Improvements in Catamenial Sacks.
Year: 1889

page_text: te of Application, 23rd Aor., 1889
Specification Accepted, 8th June, 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Catamenial Sacks.
I, EMMA AUBREY WILEY, of Sos Angeles, in the County of Sos Angeles and State
of California, United States of America do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The invention relates to improvements in catamenial sacks, having for its object
to provide a device which may be easily and securely affixed to the body in such a
manner that all unnecessary restriction and heating of the body are avoided and
further to provide the said sack with an integral pocket adapted to contain a sponge
linen or other soft absorbent material which cannot be displaced by the motions of
the body.
The invention consists in a certain novel construction and arrangement of parts,
fully set forth hereinafter in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein
Fig. 1 is a view of the sack in the operative position.
Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same partly broken away.
Referring by letter to the drawings.
A designates the body of the sack adapted to fit closely around the lower portion
of the trunk of the wearer and cut away as at B B to form openings for the passage
of the limbs when fitted upon the person as shown in Fig. 1. said sack being
provided with the tapes CC to adapt the same to be adjusted around the limbs.
The upper edge of the sack is also provided with the drawing tapes C C to enable
the top of the body to be adjusted to fit the waist of the wearer.
The sides of the body are cut away so as to form openings D D when fitted
around the person and the rear side of the same at the upper edge is provided with
the V-shaped openings E E to enable the sack to fit more accurately to the trunk
and provide ventilation.
The bottom of the sack between the openings B B above referred to is provided
with the hanging pocket F adapted to contain a sponge soft linen or other absorbent
material in a position to receive the menstrual discharges and prevent them from
coming in contact with the garments of the person wearing the sack.
The improved sack may be made entirely of thin rubber which (being elastic) will
fit the body accurately and closely and will therefore protect the garments.

page_text: I prefer however to construct the body of the sack of two parts A1, A2, the upper
portion A being of some textile fabric as muslin or the like, and the lower portion A²
of thin rubber, the two being secured together in any suitable manner.
By this construction the body of the wearer is kept in a much cooler state than
would be the case were the entire sack made of rubber, since air can penetrate the
meshes of the fabric of which the portion A' is constructed especially should the mesh
of said fabric be coarse.
My device as will be seen, is light and therefore will not annoy the wearer.
Further, the sack cannot be displaced by the motions of the body, as the rubber
will yield and permit free motion and further the pocket being formed as a portion
of the sack the former cannot become detached.
I am aware that various means have been devised heretofore to maintain cata-
menial sacks in their proper positions and prevent the escape therefrom of the fluid
should a slight disarrangement of the sack occur or should the sponge or other
absorbent become surcharged. Among the means employed one is to form the mouth
of the sack so large that a slight disarrangement will not expose the vulva; another
device is provided with depending lappels or ears to cover the inner sides of the thighs
of the female etc. In these cases there is always more or less liability of a serious
displacement and a consequent escape of the catamenia owing to the trivial and
insufficient means employed to secure the same in position and therefore, in order to
guard against thes inconveniences I provide a body portion which envelopes the
entire lower portion of the trunk and fits snugly around the thighs of the wearer.
Being made entirely or partly of rubber, the sack will stretch and yield to the
movements of the wearer but it will be obvious that in whatever positions the thighs
are placed the depending pocket F will always remain under or opposite the vulva."
The sack being drawn sufficiently tight around the thighs of the wearer will
prevent the escape through the thigh openings of the catamenia even should the latter
overflow the pocket.
It will be seen that there are no loose parts connected with this improved sack. It
is made integral, and the body portion fits snugly around the lower portion of the body
of the wearer with the depending pocket hanging loosely below the same in a position
to be entirely out of the way, so as not to inconvenience or hamper the movements of
the wearer.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
Lion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is :
As an improved article of manufacture, the catamenial sack having its lower portion
constructed of thin rubber and its upper portion of muslin or the like, said sack being
adapted to fit snugly around the lower portion of the trunk of the wearer, and cut
away on opposite sides to form thigh openings, as described, the loose depending
sponge-containing pocket F integral with the body portion and the drawing strings
or tapes C (, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 30th day of March 1889.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agents.