Exercising device

2,002,108

May 21, 1935

H. G. CHILD

EXERCISING DEVICE

Filed Dec. 24, 1931

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Patented May 21, 1935

2,002,108

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,002,108 EXERCISING DEVICE Hal G. Child, Oswego, Oreg. Application December 24, 1931, Serial No. 582,904 2 Claims. (Cl. 273—77)

This invention relates generally to exercising devices, and particularly to a means for training the body for the purpose of improving the physique as well as the skill of the exerciser, the 5 latter being directed toward the playing of the game of golf.

The main object of this invention is to make it possible for the user thereof to develop the habit of taking golf exercise daily, regardless of io weather conditions or the locality of the user, and without the necessity of employing cumbersome or expensive equipment.

The second object is the production of an exercising device having the general characteristics 15 of a golf club, but made adjustable in length to make it adaptable to indoor use, and adjustable in weight of head to permit an increase in weight to off-set any shortening of the handle, or to still further adjust the weight to make the “feel” cor20 respond with the various kinds of clubs.

The third object is to construct an exercising device which will retain the “feel” of a golf club.

The fourth object is to make possible regular and consistent training instead of haphazard 25 playing, as is the case when a player’s training consists chiefly or entirely of contests on the links themselves.

Before entering into an explanation of this invention attention is called to the fact that golf 30 being a rangey out-of-doors game it is normally played at a distance somewhat remote from the usual field of activity of an individual. Unlike almost all other sports the intervals between plays form a large portion of the time expended 35 upon the links, so that the proportion of time expended in swinging a golf club is relatively small compared with the total time required to complete a course. In other games such as boxing, tennis, baseball, etc. the player is actively en40 gaged in playing the game a large portion of the time.

It is not strange, then, that of the large number of players of the game of golf only a small percentage become really efficient at the game, and it is highly probable that a large part of the benefits usually attributed to the game of golf as a prophylactic and therapeutic exercise is due to the exercise of walking between the intervals of 50 Play and the mental relaxation afforded by the game itself.

In other words, the average player of golf is untrained when he walks onto the links and though he may play a game of golf frequently he 55 actually remains in an untrained condition, if the training made possible by my device is used as a standard.

It is a commonly recognized fact that the movements undergone by the body when swinging a golf club (as in actual playing) are highly 5 beneficial bringing into play many of those countless muscles of the human body otherwise seldom, if ever, used and requiring the joints of the body to function for the purpose for which they were intended. io

My purpose, therefore, is to make it possible for the player to actually train himself for the game of golf and thereby obtain the maximum amount of enjoyment and benefit from the game when played, as well as, from the training periods 15 which occupy the time between the games. This training, besides exercising the involved muscles to the point of fatigue (which is essential to their being built up to a better condition) also includes the practicing of the correct form until it be- 20 comes habitual, rendering it unnecessary for the player to concern himself with form during a contest thus enabling him to play naturally and to devote his entire attention to the mental problem of the game without being distracted by the 25 physical side thereof.

These objects are accomplished in the maimer set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device with 30 portions broken away in section.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the head.

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 3—3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the weight 35 members.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the head end of the device.

Similar numbers of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views. 40

Referring in detail to the drawing, there is shown a hollow head 10 on whose shaft II is slidably mounted a grip or handle 12 adapted to be secured in one of various positions for the purpose of varying the length of the club. A 45 set screw 13 is mounted in the ferrule 14 of the grip 12 and its pointed end 15 occupies one of the countersinks 16 in the shaft II. Obviously, any other form of fastening means which will hold the grip 12 rigidly in relation to the shaft W 11 will be satisfactory.

The head 10 is provided with an opening IT in the under side 18. The opening 17 is provided with a closure 19 through which passes a screw 20. On the screw 20 are-placed a number of

2,002,108 disks 11. The end of the screw 10 is threaded into a boss >1 on the inside of the top 13 of the head 10.

It is desirable to thread one of the disks 21 to _e receive the screw 20 for the purpose of holding ° the remainder of the disks between the threaded disk and the closure 10. Obviously, other forms of weight adjustments may be provided for the head without departing from the spirit of this invention.

The operation of the device is as follows: The user first shortens the club sufficiently to enable him to use it indoors, if necessary, or in cramped quarters, and he adds enough disks 21 to the _1S head to off-set the shortened club length to give him the same “feel” that he would have if he were swinging one of his regular golf clubs. He swings the device and holds his body in accord with detailed instructions not necessarily elab20 orated upon here, eventually employing enough additional disks 21 to make the “feel” of the club a trifle heavier than his corresponding golf club.

It must be borne in mind that the device herein described is not a golf club in any sense of the 25 word and it is never used to drive a ball, its purpose being to stimulate and exercise the body.

It will be noted in Fig. 2 that the device is preferably made with what appears to be two driving faces for right and left hand players. 30 The “feel” of this exercising club, when compared with a regular golf club as previously referred to, is that feeling of leverage weight which is maintained in this device when shortened to varying lengths and refers to adjustably maintaining the balanced weight when gripped in the hands.