AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN ABDOMINAL SUPPORTERS
Year: 1850

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of the Firm of Messrs. J. C. Robertson and Company,
of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Thirty-first day of July,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty, in the fourteenth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Richard Archibald Brooman, my exors, adññors, and assigns, Her especial
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Richard
Archibald Brooman, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Richard Archibald Brooman, my exors, adiñors, or assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, in the Islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, and Man,.
and in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, the Invention of
"AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN ABDOMINAL SUPPORTERS," communi-
cated to me from abroad; in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso
that I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, shall cause a particular descrip-
tion of the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to he performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six

page_text: calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part
recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto
had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the
said Richard Archibald Brooman, hereby declare the nature of the Invention
communicated to me as aforesaid, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, are fully described and ascertained in and by the present Specifi-
cation thereof, reference being had to the Drawings annexed, that is to
say:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an abdominal supporter, constructed
according to the said Invention. Figure II. is a view, showing the application
of the pads to the back of the subject. Figure III. is a view exhibiting the
application of the front pad to the abdomen. Figures IV. and V. are explana-
tory Diagrams. Figure V. is a view of a modification of the front pad by
which the instrument is also made to act as a truss for the reduction and cure
of hernia or rupture. The chief defect of all instruments of this class hitherto
in use has been that pressure has been made on the centre of the abdomen or
linea alba; this is that membraneous support drawn nearly tight which
extends from near the end of the sternum or breast bone downwards to the
os-pubis. Pressure upon this membrane has been found in practice to drag it
downward, and thus to diminish the capacity of the chest, while a lifting and
lateral pressure on the lower part of each side of the abdomen will materially
aid in enlarging the chest. It has also been extremely desirable to avoid any
pressure on the spine, as this induces diseases of that column, or on the curva-
ture of the ribs, as thus they would be forced inwards on the large organs of
the trunk, and produce effects which may be daily witnessed from the use of
improper instruments, or on the os-sacrum, or the suture between that and
the os-illium, which would induce diseases of those parts.
.
The improved construction is as follows:-The front pad (a) is about six or
seven inches in length, and about four in depth. Its upper edge is nearly
straight, its lateral edges are inclined inwards and downwards, following the
course of the groin, thence turning towards the centre, they cover the
abdominal rings, and thence rise in an arched form, so that at the centre of the
lower side the pad passes over the os-pubis, which it covers like a yoke. It
is made of a strong plate of suitable metal properly padded and covered. To
each end of this pad there is attached an arm (b, 6',) which rises upward and
outward upon the body passing over the os-illium, and around the lower part
of the waist to the back, thence descending (as shown in Figure II.) down-
ward and inward to a distance, making the length of the arm to that point, if

page_text: straightened out, say nine or ten inches, and thence turning horizontally
toward the spine. The arms are made of steel plate cut in an irregularly
curved form; that is to say, the arm (6¹) is first straight, say three inches,
thence curved to the right, and then turning to the left, as clearly shewn in
the Diagram Figure V. The object of this formation differing from the straight
spring (Figure 1V.) is that the arm thus formed will lie flat to the body at all
points, and hence its edges will not in any place cut or abrade the skin. Each
arm is made of sufficient stiffness, and so tempered that when taken off the
body its ends will meet. The arms are secured to the front pad by a screw
near the lower part of each end, as shown. They have a slight vibratory
motion on the screw for the purpose of permitting adjustment to the body, and
of promoting ease to the wearer. At the back the bearing of the instrument
is on four pads (c, c, c', c¹,). The pads (c, c,) press upon the flat part of the
short ribs, one on each side of the spine, as shewn (Figure II.), and the
pads (c', c',) press upon the flat plate of the os-illium, avoiding carefully any
pressure upon the os-sacrum, or upon the suture between those ossa. The
pads (c and c) are connected together by an "S" shaped plate of tempered
steel (d), which extends outward from the pad (c) and downward about one
inch, thence perpendicularly downward about two and a half inches, and thence
outward and downward about one inch (as shewn in Figure II.) The Splate
bas a mortice through the centre by means of which it may have a sliding
motion upon the arm, and to that it is secured at any desired point by a bolt
passing through both. The S plate has no vibratory motion on this bolt, and
hence its central part will be always at a right angle to the end of the arm.
The shape thus adopted for the plate or spring connecting the pads (c and c¹)
with the arm gives them a different and more favorable bearing than can be
obtained from a spring of any other shape. The pads preserve their position
while the spring readily yields to the peculiarities of motion in those parts of
the body of the wearei. The pads are secured to the ends of the S plates, at
their centres only, and so as to allow of easy play. The bolt which fastens
them is fixed firmly in the pad, and, passing through the ends of the S plate,
terminates in buttons or studs, and from these a strap is secured (e) connecting
the pads (c, c,) and a strap (6) connecting the pads (c¹³, c³). The operation
will be thus:-When the supporter is placed upon the body in the position
already described, each arm passing over the os-illium forms
having their points of rest in common at the crest of the os-illium. The longer
lever will raise the front pad, and with it all the abdomen towards the top of
the hips, thus preventing the bowels from falling upon the rectum, uterus,
bladder, and the large blood vessels that pass through the pelvis, and outwardly
two levers,

page_text: over the front of the thigh. By this arrangement no flat pressure is given, but
a lifting pressure is gained, not much upon the front of the bowels, but upon
the lateral columns of the abdominal contents, and thus extending support from
the bottom of the sides of the abdomen to both lateral columns of the trunk,
supporting the bowels, liver, stomach, breast, lungs, &c., by lifting all up
pressing upon the short ribs, and assisting gently to enlarge the chest. A
modification of the front pad may be made, which gives to the instrument the
additional advantages of a truss for the relief and permanent cure of hernia.
This is effected by dividing the pad down the middle, as shewn in Figure VI.,
and uniting the parts by a hinge joint i. The lower part of each portion is
then extended still further downward, and on the side next the body of the
extending part a pad of wood or other suitable substance is placed, which shall
produce pressure upon the rupture in the usual manner. When the supporter
is fixed in the proper place a strap is to be placed on the studs (k, k,) con-
necting the upper parts of the pad, and another on the studs (1, 1), thus
connecting the lower parts together, and retaining the instrument in the proper
position.
Having now explained the nature of the Invention which has been com-
municated to me as aforesaid, and described what the Inventor considers to be
the best form of construction, I declare that what I consider to be new, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me under the Letters Patent
herein-before referred to, is as follows:-
Firstly, I claim the two short elastic arms, S shaped, connected with other
parts of a supporter, having a pad upon each end, one pad to rest upon the
short ribs behind the curve, and free from the spine, while the other rests upon
the flat plate of the os-illium, each S plate being united at the middle to a long
elastic arm by a mortise, allowing no motion but that of sliding in or out the
long arm, and the short arın always crossing at right angles.
flat surface the
Secondly, I claim the employment of two long elastic arms in connection
with other parts of a supporter, and with the S-shaped arms by a mortise and
screw bolts, these arms being so cut that when laid upon
edge shall be first convex, then concave, and then straight, and formed so as to
sit flat upon the person, rising above the hips with a point of rest about one
third of its length from the back, and falling down in front to a pad, and by
so adjusting the shape of the arms and point of rest as to press directly upon
the hernial rings, and lift up the abdominal contents towards the top of the
hips.
Thirdly, I claim the supporter pad so formed as to be thicker on the inside
near its lower end and outer edge at the point of termination or lower fasten-

page_text: ing to it of the long elastic arms, so as to press directly on the hernial rings,
the lower outer edges being cut so as to follow the course of the groin, and the
lower edge yoked or cut convex to go above the os-pudis, thus acting upon all
those parts occupied by the abdominal rings.
Fourthly, I claim the dividing of the front pad perpendicularly through the
centre, and connecting the parts by a hinge joint and by straps, rendering the
parts adjustable to any desired position.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of January, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.
ing to it of the long elastic arms, so as to press directly on the hernial rings,
the lower outer edges being cut so as to follow the course of the groin, and the
lower edge yoked or cut convex to go above the os-pudis, thus acting upon all
those parts occupied by the abdominal rings.
Fourthly, I claim the dividing of the front pad perpendicularly through the
centre, and connecting the parts by a hinge joint and by straps, rendering the
parts adjustable to any desired position.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of January, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.
R. A. (L.s.) BROOMAN.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-eighth day of January,
in the year of our Lord 1851, the aforesaid Richard Archibald Brooman
came before, our said Lady the Qucen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged
the Specification aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and
specified, in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was
stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Thirty-first day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-one.