A New or Improved Surgical Knee-cap or Bandage.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Surgical Knee-cap or Bandage.
I, ELLEN MARY ENDERBY, of Beckington, Bath, in the County of Somerset,
Spinster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
-
This invention consists of a new or improved surgical knee-cap or bandage,
intended to be worn in cases where the natural knee has suffered injury, such as
a strain or rupture of the cartilage, or fracture of the knee-cap or any of the
bones of the knee. By the use of my appliance, the necessary support is given
to the injured part combined with gentle pressure, affording desired relief to
the patient and materially aiding the process of healing. My invention has the
further advantages of being easily attachable or removable, and having very little
weight, only about six ounces. The degree of pressure can be varied by an ad-
justable arrangement referred to below.
The nature of my invention is as follows. A bandage is constructed of suffi-
cient length to pass once around the leg at the knee and may be of an average
The
width of about seven inches, or more or less according to circumstances.
bandage may be made of canvas, linen, or any other suitable material, and I
prefer that it should be narrower at that portion which passes behind the knee
and wider at the front of the knee, its shape being such that it may fit accurately
and comfortably with the knee slightly bent. The bandage is fastened prefer-
ably along one side, the two edges being eyeletted and laced together by tape or
cord, or any other mode of fastening may be used. A certain amount of rigidity
may be afforded by strips of whalebone or flexible metal inserted in or attached
to the two meeting edges and also at the opposite side of the bandage, said strips
being slightly curved, if found more convenient, so as to be adapted to the slight
bend of the knee.
Within that portion of the bandage which covers the knee-cap, I insert a pair
of pads composed of soft or yielding substance, or for some purposes a single pad
might be sufficient. Where the pads are inserted, a portion of the bandage may
be cut away, the pads being held to the bandage by stitching them along the
edges of the openings so formed. I also provide a pair of straps (or three or
more) passing completely around the girth of the bandage, held in position by
loops, or the like, and fastened by means of eyelets engaging with studs fitted
to the outer side of the pads aforesaid or secured to the bandage in any con-
venient position or by any other suitable means. By means of said straps, the
degree of pressure of the pads can be regulated as required. The pad or pads
before mentioned may be medicated and used simply for applying a medicament,
if so desired.

page_text: OF PRO-cap or Danuage.
1, ELLEN MARY ENDERBY, of Beckington, Bath, in the County of Somerset,
Spinster, 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 consists of a new or improved surgical knee-cap or bandage,
intended to be worn in cases where the natural knee has suffered injury, such as
a strain or rupture of the cartilage, or fracture of the knee-cap or any of the
bones of the knee. By the use of my appliance, the necessary support is given
to the injured part combined with gentle pressure, affording desired relief to
the patient, and materially aiding the process of healing. My invention has the
further advantage of being easily attachable or removable, and having very little
weight, only about six ounces. The degree of pressure can be varied by an ad-
justable arrangement referred to below.
The
The nature of my invention is as follows. A bandage is constructed of sufli-
cient length to pass once around the leg at the knee and may be of an average
width of about seven inches, or more or less according to circumstances.
bandage may be made of canvas, linen, or any other suitable material, and I
prefer that it should be narrower at that portion which passes behind the knee
and wider at the front of the knee, its shape being such that it may fit accurately
and comfortably with the knee slightly bent. The bandage is fastened prefer-
ably along one side, the two edges being eyeletted and laced together by tape or
cord, or any other mode of fastening may be used. A certain amount of rigidity
may be afforded by strips of whalebone or flexible metal inserted in or attached
to the two meeting edges and also at the opposite side of the bandage, said strips
being slightly curved, if found more convenient, so as to be adapted to the slight
bend of the knee.
Within that portion of the bandage which covers the knee cap, I insert a pair
of pads composed of soft or yielding substance, or for some purposes a single
pad might be sufficient. Where the pads are inserted, a portion of the bandage
may be cut away, the pads being held in any suitable manner, such as herein-
after described, the opening being covered by some soft material.
I also provide a pair of straps (or three or more) passing completely around
the girth of the bandage, held in position by loops or the like, and fastened by
means of eyelets engaging with studs fitted to the outer side of the pads afore-
said or secured to the bandage in any convenient position or by any other suitable
means. By means of said straps, the degree of pressure of the pads can be
regulated as required. The pad or pads before mentioned may be medicated
and used simply for applying a medicament, if so desired.
My invention is illustrated by the accompanying sheet of drawings, upon
which
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my appliance as it may appear when not in
use, but showing the side edge tightly laced,
Figure 2 is a side view of same, and
Figure 3 a view of one of the pads before mentioned.
Similar letters indicate similar parts in the figures.
A represents the outer surface or layer of my improved bandage, made of harder
or tougher material than the inner surface. B B are the supporting pads, and C
(Figure 2) is one of the inserted side strips of flat flexible material, affording
the necessary rigidity in the one direction but yielding sufficiently in the other,

page_text: in order to provide as much ease or convenience as is compatible with the
requirements of healing. D is the lace for securing or regulating the pressure
of the bandage. E is a piece of soft leather or other material or materials filling
up the gap cut out of the main bandage at the front of the knee. F, F are
studs of bone, metal or the like, fixed into the pads B B, and are a means of
securing said pads within the bandage by passing through holes provided for
the purpose as shown. G G are straps for regulating the pressure of the pad
or pads B B on the knee and have holes or slots H in them for receiving the
projecting studs F Fafore said, said straps being kept in position by loops such
as J.
A convenient way of making the pad B is to provide a metal plate B' (Figure 3),
and rivet the studs F into it, the whole being enclosed in, say, chamois leather,
suitably stuffed with some soft yielding substance.
Along one of the meeting edges of the bandage, I may secure an overlapping
flap of soft material so as to cover the lace D on the inside of the bandage and
thus afford protection to the wearer.
The manner of using my invention is as follows. I may loosen the lace D) and
apply and adjust the bandage to the desired position, and then lace up to the
required degree of tightness. I may then bring the straps G G over the front
of the bandage, and draw the ends together until a sufficient pressure is obtained,
the straps being finally passed over the studs F F at the proper holes.
It may be found desirable in some cases to use only one pad, or more than
two.
By my above described invention, it will be seen that a varying degree of
support can be given to the knee of the wearer of the bandage, according to the
nature of the injury and the varying stages in the healing process.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I clain is-
1. The new or improved surgical knee-cap or bandage as above described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. In a surgical knee-cap or bandage, the use of a pad or pads such as Bas
and for the purposes described.
3. In a surgical knee-cap or bandage, the combination with a main bandage
or support A of a pad or pads B and straps G containing holes or slots for passing
over studs such as F whereby a varying degree of support may be given to the
knee substantially as described.
Dated this 21st day of invil 1800
Dated this 21st day of April 1900.
For the Applicant,
STANLEY, POPPLEWELL & Co.
61 & 62, Chancery Lane, (7 & 8, Southampton Buildings), London, W.C.
Chartered Patent Agents.