Improvements in 'Trusses.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1895
Improvements in 'Trusses.
We, JULIUS BRICKNER, and ABRAHAM STEHMAN HERR, both of Tiffin, in
the County of Seneca, and State of Ohio, United States of America, Gentlemen,
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:-
This invention relates to improvements in truss pads, and aims to attain greater
ease and comfort to the wearer and at the same time provide a yielding pad which
will admit of the soldering of the springs to the base and bearing plates without
detracting from or injuring the temper of the springs, and which will provide ready
means of attachment to the edges of the said plates of a strip of textile fabric,
binding or like material, the whole being protected by covers, or caps, of aluminum
or other metal or suitable material, whereby a neat, light, and efficient structure is
attained.
Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description and
subjoined claims when taken in connection with the drawings hereto attached, in
which :-
:-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an improved truss pad embodying the essence
of the invention.
Figure 2 is a detail view of the pad having the covering removed and a portion
of the edge or side fabric broken away.
Figure 3 is a detail view of the base plate.
Figure 4 is a plan view of a metal cap or cover.
Figure 5 is a central longitudinal section of the completed pad.
Figure 6 is a top plan view of a truss embodying all the novel features of the
present invention.
Figure 7 is a detail view of the movable plug showing the manner of adjustably
attaching the wire frame thereto.
The numeral represents a base plate having any of the usual forms according
to the nature of the treatment for which the pad is specially designed. This plate
has its edge portion turned up slightly and provided with a series of retaining
points 2 punched or struck from the body of the plate and located at proper
intervals apart to form positive means of connection with the edge portion of the
textile fabric, or braid 3 which closes the space between the base and bearing plates
comprising the pad. A reinforcing plate 4 is disposed on the inner side of the base
plate 1 and is secured to the latter by lips 5 stamped from the body of the plate 1
and bent to embrace the edge portions of the said reinforcing plate 4. A series of
threaded openings 6 are formed in the plates 1 and 4 and are adapted to receive the
fastening screw 7 by means of which the pad is attached to the supporting straps or
harness. These openings.6 admit of a varied adjustment of the pad with reference
to its supporting harness whereby ease and comfort to the wearer may be attained.
Loops 8 are pressed inward from the plate 1 and are adapted to receive the ends of
the coil springs 9 which are passed thereunder and held in place thereby. To
prevent accidental displacement of the springs solder is applied to the outer face
of the plate opposite the depression formed by providing the lips 8. By this
means the plate forms a shield and prevents the heat of the soldering iron from

page_text: annealing or otherwise injuring the springs which frequently happens when said
springs are subjected to a too high temperature.
The bearing plate 10 is similarly formed to the base plate 1 and is convexed on
its outer surface in the usual manner to effect the desired result. Retaining
points 11, are provided around the edge portion of this plate for the same purpose
as the points 2 of the plate 1 and are similarly formed. Loops 12 are formed in
the plate 10 and correspond in position and number with the loops 8 of the plate 1,
and are designed to have the opposite ends of the springs 9 secured thereto in
precisely the same manner as the connection formed between the said springs and
the loops 8.
I
The space occurring between the plates 1 and 10 is closed by a textile fabric or
braid 3 which has its edge portions secured to the respective plates by means of the
retaining points 2 and 11, the latter being passed through the edge portions of the
said fabric or braid and clinched to retain the latter in place. By this means simple
and efficient provision is had for attaching the fabric to the plates without
necessitating stitching, which latter is soon cut through or the employment of
extra fastenings which involves unnecessary and considerable expense. This fabric
while closing the space between the edge portions of the plates also gives a neat
finish to the completed article and results in cleanliness and the exclusion of foreign
matter from the coil springs, 9.
The base plate 1 is protected by a covering plate 14 which conforms in outline
to the shape of the said plate 1 and has its edge portions slightly curved or bent to
embrace the edge portions of the plate 1 and prevent rubbing or wearing of the
fabric by engagement of the latter with the clothing at points opposite the edges
of the said plate 1. Points 15 are integrally formed with the covering plate 14
and are adapted to be bent inward over the plate 1 and retain the said plate 14 in
proper position. The bearing plate 10 is protected by a covering plate 16 similar
in construction to the covering plate 14 but conforming in shape and size to the
said bearing plate 10. The covering plate 16 has points 17 integral therewith to
be bent over the edge of the bearing plate 10 and retain the covering in proper
relation. These covering plates 14 and 16 may be of auy desired material, sheet
metal being preferable, and of the latter aluminum is the best adapted for the
purpose because of its non-corrosive qualities and comparative light specific
gravity.
Pads constructed as herein set forth may be used in connection with any desired
supporting frame or harness, and the adjustability of the fastening screw 7 admits
of varicus changes in the position of the pad to adapt the latter to the particular
location and nature of the hernia to attain the best possible results.
In Fig. 6 is shown a supporting frame comprising a back plate 18 having lugs 19
on its rear side which are longitudinally apertured, a front plate 20 and a wire
body band 21, the latter passing loosely through the apertured lugs 19 and having
the free end portions working through openings 22 in the movable plugs 23 attached
to the outer face or side of the front plate 20. A binding screw 24 passes
through the end of each plug 23 and serves to hold the end portions of the wire
body band in the adjusted position, thereby adapting the truss for different sized
persons as will be readily understood.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that the back plate 18 is loosely
mounted upon the body band and is free to adapt itself to the various movements
of the body and obviate undue and unequal pressure which frequently results in
inconvenience and annoyance to patients by reason of the rigidity of the back
plate with reference to the body band.
The pad and harness herein shown and described may be variously constructed
and of any material best adapted for the purpose, and to this end it must be under-
stood that changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction
may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the
advantages of this invention.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is::-
1. In a truss, the combination with a body band of a back plate mounted upon
the body band and adapted to move freely thereon to adapt itself to the various
movements of the body whereby the pressure is evenly distributed throughout its
engaging surface, substantially as set forth.
2. In a truss, the combination with a body band having the forward portion
separated, a front plate mounted upon the said separated front end portions of
the body band and bearing the truss pads, and means for securing the said
separated ends of the body band to the front plate, of a back plate loosely mounted
upon the rear portion of the body band and adapted to conform to the various
movements of the body and equalize the pressure thereon, substantially aз set
forth.
3. In a truss, the combination with a body band having its front portions
separated, of a front plate and means for adjustably connecting the separated ends
of the body band with the said front plate, substantially as described for the
purpose set forth.
4. In a truss, the combination with the body band having its front end portions
separated, of a front plate bearing the truss pads, plugs movably connected to the
said front plate, and having transverse openings for the passage of the end portions
of the said body band, and binding screws for adjustably connecting the end
portions of the body band with the said plugs, substantially as set forth.
5. A truss pad comprising a base and a bearing plate having interposed springs,
and a strip or binding of textile fabric closing the space between the two plates
and attached to the edge portions of the latter, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
6. In a truss, a plate forming a component part of the pad and having a series
of integral retaining points and a strip of textile fabric having attachment with
the said plate by means of the retaining points, substantially as set forth.
7. A truss pad comprising a plate having integral retaining points contignous to
its edge portion, and a textile fabric having engagement with the said retaining
points, the latter being clinched or bent, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
8. A truss pad comprising a base and a bearing plate each having retaining
points contiguous to their edges and held separated by interposed springs, and a
strip or binding of textile fabric closing the space between the two plates and
having attachment at its edges with the respective plates by means of the retaining
points, substantially as set forth.
9. In a truss pad, the combination of a plate having retaining points contiguous
to its edge, a textile fabric having engagement with the said plate by means of
the said retaining points, and a covering plate having its edge portion bent, or
curved, to embrace the edge portion of the first-mentioned plate and having
retaining points to be clinched upon the first-mentioned plate and secure the
covering plate in position, substantially as set forth.
10. In a truss pad the combination with a base plate having lips punched there-
from, of a reinforcing plate held upon the inner side of the base plate by means of
the said lips, the said base and reinforcing plates having a series of threaded
openings for the reception of the fastening screw whereby adjustable connection
is had of the pad with its supporting structure, substantially as set forth.
11. In a truss pad, the combination with a plate having loops formed therein,
of coil springs baving their lower ends passed through the said loops substantially
as and for the purpose described.
12. The herein-described truss pad comprising base and bearing plates having
retaining points at their edges and having integral loops, coil springs having their
nds thrust through said loops, a textile fabric closing the space between the plates

page_text: and engaged with the said retaining points, and covering plates having retaining
points for securing them in place, substantially as described for the purpose
specified.
Dated this 17th day of Santember 1805
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.