An Improved Method for the Prevention of Rheumatism, and the Cure thereof
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jan., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 25th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 25th Jan., 1896
TROYIDIONAT DIBUITIVATION.
An Improved Method for the Prevention of Rheumatism, and the
Cure thereof.
RICHARD AINSWORTH of 19 Adelaide Street, Cardiff, Shipwright and HARRY
OXENHAM of 15 Adelaide Street Cardiff, Boot Manufacturer, both in the County
of Glamorgan, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a simple & effective means for the
prevention of rheumatism & the cure thereof, the same to be applied to boots, shoes
or slippers.
It is well known that zinc & copper metals connected together by the human
body, produces a galvanic current & my invention is to adopt this principle, and it
consists of one or more studs preferably three in number which are made of copper
and are fixed to the inner sole of the boot, the inner face of these studs being flush
& level with the top of the inner sole which comes in contact with the wearers
feet. To the other or underneath face of these studs are attached copper wires,
which are arranged in the space between the inner & bottom soles of the boot
in any convenient manner. To these copper wires are connected strips of copper
of any required size and number, which are distributed throughout the space
before mentioned. These copper strips are made very light & flexible in order to
act according to the movements of the boot, & to assure some of them coming into
contact with the wires in any position that the boot may be in when the wearer
is walking.
So far I have only described my invention for one boot only.
Now in the other boot the same thing is done, but the material used must be zinc
metal, the reason for the change of material in each boot is for the purpose of
obtaining a galvanic electrical current, which is produced at the moment that the
wearer's feet come into contact with the various studs in each boot, the human
body being a conductor of electricity, the two materials become connected & a
galvanic current is formed, the wearer becoming charged with the current & thereby
persons wearing boots or shoes manufactured & fitted with this apparatus, as herein
described, the galvanic current acts upon them & prevents rheumatism & assures
the cure thereof.
I do not confine my invention as herein set forth to boots, shoes & slippers, as it
may be applied to wrist bands, corsets & other articles of a similar nature, that
come in contact with the human body, the arrangement of the studs, wire & strips
being varied to suit the different articles.
Dated this 24th day of January 1895
RICHARD AINSWORTH.
HARRY OXENHAM.

page_text: CUNI DEIN DIMOITICATION.
An Improved Method for the Prevention of Rheumatism, and the
Cure thereof.
We, RICHARD AINSWORTH of No. 19 Adelaide Street, Cardiff, in the County
of Glamorgan, Shipwright, and HARRY OXENHAM of No. 15 Adelaide Street,
Cardiff, in the same county, Boot Manufacturer, do hereby 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 :-
Our invention relates to an improved method for the prevention of rheumatism
and the cure thereof.
It comprises an electric generator designed to be applied to boots, shoes, slippers,
corsets, belts, wristlets, anklets and other articles of a similar nature in such a
manner that an electric current may be passed through any part of the human
body which is to be submitted to the treatment. The generator consists of copper
and zinc elements, each of which has one or more copper or zinc studs or terminals
.connected by wires with a series of strips of the same metal.
By way of example we will proceed to describe our invention as applied to
boots, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, wherein
Figure 1 is a plan showing the under surface of the inner sole of a boot provided
with one of the elements of the generator.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the inner and bottom soles of a boot, which
enclose the said element between them.
When applying our aforesaid invention to a pair of boots we arrange a
copper element of our electric generator in one boot, and a zinc element in the
other boot, the two elements being similar excepting as regards the materials used
in their construction.
For constructing the copper element we secure in the inner sole A of the boot
one or more copper studs B so that their upper surfaces will be flush with the
upper surface of the said sole, and will come in contact with the foot of the
person wearing such a boot. A number of wires C fixed to the under surface of
the studs B are designed to connect the latter with a series of copper strips D
distributed in any convenient manner throughout the space between the inner
sole A and the bottom sole E of the boot. These copper strips D, which are very
thin and flexible and present a large surface as compared with their weight
constitute the active material of the element, whose terminals are the before
mentioned studs B. It is expedient to perforate the inner sole A of the boot with
holes F, as indicated in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2, for allowing any
perspiration from the foot to pass to the copper strips D and thus assist in the
electric action of the element.
Instead of arranging the element in the space between the inner and bottom
soles A and E of the boot it may of course be fitted to the under surface of a boot
sock so as to occupy the space between the inner sole and the sock when the latter
is put in its place."
A zinc element, that is to say an element all the parts of which consist of
zinc, being similarly arranged in the second boot, the person wearing such a
pair of boots will establish an electrical connection between the studs or terminals B
of the copper and zinc elements through the medium of his feet and legs, which
thus receive an electric current designed to prevent or cure rheumatism in the
'lower limbs.
If such an electric current is to pass only through the person's feet a generator
of the kind herein before set forth may be arranged in either boot, the copper
element being situated at or near one end and the zinc element at or near the
other end of the sole or sock, as will be readily understood by inspecting Figure 1

page_text: and supposing the metallic strip D to have been removed together with the
portions of the wire C which unite it with the neighbouring strips.
All single articles, to which this generator is applied, such as corsets, belts,
garters, wristlets, anklets and the like, are also furnished with both elements, the
studs or terminals of these elements being adapted to come in contact with the
person's body or limbs, while the copper and zinc strips are arranged in the interior
of the articles. Suitable straps and buckles are fastened to the ends of these
articles for holding them to the person's body or limbs.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
-
1. In combination with a pair of boots, shoes or slippers an electric generator
which consists of a copper element arranged in the sole or sock of one boot, shoe
or slipper, and a zinc element arranged in the sole or sock of the other boot, shoe
or slipper, each element comprising one or more copper or zinc studs or terminals B
connected by wires C with a series of strips D of the same material, substantially as
and for the purpose herein before specified.
2. In combination with a boot, shoe, slipper, corset, belt, wristlet, anklet, or the
like, an electric generator consisting of copper and zinc elements, each of which
comprises one or more copper or zinc studs or terminals B connected by wires C
with a series of strips of the same material, substantially as and for the purpose.
herein before specified.
3. An electric generator designed for use in preventing and curing rheumatism,
constructed, applied and operating as hereinbefore set forth with reference to the
accompanying drawing.
1005
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.