US2544106A - One person seesaw - Google Patents

Description

March 6, 1951 H. s. RAY 2,544,106

ONE PERSON SEESAW Filed Oct. 1, 1948 v INK/ENTOR,

Patented Mar. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES rATsNT OFFICE ONE PERSON SEESAW Harry S. Ray, Hollywood, Calif.

Application October 1, 1948, Serial No. 52,209

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in exercising devices.

.A main object of the present invention is to provide a simple inexpensive and reliable exercisingdevice, or healthcycle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel exercising device including a seesaw wherein there is a vertical member pivoted at approximately the-fulcrum of the seesaw which vertical member is adapted to be oscillated by the rider on the seesaw and in which exercising device there are means operatively connecting the vertical member and the horizontal member of the seesaw so that the vertical member and horizontal member oscillate in unison.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an exercising device as above described in which the vertical member provides a foot rest at its lower end to receive the feet of the rider and provided with handles at its upper end to be grasped by the rider so that the vertical member may be oscillated .by the rider.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device as above described in which there are means for at least partially counterbalancing the rider and preferably completely counterbalancing the rider.

Another object of this invention is to provide a toy, plaything, or amusement device for children on which the children may play. Such a l device can be used around the home as well as bodiment of the invention, wherein:

Fig. 1 discloses a perspective view of the exercising device embodying the concepts of the presfent invention;

` Fig. 2 discloses a sectional view in side elevation of the exercising device shown in Fig. 1 along @lines 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view along lines the horizontal and vertical members ofthe seesaw; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are illustrations of two positions 'in which the exercising device may be moved.

VReferring to the accompanying drawings *wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, an exercising device embodying the concepts of the present invention is shown in Fig. 1 wherein there is a stand gener- 4 Claims. (Cl. 272-55) ally entitled I0 having feet Il and I2 and a fulcrum or pivot bar I4 about which the horizontal member I6 of a seesaw is pivoted by any suitable means such as by U bolts Il, see Fig. 3. The horizontal member I6 of the seesaw has a seat generally entitled I9 adapted to slip over' one end thereof so as to be adjustable back and forth along member I6 and to be set in a particular position by lock means which may comprise a locking screw 2 I.

Although the device of the present invention may be used by two riders at the same time in which case a seat similar to seat I9 would be provided on the opposite end of the horizontal member I6 but, in other cases it is desirable to have only one rider onthe exercising device at which time it will be desirable to at least partially or completely counterbalance the weight of the rider. This counterbalancing may take any of a number of forms. One form as shown in the drawing may comprise a member 23 which slips over the end of horizontal member I6 and member 23 is provided with locking means 24 so as dash lines at 25 may be fastenedonto member 23 by any suitable means so as to counterbalance the Weight of the rider or, the member 23 may be provided with a clevis 26 having a pivot pin 21 on which is mounted a piston rod 28 of a hydraulic counterbalancing means 29. The hydraulic counterbalancing means 29 has a cylinder 30, a piston 3l connected to piston rod 28'and has upper and lower valves 35 and 36 by which the amount of air escaping from or entering into cylinder 30 may be regulated, cylinder 30 being pivotally mounted at 3S to foot I2 of frame Il) of the exercising device, or healthcycle.

The valves and 36 will be adjusted so that the hydraulic system counterbalances the weight of the rider.

Other ways of partially or completely counterbalancing the weight of the rider are by spring means or elastic means such as rubber or cord or any other suitable means which would suggest themselves to the mechanic.

There is a vertical U-shaped member 40 pivotallymounted as by U bolts 43 to pivot bar or fulcrum I4 and Vertical member 40 provides a foot rest '45' on which the feet of the rider may rest -and at its upper end vertical member 4B provides foot rest could be used and if two riders were going to use the exercising device the vertical member 40 would also provide handles similar to handles 41 but extending oppositely from handles 41 for use by the second rider.

It is preferable that the top portions of the legs comprising vertical member 4|] be adjustable with respect the center portions of the legs of member d and this can be provided in any suitable manner such as by forming the legs of tubes with extensions 50 on the upper ends of the legs of vertical member 40 and extensions 5| on the lower ends of the legs of vertical member fill., Rods, bars or the like generally entitled 55 may be xed within the center portions of thelegs of vertical member 40 and extendinto the Yextensions 50 and 5l so that the extensibns'm'ay'be adjusted along the rods or bars 55 and suitable locking means generally entitled 51 and 58 may be provided for extensions 50 and 5| to lock these extensions in adjusted position. Y n

Means are provided on the exercising device so vthat whenever the ver-tical memberis'oscillated by the rider that the horizontal member Vof the `seesaw will be oscillated in unison therewith and these means may take a number of formsone which is shown in the drawings. These means as shown in the drawings comprise a pulley 6i rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 62.y which stub shaft is xed to pivot bar or fulcrum i4. A cable, rope, wire or the like generally entitled 65 is vpassed around rotatable pulley 6 land fastened to one of the legs of the vertical member 45 at one end thereof and to the right hand end of horizontal member I6 as the horizontal member is depicted in Fig. 2 and the adjustable member 23 may be slotted down its center to `pass over the `cable means 65 so that adjustment of memberA 23 `device is not in use 'so that if the counterweight 25 is used there will be no damage to the exercising device or no injury to the rider when the rider dismounts from the exercising device. The sleeve lock is fastened to yhorizontal member lli` by any suitable means such as welding, soldering, braces, brackets, screws or the like.

It will be appreciated, that whenever the counterweight 25 is used with the machine that only one rider will be using rthe machine and that there will be no need to use the hydraulic counterbalancing system and whenever the hydraulic counterbalancing system is to "be, used there will be no need for the counterweight 25;on

the machine or healthcycle.

Although a cable and pulley means is shown vas adapted to connect the vertical 'and horizontal member of the exercising device `so that Athey oscillate in unison it will `beappreciated that'a simple gear system could be provided for accomplishing the lsame purpose or a leverage system could be used in place of the cable and pulley means as shown in the drawings and the invention is not intended toV be limited rtoa-'cable andV pulley means unless it is specifically pointed -out in the appended claims. It is also contemplated that instead of being merely manually operated,

that the exercising device/of the present .inven-y tion could have a motor or other prime mover will move tothe position shown in/Fig. 5 thereby pulling the cable means around the pulley 6I thereby pulling the right hand end of the horizontalmember I6 downwardly as the right hand member is depicted in Fig. 5 thereby raising the Aleft hand end of the horizontal member on which the rider is seated and then the rider may push the'handles ila'way from him and may be able to Vdraw the foot rest toward him with his feet though this is not necessary which operations will bring the vertical member 40 back to the position s'hown'in Fig. 4 and the above operations :may be repeated.

By thepresent'invention, then, an exercising device is provided 'which is adapted to be used by either one or two persons whichever is desirable; by merely removing the member 23 and inserting a seat member I9 two riders may use the exer- -cising machine; however, if the member 23 is used and the counterweight placed on the'member'23 then one rider may use the device and that 'whenever the rider wants to leave the device he may manipulate the sleevelock 15 and lock the horizontal member I6 in 4approximately horizontal position so that the counterweight 25 will not throw the left hand end of the horizontal member I6 upwardly and therefore the weight 25 may be left on the exercising device at all times if one rider only is intending to use the device. It is obvious that the adjustable member 23 allows partial or complete counterbalancing of the rider. However, if an energetic person prefers to get an extreme amount ofy exercise he may do so withrout using any counterweight but it will be realized in such case Ahe would have to vbe'strong enough to hold his own weight while manipulating the device or healthcycle. v

By the presentinvention an exercising device is provided which is exceedingly simple and can be manufactured quickly and easily with a minimum amount of expense. By'the present invention existing seesaws can be adapted to be used as anexercising device orhealthcycle.

The term healthcycle has been used throughvout the specification to describe 4'the exercising'v device or toy of the present invention and this term is appropriate since `it will be appreciated that when operating the device, all-of the muscles of the body are used which are used in rowing, cycling, or horseback riding, and many other exercises. This combination of'exercisingmovements Aimprove .thel health of the users of the device andk hence the term ffhea-ltheycle.

Various changes maybe made-fin the details of construction without vdeparting from the spirit and scope of the i-nventionv as denedrby the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In combination with a seesaw having an oscillatable vseat--carrying horizontal vmember, ya vertical member pivotally mounted at the Vful- `crum of the seesaw .independently of the horizontal member, the vertical member extending Vbelow the fulcrum :of the seesaw and providing a footrest at the lowerfend thereof-on which the feetof the rider may be placed and the vertical member extending above the fulcrum of the seesaw providing holds adapted to be grasped by the rider whereby the vertical member may be oscillated by forces on the upper and lower portions of the Vertical member, and means connecting the vertical member and the horizontal member for causing the horizontal member to be oscillated when the vertical member is 0scillated.

2. In combination with a seesaw having an oscillatable seat-carrying horizontal member, a vertical member pivotally mounted at the fulcrum of the seesaw independently of the horizontal member, the vertical member extending below the fulcrum of the seesaw and providing a footrest at the lower end thereof on which the feet of the rider may be placed and the vertical member extending above the fulcrum of the seesaw providing holds adapted vto be grasped by the rider whereby the vertical member may be oscillated by forces on the upper and lower portions of the Vertical member, means connected to the horizontal member opposite the seat end for at least partially counterbalancing the weight of the rider, and meansV connecting the vertical member and the horizontal member for causing the horizontal member to be oscillated when the vertical member is oscillated, the last-named means being connected to the horizontal member at a point spaced from the pivotal axis thereof, said last-named means being connected t0 the vertical member at a point spaced from the pivotal axis thereof.

3. In combination with a seesaw having an oscillatable seat-carrying horizontal member, a 3

vertical member pivotally mounted at the fulcrum of the seesaw independently of the horizontal member, the Vertical member extending below the fulcrum of the seesaw and providing a footrest at the lower end thereof on which the feet of the rider may be placed and the vertical member extending above the fulcrum of the seesaw providing holds adapted to be grasped by the rider whereby the vertical member may be oscillated by forces on the upper and lower portions of the vertical member, and means connecting the bottom portion of the vertical member and the side of the horizontal member opposite the seat side for causing the horizontal member to be oscillated when the vertical member is oscillated. Y

4. In combination with a seesaw having an oscillatable seat-carrying horizontal member, a vertical member pivotally mounted at the fulcrum of the seesaw independently of the horizontal member and adapted to be oscillated by the rider, means connected to the side of the horizontal member opposite the rider for at least partially counterbalancing the weight of the rider, pulley means mounted adjacent the fulcrum of the seesaw, and cablemeans connected to the horizontal member and to the vertical member and passing around the pulley means for causing the horizontal member to oscillate in unison with oscillation of the vertical member.

HARRY S. RAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 292,254 Rich Jan. 22, 1884 822,083 Stevens May 29, 1906 1,189,942 Hardy July 4, 1916 1,320,710 Price Nov. 4, 1919 1,586,254 Lovejoy Nov. 14, 1926

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