conductor 65. One terminal 66 of the battery is connected by conductor 67 to the tip of the long screw 21 and the other terminal 69 is connected by conductor 7 O to terminal post 46. The post 41 is connected by conductor 71'to the tip or screw 13. Posts 40 and 5 1 are connected by a jumper 73. The post 40 is connected by a conductor 7 5 to the cup member l of the head 2, where soldered as at 76,

Referring to the diagram of circuit connections i ustrated, in ig- 4 i wi l b see that P im follows Beeissms y Circuit is. pro i ed. a

69 the circuit leads to thejbacli contact 49 nected to the terminal 66 at the opposite side of the battery, thus completing the primary circuit.

The secondary circuit is normally open and is closed only through the hand of the user, said circuit being as follows: Beginning at the inner end of the secondary Winding 29 the circuit leads to the post 40, thence to the head 2 which is electrically connected to the corresponding opposite head 1 and to the handle frame member 5, the latter being also electrically connected to the hand switch plate 17 when the switch is closed; and from any one of these three points, namely the two heads 1 and 2 and the switch plate 1.7, the circuit is closed through the hand of the user to the insulated ring 12, which is electrically connected to the opposite end of the secondary winding. By gripping the handle of the dumb-bell in the usual and ordinary way, the pressure of the hand closes the switch 17 and starts the vibrator. This causes alternating electromotive force to be developed in the secondary coil, the circuit for which is closed through the hand of the operator which grips the insulated ring 12 and switch plate 17 and incidentally may bear upon either or bot-h of the heads l and 2.

The alternating current delivered to the hand stimulates the nerves agreeably and promotes muscular activity thus giving zest to the exercise and increasing the eiiicacy of the treatment. Exercise is preferably begun with a weak currentand the strength may be increased by gradually withdrawing the damper as the user becomes accustomed to the stimulating effect of the current. The strength may be adjusted to suit the needs of different persons.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shown, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a hollow head comprising a pair of complementary concave wall members adapted to fit together closely at their abutting edges in combination with a plurality of clamping studs adapted and arranged to secure said wall members together, and a mounting plate supported rigidly'by said studjs, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2 A dumb bell, comprising a pair of br ad lQllQ heads an a rebate 1 connecting said heads, said hantUe'ha-iiifig a switch plate operatable by gripping the handle, and electrodes comprising said switch plate arranged on the hancle for contact with the hand, in combination with a battery and an induction coil housed transversely in said heads respectively, said induction coil having an adjustable damper and an interrupter, said electrodes, battery, induction coil, and interrupter being arranged and connected for closure of the primary circuit by said switch plate and for closure of the secondary circuit through the hand of the user when the handle is gripped.

3. A dumb bell having a broad head fiattened in a plane transverse to the main axis, a mounting plate secured transversely within said head, an induction coil mounted on said plate, an interrupter also mounted on said plate adapted and arranged for interrupting the primary circuit, and a damper for the induction coil adapted and arranged for increasing and adjusting the electromotive force of the secondary coil by partial or complete removal from the induction coil.

4. In an electro-medical exercising device,

a handle member, a hollow head carried by said handle member and comprising a pair of mutually separable complementary con: cave wall members adapted to fit together at their adjoining edges, one of said wall members being permanently secured to said handle member, in combination with a plurality of interiorly disposed studs arranged transversely of said wall members and adapted to secure them to ether, inductive apparatus carried by said studs, combined switch and electrode members carried exteriorly by said handle adapted for manually controlling said inductive apparatus and for delivering current to the hand of the user when the handle is gripped, and a source of current also carried by said device and electrically connected for operat ing said inductive apparatus when the switch is closed.

Signed at Chicago, this 3rd day of July, 1913.

GEORGE J. KATZ.

Witnesses:

EDWARD A. BIGGS, JEAN RIGNEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Intent. Washington, D. C.

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