Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application 5th Nov., 1886.
Specification Accepted, 5th Jan., 1887.
I, GEORGE WASHINGTON BELL of 122 North Second Street, St. Joseph, Buchanan
County, State of Missouri, U.S.A., Gentleman, 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 improvements in trusses, and the novelty consists of the
peculiar construction and combination of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully set
forth and specifically pointed out in the claims.
The object of my invention is to provide the pads with independent pressure springs
and to provide means which shall be simple, strong, and durable in construction,
thoroughly effective in operation, and cheap of manufacture.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved truss.
Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through one of the back pads on the line x-x of
Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the front pads, and
Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of the same.
Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in all the figures,
A designates the band of the truss, which is formed of a flexible metallic strip of
uniform width throughout, and properly curved as shown.
B, B¹ represent the back pads, arranged near the extremities of the band. Each
pad comprises a disc or plate of any size and form, and having headed pins or
studs, a spring 62 having slotted ends 63, which fit and work over the headed studs of
the disc-pad, and a clasp or loop c, which fits over the flat spring and the band and
carries a clamping screw c¹, that bears against the band. By loosening the clamping
screw and sliding the clasp loop on the band A, the pad can be adjusted to any desired
position thereon, and held in place by the screw, or it can be entirely removed, as may
be desired. The slotted ends of the spring slide on the headed pins when too great
pressure is forced on the pad disc and the spring, and thus relieve the person from
over pressure.
DD designate the front pads, arranged on the band near the middle and adjustable
thereon. Each of these pads has a chamber d, in which is arranged a headed pin e,

page_text: normally pressed outward by a spring el, said pad being of any preferred size and
shape, and having a covering of soft material, such as chamois-skin etc. The outer
end of the pin e passes through a slot or opening fin a clasp F that is arranged on
the band A, and the extreme outer end of said pin has a disc or head that fits
between the walls of the clasp F and the band A. The pin e fits closely in the
opening in the clasp, which is provided with a clamping screw f1 that holds the clasp
and its attached pad at any desired position on the band, as is obvious. The pad and
its double-headed pin are readily removable from the clasp and the clasp with its pad
and pin, is easily detached from the band when it is desired to reduce the number
thereof. The spring in the chamber forces the pad with the proper degree of pressure
against the person, while it permits the pad to yield to the movements of the wearer
on the headed pin, the latter passing through an enlarged opening g, in one of the
walls of the pad chamber.
The device is simple, strong and durable in construction, thoroughly effective in its
operation, readily adjustable at different points, and removable from the band, and is
cheap.
An elastic band his arranged on the inner edges of the sheath, to hold the same to
the pad D, and a packing h¹ is filled between the sheath and partition * in which the
chamber d is formed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :
1) In a truss, the combination of a band, a pad B, having headed pins, a slotted
spring working over the pins, and a clasp to which the spring is connected, and having
a set-screw to adjust the pad on the band, substantially as described.
2) In a truss the combination with a band, of a pad D, having a chambered
partition, a flexible sheath enclosing the partition, and a yielding packing interposed
between the sheath and partition, substantially as described.
3) In a truss, the combination, with a band, of a pad comprising a plate, a
chambered partition 2 a sheath enclosing the plate and partition, a yielding packing,
and a rod having its head seated in the chamber of the partition, and secured at its
other end to the band, substantially as described.
GEORGE WASHINGTON BELL.
Per Herbert & Co.,
67, Strand, W.C.,
Agents to Applicant.