Improvements in Absorbent Pads for Absorbing Discharges in Childbed and other Discharges.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 31st May, 1894-Accepted, 14th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Absorbent Pads for Absorbing Discharges in
Childbed and other Discharges.
We, ALFRED SOUTHALL and THOMAS BARCLAY both of No. 17 Bull Street,
Birmingham in the County of Warwick, Pharmaceutical Chemists do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention consists of improvements in an invention of "Improvements in
Antiseptic and Absorbent Pads for Absorbing Discharges in Childbed and other
Discharges" for which Letters Patent were granted to William Southall, and
Alfred Southall and Thomas Barclay dated 29th May 1880; No. 2,193.
The present invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described in the
said pads whereby their absorbent power is increased and the said pads are
otherwise improved.
Instead of making the pad of one layer or thickness of absorbent wool enclosed
in a casing of absorbent gauze we make the pad in the following ways.
We enclose
We take two layers of absorbent wool the combined thickness of the said layers
being about equal to the thickness of the single pad described and represented in
the Complete Specification of the Patent herein before referred to.
the said layers of absorbent wool in a casing of absorbent gauze, the middle part
of the piece of gauze employed covering the two outer surfaces of the layers of
absorbent wool the turned in ends of the piece of gauze covering the inner surfaces
of the absorbent wool. There is thus produced a double pad the two layers of
absorbent, wool of which it is composed being secured together at one side. Or we
make a double pad by taking a layer of absorbent wool of such a size and shape
that when folded at its middle it constitutes virtually a double pad which is enclosed
in the absorbent gauze casing as described. Or we make a triple pad by either
taking three layers of absorbent wool or a layer of absorbent wool of three times
the breadth which it is intended the finished pad shall have and we cove the said
layers or layer of absorbent wool with absorbent gauze and in the latter case fold
the said covered wool so as to form three layers of absorbent wool separated from
each other by the absorbent gauze, which also covers the exterior of the triple pad.
One of the layers of absorbent wool, namely that which when the pad is worn is
in contact with the person, may be made somewhat narrower than the others with
the object bereinafter referred to.
The pads may be impregnated with antiseptic materials and perfumed as described
in the Specification of the Patent herein before referred to.
The pads are provided with bands which may either be long or terminate in loops
through which a tape around the waist of the wearer is passed and the pad thereby
suspended or the pads may have short looped ends by which they may be
supported in position by an ordinary suspender.
Pads made according to the present invention have the following advantages.
A discharge which will not penetrate through a thick layer of absorbent wool or
will penetrate it imperfectly and which will spread laterally therein very imper-
fectly will be more effectually absorbed and diffused in our improved pad. The
discharge having penetrated the thin layer of absorbent wool and reaching the
absorbent gauze spreads laterally with greater freedom in the said gauze than in
the wool.
A greater surface of the discharge is consequently presented to the second
layer of wool than would have been presented at the middle of a thick pad. The

page_text: said discharge penetrates and diffuses itself in the second layer of wool with the
same or nearly the same freedom as in the first layer. Similarly in the triple pad
the discharge having passed through the first and second layers on entering the
third layer penetrates and diffuses itself in the said layer as freely or nearly as
freely as in the first and second layers.
Where the first or inner layer is made narrower than the second or second and
third layers any portion of the discharge which escapes from the edges of the
said inner layer is received on the face of the second layer and the soiling of the
dress of the wearer is thus prevented.
Dated the 8th day of September 1893.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Absorbent Pads for Absorbing Discharges in
Childbed and other Discharges.
We, ALFRED SOUTHALL, and THOMAS BARCLAY, both of No. 17 Bull Street
Birmingham in the County of Warwick, Pharmaceutical Chemists do hereby
declare the nature of our 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 consists of improvements based upon an invention of "Improve-
ments in Antiseptic and Absorbent Pads for Absorbing Discharges in Childbed and
other Discharges" for which Letters Patent were granted to, William Southall and
Alfred Southall and Thomas Barclay dated 29th May 1880, No. 2193.
The present invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described
whereby we form a compound pad the absorbent power of which is increased and
otherwise improved as compared with pads hitherto used.
Instead of making the pad of one layer or thickness of absorbent wool backed
by wool or material having little or no absorbing property and enclosed in a casing
of absorbent gauze as described in the Specification No. 2193 of 1880 we form our
improved pad of two, three or more layers consisting mainly of absorbent wool
encased in absorbent gauze and we so arrange the layers that they are respectively
separated from each other by a layer or layers of absorbent gauze.
Compound absorbent pads made according to our present invention have the
following advantages. A discharge which will not penetrate through a thick layer
of absorbent wool or will penetrate it imperfectly, and which will spread laterally
therein very imperfectly will be more effectually absorbed and diffused by the
arrangements of absorbent wool and absorbent gauze which we adopt in our
improved pad. The discharge penetrates through the front gauze casing and thin
layer of absorbent wool and so reaches the absorbent gauze forming the back
casing of the first layer; the action of that back casing causes the discharge to
spread laterally with greater freedom as we find that the said gauze has a greater
diffusing effect upon the discharge than is effected by the absorbent wool as hitherto
employed. A greater surface of the discharge is consequently presented to the
second layer of wool than would have been presented at the middle of a thick pad.
The said discharge penetrates and diffuses itself in the second layer of wool with
the same or nearly the same freedom as in the first layer. Similarly in the case of
a pad made up of three layers of absorbent wool separated by a layer or layers of
absorbent gauze the discharge having passed through the first and second layers on
entering the third layer penetrates and diffuses itself in the said layer as freely or
nearly as freely as in the first and second layers.
3
We prefer to so form our improved pads that the first or inner layer may be
narrower in breadth than the second or second and third layers, the result being

page_text: that any portion of the discharge which escapes from the edges of the said first or
inner layer is received on the face of the second layer and discomfort and.
inconveniences are thereby obviated.
In order that our invention may be fully understood we will now describe the
way in which we carry it into effect by reference to the accompanying drawings in
which we show forms of our improved compound pads.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 represent respectively in plan, edge view and cross section, a
triple absorbent pad, that is, a pad consisting of three layers of absorbent wool,.
made according to our invention.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 represent respectively in plan, edge view and cross section a
double absorbent pad, that is, a pad in which absorbent wool is encased in absorbent
gauze and arranged so as to form in effect two layers of absorbent wool arranged.
according to our invention.
Figures 7 and 8 represent respectively in plan and cross section a modified form
of the pad Figures 4, 5 and 6.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of
the drawings.
In making the triple pad Figures 1, 2 and 3 we take a layer consisting entirely of
absorbent wool of a width a little more than double the width of the finished pad.
to be made that portion of the said layer which in the finished pad forms the outer
We cover
side of the pad having preferably a covering of non-absorbent wool.
the layer of wool with absorbent gauze and fold it first near its middle and then
fold or turn back upon itself a portion of the upper layer as will be best understood
by reference to Figure 3 where the folded layer of absorbent wool is marked a, a, a
and the gauze casing c. There is thereby formed a pad having three folds or
thicknesses the top fold or thickness being of a width about one half that of the
bottom fold or thickness and occupying the middle portion of the top of the finished
pad. The several folds a, a a are sewn at their ends d, d, f, f and have stitches.
at the points i, i, for keeping the several layers or folds in close contact.
The pad
Figures 1, 2 and 3 is represented with a long supporting or attaching band k of
linen or other fabric for attaching it to the person. When attaching bands of the
kind represented are employed, that is, bands extending along the whole outer
surface of the pad, they assist in keeping the folds or layers of the pad in close.
contact when in use.
When the pad arranged as shewn in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is to be provided with
loops at its ends for attaching tapes or cords to pass through, instead of the
attaching bands k described and represented we employ a strip of gauze for
covering the absorbent wool of a greater length than the length of the strip of
gauze used in the making of the pad Figures 1, 2 and 3 the projecting folds of gauze.
left at the ends of the pad being folded upon the outer side of the pad so as to form
the end loops as represented in the perspective view Figure 34 of a portion of the
pad.
We find this to be a very advantageous method of forming the required
loops.
The pads Figures 1, 2 and 3 may be made up of three separate layers of
absorbent wool instead of one folded layer as described and represented and all the
layers or folds may be of the same width but we prefer to make the pad as described.
and represented.
In making the double pad Figures 4, 5 and 6 we take a layer of absorbent wool a
of double the width it is intended the finished pad shall have, and a strip of
absorbent gauze c of a length somewhat greater than the length of the layer
of absorbent wool a and of a width about double the width of the layer of absorbent
wool a.
We place the layer of absorbent wool a on the strip of absorbent gauze e-
so as to occupy the middle portion thereof and we turn the ends or unoccupied
portions of the absorbent gauze over the layer of absorbent wool the edges of the
gauze meeting at the middle of the layer of absorbent wool and thereby completely
covering the said layer in a gauze case. We then fold the gauze covered layer of

page_text: absorbent wool at its middle so as to form a double pad and secure the folds in close
contact by sewing along the lines d, d, f, fand at the parts marked g, g.
Instead of making the double pad of one broad strip of gauze covered absorbent
wool folded at its middle, the said double pad may be made up of two separate
layers of absorbent wool each of a breadth equal to the breadth of the finished pad
to be made. This modified form of pad is represented in Figures 7 and 8: a and/
represent the two layers of absorbent wool. We place the two layers of wool a,
upon the middle portion of the gauze c and turn the ends or unoccupied portions of
the absorbent gauze over the layers of absorbent wool so as thereby to completely
envelope each layer in a gauze case. We fold the layer a upon the layer b so that
the surfaces of the wool covered by the ends of the gauze strip c constitute the
middle portion of the pad. The folds or layers of the pad are kept in contact in the
manner described with reference to the pad Figures 4, 5 and 6.
In the pads Figures 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 the parts of the gauze strip c projecting
beyond the ends of the double pad are formed into loops h, h for the cords or
tapes of the suspender to pass through.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that we claim as our
invention of "Improvements in Absorbent Pads for Absorbing Discharges in
Childbed and other Discharges
"
First. The manufacture of improved absorbent pads formed by arranging layers
of absorbent wool encased in absorbent gauze the respective layers being separated
by a layer or layers of absorbent gauze and arranged so as to form compound pads
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
Secondly. The improved absorbent pads made substantially as described and
respectively illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated the Twenty-eighth day of May 1894.
ALFRED, SOUTHALL.
THOMAS BARCLAY.