AN IMPROVED HERNIA TRUSS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Heinrich Loewy, of Berlin, Germany, Manufacturer to
His Majesty the Emperor of Germany, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
HERNIA TRUSS."
Sealed the 22nd March 1878, and dated the 1st October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Heinrich Loewy at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st October 1877.
HEINRICH LOEWY, of Berlin, Germany, Manufacturer to His Majesty the
Emperor of Germany. "AN IMPROVED HERNIA Truss.”
This Invention refers to an improved construction of a truss by which the pad is
allowed easily to follow all the various movements of the rupture, or hernia, along
with the movements and changing positions of the body without ever relaxing the
pressure upon the injured spot, and without displacing itself. The said truss at the
same time will cause the least possible inconvenience to the wearer.
To enable the pad to follow the upward movement when the leg is lifted, or to
turn downward when, for instance, the body is bending forward, I make the pad
turn half way round a stem, like the human hand on its wrist. Round this stem a
spiral spring is coiled, and this spring resists the turning movement, thus exercising
a constant pressure against the pad, and thereby working the same equal and
constant pressure upon the rupture.
The said truss by these means is double acting. The spiral spring in the pad
presses by itself and does not allow the pad to displace itself from the rupture;
and furthermore, the mainspring will act as usual. But the pressure of the said
mainspring being greatly assisted by the spiral spring the former needs not be so
strong as usual, and accordingly its inconvenience or discomfort to the wearer is
greatly diminished. This improved truss therefore will be safe and sure in its
action, and much less disagreeable in wear than the trusses heretofore made.
The pad is so fixed to the mainspring that the angle between the two may be
varied according to the nature and place of the hernia; and the neck of the pad
may be stretched or shortened as found most convenient.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Heinrich Loewy in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd March
1878.
HEINRICH LOEWỶ, of Berlin, Germany, Manufacturer to His Majesty the
Emperor of Germany. "AN IMPROVED HERNIA TRUSS."
My Invention relates to an improved hernia truss, the construction of which
allows the pad easily to follow all movements of the human body without leaving
its place, thereby keeping the rupture equally and firmly closed whatever may be
the changes in the position of the body, its turns and motions. This improved
truss also offers the least incommodity possible in wearing.
The pad may be changed in its position so as to allow the truss to be used for
almost every kind of hernia.
The frame or plate of the pad turns on a stem, round which a spiral spring is
coiled. This spring in connection with the encasement offers resistance to the
turning movement of the pad, and thereby a constant pressure is exercised upon
the rupture. The pad turns half way round the stem like the human hand at its
wrist. Thus if the bearer lifts his leg the lower rim of the pad will be turned a
little outside or raised; if again the leg is stretched, or the body bent forward, the
pad follows the same movement as the rupture, always remaining closely upon the
same, and equally pressing on it. The more the pad is deflected from its normal
position, or the dead point of the spiral spring, the stronger will become the pressure
exercised by the latter. The spiral spring may easily be exchanged and the truss
thereby adjusted to every individual damage, affording either a soft or a strong
pressure.
In the Drawing,―
Fig. I. shows the truss complete without its trimming, the pad being seen from
above. a is the plate or frame of the pad; b, the metal casing concealing the stem,
with the spiral spring.
Fig. II. represents the plate c by which the stem f is united to the mainspring g.
The angle of the pad to the mainspring may be adjusted by means of the slot d
and a screw i, according to the nature and place of the rupture; also the neck
between the pad and mainspring may be stretched or shortened by a convenient
number of screw holes in the plate c and screws h.
Fig. III. shows the plate a or body of the pad without the stem and casing.
Fig. IV. shows the stem with the spiral spring coiled round the same.
Fig. V. represents the casing of the stem and spiral spring, and how this casing
is fastened to the plate a by two or more bridges k. In the bridge at the top of
casing a slot is arranged, in which the tenon m of the top plate slides. This
slot determines the turning movement of the pad on the stem.
Fig. VI. shows the top plate l with tenon m.
Fig. VII., the nut n. The plate land the nut n are placed on the end e of the
stem f, and close the casing on this side.
The spiral spring provided in the body of the pad exercises by itself an
elastic pressure upon the rupture, as described before, and thereby it so much adds
to the pressure of the mainspring g that the latter may be made very thin, and its
pressure much softer than in any other truss. The mainspring therefore will no
more be inconvenient to the bearer, which is a very great improvement.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. In a hernia truss the spiral spring coiled round the stem on which the
frame of the pad turns, as and for the purpose described.
Second. In a hernia truss the combination of a plate or frame of the pad with a
stem and spiral spring, as and for the purpose described.

page_text: Third. In a hernia truss the combination of the plate of the pad with a stem,
and spiral spring, and a casing, as and for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Heinrich Loewy, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this 9th of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-eight.