Improvements in Apparatus for Supporting the Human Spine.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 13th June, 1892-Accepted, 23rd Ju y,
1892.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Supporting the Human Spine.
I, CHARLES GODFREY GÜMPEL of No. 70 Newman Street in the County of
London, Orthopædist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to apparatus for supporting the human body in that part of
it, usually designated as the spine: to hold the body in a normal upright position,
while exerting a more or less strong pressure in the lumbar region that is:
in the hollow of the waist; yet to yield to any movement, which the body may
perform.
For this purpose I adapt a metal band across the back of the pelvis from hip to
hip; on this band at the centre of the spine I fix in an upward direction one or
more metal spring or springs, made by preference of steel-wire and bent in a snake-
or zigzag-form; and to the upper end of this spring or springs I attach rods or strips
of steel (or other suitable metal) which extend to the arm-pits, where they are
provided with metal crutches for the arms to rest on.
By means of straps, lacing bands, stay-fronts or other similar contrivances, made
of either elastic or non-elastic material and fastened to the above described metal
frame in a suitable manner, this latter is held against the back of the wearer; and
by the action of the spring or springs, a pressure of any desirable degree is exerted
in the hollow of the waist, whilst the crutches tend to support the shoulders and
upper part of the body. The spring or springs enable the body to bend or twist
without displacing or deranging the apparatus.
Dated this 12th dow of Novembar 1801
CHARLES GODFREY GÜMPEL.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Supporting the Human Spine.
I, CHARLES GODFREY GÜMPEL, of No. 70 Newman Street, in the County of
London Surgical Instrument Maker 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:-
My invention relates to apparatus for supporting the human body in that part of
it usually designated as the spine; to hold the body in a normal upright position
while exerting a more or less strong pressure in the lumbar region, that is: the
hollow of the waist, yet yielding to any movement, which the body may perform.
For this purpose I adapt a metal band across the back of the pelvis from hip to
hip; on this band at the centre of the spine 1 fix in an upward direction one or
more metal spring or springs, made, by preference, of steel wire and bent in a snake
or zigzag form, and to the upper end of this spring or springs I attach a rod or
rods or strips of metal (or of other suitable material) which extend to the arm pits,
where they are provided with metal crutches for the arms to rest on.
.
By means of straps, lacing bands, stay fronts, or other similar contrivances made
of either elastic or non-elastic material, and fastened to the above described metal
frame in a suitable manner, this latter is held against the back of the wearer; and
by the action of the spring or springs, a pressure of any desirable degree is exerted
in the hollow of the waist, whilst the crutches tend to support the shoulders and
upper part of the body. The spring or springs enable the body to bend or twist
without displacing or deranging the apparatus.

page_text: Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings shew by way of example a
construction of the above described apparatus as applied in combination with
a corset front for supporting the spine. Fig. 1 shews a back view and Fig. 2 a
front view. A is a metal band passing across the back of the pelvis and having its
ends attached to an adjustable belt B forming part of the corset front C, which is
also connected by adjustable straps D to intermediate points of the band A.
To the middle of the latter is fixed the one end of a steel spring E of zigzag form
as shewn, the upper end of which is fixed to the middle of a second band F of steel
or other suitable material that curves upwards to the arm pits, where it is provided
with metal crutches G that extend round to the front of the arms as shewn at
Fig. 2, and thus afford the body an effectual support.
The stay front is attached to the upper part of the apparatus just below the
crutches; and these latter are connected together by an adjustable belt H passing
across the back.
It will be seen that by the attachments B, C, D, H, the parts A, E, F, G are
held closely against the body of the wearer, and the spring E is made to fit into
the hollow of the back, thus affording effectual support to the spine while yielding
in every way to the free movements of the body. Fig. 3 shews a front view of a
modified form of attachment, more particularly suitable for children. The broad
belt C being attached by the straps B to the ends of the metal band A Fig. 1
and by the straps D passing over the hips, to carry the apparatus, to intermediate
points at the back thereof. The other parts A E F G and H are of the same
construction as shewn at Fig. 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Apparatus for supporting the spine consisting of a flexible metal spring or
springs such as E, adapted to fit into the hollow of the back and attached at the
lower end to a metal supporting band, such as A, secured round the body, while at
its upper end the spring is attached to metal rod or rods or band or bands having
crutches at their ends adapted to fit under the arms of the wearer, so that the said
spring in supporting the body under the arms by means of such crutches assists in
the spine being held upright and preventing it from sinking together, substantially
as described.
2. The combination with the supporting apparatus referred to in the preceding
claim, of a corset front or belt such as C with straps B and D, and band H, for
keeping the apparatus closely applied to the body, substantially as described with
reference to the drawings.
Dated this 13th day of June 1892.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.