Improvements in Trusses.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 5th Sept., 1890-Accepted, 1st Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Trusses.
I, JOSEPH FORD of 141 Stockwell Road, Lambeth, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
-
My invention relates to certain improvements in trusses for hernia, and it has for
its object certain improvements in the details of construction whereby a more perfect
instrument or apparatus results.
My improved truss is constructed in the following mauner:-The frame consists of
two C-shaped springs formed of lengths of steel or other wire bent double on them-
selves to form twin members. These members are covered with rubber, vulcanite or
other suitable material.
The two parts of the frame are connected by suitable eyes or staples to a plate
carrying the back pad or pads, and the said eyes or staples are adapted to be fixed
to the said plate in various positions so that the positions of the front pads may be
varied as desired.
On to the free ends of the C-shaped springs are rivetted small metal plates adapted to
enclose the ends of the wire and give a finished appearance thereto. In each of those
plates are a series of holes adapted to receive a screw to fix each pad. The pads.are
preferably attached to the C-shaped springs by means of a ball and socket joint of a
peculiar construction, whereby they may be set at any desired angle. Each pad is
mounted on a plate the centre of which is blocked to a spherical shape. On each side
of this plate is a smaller plate, the one on the inside having a central D-shaped boss
adapted to pass through a large central hole in the foundation plate of the pad and
engage with a D-shaped hole in the top plate. A screw passes through one of the
holes in the plate on the C-shaped spring and is threaded into the inner plate of the
joint, and so locks the pad to the spring frame at any desired angle. The head of
each locking screw is formed in the shape of a button and an additional button is also
provided on each plate, for the strap attachment.
1011 1
TA 1
1000
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.1.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70-72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Trusses.
I JOSEPH FORD of 141 Stockwell Road Lambeth, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to certain improvements in trusses for hernia, and it has for
its objects certain improvements in the details of construction whereby a more perfect
instrument or apparatus results.
My improved truss is constructed in the manner illustrated in the accompanying
drawing in which
Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a truss embodying my improvements and
Figure 2 is a view in plan thereof.

page_text: Figure 3 is a view in transverse section-on an enlarged scale-of the back pad,
and Figure 4 is a view in transverse section-on an enlarged scale of one of the
front pads.
Throughout the several views similar parts are marked with like letters of
reference.
The frame consists of two C-shaped springs A. A. formed of lengths of steel or other
wire bent double on themselves to form twin members. These members are covered
with rubber, vulcanite, or other suitable material. The two parts of the frame are con-
nected by suitable eyes or staples b. b. to a plate B adapted to carry, or form, the back
pad B'. The eyes or staples b. b. are adapted to be fixed to the plate B in various
positions by means of the screws bb adapted to screw in the holes 6262 etc. in
the plate B so that the positions of the front pads may be varied as desired.
On to the free ends of the C-shaped springs A. A. are rivetted small metal
plates a. a. adapted to enclose the ends of the wire and give a finished appearance
thereto. In each of these plates are series of holes a¹ a¹ adapted to receive the
screw C by which the plates D. D. carrying the front pads D₁, D', are attached to the
free ends of the C-shaped springs A. A. The plates D, D, carrying the front
pads D¹, D¹, are preferably mounted on a ball and socket joint of a peculiar con-
struction whereby the pads may be set at any desired angle. Each pad D¹ is mounted
on a plate D the centre of which is blocked to a spherical shape.
On each side of the plate D is a smaller plate, the one d. on the inside having a
central boss d¹ adapted to pass through a large central hole in the plate D and engage
with a hole in the outer plate d². The screw C passes through one of the holes a', a¹,
etc., in the plate a. a. on the C-shaped spring and is threaded into the inner plate d. of
the joint and so locks the plate D carrying the pad D₁ to the spring frame A at any
desired angle. The head of each locking screw is formed in the shape of a button
and an additional button is also provided on each plate for the strap attachment,
not shown in the drawing.
The boss d' of the plate d. and the hole in the plate d² are preferably made of a D
or equivalent shape to prevent their turning when being locked by the screw C.
The pads B¹ and D' are made of rubber and are moulded or fashioned with turned
over lips 63 and d³ respectively, as illustrated, to enable them to be attached to the
plates B and D respectively by simply springing them over the edges of the said plates
which are fashioned to receive them. These rubber pads may either be faced with
vulcanite or its equivalent, or they may be provided with silk or other coverings. It
will be obvious that the truss may be used in either its double or single form
in the latter one of the C-shaped springs may be replaced by a strap or its equivalent.
I wish it to be clearly understood that I do not limit myself to the precise details
of construction herein set forth and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, but hold
myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall with the spirit and
scope of my invention.
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:-
1st. The improvements in the construction of trusses substantially as set forth.
2nd. In a truss the spring members of which are each formed of two members of
steel or other suitable wire, attaching the said members to the back pad, as and for
the purpose set forth.
3rd. In a truss, mounting the front pad or pads so that the angle and position
thereof may be varied as desired, as herein set forth and illustrated by the accom-
panying drawing.
4th. The improved rubber pads for trusses whereby they may be readily and easily
removed for the purpose of renewing or cleansing, as set forth.
5th. In a truss the combination with the C-shaped frame composed of twin members,
of the back plate with adjusting eyes or staples, of the front plate mounted on a ball

page_text: or socket joint or its equivalent, of the locking screw C, of the end plates a.. a. and of
the rubber pads B¹ and D', all combined arranged and operating as and for the purpose
set forth.
Dated this 4th dow of Santamban 1800
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70-72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.