AN IMPROVED SURGICAL BELT AND BED STAY
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Elizabeth Mary Moore, of Comeragh Road, West
Kensington, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED
SURGICAL BELT AND BED STAY
"3
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Elizabeth Mary Moore at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th. September 1883.
ELIZABETH MARY MOORE of Comeragh Road, West Kensington, in the County
of Middlesex "AN IMPROVED SURGICAL BELT AND BED STAY"
"
My invention relates to a combined bed stay and abdominal belt, serving as a
support for the spine; hips and stomach.
This appliance is made in such a manner as to be adjustable to any figure, and
to form a perfect support for the hips and is so fitted to and secured upon the figure
and legs that it is not liable to slip or become displaced by any movement of the
body or limbs, but at the same time will permit the free movement of the thigh
joints and the limbs generally. It is calculated to preserve a perfet figure and is
a useful surgical appliance in obstetric and other cases, In conjunction with a
brace and bust support it forms a perfect stay and belt.
In carrying my said invention into practice, accoring to one method I make the
article in two parts which are joined vertically at the back by lacing or other
suitable means. The upper portion is provided with steel busks and strips of
whalebone inserted in pockets in the ordinary manner of making stays. The
portion which surrounds the abdomen is provided with gussets of elastic or wire
webbing, and below this part there are extensions furnished with straps which fit
around the limbs at the thighs and below the knees of the wearer and are secured
thereon by means of buckles.
My improved surgical belt and bed stay can be manufactured of any suitable
material with elastic or wire webbings to form the fall of the figure, the front
being fastened with busks or lacings as may be required and the number of bones
or lacings being increased or diminished and more or less wire or elastic webbings
inserted as may be deemed advisable. The said straps are either made entirely of
the same material as the body of the article or they are provided with
elastic webs.
:

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Elizabeth Mary Moore in the Patent Office on the 8th March
1884.
ELIZABETH MARY MOORE, of Comeragh Road, West Kensington, in the County
of Middlesex, "AN IMPROVED SURGICAL BELT AND BED-STAY
My invention relates to a combined surgical belt and bed-stay, which serves as
an efficient support for the spine, hips and stomach of the wearer.
My improved belt and bed-stay is made adjustable to suit persons of different
form or figure and can be so fitted to, and secured upon, the wearer that it will
not be liable to slip or become displaced by reason of any movement of the body
or limbs, but at the same time will not interfere with the free movement of the
thigh-joints and the limbs generally. It is, moreover, well adapted to preserve the
form or figure of the wearer, and will be found useful as a surgical appliance in
obstetric and other cases. In conjunction with a brace and bust-support it forms
a perfect stay and belt.
'I prefer to make the said belt and bed-stay with parts to pass around the
thighs, which parts have extensions furnished with straps and buckles or other
suitable fastenings so that they can be passed around, and secured upon, the legs
of the wearer below the knees.
My improved surgical belt and bed-stay can be manufactured of any suitable
material and may be provided with pieces of elastic or wire web to enable it to
adapt itself more readily to the form or figure of the wearer. The upper part of
the said belt and stay may be fastened in the front by busks, laces, or other
suitable means.
In the accompanying drawing have shewn how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice
Figure 1 is a front view of my improved belt and bed-stay as it appears when
secured upon the wearer and,
Figure 2 is a view of one side or portion of the same opened out or flattened.
A, A are the two main portions of the said belt and bed-stay, which portions
aro joined at the back by the lace B; they may, however, be joined by other
suitable means, if desired. These two portions are provided with steel busks or
other suitable fastenings, and with strips of whalebone or other stiffeners inserted
in pockets in the ordinary manner of making abdominal belts. The portions A¹
which surround the abdomen and thighs are provided with gussets O of elastic or
wire web, and these portions are provided with the extensions D furnished with
straps E which fit around the lower limbs of the wearer below the knees and are
secured by means of buckles E. The said extensions D are either made entirely
of the same material as the body of the article or they are provided with clastic
or wire webs D'
The parts A are also provided with straps F which serve to secure the same
around the thighs of the wearer by means of the buckles F1 and button F2.
The part A is made to fit. around the waist of the wearer and prevents the
alipping or displacement of the belt by reason of the movements of the body.
My invention will be found very serviceable and advantageous as an abdominal
belt and bed-stay if it is made without the portions A¹ and the extensions D, but
I prefer to make it in the manner shewn in the drawing.
Having thus fully described my said invention and the manner of carrying
the same into practice I wish it understood that I claim,-
The improved surgical belt and bed-stay made substantially as above described

page_text: with the portion A² to fit around the waist of the wearer, and with or without the
portions A¹ and the extensions D furnished with straps and suitable fastenings.
for securing the same upon the lower limbs of the wearer, substantially as
set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Elizabeth Mary Moore have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Eighth day of March in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.
ELIZTH M. MOORE (L.S.)