AN IMPROVED ABDOMINAL BELT
Year: 1883

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LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Edwards, of the firm of Edwards and Co. Patent
Agents and Engineers, of 40, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED ABDOMINAL BELT”
a communication to him from abroad by Henri Louis Marquis, of Lille, in the
Republic of France
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmund Edwards at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th December 1883.
EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co:, Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35, [40,] Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex "AN IMPROVED ABDOMINAL BELT" (a communication to him from
abroad by Henri Louis Marquis, of Lille, in the Republic of France]
This invention relates to abdominal belts used to support and keep a continued
pressure upon the abdomen, especially for females in pregnancy or as a protection
against or remedy for prolapsus uteri.
Apparatus constructed according to the invention consists of a leather-covered
belt, arranged so as to support the abdomen or uterus by the compression of a
device specially arranged for the purpose.
This device consists of a hammered iron concave plate to which are rivetted the
front ends of two springs which constitute a belt passing round the body of the
person using it, and fastened behind by straps and buckle.
A smaller steel plate fixed to the upper part of the concave plate by two
adjustable screws has passing through its lower end a long screw of brass or other
suitable metal, rivetted into the concave plate, and fitted with a round-headed nut
at its outer end, so that when the nut is turned, the steel plate not being able to
bend, the concave plate is pushed back and bent by the screw until it is in the
proper position to support the abdomen of the person using it.
The apparatus arranged as described has the advantage of being capable of being
made to operate just as desired upon the end of the concave-plate the curvature of
the latter being adjusted until it is in the best position to raise and sustain the
abdomen or uterus.
It consists of a single piece fastening behind, and cannot deteriorate or shift,
whilst when once fixed it permits free movement without trouble or fatigue. The
different parts may be covered with leather or other material.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edmund Edwards in the Patent Office on the 5th June 1884.
EDMUND EDWARDS of the firm of Edwards and Co:-, Patent Agents and
Engineers of 40, Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex "AN IMPROVED ABDOMINAL BELT" (a communication to him from
abroad by Henri Louis Marquis of Lille in the Republic of France)
This invention relates to abdominal belts used to support and keep a continued
pressure upon the abdomen, especially for females in pregnancy or as a protection
against or remedy for prolapsus uteri.
Apparatus constructed according to the invention consists of a leather covered
belt, arranged so as to support the abdomen or uterus by the compression of a
device specially arranged for the purpose.
In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a front view, figure 2 a side view, and
figure 3 shows the belt applied.
The device consists of a hammered iron concave plate A to which are rivetted
the front ends of two springs B which constitute a belt passing round the body of
the person using it, and fastened behind by straps and buckle. A small steel
plate C, fixed to the upper part of the concave plate A by two adjustable screws
at D, has passing through its lower end a long screw of brass or other suitable
metal, rivetted into the concave plate A, and fitted with a round headed nut at E,
so that when the nut is turned, the steel plate C not being able to bend, the
concave plate A is pushed back and bent by the screw until it is in the proper
position to support the abdomen of the person using it, as shewn in dotted
lines at F.
The apparatus arranged as described has the advantage of being capable of being
made to operate just as desired upon the end of the concave plate A the curvature
of the latter being adjusted until it is in the best position to raise and sustain the
abdomen or uterus. It consists of a single piece fastening behind as shewn, and
cannot deteriorate or shift, whilst when once fixed it permits free movement
without trouble or fatigue.
The different parts may be covered with leather or other material.
Having now described the invention and the manner in which it is to be
performed, I claim :-The combination of the plate A, springs B, plate C and
adjusting screws D, with the adjustable screw and nut E, arranged and operating
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edmund Edwards have hereunto set my hand
and seal this 5th day of June 1884.
TOMIIND EDWARDS