Improvements in Trusses.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Trusses.
I, CHARLES COLVES, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Beards-
town, in the County of Cass, and State of Illinois, Manufacturer 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in hernial trusses for retaining the
intestines within the abdominal cavity, its object being to provide an improved
construction of same, whereby I attain superior advantages with respect to efficiency
in use and ease and comfort to the wearer.
The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts herein-
after fully described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a truss constructed according to my invention;
Figure 2 is a sectional view of the pad.
In the said drawings the reference-numeral 1 designates a band or belt, of any
suitable textile or other material, designed to encircle the waist above the hips and
provided with straps 2, and buckles 3, by which it may be secured in place.
Secured to the lower front edge of the band or belt 1, near the center thereof, is a
perineal strap 4, which is secured to the back of band 1, by means of a buckle 5.
The numeral 6 denotes the pad, comprising two circular pieces 7 and 7", of muslin
or other material, secured together and to the band 1 at the proper point by a line
of annular stitches 8 near the peripheries of said pieces, thus forming a pocket 9,
which is filled with small shot or other spheres, so that the pad will readily
accommodate itself to the injured parts to which it is applied. The piece 7" is
formed with a central opening to receive a metal plate, hereinafter described, the
piece 7, and that portion of the belt enclosed by the line of stitches 8 forming the
walls of the pocket. Secured to these pieces 7, at the outer edges or circumference,
and also to the band 1, by means of an annular row of stitches 10, is a leather
disk 12. Intermediate of the leather disk and the circular pieces of material 7 is an
annular metal plate 14, provided with four equidistant outwardly projecting pins 15,
and a central stud 16. For the purpose of allowing the plate 14 to be inserted in
place, two slits are made in the leather disk, binding each other at right angles,
forming four flaps 17, under which said plate is pushed.
The pin 16 passes through a central aperture in a plate 18, corresponding with
plate 14, and is provided with a head 19 and a coiled spring 20, located between
said plates, the object of which will hereinafter appear. The plate 18 is provided
with a series of inwardly projecting tubes 21, within which the pins 15 work,
thereby forming guides for the plate 14. Said plate 18 on its outer face, is also
provided with a series of studs 22 and 23. With the sturls 22 are connected
loops 24, connected with straps 25, secured to the belt at each side of the pad.
These straps pass through the loops and are carried back and connected with

page_text: buckles 26, also connected with said belt or band, a similar strap 27 and buckle 28
are secured to the perineal strap which passes through a loop 29, which engages
with the stud 23. By means of these straps, the pressure of the pad upon the
injured part can be regulated by tightening or slackening the same, it being
obvious that the tighter the straps, the greater the pressure, as when said straps
are tightened, the plate 18 will be forced inwardly, causing the spring 20 to press
the pad against the body, with a yielding pressure.
22
I have described and illustrated the truss as being what is known as a "single
truss-that is to say, having a single pad to be applied to one side only of the
wearer; but it is obvious that it may be made double, by simply duplicating the
pad and its connections, as is well understood by persons familiar with this class of
inventions.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a truss, the combination with the belt or band having fastening straps or
buckles, a perineal strap, and a buckle at the back of the band for engaging therewith,
of the pad consisting of the circular pieces, one of which is provided with a circular
opening, secured together near their peripheries and to the band, forming a pocket,
the leather disk secured to said pocket and band, having intersecting slits at right
angles to each other, the spring-actuated plate intermediate of the disk and pocket,
and means for pressing said band against the body, substantially as described.
2. In a truss, the combination, with the belt or band having fastening straps and
buckles, a perineal strap, and a buckle at the back of the band for engaging there-
with, of the pad consisting of the circular pieces connected together near their
peripheries and to the band, forming a pocket to receive filling material, the leather
disk secured to said pocket and band, having intersecting slits at right angles to
each other, the metal plate intermediate of said pocket and disk, having outwardly
.projecting pins and a central stud, a plate having inwardly projecting tubes in
which said pins work, and a central aperture for the passage of the stud, a coiled
spring encircling said stud, and means for pressing the pad against the body,
substantially as described.
3. In a truss, the combination, with the belt or band, having fastening straps and
buckles, a perineal strap, and a buckle at the back of the band for engaging there-
with, of the pad consisting of the circular pieces connected together near their
peripheries and to the band, forming a pocket to receive a filling material, the
leather disk secured to said pocket and band, having intersecting slits at right
angles to each other, the metal plate intermediate of said pocket and disk, having
outwardly projecting pins and a central stud, a plate having inwardly projecting
tubes in which said pins work and a central passage for the passage of the stud, a
coiled spring encircling said stud, a series of studs on the outer face of said last-
mentioned plate, the loops connected with said studs, the fastening straps and
buckle secured to the band and to the perineal strap, substantially as described.
Dated this 1st day of September 1892.
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.