IMPROVEMENTS IN ABDOMINAL BELTS FOR THE PREVENTION OR ALLE- VIATION OF SEA-SICKNESS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Philip William Gowlett Nunn, of Maplestead, Bourne-
mouth, in the County of Hants, Physician and Surgeon, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ABDOMINAL BELTS FOR THE PREVENTION OR ALLE-
VIATION OF SEA-SICKNESS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Philip William Gowlett
Nunn at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th October
1880.
PHILIP WILLIAM GOWLETT NUNN, of Maplestead, Bournemouth, in the County
of Hants, Physician and Surgeon. 'IMPROVEMENTS IN ABDOMINAL BELTS FOR
"
THE PREVENTION OR ALLEVIATION OF SEA SICKNESS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in abdominal belts for the
prevention or alleviation of sea sickness.
For this purpose I use a belt adapted to be strapped on to the body around the
abdomen. On the inner side of the belt air pads are provided in such positions
that when inflated they may support the solar plexus and those branches of the
sympathetic nerve which control and envelope the superior and inferior mesenteric,
gastric, and splenic arteries, and so acting through the sympathetic nervous system
prevent or alleviate sea sickness.
The air pads are capable of dilatation by inflation with air, an air ball being
used for this purpose, and air valves to prevent the escape of air from the pads.
When the pads are inflated the support and pressure of the belt is increased.
The apparatus, in case of need, also acts as a life belt.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Philip William Gowlett Nunn in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th April 1881.
PHILIP WILLIAM GOWLETT NUNN, of Maplestead, Bournemouth, in the County
of Hants, Physician and Surgeon. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ABDOMINAL BELTS FOR
THE PREVENTION OR ALLEVIATION OF SEA SICKNESS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in abdominal belts for the
prevention or alleviation of sea sickness.
For this purpose I use a belt adapted to be strapped on to the body around the
abdomen. On the inner side of the belt air pads are provided in such positions
that when inflated they may support the solar plexus, and those branches of the
sympathetic nerve which control and envelope the superior and inferior mesenteric,
gastric, and splenic arteries, and so acting through the sympathetic nervous system
prevent or alleviate sea sickness.
The air pads are capable of dilatation by inflation with air, an air ball being
used for this purpose, and air valves to prevent the escape of air from the pads.
When the pads are inflated the support and pressure of the belt is increased.
The apparatus, in case of need, also acts as a life belt.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an inside view of my abdominal belt as it appears when laid
out flat.
Figure 2 is a front view of the belt buckled up as it is when worn. The buckles
come to the right side of the wearer.
Figure 3 shows a back view of the pad as it appears when buckled up. The
belt is best constructed of two thicknesses of fabric cemented or sown together,
and enclosing between them the air tight india rubber cells or pads marked a, b,
c, d, and c. The outer fabric should be sufficiently stout to ensure the pads being
held firmly in their places against the person, and to restrain to a great extent the
outward expansion of the cells or pads when inflated. I prefer to have the outer
fabric of a waterproof material. The inner fabric or lining is of such a nature and
so applied that it readily permits the expansion of the cells or pads inwardly when
they are inflated. The cells or pads are all connected together by amall air-tight
tubes ff, enclosed between the outer and the lining fabric, and they are similarly
connected with the inflating nozzle g and the outlet plug h. An air valve, such as
is used in enema apparatus, is provided within the inflating nozzle g, so that the
air after being forced in cannot escape by this nozzle. The outlet plug h is of an
ordinary construction, and such as is applied to air cushions.
When partially
unscrewed it permits the air to escape from the several cells or pads. The nozzle g
receives the flexible connecting pipe from a bellows or inflater, such as is repre-
sented in Figure 1. In the use of this abdominal belt it should be first buckled
upon the person and then inflated until a sufficient pressure upon the parts beneath
the pads is obtained.
The pad a affords the necessary support to the upper abdominal muscles,
diaphragm, and solar plexus of the sympathetic.
The pads b and c are lifting or supporting pada to the low abdominal muscles,
and tend to lift up the intestines, and exert when inflated a constant tonic force
to the organs contained within the abdominal cavity.
The pads & and e afford support to the spinal nerves and
inflated act as a fulcrum for increasing pressure of front pads.
e increase the flotation power of belt if at any time required.
muscles, and being
These pads & and

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim my abdominal belt,
substantially as described, for the prevention or alleviation of sea sickness.
In witness whereof, I, the said Philip William Gowlett Nunn, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this 24th day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
PHILIP W. G. NUNN. (L.S.)