Improvements in Catamenial Sacks or Bandages to be Used by Women.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd June, 1888
Specification Accepted, 14th Sept., 1888
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Catamenial Sacks or Bandages to be Used by
Women.
We, OSCAR STENGERT Merchant, of 131 Möckenstrasse and OTTOMAR WAGLER,
Engineer, of 46B Königgrätzerstrasse, both of Berlin, in the Empire of Germany, and
WILLIAM S. WATSON, Doctor of Medicine, of Matteawan, New York, in the United.
States of America, 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 :-
Our invention relates to appliances or bandages to be worn by women during
menstruation, or after confinement, or when suffering from diseases of the womb
accompanied by a wasting discharge.
The object of the invention is to so construct such appliances or bandages that they
shall be comfortable to wear, effectually prevent the person and clothing from becoming
soiled, and be simple, durable and inexpensive.
In order to enable our invention to be fully understood we will describe how
it can be carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawing, in
which
Figure 1 is a plan of one form of catamenial sack or bandage made according to
our invention.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line A B of figure 1.
Figure 3 is a cross-section of the same, taken on the line CD of figure 2.
Figure 4 is a cross section taken on the line E, F of figure 2.
Figure 5 is a plan of another form of our catamenial sack or bandage fitted with an
urine discharge tube.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line G, H of figure 5.
Figure 7 is a cross-section taken on the line 1, K of figure 6, and
Figure 8 is a cross section taken on the line L, M of figure 7.
Similar letters in all the figures indicate similar parts.
The sack or bandage is made of waterproof material, preferably of pure soft india-
rubber, and, as far as possible, seamless in order that it can be readily and thoroughly

page_text: cleaned. The top rim a is rolled round or formed to enclose a suitable elastic material,
such as a soft spiral spring, as shown at b, or an elastic cord, or the like. The said
hollow rim a can besides, be filled with air, or a suitable fluid, or other soft and
yielding material to prevent chafing or irritation. The elastic rim forms an essential
feature of this invention, it serves to keep the two sides apart, thus accommodating
itself to any and all positions which the wearer may or can assume, it also prevents
any over-flow from the sack.
It has been found that sponges or other absorbent material, as hitherto used, will
not keep the pouch open, but allow the discharge to run over the sides. Our
improved sack can be worn without any absorbent material and is always ready for
use; absorbent material can however be used if required. Absorbent cotton is
particularly suitable for this purpose...
Another essential feature of this invention consists in the extension piece c formed
at the rear part of the sack or bandage; this extension piece, which we call the trough,
serves to receive the discharge, it securely retains the contents and effectually
prevents any over-flow when the wearer is in a recumbent position. The trough c
communicates with the upper spoon-shaped part of the sack by a narrow passage d
which conducts the discharges into the trough but prevents their flowing back.
The sack is provided with suitable bands or straps, secured to the rim a or to any
other suitable part and fastened to a belt. These parts, being known, form no part
of our invention and are therefore not shown in the drawing.
The catamenial sack or bandage may be made of various sizes for periodical use and
for women after confinement; in the latter case the larger sizes are preferable and
they will also serve to exclude the cold.
In the modification shown in figures 5, 6, 7, and 8, the sack or bandage made as
before described, is provided with a discharge tube e, secured within the pouch in an
inclined position and leading out towards the front. The upper rim of the tube e has
a hollow self-adjusting rim. The said tube serves for the discharge of urine, without
lifting or removing the sack. By this means the monthly flow can be separately
conducted into the trough c and the urine discharged through the tube e without
.entering the main pouch or trough. The tube e can, if desired, be provided with a
discharge valve, to exclude the cold.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we'
claim is
1. In a catamenial sack or bandage an elastic, yielding, self-adjusting upper rim,
strengthened by an elastic spring so as to keep the sack open and self-adjusting,
substantially as set forth.
2. In a catamenial sack or bandage an auxiliary extended trough at the rear end to
retain the discharges and prevent overflow, whatever position the wearer may assume,
substantially as set forth.
3. In a catamenial sack or bandage, the arrangement of separate urine-discharge
tube with an adjusting rim, and leading to the front part of the sack, substantially as
set forth.
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