Head and Back Support.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 2nd May, 1896
Head and Back Support.
I, CARL FREIHERR VON WOLFF, in Dresden, Dornblüthstr. 3, Captain ont of
Service 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 a head and back support, constructed on the principle,
that it is useless for supports for the upper parts of the body, to be taken from the
pelvis, and that the only right way, is to bring about a straight holding of the
body, which the supporting from upwards fulfils, without a direct support for a
separate portion of the body, so that the play of the muscles is given as much.
freedom as possible.
Everyone who is acquainted with supports hitherto known is aware, that with.
them the very opposite occurs, that the body is prevented from free movement, and
the straight holding is accomplished, principally through continual painful pressure,
without benefiting the body.
The support on the new principle, consists of a collar, which rests on the
shoulders, and a chin support, with the necessary straps and belts, consequently it
is simple, light, and inexpensive.
In order that my invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect, I have hereunto appended one explanatory sheet of drawings in the several
figures of which corresponding parts are marked with the same letters of
reference.
Figure 1 is a bird's eye view of the support.
Figure 2 a side view of Figure 1.
Figure 3 a side view of the waist belt, which forms an accessory of the
support.
Figures 4 and 5 show the support in use.
The collar a, is provided with a hinge f, on each side, and with a movable,
horse shoe shaped lever b, made of sheet iron and covered with leather or other
suitable material. This lever b has on each end slots y for straps c, while other
straps e are fixed on the lower part of the collar to bring it forward. On the
waist belt d, which forms a separate part of the support, are buckled the straps c,.
which can be brought over the back either straight or crossed, and in this way, the
lever will be brought in a horizontal position, under the chin of the wearer.
The collar a rests on the shoulders, where, in consequence of its shape, it fits
comfortably, and is fixed there by the straps e, which are brought under the arms
and buckled together at the back, where they will also be kept in position by the
straps c.
In adjusting the supports-see Figures 4 and 5-the chin lever bis, through the
buckling of the straps c, raised into such a position, that it lightly touches the
chin of the wearer, in the normal carriage. Should the wearer deviate from his
or her normal carriage, for instance, lean sideways, or stoop, the strap c will
become strained, the consequence of which will be, that the chin lever will be
forced upwards and its pressure on the chin of wearer, will cause him or her to
regain his or her normal carriage, but not without a certain amount of exertion,
and thus he or she will gradually get accustomed to maintaining a normal
carriage.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
1. A support for head and back consisting of a collar a resting on the shoulders,
with a horizontal lever b, movable in hinges f, whose ends project over the hinges f,
to receive the straps c, which are, at the other end, fixed to the waist belt d, while
the collar is kept in position by the straps e, to bring about a normal carriage of
the wearer, by suitable pressure on the chin, all substantially as described and
illustrated on the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Dated this 19th day of February 1896.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.