IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TRUSSES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Partridge Salt, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Surgical Instrument Maker, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TRUSSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Partridge Salt
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
19th May 1863.
I, THOMAS PARTRIDGE SALT, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Surgical Instrument Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TRUSSES," to be as follows,
that is to say:-
My Invention consists, firstly, in forming the spring in trusses used for
inguinal hernia in two parts, the one sliding on the other, so that the spring
may be extended or contracted in front, the two parts of the spring being
secured together by binding screws; the sliding end of the spring is curved
upwards and outwards, the exact curve being adopted which conforms most
nearly to the line of the abdomen, and would bring the pads directly over the
inguinal openings. The opposite end of the spring which passes over the
spinal column is provided with two revolving circular pads instead of one,
thus preventing any inclination to tilt or work out of the horizontal line. The
pads are attached to the front part of the truss by a small hook-shaped spring,
one limb of which is connected by binding and adjusting screws to the front

page_text: part of the truss, and the other limb secured by a central screw, upon which
the pads rotate.
Secondly, my Invention refers to improvements in the manufacture of pads
for all descriptions of trusses, and it consists in forming such pads of thin
shells or blanks of metal, horn, or other suitable material, and covering such
blanks with material of any required description, iu manner similar to that in
which Florentine buttons are made. The blanks when not formed of metal,
may be edged with it to afford the means of securing the covering; and for
the purpose of obtaining a soft surface or cushion on the face of the pad,
between the covering and the shell, I place spongio piline or other suitable
stuffing. I thus dispense with all sewing, and obtain a light and strong pad
with an even surface.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Partridge Salt in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 19th November 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
PARTRIDGE SALT, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Surgical Instru-
ment Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, 1er heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Thomas Partridge Salt, Her special license that I, the said Thomas
Partridge Salt, my executors, administrators, and assigus, or such others
as I, the said Thomas Partridge Salt, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time, and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TRUSSES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Partridge Salt, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Partridge Salt, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being bad to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention consists, firstly, in forming the spring in trusses used for in-
guinal hernia in two parts, the one sliding on the other, so that the spring may
be extended or contracted in front, the two parts of the spring being secured
together by binding screws; the sliding end of the spring is curved upwards,
and outwards, the exact curve being adopted which conforms most nearly
to the line of the abdomen, and would bring the pads directly over the inguinal
openings; the opposite end of the spring which passes over the spinal column
is provided with two revolving circular pads instead of one, thus preventing any
inclination to tilt or work out of the horizontal line. The pads are attached
to the front part of the truss by a small hook-shaped spring, one limb of which
is connected by binding and adjusting screws to the front part of the truss,
and the other limb secured by a central screw, upon which the pads rotate.
Secondly, my Invention refers to improvements in the manufacture of pads
for all descriptions of trusses, and it consists in forming such pads of thin shells
or blanks of metal, horn, or other suitable material, and covering such blanks
with material of any required description, in manner similar to that in which
Florentine buttons are made. The blanks when not formed of metal may be
edged with it to afford the means of securing the covering; and for the purpose
of obtaining a soft surface or cushion on the face of the pad, between the
covering and the shell I place spongio piline or other suitable stuffing. 1
thus dispense with all sewing, and obtain a light and strong pad with an even
Figure 1 shews a view of the truss; Figure 2, a back view of the circular
pads; Figure 3, a section of the same; Figure 4, side view of one of the oval
pads, and the remaining Drawing shewing details of the construction of these
pads.
The spring of the truss, as seen in (Figure 1), is composed of two parts, the
larger or posterior half (A to B) being made to fit accurately the body with
a simple arrangement for correct adjustment formed by the slots and binding
screws, shewn at the ends marked (A and B); the end (A) passes over the
spinal column, the binding screw (C) securing in the slot (D) a transverse
spring (E (Figure 2), upon the ends of which are mounted two anti-frictional

page_text: discs or pads (f, f.) free upon their centres the screws (9, 9); these screws
also serving to secure the ends of the soft strap (h) required to complete the
circuit. The second or anterior portion of the spring (B to K) is made with
two curves, or is curved in two planes coincident with the curves of the
abdomen, and at each extremity are the slots (1, 1) allowing of the adjust-
ment of the pads (m, m,) nearer to or further from the median line. The
pads (m, m,) are hung by means of the screws (n, n), upon which they are
free, to two small springs (0, 0,) suspended by binding screws (p, p,) in the
slots (1, 1), and by slightly releasing these screws the position of the pads can
be altered. Being placed at an angle with the axes of the pads, the springs
(0, 0,) maintain uniform pressure; but should a sudden strain occur the resist-
ance of the truss is increased by the compression of the springs. A slight
modification of the curves of the springs (A, B, K), adapting them to the
requisite form for femoral hernia, will render this truss available for that
description of hernia also.
I have already sufficiently described the mode in which the second portion
of my Invention is to be carried out, namely, the improvements in the con-
struction of pads for trusses of all descriptions; sections of these made upon
the principle of covered or Florentine buttons are represented in the Drawings,
and in some instances the covering and cushioning may be dispensed with, if
a smooth surface be all that is required; or the shells may be screwed or
otherwise secured together, instead of completing them as a Florentine button,
if preferred; whilst for bathing trusses I substitute waterproof material for the
usual covering.
Ilaving thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I claim, without limiting myself to these
exact details, the several improvements in trusses, and in pads for trusses,
substantially as herein more fully set forth and specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Partridge Salt, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
THOMAS PARTRIDGE SALT. (L.S.)