IMPROVEMENTS IN ABDOMINAL SUPPORTS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Abram Charles Herts, of Bloomsbury, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ABDOMINAL SUPPORTS." A.
communication from abroad by John Herts, of New York City, in the United
States of America.
Sealed the 23rd March 1877, and dated the 25th September 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Abram Charles Herts at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th September 1876.
ABRAM CHARLES HERTS, of Bloomsbury, in the County of Middlesex.
MENTS IN ABDOMINAL SUPPORTS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in abdominal supports.
"IMPROVE-
I make the body of the belt of any suitable size and material and to fasten ut
the back in the centre by means of buckles and straps, or in any other suitable
manner. In the centre of the front of such belt I insert a gore or gusset of elastic
webbing, such gore or gusset being made broader at the top than at the bottom so
as to allow free play to the abdominal muscles. Such elastic gore or gusset is
double-stitched up each side, and is traversed vertically on each of such sides by a
narrow strip of whalebone, flexible steel, or other suitable material so as to impart
additional strength thereto. These strips of whalebone or flexible steel are securely
stitched in between the lining and the body of the belt itself. At each side of the
belt I insert two other elastic gores or gussets, which are similarly secured by
stitching, the form of these elastic gores or gussets being tapering at the top and
broad towards the bottom so as to allow of the free play of the hip of the wearer,
as hereafter described.
The body of the belt is hollowed out at each side in a semicircular form, and at
the back of each of such semicircular hollows I sew or otherwise attach a lappet made
of a curvilinear form, and of similar material to the belt itself, each of such lappets
having likewise an elastic gore or gusset inserted in the centre thereof. The fore
ends of such lappets are provided with three or any other suitable number of
button holes to allow of their being buttoned to the fore part of the belt, upon
which any convenient number of buttons are sewn in any convenient position so as
to cause the belt to fit closely to the figure. When such two lappets are thus
attached to the fore part of the belt a convenient orifice is left on each side

page_text: thereof, which permits of the hips of the wearer having free play, at the same time
that it materially assists in securing the belt in its proper position, as hereafter
described.
To each side of the belt I attach a combination strap in the following manner :-
I sew or otherwise fasten two buttons on each side of the body of the belt in any
convenient position, and to these buttons I attach two ends of the strap, which has
three ends in all, such two ends being formed of leather or any other suitable
inaterial, and being provided with button holes. Suitable pieces of elastic webbing
aro attached to the two leather ends already mentioned, and one end of each of
such pieces of elastic webbing is sewn or otherwise fastened to the top of the body
of the strap, which I prefer to make hollow, of wash leather or other similar soft
material, and of a circular shape, so as to perinit of its being stuffed or padded with
wool, cotton, or any other suitable padding; and to the bottom of the body of such
strap I sew or otherwise attach a leathern tongue or end provided with suitable
button holes. I take care to bind the edges of the belt with any suitable binding
so as to impart strength and finish thereto.
The operation of my Invention is as follows:-Place the belt round the abdomen,
and secure it at the back by means of the tongues and buckles first described;
then adjust the loose ends of the two side lappets by fastening them to such of the
buttons placed on the fore part of the body of the belt as may be most convenient
to make it fit closely to the figure of the wearer; then pass the lower end of each
of the two combination straps under each thigh, and carry each of such ends up at
the front and fasten it to a button conveniently placed on the body of the belt for
this purpose.
By this improved method of manufacturing abdominal supports many advantages
are obtained, as the orifices formed in the sides, as before described, not only permit
the hips of the wearer to have free play, but by allowing the hip bones to project
through them serve to support and retain the upper portion of the abdominal
support in position, while the combination straps before described passing under-
neath and fastening in the front, as before described, serve to secure and hold the
lower portion of the abdominal support in position so as entirely to prevent its
rucking up and creasing in any manner, thereby not only greatly increasing the
comfort and convenience of the wearer, but also ensuring that the chief and most
valuable characteristic of the belt or bandage, videlicet, its practical utility as an
abdominal support, cannot in any way be diminished or lessened, while at the same
time the elastic gussets or gores allow a degree of ease and comfort to the wearer
not hitherto obtained by any of those in present use.
Another great advantage is that whatever motion or position the body may
assume the strain falls upon the combination straps before described, the elastic
portions whereof readily yielding to every movement however slight thus insure
that the belt cannot in any way be dragged out of its proper position.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Abram Charles Herts in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd
March 1877.
ABRAM CHARLES HERTS, of Bloomsbury, in the County of Middlesex.
MENTS IN ABDOMINAL SUPPORTS."
"IMPROVE-
A communication from abroad by John Herts,
of New York City, in the United States of America.
This Invention has for its object improvements in abdominal supports, and I will
now with the aid of the accompanying Drawings, in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts, proceed more particularly to describe the
nature of the same and the mode of carrying it into operation.
I make the body of the belt of any suitable size and material, and to fasten in

page_text: the centre, either at the back or front, by means of buckles and straps, as shewn in
In the centre of the
the accompanying Drawing, or in any other suitable manner.
front of such belt I insert a gore or gusset of elastic webbing a, such gore or gusset
being made broader at the top than at the bottom so as to allow free play to the
abdominal muscles. Such elastic gore or gusset is double-stitched up each side, and
is traversed vertically on each of such sides by a narrow strip of whalebone, flexible
steel, or other suitable material, indicated at b, b, so as to impart additional strength
thereto. These strips of whalebone or flexible steel are securely stitched in between
the lining and the body of the belt itself. At each side of the belt I insert two
other elastic gores or gussets c, c, which are similarly secured by stitching, the
form of these elastic gores or gussets being tapering at the top and broad
towards the bottom so as to allow of the free play of the hip of the wearer, as here-
after described.
The body of the belt is hollowed out at each side in a semicircular form, as
shewn at d, d, and at the back of each of such semicircular hollows I sew or otherwise
attach a lappet e made of a slightly curvilinear form, and of similar material to the
belt itself, or of any other suitable material, each of such lappets e, e, having like-
wise an elastic gore or gusset e¹ inserted in the centre thereof. The fore ends of
such lappets are provided with three or any other suitable number of button holes,
as indicated in the Drawing, to allow of their being buttoned to the fore part of
the belt, upon which any convenient number of buttons are sewn in any convenient
position so as to cause the belt to fit closely to the figure of the wearer; or instead
thereof buckles and straps or any other suitable fastenings may be employed for
this purpose. When such two lappets are thus attached to the fore part of the
belt a convenient orifice is left on each side thereof, as shewn at d, d, which permits
of the hips of the wearer having free play, at the same time that it materially assists
in securing the belt in its proper position, as hereafter described.
To each side of the belt I attach a combination strapf in the following manner :-
I sew or otherwise fasten two buttons f¹, f¹, on each side of the body of the belt
in any convenient position, and to these buttons I attach two ends (f, f) of the
strap, which has three ends in all, such two ends being formed of leather or any
other suitable material, and being provided with button holes. Suitable pieces of
elastic webbing f are attached to the two leather ends already mentioned, and one
end of each of such pieces of elastic webbing is sewn or otherwise fastened to the top
of the body g of the combination strap at fb, which body I prefer to make hollow,
of wash leather, india-rubber, or other suitable material, and of a circular shape so
as to permit of its being stuffed or padded with wool, cotton, or any other suitable
padding; and to the bottom of the body g of such strap I sew or otherwise attach
a leathern tongue or end g¹ provided with suitable button holes. I take care to
bind the edges of the belt with any suitable binding so as to impart strength and
finish thereto.
The operation of my Invention is as follows:-Place the belt round the abdomen,
and secure it at the back by means of the tongues and buckles first described;
then adjust the loose ends of the two side lappets e by fastening them to such of
the buttons placed on the fore part of the body of the belt as may be most con-
venient to make it fit closely to the figure of the wearer; then pass the lower end
of each of the two combination straps under each thigh and carry each of such ends
up at the front and fasten it to a button conveniently placed on the body of the belt
for this purpose.
By this improved method of manufacturing abdominal supports many advantages
are obtained, as the orifices formed in the sides, as before described, not only permit
the hips of the wearer to have free play, but by allowing the hip bones to project
through them serve to support and retain the upper portion of the abdominal
support in position, while the combination straps before described passing under-
neath and fastening in the front, also as before described, serve to secure and hold
the lower portion of the abdominal support in position so as entirely to prevent its
rucking up and creasing in any manner, thereby not only greatly increasing the com-

page_text: fort and convenience of the wearer, but also ensuring that the chief and most
valuable characteristic of the belt or bandage, videlicet, its practical utility as an
abdominal support, cannot in any way be diminished or lessened, while at the same
time the elastic gussets or gores before described allow a degree of ease and comfort
to the wearer not hitherto obtained by any of those in present use.
Another great advantage is that whatever motion or position the body may
assume the strain falls upon the combination straps before described, the elastic
portions whereof readily yielding to every movement however slight thus ensure
that the belt cannot in any way be dragged out of its proper position.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood
that I claim, the manufacture and use of abdominal supports, in the manner and for
the purposes herein-before described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Abram Charles Herts, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.