IMPROVEMENTS IN ARTIFICIAL BREASTS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International
Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ARTIFICIAL BREASTS."-A communication
from abroad by Hosea Wait Libbey, of Cleveland, Ohio, United
States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 24th February 1868, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting
Engincer, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN ARTIFICIAL BREASTS," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto
me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters
Patent for the same, and have made solemn declaration that it has
been communicated to me from abroad by Hosea Wait Libbey, of
Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings
forming a part of this Specification:
The said Invention relates to breast forms so arranged that the
front part is made of elastic material and attached to a rigid base
in such a way as to render the part inflatable by any convenient
means. It is also designed in some cases to fill the said forms with
sponge or some other fibrous or textile material, or elastic sacks or
capsules filled with air may be suitable for the purpose in which
the form may or may not be inflated at the option of the wearer.
I design also to construct the nipple of the forms with a tube and
valve by which the forms may be inflated and through which the air
may be expelled, designing to construct and arrange the forms and their
attachments in any manner substantially as set forth to obtain the same

page_text: fillet down into the groove, the whole by this means is made per-
manently secure and air-tight as shown in Figure 4; B is a lining made
of silk or other soft material, and is attached to the forms by being
sewed on to the projecting edge of the tape or fillet as shown in
Figure 2. This lining when the form is worn is in contact with the
tegument of the breast, a circular opening being made in the centre
of the same for the admission of the nipple. D is a mouth piece for
the purpose of inflating the form, and is made by gathering together
the loose, teguments of the elastic covering and tying them by a small
cord around a tube a², Figure 3; this tube is connected to a button a³
which forms the top of a small circular chamber opening into the space
between the disc A and elastic covering. In the tube referred to is
a stem to the lower end of which is attached a valve c, the face of
which is kept closely pressed against the inner face of the button which
forms the valve seat by the spring H. In the space between the
covering and diaphragm A is placed a certain quantity of sponge J,
Figure 2,, or other similar material. G is an elastic ligament connecting
the two forms together passing from one to the other in front of the
sternum, and B' are straps by which the said forms are secured to
the person. The manner of inflating the forms is as follows:-The
mouth is applied to the nipple, when on blowing into the tube therein
the valve is forced back from its seat and the air passes into the
chamber, thence into the form, inflating the sponge and expanding the
covering; the pressure of the air from within closes the valve and
thereby prevents its escape from the form. The inflated sponge gives
strength to the expanded covering and consistency to the form, so
that it will readily yield to the pressure of the clothing and still
retains its fullness of figure and resiliency, and being constructed of
light material it can be worn without discomfort to the person. The
concave depression shown at the point x, Figure 2, is for the purpose
of receiving the chamber when the elastic covering is first laid on the
diaphragm, so that the covering may be flatter upon the disc before being
expanded by inflation, and thereby produce greater tension in the
covering. This form is susceptible of various modifications without
changing the principle upon which it is constructed as seen in Figures 5,
6,7, and 8.
A, Figure 6, represents the frame or diaphragm, which is a concave
disc made of thin vulcanized rubber, wood, papier maché, thin metal,
or other suitable material. The border or margin is provided with

page_text: a circular groove or depression a, Figure 8; B, represents a liming
membrane made of silk fabric, which when the form is worn is in
contact with the integument of the breast. At the centre of this
membrane is a circular opening * for the admission of the nipple;
C, represents an air-tight elastic covering placed upon the outside or
convex side of the diaphragm A, and joined to the outer edge of the
disc by first applying an elastic varnish or cement that will make it
air-tight. A small cord is then wound tightly around in the groove a
as seen at a', Figure around under the cord with the elastic covering
is bound a piece of tape, the edges of which are allowed to project
from the rim of the frame. To this tape is secured the membrane or
lining B so that on its becoming worn or soiled it can be easily
replaced by a new one; D, represents a mouth piece which is provided
with a screw stem E for the purpose of inflating the form. To the
lower end of this stem is attached a valve E, the face of which is
covered or packed with some elastic material a'; ¹ is the valve seat
which is secured to the elastic covering by a button 6 into which the
stem is screwed, and is also packed or faced with some elastic material
like the valve. The nipple and stem are perforated to the point x
and thence at right angles into the chamber between the valve and seat.
In order to inflate the form the valve is opened as shown in Figure 7,
the nipple is then applied to the mouth and the necessary amount of air
is forced in and retained, the valve being closed by means of the
screw stem and button referred to. The face of the valve is thus
brought up into its seat, thereby closing the side perforations in the
stem and making the whole secure and air-tight. F, F, represent
steel or other metallic springs which are attached to the outer margin
of the discs, the free ends passing to the posterior portion of the chest
and holding the discs in place; G, represents an elastic ligament which
holds the two forms together passing from one to the other in front
of the sternum. In using this breast from the nipple D is turned so
as to open the valve; the form is then inflated by an effort of the
lungs and the valve closed, the form is then placed over the mammery
gland and the springs properly adjusted; the inflation can be more
or less as may be desired to suit any particular case or fancy.
The advantages of my improved breast form over others are as follows:-
Ladies in whom the glands are not well developed use for the purpose of
showing such developement, padding of various kinds which presses
upon the glands, and by the increase of heat and constant pressure

page_text: ultimately produces an irreparable injury, causing the nipple to
retract and giving rise to tumors. With my improved breast forms
neither of these evils can result; the nipple is not retracted, the natural
growth of the breast is not retarded, and abundant opportunity is afforded
for insensible perspiration by a free admission of air under the form.
Another advantage of no small magnitude is the expansion of the lungs
of the wearer by the act of inflation. I design to arrange these forms
with a chamber between the basc and flexible front for the reception
of milk, and to extend a tube or duct from the said chamber to the
papilla so as to form an artificial mammery gland for nursing.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and shown how the same may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I claim,―
First. The elastic inflatable front C with a rigid base constructed
and arranged substantially as set forth.
Second. In combination with an elastic front and rigid base a tube
pipe or inlet, provided with a valve or equivalent device, and an air
escape passage, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Third. The use of sponge J or other suitable material in combination
with the elastic front and rigid base, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Fourth. The concave base in combination with the flexible front and
devices for the inflation and expulsion of the air substantially as set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of February, in the
vear of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
set forth.
Fourth. The concave base in combination with the flexible front and
devices for the inflation and expulsion of the air substantially as set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-cight.
0
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)
Witness,
THO. N. PALMER,
Clerk to Messrs. Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
8, Southampton Buildings,
W.C.