A NEW OR IMPROVED ELASTIC BELT OR BAND TRUSS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Reader, of Derby, in the County of Derby,
Elastic Belt Truss Manufacturer, for the Invention of "A NEW OR
IMPROVED ELASTIC BELT OR BAND TRUSS."
Sealed the 22nd May 1866, and dated the 24th November 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Reader at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th
November 1865.
I, CHARLES READER, of Derby, in the County of Derby, Elastic Belt
Truss Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"A NEW OR IMPROVED ELASTIC BELT OR BAND TRUSS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object the prevention, relief, and cure of hernia,
prolapsus uteri, uterine hemorrhage, and hernia humoralis, and as a general
support for enlargement of the abdomen. It consists of an elastic belt or
band which is passed round the body and lies in such position that the hole of
the spring of the elastic material will tend to keep a pad pressed upon the
ruptured part or other part required. The elastic belt or band is restrained
and kept from getting lower on the body than where placed by its elasticity,
and it is prevented from rising by two other narrower elastic belts or bands
stitched at one end to the pad. The other ends of the two elastic belts or
bands are provided with pieces of leather, india-rubber, or other material
suitably attached, and of such form that each may be cut to form a button

page_text: hole to be passed over buttons, or studs, or equivalent contrivances secured to
leather or other material. On other parts of the first elastic belt or band the
position of the buttons or studs is such that the two narrower elastic belts or
bands (which are passed between the legs) lie across the thighs, and do not
get more soiled by wearing than do under garments usually worn. The first-
mentioned pad may be formed of one or more pieces; if formed of two pieces
they are attached to each other by buttons, studs, or other attachments.
When this pad is of leather the leather is on the outer side thereof and is
prevented from chafing the skin by a larger piece of flannel, cloth, or other
soft substance stitched to the side of the belt or band next the wearer, the
leather being on the outer side. In each case where the leather is used, a
softer substance somewhat larger than the leather is stitched or otherwise
secured to the inner side of the belt or band. In each case a number of
holes is punched in the leather to assist ventilation. These trusses or bands
are compact and ventilated and they are never too hot, and whatever be
the exertions of the wearer, pain is prevented in the affected part.
This Invention is applicable to single and double ruptures and affords great
support where most needed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Reader in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th
May 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
READER, of Derby, in the County of Derby, Elastic Belt Truss Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Charles Reader, Her special licence that I, the said Charles
Reader, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Charles Reader, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should, at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there.
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "A
NEW OR IMPROVED ELASTIC BELT OR BAND TRUSS," upon the condition (amongst

page_text: others) that I, the said Charles Reader, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Reader, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object the prevention, relief, and cure of hernia,
prolapsus uteri, uterine hemorrhage, and hernia humoralis, and as a general
support for enlargement of the abdomen. It consists of an elastic belt
or band which is passed round the body and lies in such position that the
whole of the spring of the elastic material will tend to keep a pad pressed.
upon the ruptured part or other affected part or part required. The elastic
belt or band is restrained and kept by its elasticity from getting lower on the
body than where originally placed, and it is prevented from rising by two
other narrower elastic belts or bands stitched at one end to the pad. The
other ends of the two elastic belts or bands are provided with leather, india-
rubber, or other like material suitably attached, and of such form that each
may be cut to form a button hole to be passed over buttons, or studs, or
equivalent contrivances, secured to other pieces of leather or of other like
material on various parts of the first-mentioned elastic belt or band. The
position of the buttons or studs is such that the two narrower elastic belts or.
bands (which are passed between the legs) lie across the thighs so that they
do not get more soiled. by wearing than do under garments generally worn.
The first mentioned pad may be formed of one or more pieces, if it is formed
of two pieces the pieces are attached to each other by buttons, or studs, or
other equivalent attachments. When the pad is formed of leather the leather
is on the outer side thereof and is prevented from chafing or exciting the
skin or body by a larger piece of flannel, cloth, or other soft substance, stitched
to the side of the belt or band next the wearer's person, the leather being on
the outer side. In each case where the leather is used a piece of some.
substance softer and somewhat larger than the leather is stitched or otherwise.
secured to the inner side of the belt or band. In each case a number of
holes is punched in the leather to assist ventilation.
Having thus set forth the nature of my Invention, I proceed more par-

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figures 1 to 7 inclusively, Sheets 1 and 2, represent several modifications or
arrangements of truss constructed according to my improvements. Figures 1
and 2 represent respectively the outside and inside of one such truss. A is
an elastic belt or band passed round the body in such a position that the
whole of the spring of the elastic material will tend to keep à pad B, or
pads B and B pressed upon the ruptured or other affected part or parts
required. The elastic belt or band is restrained and kept by its elasticity
from getting lower on the body than where placed, and it is prevented from
rising by two other narrower elastic belts or bands D, D¹, stitched at one end
to the pads, and provided at their other ends with pieces of leather, india-
rubber, or other like material, E, suitably attached, and of such form that each
may be cut to form a button hole to be passed over buttons, or studs, or
equivalent contrivances, secured to other leather or other material F on other
parts of the belt A; the position of buttons or studs is such that the
bands D, D', (which are passed between the legs) lie across the thighs and
do not get more soiled by wearing than do under garments usually worn.
The pad may be formed of one piece or of two or more pieces; in the
Drawings it is shown formed of two pieces attached to each other by buttons
or studs. Of course I do not confine myself to the position of the pad or pads
shewn in the Drawings, as their position will vary according to requirement.
When the pad is formed of leather the leather is on the outer side thereof,
and is prevented from chafing the skin by a larger piece of flannel, linen, cloth,
or other soft substance, G, stitched to the side of the belt or band next the
wearer. Always where leather is used a softer piece of material and some-
what larger than the leather is stitched or otherwise secured to the inner side
of the belt or band, and such leathers have a number of holes C punched in
them to assist ventilation.
Figure 8 represents a truss belt folded so as to shew the outside of the
pads B, B, and the softer substance G on the inner side, the punched
ventilated leather F is shown at Figure 3. In some cases I find it necessary
to place one or more thicknesses of soft substance G in several places on the
inner side of a truss belt, portions of such a belt is shewn in outside view at
Figure 4, and an edge view at Figure 5, where two thicknesses of the soft
substance are seen, and the thickness (which may be made greater or less
as required) of the pad or pads B, B', is also shown.

page_text: At Figure 6 is shewn in edge view a portion of a truss belt having four
thicknesses of a softer substance to afford support or comfort to the spine or
other part where required, and sometimes instead of using a thick elastic band
or belt I form the belt of two or more thicknesses of elastic material, and I
make the two other narrow elastic bands D, D', used therewith of two or
more thicknesses of elastic material.
Figure 7 represents a broader and stronger truss belt or band, the parts of
which are secured together as in the truss belts before described. The corre-
sponding parts of all the trusses are lettered alike. Figure 3 shows the truss
belt folded to show the outside leathers. In all the Figures the thick black
lines represent the stitching. These trusses or bands are suitable for adults
of either sex, and also for infants, and they may be worn both night and day
without inconvenience. They are compact and ventilated, and although they
are always sufficiently warm to the body they are never too hot, but they
impart much comfort and thoroughly fulfil every requirement, and whatever
be the exertions of the wearer pain will be prevented in the ruptured part.
This Invention is applicable to single and double ruptures, and affords great
support where it is most needed.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that I claim the arrangement
and combination of parts constituting the new or improved elastic belt or band
truss, substantially as berein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Reader, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
GEO. JON. ROBINSON,
Patent Office,
Nottingham.
CHARLES READER. (L.S.)