An Improved Abdominal Belt or Bandage.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 8th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 17th Jan.,
1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Abdominal Belt or Bandage.
I JANE WILLIAMS of 63 Grant Street Birmingham in the County of Warwick do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object an improved abdominal belt or bandage whereby
greater ease and comfort together with greater benefit is imparted to the wearer.
Hitherto such articles have been made to meet a special case and of unyielding
material such as plates adjusted into position by screws &c. and the adjustment
of them to different times has been very difficult and often the aim of their use
has not been attained and their wear being uncomfortable besides being very
expensive to make.
The mode in which I make my bolt or bandage is as follows;l make it in two
innin pieces vis, a front piece and a back piece. The front piece is composed of three
or more suitable materials but for example the inside material may be flannel or wash
leather and the outside silk, the substance between these two may be of any material
to add to the strength and to the required thickness, these three are then quilted
together, this quilting being dono of course after the materials had been cut to the
required size and shape of the abdomen and so that it will extend underneath a certain
distance to give the required support, at each side or olsowhere I insert in the quilting
a strip of whalebone to stiffen it. The other main piece which fits to the back is
made preferably of a shield shape so that being longer in the centre it gives a greater
supporting surface to the spine, this piece is composed of the same material as already
described for the front piece but with three or more strips of whalebone extending
from the top to the bottom and parallel with these are three more strips running from the
top to about three parts of the length from these again three or more strips would be
placed laterally all quilted together in a substantial manner this is an important
feature in my invention as it gives greater support to the spine and yet admits of the
body moving freely in any direction. These front and back pieces are connected
together by side bands on both sides which are made partly of elastic webbing and
partly of silk ending in such a way that they fit over the hips and in no way impedes the
action of walking or in fact any position the body bends whilst at the same time
giving every support, in the bands which go from the front or abdominal piece are
holes, or eyes whichever are desired, say about four which are hooked upon hooks
secured upon the double band coming from the back piece thus again it will be seen
that this belt is not dependant upon the elasticity of the elastic bands but can readily
be adjusted by means of the hooks and holes to any varying circumstances and to
give a greater in some cases & to bind the abdominal piece in tighter I may use a
band of elastic material which goes right round underneath the abdomen kept in
position by two hooks and fastened on the side bands by means of two more hooks.
Of course it will be seen that a pad may be used in conjunction with this belt when
necessary.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Abdominal Belt or Bandage.
I JANE WILLIAMS of 63 Grant Street Birmingham in the County of Warwick do
5 bereby 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 has for its object an improved abdominal belt or bandage whereby

page_text: greater ease and comfort together with greater benefit is imparted to the wearer.
Hitherto such articles have been made to meet a special case an! of unyieldin!
material such as plates adjusted into position by screws &c., and the adjustment of
them to different times has been very difficult and often the aim of their use has not
been attained and their wear being uncomfortably besides being very expensive to
make. In order that my invention inay be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practice I have appended hereunto one sheet of drawings upon which
Figure 1., is a general view of my belt or bandage as it would appear when in
position.
Figure 2., is a view of the front piece A.
Figure 3., is a view of the back piece B.
The mode in which I make my belt or bandage is as follows:-I make it in two
main pieces viz. :-a front piece A and a back piece B. The front piece is composed
of one or two suitable materials but for example the inside material may be silk or
flannel; and the outside silk or any other suitable material the two are then quilted
together this quilting being done of course after the material had been cut to the
required size & shape of the abdomen and so that it will extend underneath a certain
distance to give the required support at each side or elsewhere. I insert in the quilting
strips of whalebone a¹ or steel to strengthen it. The other main piece B which fits to
the back is made preferably of a shield shape, so that being longer in the centre it.
gives a greater supporting surface to the spine this piece B is composed of the same
material as already described for the front piece but with three or more strips of
whalebone 6' extending from the top to the bottom and parallel with these are three more
strips running from, the top to or about three parts of the length from these again three
or more strips would be placed laterally all quilted together in a substantial manner
this is an important feature in my invention as it gives greater support to the spine &
yet admits of the body moving freely in any direction. These front and back
pieces A & B are connected together by side bands C & D on both sides, which are
made partly of clastic-webbing e and partly of silk d' endling in such a-way-that they
fit over the hips & in no way impedes the action of walking or in fact any position
the hody bends whilst at the same time giving every support in the band's C, which
go from the front or abdominal piece or holes or eyes, whichever are desired say about
four which are hooked upon hooks secured upon the double band D coming from
the back piece B thus again it will be seen that this belt is not dependant upon the
elasticity of the elastic bands C. & D. but can readily be adjusted by means of the
hooks and holes to any varying circumstances & to give a greater support in soine
cases; and to bind the abdominal piece in tighter, I may use a band of material which
goes round underneath the abdomen and kept in position by two hooks and fastened
on the side bands by means of two or more hooks, or instead of this band going round
the abdomen I find by practice that a small extra hand, such as E, answers, my purpose
very well but of course I do not confine myself to the exact position of these extra
bands. It will be seen that I may fasten these side bands either in the centre as shown
or to the right or left to suit convenience &c., and that a pad may be used in conjunction
with this belt when necessary.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
An improved abdominal belt or bandage made with the two pieces A and B
having the elastic bands C. & D. and in the manner substantially as herein set forth
and shewn.
Cl 1
1
JANE WILLIAMS.