Improvements in Abdominal Supporters and Body Trainers or appli- ances for Correcting Round-shoulders and other Deformities.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 18th Nov., 1899
Improvements in Abdominal Supporters and Body Trainers or appli-
ances for Correcting Round-shoulders and other Deformities.
I, JOHN HARVEY KELLOGG, a Citizen of the United States, residing at Battle
Creek, in the County of Calhoun and State of Michigan, United States of
America, Physician, 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:-
My invention consists in certain new and useful improvements in body
trainers, or shoulder braces, and abdominal supporters, and the invention con-
sists of a combined device of this character possessing all the merits of the
shoulder brace, and also those of the abdominal supporter, and at the same time
giving to the patient the advantages and benefits resulting from the combined
use of a shoulder brace and abdominal supporter; results which actual practice
in the treatment of numerous cases have shown to be of inestimable value, and
results, that as far as known, have not heretofore been accomplished.
Generally, the purpose of this invention is to correct an exceedingly common
deformity, variously known as round shoulders, hollow or flat chest, etc., a
deformity which is uniformly associated with an abnormally straightened or
curved condition of the spine and a prolapsed state of the stomach, bowels, and
often the kidneys and the liver, and other internal organs.
Various devices have heretofore been made for the purpose of overcoming
these difficulties, but they have usually consisted either of shoulder braces or
an abdominal supporter, but as far as known, no attempt has ever been made
to treat these troubles with a single device, and one which serves to correct
the deformity, and at the same time give relief to the prolapsed organs of the
lower trunk, the value of the device being increased by the assistance and co-
operation one position lends to another in attaining the results desired.
In the present invention I have devised an abdominal supporter so con-
structed as to lift the lower portion of the abdomen in essentially the same
manner as the parts may be lifted by the hands, and a shoulder brace or trainer
consisting of a set of straps arranged after the general and well known method
for drawing the shoulders backward.
For a better understanding of the invention reference is had to the accom-
panying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved body trainer and abdominal
supporter showing its application to the body of a person to be treated, the
figure being indicated in dotted lines.
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the rear portion of the body trainer
and abdominal supporter.
Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are detail views showing the construction of the
abdominal supporter and the method of adjusting the back pads so as to conform
with the peculiar shape of any particular body to which the device is to be
fitted.
The shoulder brace consists of the usual set of shoulder straps 1, which pass

page_text: over the shoulders and around the arms connecting with the back piece 2, and
having the usual connecting or brace portion 3. Suitable buckles 4, are pro-
vided for adjusting the shoulder straps. The depending straps at the front 5
and 6, and those at the rear 7 and 8 which usually serve the purposes of
suspenders are adjustably secured by buckles to the abdominal supporter, the
construction of which will now be explained.
The supporter 9, consists of a thin metallic plate eight or nine inches in length
and about one and one quarter inches in width. This plate is provided with
a series of vertical slots 11, near either end and into these slots fit staples 12,
of the circular back pads 13.. When these staples are fitted into the slots of
the plate, slotted oblong plates 14, are fitted over the staples and receive the
back straps 7 of the shoulder brace provided with buckles 15'.
This plate 14, fits flat against the back plate 9, and through the projecting
staples of the back pads are passed the ends of right and left supporting spring
arms 15, such ends having a series of apertures which are adapted to register
with a single aperture in the center of the plate 9, and when the spring arms
have received the proper adjustment, a small set screw is passed through the
registering apertures of the spring arms into a screw threaded hub formed on
the inner side of the back plate 9, such hub being of sufficient size to secure
and hold the spring arms in the desired position.
These registering apertures in the ends of the spring supporting arms 15,
permit of an adjustment of such arms to accommodate bodies of varying sizes
and the series of vertical slots in the back plate 9, through which pass the
staples of the back pad, allow the adjustment of these back pads, as regards
the distance between them, so that they can be readily adapted to the varying
shapes presented by different patients. The importance of such construction can
be appreciated when it is known that seldom, if ever, in practice, has it been
found that any two persons are alike in the shape of this portion of the back.
These spring arms 15, have a strong natural curve, that is to say, normally the
front ends press strongly toward the rear plate. These arms are suitably padded
to protect the wearer, and near the ends are provided with eyelets adapted to
engage and lock with headed studs or pins on the abdominal supporter pads 16.
The pressure of the spring arm 15, upon the abdominal pads, is upward and
inward, and in this way the deleterious influence of constricting bands is
avoided, a fault which is presented by nearly all other abdominal supporters.
By the application of pressure from springs there is no constriction whatever,
the springs acting only at the two extremities, the fixed point being the back
pad, and the movable point the front pads which are lifted by the tensile
strength of the spring arms.
Besides attaching buckles to plates 14 for connection with the back straps
of the shoulder brace, other buckles are attached to these plates, and to these
depending buckles are secured perineal bands which pass under the legs of
the patient and attach to the abdominal pad 16, by slotted cars or plates over
studs or pins on the abdominal pads. The purpose of these perineal bands is
to hold the abdominal supporter from slipping up when it is connected with the
shoulder brace.
In order to avoid the objections of a rigid support brace, and to insure the
elasticity of the support a small piece of elastic webbing is introduced in the
back straps of the shoulder braces extending from the brace portion 2 which
carries the buckles downward for about two inches from which point the elastic
webbing is continued. This construction avoids the danger of retiring from
activity the muscles which naturally support the trunk of the body.
When used alone, shoulder braces or straps are seldom of any practical
benefit, but by connecting these straps in a proper manner with the abdominal
supporter the shoulders may be held back to any required degree. By simply
shortening the back straps, connecting the shoulder braces with the abdominal
supporter, the shoulders are approximated, thus producing a strong anterior

page_text: spinal curve, which is the most effective means of correcting a round-shouldered
or flat-chested condition. At the same time that the shoulders are brought back
the chest is lifted forward, and the abdominal organs by this combined action
of the shoulder brace and abdominal supporter, are quickly lifted into place
The back straps of the shoulder brace are connected with the back piece of
the abdominal supporter so as to give the supporter a tendency to tilt down-
ward, whereby, by the aid of the perineal bands, and the spring side pieces,
the front piece of the abdominal supporter is prevented from slipping up.
The effect of the combined action of the shoulder brace and the abdominal
supporter is to give to the front a strong upward curve, to lift the chest forward
while holding the hips backward, and to correct the posterior curvatures of the
spine and prolapse of the internal viscera. By adjustment of the shoulder brace
it is also possible to correct reducible lateral curvatures of moderate degree.
The body trainer and abdominal supporter are not intended to be a rigid
support or brace, but to furnish elastic support. This characteristic is secured
by means of the elasticity of the springs of the abdominal supporter, and by
the introduction of the elastic webbing of the back straps of the shoulder
braces which connect with the back piece of the abdominal supporter. The
advantages of this elastic support are that the muscles which naturally support
the trunk are not retired from activity, as would be the case with a rigid support
of any sort, but are simply aided to such an extent as may be necessary to
enable them to correct deformities. The body trainer and abdominal supporter
are used in connection with gymnastic exercises, massage and application of
electricity, whereby the weak muscles are strengthened so that, in time, the body
trainer and abdominal supporter can be dispensed with.
The apparatus has to be worn only until the muscles are sufficiently
strengthened to perform the work of supporting the body in a correct position
without it. Other devices intended to accomplish the same thing have failed,
usually for two reasons; first, they generally fail to correct the existing
deformities; second if the deformities are corrected the muscles are not strength-
ened, but rather weakened by its use, so that the difficulties, in the end, are
aggravated rather than cured.”
:
The side straps 5 and 6, of the shoulder brace are attached adjustably to the
right and left spring supporting arms in order to assist in sustaining the
abdominal supporter in position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. In a body trainer and abdominal supporter, the combination with shoulder
braces, back and side straps depending therefrom and adjustably attached to the
abdominal frame, such abdominal frame comprising a back plate having a series
of vertical slots near either end, right and left spring arms adjustably secured
to said back plate, the free ends of said arms being formed so as to normally
press inward and upward and support the lower organs of the body, pads car-
ried by said arms, and back pads adjustably carried by the back plate in order
that the device may be adapted to the varying shapes of the human body, and
straps which pass between the wearers limbs and the abdominal supporter pad 16
supported in position by the spring arms, as and for the purposes set forth.
2. In a body trainer, shoulder braces having front and back depending straps
adjustably attached to the abdominal frame, whereby the shoulders may be
drawn back to any degree desired by adjusting the back straps, the straps
serving to support said abdominal frame in position, back pads and abdominal
pads secured to the abdominal frame, whereby a round-shouldered or flat-
chested condition can be corrected, and a prolapsed state of the bowels, liver
and lower organs treated at the same time, said abdominal frame comprising
a back plate provided with a central aperture and a series of vertical lots formed

page_text: near either end, such slots being adapted to receive the staples of the back pads,
oblong slotted plates arranged to fit over said staples and carrying buckles
to which the upper shoulder and lower perineal straps are attached, right and
left spring supporting arms with series of circular apertures on their rear ends,
said arms being passed through the staples of the back pads, the apertures in
said arms registering with the central aperture of the back plate, a set screw
adapted to pass through said registering apertures, and to be secured in a
threaded hub formed on the back plate, abdominal pads carried by the free
ends of the spring arms and means for easily and adjustably attaching said
pads to the spring arms, perineal straps attached to the rear of the abdominal
frame and arranged to pass between the wearer's limbs and to be secured to
the abdominal pads to retain the same in position, all arranged substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 96th day of September 1899
!
BOULT, WADE, & KILBURN,
Agents for the Applicant.