Improvements in Trusses.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2'st June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 27th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 30th Mar., 1895
Improvements in Trusses.
I, ALEXANDER STRAUSS of Töpfengasse No. 4 Francfort on the Main, in the
German Empire, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as
follows:-
:―
In trusses hitherto employed for exomphalus or umbilical hernia the pad is apt
to shift from its proper position frequently causing great injury to, or even
imperilling the life of the wearer. It is most desirable to provide a thoroughly
good, well fitting truss and one which by exercising steady and uniform pressure
upon the ruptured part, is capable of causing or allowing the edges of the hernial
cavity or sack to close and heal, so that a radical cure of the rupture may be the
result.
The object of the present invention is to provide such a truss and the said
invention consists in making the pad, intended to be placed within the "
gate" of
the rupture, independent of the remaining portion of the truss, i.e. of the resilient
belt or band by which it is secured to the body, so that, whilst such pad does not
follow in all directions the movements of the said belt or band, caused by the
movements of the body, it is, nevertheless subjected to its pressure to such an
extent as firmly to compress the rupture.
To attain this end, the pad and the belt or band are made as separate parts, the
belt or band being fitted with a comparatively wide plate or shield of which the
side turned towards the body is so smooth that it easily and freely slides upon
the pad situated underneath it, without causing, or permitting, such pad to leave
the cavity or "gate" of the rupture.
The following is a convenient arrangement according to this invention but I do
not limit myself to the precise details.
The pad consists of a disc of suitable material such for instance as india rubber,
leather or the like lined at the back with woollen fabric or any other material.
capable of readily sliding upon the smooth plate which is placed next it while on
its front side it carries the small hemispherical pad adapted to compress the
rupture. Between the pad and disc there is preferably interposed a small
stiffening washer of metal; but this washer may be dispensed with if desired.
The aforesaid disc is surrounded by perforations or air-holes serving to promote
perspiration. The pad itself may be made of celluloid or hard rubber and should
consist of one solid piece.
The sliding plate or shield is curved so as to suit the shape of the body, and it
preferably has an oval outline. It is best made of celluloid or hard rubber,
though any other suitable material may be used in its manufacture, so long as its
surface next the pad is sufficiently smooth or is capable of being planed or polished
as it is an essential condition that the surface of the shield, which is turned
towards the body, and which bears against the pad supporting plate, should be as
smooth and even as possible, so that the said shield may move or slide upon the
pad with ease. The said shield or plate is also provided with perforations to
assist perspiration. It may be connected with, or attached to, the elastic belt or
band of the truss in any convenient manner, for instance by means of two side
slots in the shield, through which slots the elastic band or belt is passed, they
meeting and being joined together in the centre of the shield.

page_text: When it is desired to put on the improved truss the belt or band is secured to
the shield and around the body, the buckle which serves to effect the attachment
of the belt or band preferably taking up its position in the centre of the shield.
The shield is next lifted slightly from the body and the pail is placed under it so
that it exactly covers the rupture. The shield participates with ease in all the
movements of the body, and in so doing, slides upon the pad; while the pad
itself remains permanently embedded in the cavity of the rupture, being
prevented from leaving it by the said shield.
The same arrangement is, of course, applicable also to trusses for other
ruptures.
Dated this 21st day of June 1894.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, Agents.
1703303.
1, ALEXANDER STRAUSS, of Töpfengasse No. 4 Frankfort on the Main in the
German Empire, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
In trusses hitherto employed for exomphalus or umbilical hernin the pad is apt
to shift from its proper position frequently causing great injury to or even
imperilling the life of the wearer. It is most desirable to provide a thoroughly
good, well fitting truss, and one which by exercising steady and uniform pressure
upon the ruptured part, is capable of causing or allowing the edges of the hernial
cavity or sack to close and heal so that a radical cure of the rupture may be the
result.
The object of the present invention is to provide such a truss and the said
invention consists in making the pad, intended to be placed within the "
gate" of
the rupture independent of the remaining portion of the truss, i.c. of the resilient
belt or band by which it is secured to the body; so that, whilst such pad does not
follow in all directions the movements of the said helt or band, caused by the
movements of the body, it is, nevertheless, subjected to its pressure to sach an
extent as firmly to compress the rupture.
To attain this end, the pad and the belt or band are made as separate parts, the
belt or band being fitted with a comparatively wide plate or shield of which the
side turned towards the body is so smooth that it easily and freely slides upon
the pad situated underneath it, without causing, or permitting, such pad to leave
the cavity or gate" of the rupture.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings which illustrate a convenient arrangement according to this invention
but do not limit myself to the precise details.
and
Figure 1 is a plan of the pad.
Figure 2 is a plan of the plate or shield, fitted with the spring belt or band;
Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross section of the combined shield plate, disc,
and pad.
The pad consists of a disc a of suitable material such for instance as india
rubber, leather, or the like, lined at the back with woollen fabric or any other
material capable of readily sliding upon a smooth plate or shield e which is placed
next it, while on its front side it carries the small hemispherical pad adapted to
compress the rupture. Between the pad and disc there is preferably
interposed a small stiffening washer c of metal, but this washer may be dispensed

page_text: with, if desired. The aforesaid disc a is surrounded by perforations or air holes d
serving to promote perspiration. The pad itself may be made of celluloid or hard
rubber and should consist of oue solid piece.
The sliding plate or shield e (Figs. 2 and 3) is curved so as to suit the shape of
the body, and it preferably has an oval outline. It is best made of celluloid or
hard rubber, though any other suitable material may be used in its manufacture,
so long as its surface next the pad is sufficiently smooth or is capable of being
planed or polished as it is an essential condition, that the surface of the shield,
which is turned towards the body, and which bears against the pad supporting
disc, should be as smooth and even as possible, so that the said shield may move
or slide upon the pad with ease. The said shield or plate e is also provided with
perforations, to assist perspiration. It may be connected with, or attached to,
the elastic belt or band of the truss in any convenient manner. In the drawings
the connection is shewn as made by means of two side slots g¹g formed in the
shield, through which slots the elastic band or belt his passed, they meeting and
being joined together in the centre of the shield.
When it is desired to put on the improved truss, the belt or band is secured to
the shield and around the body, the buckle, which serves to effect the attachment
of the belt or band preferably taking up its position in the centre of the shield as
shewn in the drawings. The shield is next lifted slightly from the body, and the
pad is placed under it, so that it exactly covers the rupture.
The shield e
participates with ease in all the movements of the body, and, in so doing, slides
upon the pad, while the pad itself remains permanently embedded in the cavity of
the rupture, being prevented from leaving it by the said shield e.
The same arrangement is, of course, applicable also to trusses for other
ruptures.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. Improvements in trusses, in which the truss is formed with its pad inde-
pendent or separate from the belt or band, the said belt or band being provided
with a plate or shield substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described.
2. The improved truss substantially as herein before described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.