Improvements relating to Medicinal Plasters.
Year: 1895

page_text: Improvements relating to Medicinal Plasters.
I, GEORGE JOHN SEABURY, c/o N. T. M. Melliss 16 Exchange Place New York,
United States of America, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to coverings or wrappers for medicinal plasters, manufactured
with rubber combination, or other adhesive base, and either plain spread, or porous or
perforated.
Heretofore medicinal plasters, of the variety or class commonly called porous
plasters, have been made with a linen, or cotton, covering, consisting of three pieces,
one of which is commonly called the back-cloth, and has usually been made from a
single piece of linen, or cotton, cut to the same shape as the porous plaster, with the
edges left raw and projecting beyond the plaster from one-quarter to one-half inch;
which back-cloth has been applied to the plaster by gumming it to the back thereof,
at the ends, or short sides, thereof, thus leaving the whole face, or surface, of the
plaster exposed upon removal of the face-cloth.
The face-cloth has heretofore consisted of two pieces of linen, or cotton, with rough
edges, each a little larger than half the plaster when divided lengthwise. These
pieces are applied to the face of the plaster by laying them thereon so as to leave the
edges, where the two pieces meet in the middle of the plaster, overlapping about
one-half inch, the outer edges of the face-cloth being even with the edges of the
plaster. One of these overlapping edges is then folded back on the piece to which it
helongs, and the overlapping edge of the other piece is laid upon it.
Before applying a porous plaster to the human body, it is necessary to remove the
face-cloth, so as to expose the surface of the plaster. This is done by pulling off
one-half of the face-cloth by taking hold of the overlapping edge with one hand and
holding the plaster with the other, which exposes one-half of the sticky, or adhesive,
surface of the plaster. The other half of the face-cloth is removed in the same way,
but, in order to remove it, it is necessary to grasp the sticky surface of the plaster
with one hand, when more or less of the surface of the plaster adheres to the hand.
When the plaster is applied to the human body, with the whole surface of the plaster
exposed, as it is when the face-cloth is removed when made with the present form of
backcloth, the entire surface of the plaster to the outer edges adheres to the body,
is both difficult and painful to remove.
and
The objects of my improvement are to make it easier and more convenient to
remove the face-cloth from the plaster; to render it more convenient and less painful
to remove the plaster from the Luman body; and to lessen the cost of production.
My improvement consists in applying the back-cloth to the plaster by laying the
plaster, face up, on the back-cloth, which consists of a single piece of linen, cotton, or
other suitable material, cut to the same shape as the plaster, with one or more sides,
say, a quarter of an inch, more or less, larger than the plaster, which edges are then
folded over on the face of the plaster, to which they adhere like a binding. This may
be done on one or more sides.
The face-cloth I make out of one piece of linen, cotton, or other suitable material,
of practically the same size as the back-cloth. I apply it to the plaster by laying it
on the face thereof, after the back-cloth has been folded over the one or more edges

page_text: of the plaster, as above-described. The object of folding the back-cloth over one or
more sides of the face of the plaster is to give a firm and cleanly hold of the plaster
when removing the face-cloth, and also in removing the plaster from the body; also
to prevent the plaster, when heated by the body, from spreading beyond the edges of
the back-cloth and soiling the clothing.
Now in accordance with my invention this adhesive plaster is provided, with a
permanent back-cloth which is cut larger than the plaster in order to project beyond
the same at one or all of its edges so that it can be folded around the edge or edges of
the plaster, like a binding, and brought over upon the adhesive face thereof to which
it is caused to adhere by being pressed down upon it. One or more edges of the
back-cloth may be thus folded around the edge of the plaster and fastened to the
adhesive face thereof, though I give preference to the securing of either two opposite
long edges or all four edges. This folding of the edges of the back-cloth around
the raw edge of the plaster serves to conceal such raw edges and to prevent the
material of the plaster from exuding from such edges and thereby coming in
contact with the clothing of the wearer. But a most important function is found
in thus binding the edges of the plaster in that it affords a ready means of getting
hold of the edges thereof with the fingers when it is to be removed from the person,
since the edges thus bound will not adhere to the person when applied, but on the
contrary will always remain free so that it can be easily grasped and pulled off.
It will be observed also that the back-cloth is permanently attached to the plaster
at such parts of the cloth as come in contact with the adhesive surface of the
plaster and this avoids the necessity of in any way gumming or securing this cloth
to the back of the plaster as is necessarily the case in some forms of porous plaster
heretofore in use. In other words, the folding over of the edges of the back-cloth
upon the adhesive face of the plaster not only provides a clean free-edge on the
face of the plaster but at the same time serves as a means for attaching the
back-cloth to the plaster.
To the adhesive face of the plaster, is affixed a face-cloth which is cut enough
larger than the plaster to cause it to project beyond the edges of the same at all
four sides, as will be clearly understood. This face-cloth is removably attached to the
face of the plaster by being pressed against it so as to temporarily adhere thereto
over the entire adhesive surface which may be left exposed after the edges of the
back-cloth are folded down in place. This completes the article for use in the trade,
it being understood that when the plaster is to be applied the user strips off and
discards the face-cloth previously to applying the adhesive face to the body. It will
he noted than an important advantage arising from the provision of a clean and
non-adhesive margin along the adhesive face of the plaster, is that the user may
readily strip off the face-cloth by taking an edge of the same between the fingers of
one hand while with the fingers of the other hand he seizes the non-adhesive margin,
and is enabled to easily strip off the face-cloth without having his fingers brought in
contact with any of the adhesive substance on the face of the plaster. This is an
important feature of the invention. A further advantage resulting from this peculiar
construction is found in the fact that the back-cloth when secured by all four edges
to the face of the plaster, presents no free raw edges so that there is no possibility of
this cloth ravelling, and since it is a permanent part of the plaster the importance of
this is obvious.
This form of back-cloth enables me to make the face-cloth in one piece, and to
affix the same to the plaster in one operation instead of in two operations, as is
necessary in the present method of making such plasters.
Dated this 5th day of Novemba 1403

page_text: Improvements relating to Medicinal Plasters.
I, GEORGE JOHN SEABURY, c/o N. T. M. Melliss 16 Exchange Place New York,
United States of America, Merchant, 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 coverings or wrappers, for medicinal plasters, manufactured
with rubber combination, or other adhesive base, and either plain spread, or porous or
perforated.
•
Heretofore medicinal plasters, of the variety or class commonly called porous plasters,
have been made with a linen, or cotton, covering, consisting of three pieces, one of
which is commonly called the back-cloth, and has usually been made from a single
piece of linen, or cotton, cut to the same shape as the porous plaster, with the edges
left raw and projecting beyond the plaster from one-quarter to one-half inch; which
back-cloth has been applied to the plaster by gumming it to the back thereof, at the
ends, or short sides, thereof, thus leaving the whole face, or surface, of the plaster
exposed upon removal of the face-cloth.
The face-cloth has heretofore consisted of two pieces of linen, or cotton, with rough
edges, each a little larger than half the plaster when divided lengthwise. These
pieces are applied to the face of the plaster by laying them thereon so as to leave the
edges, where the two pieces meet in the middle of the plaster, overlapping about
one-half inch, the outer edges of the face-cloth being even with the edges of the
plaster. One of these overlapping edges is then folded back on the piece to which it
belongs, and the overlapping edge of the other piece is laid upon it.
Before applying a porous plaster to the human body, it is necessary to remove the
face-cloth, so as to expose the surface of the plaster. This is done by pulling
off one-half of the face-cloth by taking hold of the overlapping edge with one hand
and holding the plaster with the other, which exposes one-half of the sticky, or
adhesive, surface of the plaster. The other half of the face-cloth is removed in the
same way, but, in order to remove it, it is necessary to grasp the sticky surface
of the plaster with one hand, when more or less of the surface of the plaster
adheres to the hand.
When the plaster is applied to the human body, with the whole surface of the
plaster exposed, as it is when the face-cloth is removed when made with the
present form of backcloth, the entire surface of the plaster to the outer edges adheres
to the body, and is both difficult and painful to remove.
The objects of my improvement are to make it easier and more convenient to
remove the face-cloth from the plaster; to render it more convenient and less
painful to remove the plaster from the human body; and to lessen the cost of
production.
My improvement consists in applying the backcloth to the plaster by laying the
plaster, face up, on the back-cloth, which consists of a single piece of linen, cotton, or
other suitable material, cut to the same shape as the plaster, with one or more sides,
say, a quarter of an inch, more or less, larger than the plaster, which edges are then
folded over on the face of the plaster, to which they adhere like a binding. This may
be done on one or more sides.
The face-cloth I make out of one piece of linen, cotton, or other suitable material,
of practically the same size as the back-cloth. I apply it to the plaster by laying it
on the face thereof, after the back-cloth has been folded over the one or more edges
of the plaster, as above-described. The object of folding the back-cloth over one or
more sides of the face of the plaster is to give a firm aud cleanly hold of the plaster
when removing the face-cloth, and also in removing the plaster from the body; also

page_text: to prevent the plaster, when need by the body, from spreading by
the back-cloth and soiling the clothing.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I have illustrated types thereof
in the accompanying drawing, in which;
Figure 1 is a plan of my improved article, the view showing one corner of the
detachable face-cloth as stripped from the face of the plaster and turned back in order
to more clearly show the construction.
Figure 2 shows an enlarged cross-section taken on a plane indicated by line 2-2,
Figure 1.
Figure 3 shows in plan a portion of one of the articles made in modified form, as
hereinafter described.
Referring to the drawings, in which like numbers of reference indicate like parts
throughout, 4 is the adhesive layer of medicinal material and 5 the non-adhesive back
of a well known form of adhesive porous plaster.
Now in accordance with my invention this adhesive plaster is provided with a
permanent back-cloth 6 which is cut larger than the plaster in order to project
beyond the same at one or all of its edges so that it can be folded around the edge or
edges of the plaster, like a binding, and brought over upon the adhesive face thereof
to which it is caused to adhere by being pressed down upon it as indicated at 7, 7,
in the drawing. One or more edges of the back-cloth may be thus folded around the
edge of the plaster and fastened to the adhesive face thereof, though in the drawing
I give preference to the securing of either two opposite long edges 7, 7, as shown in
Figure 3, or all four edges 7, 7, as shown in Figure 1. This folding of the edges of
the back-cloth around the raw edge of the plaster serves to conceal such raw edges
and to prevent the material of the plaster from exuding from such edges and thereby
coming in contact with the clothing of the wearer. But a most important function is
found in thus binding the edges of the plaster in that it affords a ready means
of getting hold of the edges thereof with the fingers when it is to be removed from the
person, since the edges thus bound will not adhere to the person when applied, but on the
contrary will always remain free so that it can be easily grasped and pulled off.
will be observed also that the lack-cloth 6 is permanently attached to the plaster at
such parts of the cloth as come in contact with the adhesive surface of the plaster
and this avoids the necessity of in any way gumming or securing this cloth to the back
of the plaster as is necessarily the case in some forms of porous plaster heretofore
in use.
In other words, the folding over of the edges of the back-cloth upon the
adhesive face of the plaster not only provides a clean free-edge on the face of
the plaster but at the same time serves as a means for attaching the back-cloth to the
plaster.
It
To the adhesive face 4 of the plaster, is affixed a face-cloth 8, which is cut enough
larger than the plaster to cause it to project beyond the edges of the same at all four
sides, as will be clearly understood from the drawing. This face-cloth is removably
attached to the face of the plaster by being pressed against it so as to temporarily
adhere thereto over the entire adhesive surface which may be left exposed after the
edges 7, 7, of the back-cloth are folded down in place. This completes the article
for use in the trade, it being understood that when the plaster is to be applied
the user strips off and discards the face-cloth 8 previously to applying the adhesive
face 4 to the body. It will be noted that an important advantage arising from
the provision of a clean and non-adhesive margin 7, 7, along the adhesive face of
the plaster, is that the user may readily strip off the face-cloth by taking an edge
of the same between the fingers of one hand while with the fingers of the other
hand he seizes the non-adhesive margin 7, and is enabled to easily strip off the
face-cloth without having his fingers brought in contact with any of the adhesive
substance on the face of the plaster. This is an important feature of the invention.
A further advantage resulting from this peculiar construction is found in the fact that
the back-cloth when secured by all four edges to the face of the plaster, presents no
free raw edges so that there is no possibility of this cloth ravelling, and since it is a
permanent part of the plaster the importance of this is obvious.

page_text: This form of back-cloth enables me to make the face-cloth in one piece, and to affix
the same to the plaster in one operation instead of in two operations, as is necessary
in the present method of making such plasters.
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
claim is :-
1. As a new article of manufacture, an adhesive plaster provided with a back-cloth
baving one or more of its edges folded like a binding around the edge or edges of
the plaster and over upon the adhesive face thereof and adhering thereto upon such
adhesive face, whereby its removal after use is facilitated, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
2. As a new article of manufacture, an adhesive plaster provided with a back-cloth
having one or more of its edges folded like a binding around the edge or edges of
the plaster and over upon the adhesive face thereof and adhering thereto upon such
adhesive face, and a removable face-cloth affixed to the adhesive surface of the plaster
by means of the adhesive substance thereof and covering the same, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
3. As a new article of manufacture, an adhesive plaster provided with a back-cloth
having one or more of its edges folded like a binding around the edge or edges of
the plaster and over upon the adhesive face thereof and adhering thereto upon such
adhesive face, and a removable face-cloth larger than the plaster so as to project
free beyond the edges of the same, said face cloth being affixed to the adhesive surface,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
HENRY H. LAKE,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant..