Applicable also for Crutches.
Year: 1885

page_text: Applicable also for Crutches.
I JOHN REYNOLDS No. 9 Rodney Street Liverpool Lancashire Truss and
Surgical instrument Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for THE RELIEF OF ABDOMINAL HERNIA &C BY THE MEANS OF AN INDIA RUBBER
STEM PAD to be as follows:-
A disc of vulcanised india rubber 2 inches in diameter by thick or thereabout
having a stem projecting from the pad one inch high xg thick something in the
form of a mushroom. The stem is grasped by two semi rings of brass (united by
screws) one of them having a plate with two screw holes to which the pelvic band
is attached The flat surface of the pad rests upon the part requiring support while
the stem accomodates itself to the various movements of the body.
I claim also that this pad is suitable for the bottoms of crutches to which they
can be attached in a somewhat similar manner-It will give a broad surface of
support similar to the human heel & avoid the hard jarring of the ordinary crutch
upon the shoulder.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved India Rubber Self-adjusting Pad for Trusses,
Applicable also for Crutches.
I, JOHN REYNOLDS 9 Rodney Street Liverpool Lancashire 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 has for its principal object a pad that shall be firmly held with
a flexible grasp so that it shall lie quietly in position, even when through move-
ments of the body the truss is worked about somewhat.
The drawings show Figure 1 a plan, and Figure 2 a section of the pad and its
attachment to truss.
A is a disc of vulcanised india rubber preferably for trusses to vary in size and
shape according to the kind of hernia it may be intended to relieve.
For inguinal hernia I would have the pad oval in shape 2 x 14 and an incl
thick having a stem B about 1 inch high and ths. of an inch in diameter.
C is a ring of brass, german silver or other suitable metal, it can be formed if
desired in two parts fastened together in any convenient manner and in my earlier
experiments I used such but now prefer a solid ring. D is a shank formed in
one with the ring to which the pelvic band is attached by two screws E and F.
GGG are three screws with rounded smooth ends screwed through tapped holes in
the ring into the mass of the shank and holding the india rubber stem firmly. H is
a covering of leather or other soft material to prevent the rubber from excoriating
the skin, I prefer it bent over in cup shape as shown so as to form a soft cushion
at the edges by which means it is prevented from hurting the folds of the skin in
bending.
The flat surface of the pad is intended to rest immediately over the internal
abdominal ring and thereby resisting effectually any intestinal protrusion.
Whilst the flexibility of the rubber stem acting like an universal joint permits
the free movements of the body without displacement, and also both in double and
single trusses without the aid of straps, buckles or buttons.
I claim that the advantages gained by this invention are firstly relief of the
hernia and comfort to the patient, and secondly, a safe and easy means towards a
radical cure in youth and even in some cases beyond middle life, but in all cases
an improvement and tendency to get better by the intelligent application of the
instrument.
For femoral hernia my india rubber pad is similar in construction, only that
I make the pad smaller and somewhat triangular in shape 1 of an inch in length
by 1 inch at its broadest part and for thickness on the inner side an inch and
on its outer side of an inch, which allows it to fit easily into the femoral space.
The stem to be smaller in proportion in order to give greater flexibility and
allow the free movements of the thigh without displacement of the pad. I prefer
a soft band to encircle the thigh with means of attachment to the pad at pleasure,
whereby the pressure can be increased if required. This india rubber pad is also
cushioned and guarded, and from the main spring or body band the shank depends
in the vertical line in order to reach the seat of the hernia.

page_text: For umbilical hernia precisely as the preceeding with the exception that I make
the pad round, flat and of various diameters, to be fixed to a band encircling the
body.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1st. The india rubber pad for trusses, held some distance apart from but con-
nected to the truss by means of a flexible elastic shank, free to bend during that
distance, by which means considerable movements of the truss relatively to the
pad can take place and yet no shifting of the pad occur.
2nd. A rubber pad for the purposes described having a rubber shank forming
a part thereof and a brass or other ring firmly fixed thereto by screws or otheir
equivalent, said ring being provided with attachments for attaching it to the truss
band, substantially as described.
3rd. The application to a crutch of a mushroom shaped rubber pad having a
ring of metal round the stem firmly grasping the same, and firmly secured to the
crutch, substantially as described.
Dated this 11th day of November 1885.
WP. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and
323, High Holborn, London,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.