Improvements in or relating to Truss Pads.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 28th May, 1889-Accepted, 29th June, 1889
Improvements in or relating to Truss Pads.
A communication from JOHN C. RORICK, of Wauseon, Fulton County, State of Ohio,
United States of America, Gentleman.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E., 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 more particularly to hollow elastic rubber truss pads and the
means for attaching the same to their supports.
In truss pads of this class heretofore in use the method of attaching the pad to
its plate has been to rivet or stitch the parts together or to provide the pad plate
with a socket opening, the edge of which embraces the pad in a recess formed on the
pad for that purpose. Such pads have also been held in cup shaped sockets and
have sometimes been molded with broad base plates which have been attached to
belts, bands or springs by means of rivets. These pads have also been secured
to bands and plates by means of a ring and plate engaging a neck and flange
formed on the pad. The use of the rivets and stitches is obviously unsatisfactory
for the reason that soft rubber is soon cut, torn or worn thereby, and because such
pads lack adjustability. In trusses in which pads rest in cup shaped sockets or are
held in place by the contact of the elastic material with the edge of an opening in
the socket plate, the pads are likely to lose their adjustment by turning or twisting
on their axis. The pads in which a neck and flange on the pad are grasped by a
ring and plate, so much metal must be employed that the pad is heavy, cumbersome
and uncomfortable to the wearer.
The object of this invention is to obviate the objections above stated and to furnish
a cheap, light, strong means of attaching a truss pad to its support. I attain these
objects by means of the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, made
part hereof in which,
Figure 1, is an elevation of the pad.
Figure 2, a central longitudinal section.
Figure 3, a plan view from the outer side, and
Figure 4, a plan view from the outer side, of a modification of the device.
Like letters represent like parts in all the views. A, is a hollow elastic pad, flat
on one side and convex or partly spherical on the other. On the flat side a rim or
lip a, extends from the outer edge inwardly, nearly or quite to the center. In the
space or pocket thus formed between the lip or rim a, and the flat side of the pad
plate b, is firmly held, that is to say, between the two flat walls of rubber a metallic
plate b, is interposed. In manufacturing my device the plate b, is placed in the
mold and the rubber is cast around the plate so as to embrace it closely as shown.
In manufacturing this device a central opening c (as in Figure 3) or two or more
openings (as in figure 4) are left in a, through which projects screw or screws d,
from plate b. By means of screw d, the pad is attached to the usual spring, plate or
band or other support.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is ;-
;-
1st. As an improved article of manufacture the herein described truss pad
consisting of an air pad having a flexible inner wall, and a rigid double rear wall
having a rigid hard plate, encased therein.
Price 6dl

page_text: 2nd. A hollow rubber permanently inflated air pad cast integral and consisting of an
inner convex face formed by an elastic pliable wall, a rigid flat rear wall formed by
a double thickness of rubber and a flat metal plate centrally located within and of
about the same diameter as the wall, the rubber being cast around and completely
surrounding said plate, thereby permanently and rigidly securing the same within the
rear wall, and one or more screws or lugs extending through the outer rubber
portion of the rear wall and secured to or formed with the plate, as set forth.
3rd. The herein described improved air pad for trusses, substantially as set forth.
Dated thin both d... is M1000