Improvements in Electropathic Appliances for Human Wear.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 20th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 8th July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electropathic Appliances for Human Wear.
1, WILLIAM WILSON HORN of the Firm of Horn & Son, of 151 Strand, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention'
(a communication to me from Robert S. Mears and William C. Powers, both of
Newton, in the State of Kansas, United States of America, Inventors) to be as
follows
This my invention relates to improvements in electropathic appliances for human
wear and iny invention consists of a suitable cell or casing containing a galvanic
pile and having binding-screws upon the upper case of the said cell.
The front cover of the cell is loose and may be opened to afford access to the
A wire is connected to
pile a space being left between the said pile and cover.
one of said binding-screws the other end of said wire being attached to a metallic
wedge adapted to be inserted at any part of the pile to vary the strength of the
current. The other of the said binding-screws is connected to the pile by means of
a helical spring which also serves to depress the elements of the pile and prevent
displacement of the same. Suitable electrodes are used in conjunction with the
apparatus according to the part requiring treatment.
Dated this 20th day of July 1892.
HORN & SUN,
Applicant's Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electropathic Appliances for Human Wear.
I WILLIAM WILSON HORN of the Firm of Horn & Son of 151 Strand in the
County of Middlesex Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(a communication to me from Robert S. Mears and William C. Powers both of
Newton in the State of Kansas United States of America Inventors) 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 apparatus adapted to be worn under the clothing for
applying weak currents of electricity to the human body.
This invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the parts
forming the apparatus, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a front view of the apparatus, showing the cover of the battery
removed, and the supporting pocket in section.
Figure 2 is a plan view from above of the battery and its supporting pocket.
Figure 3 is a central vertical section through the battery.
Figure 4 is a side view of one of the electrodes, showing its case in section.
Figure 5 is a rear view of the electrode-case.
A. is the cell of the battery formed of hard india-rubber or other similar material
-such as vulcanized fibre-and preferably of a form which may be carried in the
inside pocket of a vest without inconvenience to the wearer.
The cell is provided with a cover a of hard india rubber, which covers the whole
of its front and fits tightly over the projecting ledges a' around the cell.
B is the supporting pocket. This pocket is preferably made of flexible india
rubber but it may be made of any other flexible material. This pocket is open at
the top, so that the cell may be slipped into it, and it is provided with a button
hole b or with any other fastening device, such as a safety pin,-by which
be secured to the clothing.
may

page_text: The pocket B is intended for use when it is inconvenient to carry the cell in the
inside pocket of the vest or in any other pocket of the clothing. This pocket B is
useful in retarding the evaporation of the electrolyte in the cell, and in preventing
the clothing from being soiled should any of the electrolyte leak out and it may
also be slipped into the vest pocket with the cell inside it, if desired.
The pile enclosed in the cell consists of plates of zinc C, plates of copper c, and
layers of felt c. The plates of zinc and copper may be soldered together at one
end, if desired, to facilitate their arrangement in the cell between the layers of felt.
The pile rests against the sides and the back of the cell: but a space D is left
between the front of the pile and the cover of the cell.
E E are the two binding posts of the battery secured to the top of the cell.
A metallic spring d is secured to the binding post E, and bears against the top
of the pile. This spring conducts the current from the top of the pile. This spring
conducts the current from the top of the pile to the post E and also keeps the
elements of the pile in position and prevents them from sliding forward into the
space D.
A flexible insulated wire e is secured to the post E¹ and is provided with a
wedge shaped copper plate e', which is slipped under the bottom of the pile. This
wire e conducts the current from the bottom of the pile to the post E' and the
strength of the battery may be varied and reduced by withdrawing the plate e¹
from under the bottom of the pile and inserting it between the elements of the pile
at any desired distance from the bottom. The wedge like shape of the plate e
permits it to be inserted between the felt and the plates at any point without
difficulty. The wire e is bent in the space D in front of the pile and permits the
plate e to be inserted at any part of the pile.
The binding posts E E¹ have cylindrical portions which project from the top
of the cell and F are tubes to which the insulated conductors G G' are connected
and which slip tightly over the said portions f
The usual screws are dispensed with as these screws are inconvenient in the
pocket and are apt to become unscrewed by the movements of the person.
The tubes F present no sharp edges to wear away the clothing and they may be
coupled to and uncoupled from the portions of very readily.
The conductors G G¹ are of any convenient length, and when the cell is carried
in the inside pocket of the vest they are slipped through eyelet holes in the shirt
front and in the underclothing.
Each conductor is provided with an electrode H which consists of a disc
provided with a loop h on its back. The front of the disc is polished and the back
of the disc and the loop are covered with any approved insulating material h¹.
I is a band or strap which passes through the loop h, and is adapted to secure
the electrode against any desired portion of the body of the wearer. In order to
prevent the electrodes from burning the skin, each electrode is covered with a
removable case J, consisting of a front plate of flannel ; or other similar absorbent
material, and a back plate of india rubber j'. These two plates jj have their
edges permanently secured together by cement or by rows of stitches, and the india
rubber plate has a slit k through which the loop / projects.
The elasticity of the plate j' prevents the case J from coming off the electrode,
and the said plate j also prevents the electricity from being absorbed into the
moist underclothing instead of passing through the flannel plate j into the body.
The battery may be recharged in a few minutes by removing the felts and
replacing them with others.
The electrolyte used to moisten the felts may be any weak acid.
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. The combination, with the pile and its inclosing cell, a space being left
between the front of the cell and the nile, of a binding post at the top of the cell

page_text: and a flexible wire situated in the said space, and provided with a metallic plate,
whereby the lower part of the pile is connected with the said binding post.
substantially as set forth.
2. The combination with the removable pile, of the cell inclosing the pile, the
cell cover at the front of the cell, a space being left between the said cover and the
pile, a binding post at the top of the cell a flexible wire secured to the said binding
post, and a wedge shaped plate secured to the said wire and adapted to be inserted
at any part of the pile when the cell cover is removed to vary the strength of the
current, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination with the removable pile, of the cell inclosing the pile, a
binding post secured to the top of the cell, and a metallic spring adapted to connect
the said binding post with the top of the pile, and to hold the elements of the pile
in position in the cell.
4. The combination, with the inclosing cell provided with a cover at its front
part and the pile, a space being left between the said pile and cover, of a binding.
post at the top of the cell, a flexible wire provided with a contact plate and
arranged in the said space and adapted to connect the lower part of the pile with
the said binding post, a second binding post at the top of the cell, and a spring
adapted to connect the second binding-post with the top of the pile and to retain
the elements of the pile in position in the cell substantially as set forth.
5. The combination with the cell and the pile inclosed therein, of the binding
posts secured to the cell and connected to the opposite ends of the pile and provided
with cylindrical portions projecting from the cell, and the conductors provided with
tubes adapted to fit over the said cylindrical portions substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
6. The combination, with an electrode formed of a metallic disc provided with a
loop, the back of the said disc and the loop being coated with insulating material of
a case for the electrode, consisting of a front plate of absorbent material and a back
plate of india rubber provided with a slit through which the said loop may project,
the said plates being secured together at their edges, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 20th day of April 1893.
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agents.