AN IMPROVED CATA- MENIAL BELT, WHICH MAY ALSO BE USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS · PATENT to Thomas Nightingale Palmer, of Dalston, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED CATA-
MENIAL BELT, WHICH MAY ALSO BE USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES."-
-A com-
munication from abroad by Aline Lacruz, of Troyes, France.
-
Sealed the 14th January 1873, and dated the 22nd July 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Nightingale
Palmer at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
☐ Petition, on the 22nd July 1872.
:
I, THOMAS NIGHTINGALE PALMER, of: Dalston, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVED CATAMENIAL BELT, WHICH MAY ALSO BE USED FOR OTHER
PURPOSES," a communication, to be as follows:-
:―
.
The belt is composed of two pieces, first, a belt made of linen, cotton,
or any suitable material about two inches in breadth cut out and sewn
so as to exactly fit the body; this belt is made to button on one side.
In order to prevent its being twisted and curled up some short whale-
bones are inserted at various distances, and the top part is bound by a

page_text: straight piece of linen. In the midst of the front and back part of the
belt are two straps hanging down about eight inches in length, provided
with buttons and button-holes, these straps are to hold a square piece
of india-rubber or caoutchouc. This piece of caoutchouc is about three
inches wide and about twelve inches long; the sides are hollowed out
so that in the middle it is only about two inches and a half in width.
In the edges of the long sides of the piece of caoutchouc are inserted
strong tapes which are fastened at each corner to pieces of wood or
whalebone of a quarter of an inch broad, which are inserted at each
end of the square (so as to be covered entirely by the caoutchouc) in order
to keep the piece of caoutchouc spread and stiff at each end. In the
middle of each of these stiff ends is sewn a kind of buckle through
which one of the straps of the linen belt may be passed and then
buttoned. The part of the piece of caoutchouc that is to be buttoned
to the strap behind is larger than the part that has to be buttoned to
the front strap.
The belt is worn by passing the linen belt round the waist and
buttoning it. The square piece of caoutchouc is then fastened by means
of the buckle to the strap hanging down in the middle of the back part
of the linen belt, the square piece of caoutchouc is then passed between
the legs of the person, and buttoned to the strap in front. In this
peculiar position by the tension produced by the tape and pieces of wood
passed in the caoutchouc, the latter assumes the shape of a funnel, and
a piece of linen folded so as to fit in it will be held firmly to the sexual
parts. The caoutchouc being very soft where it touches the skin
prevents it becoming sore by friction as is usually the case when linen
is worn.
I do not confine myself to any particular measure or shape of the
belt, it is to be made to measure in order to exactly fit the body. It
'may be made of any suitable material or color.
My improved belt may' also be used for supporting the matrix in
walking, travelling, or exertions of any kind, and to prevent flooding.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent».
filed by the said Thomas Nightingale Palmer in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 17th January 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS,
NIGHTINGALE PALMER, of Dalston, in the County of Middlesex, send.
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of July, in the year.
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Nightingale Palmer, Her
special licence that I, the said Thomas Nightingale Palmer, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Thomas Nightingale Palmer, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter 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 "AN IMPROVED CATAMENIAL BELT, WHICH MAY
ALSO BE USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Thomas Nightingale Palmer, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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 Thomas Nightingale Palmer, do.
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawing forming a part of this Specification:-
My improved belt is composed of two parts; first, a belt made of
linen, cotton, or any suitable material about two inches in breadth cut.
out and sewn so as to exactly fit the body; this belt is made to, button,
buckle, or otherwise fasten on one side. To prevent its being twisted>

page_text: and curled up some small whalebones are inserted at various distances,
and the top is bound by a straight piece of linen. In the midst of the
front and back parts of the belt are attached two straps about eight
inches (more or less) in length provided with button holes; these straps
are to hold a piece of vulcanized india-rubber or caoutchouc. This piece
of caoutchouc is about three inches wide and about twelve inches long,
the sides are hollowed out so that in the middle it is only about two-
inches and a half in width. In the edges of the long sides of the piece.
of caoutchouc are inserted strong tapes which are fastened at each corner
to pieces of wood or whalebone of a quarter of an inch broad which are
inserted at each end of the caoutchouc, being covered entirely by it in
order to keep the piece of caoutchouc spread and stiff at each end. To
the middle of each of these stiff ends is sewn a kind of buckle, stud, or
other fastening for securing the same to the straps attached to the linen
belt. That end of the caoutchouc which is secured to the back strap,
may be made wider than that which is to be secured to the front strap.

page_text: I do not confine myself to any particular size or shape of the belt; it
is to be made to measure in order to exactly fit the body. It may be
made of any suitable material or color, and any suitable fastening may
be used for attaching the straps B to the caoutchouc C.
My improved belt may be used for supporting the matrix in walking,
travelling, or exertions of any kind, and to prevent flooding as well as
during the catamenial period.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Nightingale Palmer, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of January,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.