An Improved Uterine Supporter.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 31st Aug., 1891-Accepted, 21st Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Uterine Supporter.
I, JOHN PITT BAYLY, of 18 Fulham Place, Paddington, in the County of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communi-
cation to me from abroad by Andrew Sherwood, of San Francisco, California,
U.S.A. Doctor of Medicine,) to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to an improved uterine supporter, which consists of a cup
having a tubular stem depending therefrom, which is provided at its lower end
with an enlargement having interior threads. A separate hollow extension is
provided at its upper end with exterior threads, which register with the threads of
the lower enlarged end of the stem, and at its lower end, which is provided with a
buttom or head. A loosely fitting conical casing surrounds the lower enlarged end
of the stem, which casing is provided with a removable base. Supporting cords or
straps are secured to said casing, and a spring is contained within the casing, said
spring surrounding the separate hollow extension, and having its lower end
bearing against the base of the casing, and its upper end bearing against the
enlarged end of the stem.
Dated this 29th day of November 1890.
J. P. BAYLY,
Applicant.
.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Uterine Supporter.
1, JOHN PITT BAYLY, of 18 Fulham Place, Paddington, in the County of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communi-
cation to me from abroad by Andrew Sherwood, of San Francisco, California,
U.S.A., Doctor of Medicine) and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
My invention consists in providing certain improvements in uterine supporters,
which consist of a two-part instrument with an intermediate spring to allow the
automatic adjustment of the supporter, a rotary movement and adjustment of the
cup upon the stem, a central duct through the stem for drainage, and a means for
applying an electrical current through the instrument and directly to the parts, all
of which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring to the drawings forming part of this Specification, wherein similar
letters of reference denote corresponding parts-
Figure 1 is a view showing the manner in which my invention may be applied to
an electrical belt of known construction. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken through
the axis and the uterine supporter-stem; Fig. 3 a detail sectional view showing
one of the electrodes and fasteners, being a portion of the belt but forming no part
of the invention; and Fig. 4 a front detail of Fig. 3. The belt, although described
and shewn in the drawings, forms no part of the invention.
The letter A indicates the cup supporter, which is made semi-globular, or it may
have one side a little higher than the other, this portion of the instrument not
differing from the ordinary construction. The stem B may be straight or suitably
curved and is made hollow. Its lower end is countersunk and screw-threaded on
the inside, so as to screw upon the short hollow extension C, being also enlarged,
so as to fit over this extension and form a shoulder and a tight joint with it. The
lower end of the extension has an enlargement or button D, and the lower part of

page_text: the stem is loosely inclosed in a hollow conical casing E, the button D, lying
outside of the base E' of the casing. It will be noticed that this base is screw-
threaded to register with the threads of the lower portion of the conical casing,
whereby said base may be readily detached when necessary to obtain access to the
interior of the casing. Within this casing is a spiral or other spring F, which
surrounds the extension C, and its lower end presses against the base E', while its
upper end abuts against the shoulder formed by the enlargement of the stem B,
thus holding the button D in contact with the base of the casing and keeping the
stem and cup up with an elastic pressure.
The supports for the instrument are hollow tubes or elastic cords H, and these
in the ordinary instrument pass through an enlarged disc or base formed upon the
lower end of the stem. These cords or tubes soon lose their elasticity, and my
invention is designed to overcome this difficulty by the use of the spiral spring
within the body of the instrument.
In my device the elastic supports H pass through the casing E, and the stem
passes loosely through the casing, so that it may be turned within it, thus allowing
of the adjustment of the cup to any desired position without moving or disturbing
the casing or the supporting straps or cords. By this construction and the use of
the spiral spring the stem and cup are allowed to turn freely in the casing with
every movement of the body, and all friction or rubbing of the cup upon the
parts with which it is in contact is prevented. The spring yields to any pressure
or movement which effects the stem in the direction of its axis, and thus holds the
cup against the parts with a continuous but yielding, pressure independent of the
supporting cords or straps H. The central passage is supplemental to the drainage-
holes I, ordinarily made in the sides of the cup, and it allows the acrid secretions
of the parts to be carried out without contact with any part of the body. By
reason of the screw-joint between the parts B and C the chamber containing the.
spring is protected and kept dry.
J is a flat or other suitably-shaped metallic plate which fits in the bottom of the
cup A, and an insulated wire or cord K connects with it and extends out of the
instrument through the central passage.
An abdomen supporter indicated by the letter K', is adapted to support the uterine
supporter and is provided with the straps k, connected to the back and front, as
shown, adapted to pass under the leg in order to maintain the support in place
when secured around the patient. To said abdomen support I may attach the
electrical belt L, (although this forms no part of my present invention) by means
of the hook electrodes l, and form connection between said belt and supporter
electrodes in, through the medium of the insulated wires or cords ", one end of
which connect to the belting cells m, and the other to electrode fastener m', which
causes the flow of an electrical current, which may be increased or decreased in its
strength by moving or securing cords ', toward or from electrode l. The supporter
electrode consists of the metallic plates n, n', the under one of which is provided
with the screw-threaded stem n², which passes through the supporter and to which
the upper plate n is screwed. To said plate is secured the spring catch o, and to
said catch is pivoted the retaining fastener. The outer end thereof is gradually
inclined and therein fits the ends of the elastic cords H, which fitting tightly
therein serve to uphold the uterine supporter. When it is desired to have an
electrical current flow through the stem of the uterine supporter the end of wire K
is secured to the spring catch hook o, and thus receives its current from the
supporter electrode. The supporter may be used with or without the electrical
belt, as desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In a uterine supporter, the combination of a cup, a tubular stem depending
therefrom and provided on its lower end with an enlargement having interior

page_text: threads, a separable hollow extension provided at its upper end with exterior
threads registering with the threads of the lower enlarged end of the stem and at
its lower end with a button or head, a loosely fitting conical casing surrounding the
lower enlarged end of the stem, a removable base for said casing, supporting
cords or straps secured to said casing, and a spring contained within the casing,
said spring surrounding the separable hollow extension, having its lower end
bearing against the base of the casing and its upper end bearing against the
enlarged end of the stem, substantially as set forth.
2. In a uterine supporter, the combination, with the cup thereof, of the spring-
actuated stem for the purpose of allowing of vertical movement in order to allow
for movement of the body, as and for the purpose set forth.
3. The combination with a uterine supporter, of the lower casing, supporting
stem removably secured therein, and of the electrical wire passing therethrough, as
and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a uterine supporter, the combination of the cup, movable stem, hollow
casing, and of the spiral-spring fitting therein, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 29th day of August 1891.
J. P. BAYLY,
Applicant.