Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1887.
Complete Left, 15th June, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 10th July, 1887
[Communicated from abroad by Joseph J. Stephens, of Coalesburg, and EMANUEL
SCULLY, of Leesville, both in the County of Henry and State of Missouri, United.
States of America.]
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm., Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare
the nature of the Invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to that class of surgical appliances that are commonly called
"obstetrical supporters," the main object of the invention being to provide a com- .
bination of straps, stirrups and hand-pieces that shall be so scientifically arranged as
to aid the female when in labor, the arrangement being such that the apparatus will
ease and materially increase the effect of the bearing-down pains, thus shortening the
period of labor, and saving the patient from the wearing of protracted labor.
The appliance consists of main side straps furnished at the upper part with arm
rings which are preferably metallic rings properly wadded and covered with leather
or heavy cloth, a shoulder strap and a breast strap, the shoulder strap extending from
ring to ring, while the breast strap is centrally divided and furnished with a buckle
for connecting the two parts together, also a back strap that is passed through loops
on the main side strap and provided with a buckle for adjustment.
Below the loops the straps carry kneepads, the straps being passed through loops
that are fixed to the pads by which arrangement I provide for a proper adjustinent of
said pads-that is, for an adjustment toward or from the arm-rings. To the lower
end of the side straps are secured stirrups, said stirrups being provided with buckles
that are arranged to engage with the side straps, the buckles also serving as a means
[Price 87

page_text: for attaching hand straps that are provided with grips and a lock, consisting of a
hook and an eye.
In applying the supporter, the arms of the patient are passed through the rings,
said rings being brought up over the shoulders. The breast and back straps are then
adjusted, the knee pads moved to position, so that the knees of the patient will rest
therein, the feet of the patient are inserted in the stirrups and the hand straps are
adjusted over the knees, the hook being brought into engagement with the eye.
Instead of passing the back-strap through loops carried by the side straps, the back-
strap might be provided with loops for the support of the side straps.
Dated this Oth day of Anni 1007

page_text: An Improved Obstetrical Supporter.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby
declare the nature of this Invention (a communication to me from abroad by Joseph
J. Stephens of Coalesburg and Emanuel Scully of Leesville both in the County of
Henry and State Missouri United States of America) 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 that class of surgical appliances that are commonly called
"obstetrical supporters," the main object of the invention being to provide a com-
bination of straps, stirrups, and hand pieces that shall be so scientifically arranged as
to aid the female when in labor, the arrangement being such that the apparatus will
ease and materially increase the effect of the bearing-down pains, thus shortening
the period of labor, and saving the patient from the wearying of protracted labor,
all as will be hereinafter more fully described, and specifically pointed out in the
claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this speci-
fication in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the
figures.
Figure 1 is a view showing the application of the improved obstetrical supporter
and figure 2 a view of the supporter as it appears when removed from the patient.
In the drawings above referred to, 10, 10 represent the arm-rings, which are
preferably metallic rings that are properly wadded and covered with leather or heavy
cloth. To each of the rings 10 there is secured a main side strap 11, a shoulder-
strap 12, and a breast-strap 13, the shoulder strap extending from ring to ring, while
the breast-strap is centrally divided, one section being furnished with a buckle,
while the other is formed with holes, with which the tongue of the buckle engages.
A back-strap 15 is passed through loops 16, that are stitched to the main side
straps, 11, and this back-strap is also provided with a buckle, as best shown in
figure 2.
Below the loops 16 the straps 11 carry kneepads 17, the straps being passed through
loops that are fixed to the pads, by which arrangement I provide for a proper
adjustment of said pads-that is, for an adjustment toward or from the arm-rings 10.
To the lower end of the side straps I secure stirrups 20, said stirrups being provided
with buckles 21, that are arranged to engage with the side straps, the buckles also
serving as a means for attaching hand-straps 23, that are provided with grips 24, and
a lock 25, consisting of a hook 2 and an eye 3.
In applying the supporter the arms of the patient are passed through the rings 10,
said rings being brought up over the shoulders. The breast and back straps are then
adjusted, the knee-pads moved to position, so that the knees of the patient will rest
therein, the feet of the patient are inserted in the stirrups, and the hand-straps are

page_text: adjusted over the knees, the hook 2 being brought into engagement with the eye 3,
all as shown in figure 1. Instead of passing the back-strap through loops carried
by the side straps, the back-strap might be provided with loops for the support of
the side straps.
Physicians and other skilled persons will readily appreciate the advantages of the
construction above described, and will see how firmly all parts will be supported, and
how the effect of the labor-pains will be facilitated and the period of labor shortened.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is―
1. In an obstetrical supporter, the combination, with the shoulder-rings of main
side straps, stirrups, hand straps and grips, and shoulder, back, and breast straps
substantially as described.
2. In an obstetrical supporter, the combination with the padded shoulder-rings, of
side straps, knee-pads held thereby, stirrups adjustably connected thereto, hand-
straps, grips connected to the hand-straps, a back-strap passing through loops carried
by the side straps, and shoulder and breast straps connected to the shoulder rings,
substantially as described.
3. In an obstetrical supporter, the combination with the shoulder-rings, of main side
straps, stirrups, hand-straps, grips, a lock carried by the hand straps or grips, and
shoulder, back, and breast straps, substantially as described.
Dated this 9th day of June 1887