Improvements in Body Belts, Abdominal Binders, Corsets and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Body Belts, Abdominal Binders, Corsets and
the like.
1, WILHELM JULIUS TEUFEL, of 51, Neckarstrasse, Stuttgart, in the Empire of
Germany, Manufacturer of Surgical and Hygienic Appliances, 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:-
These improvements in body belts, abdominal binders, corsets and the like,
have for their object to afford a better and more certain fitting of the said
appliances at the front as well as the back of the body and a suitable firm support
to the abdomen and spine.
The improvements consist essentially in a fastening and supporting-belt
with a cushion like pad arranged on its lower edge, being provided for supporting
the body at the under part of the body belt, abdominal binder corset or the like,
which pad presses upon the abdomen without causing an annoying pressure
thereon, thus affording a strong support for the latter and at the same time sits
extremely firmly thereon.
In order to further increase this supporting action and to facilitate the wearing
of such a body belt corset or the like a peculiar back support is provided at the
back, which is adjustably connected with the body belt or the like, and the sup-
ports of which always remain at an equal distance apart whether the body belt
or the like is lengthened or shortened.
As is well known the ordinary body belts corsets and the like provided with a
back fastening have the great drawback that when they are to be lengthened
(loosened) the ends at the back, provided with the stiffening, and the supporting
bars of the back supports are moved further apart corresponding with the actual
lengthening. This drawback is particularly felt for instance in case of pregnancy
where the body belt, corset or the like must of course be constantly let out, or
elongated. Instead therefore of the support, which the back supports by pressing
on the back should yield, increasing with the increasing pregnancy or at least
remaining the same, this support constantly decreases with the increasing size
of the body, because the more the body belt, corset, or the like has to be let out
the further apart from one another and consequently from the centre of the
back, which latter forms the actual point of support, these supports must come.
This improved back support with back fastening is however so arranged in the
present body belt, corset, or the like, that it affords the necessary support to the
patient under all circumstances with any size of body and which support always
remains the same. This is attained by two or more stiffening bars, fixed or
adjustable as regards each other, being inserted in the back part of the body belt,
corset or the like and connected adjustably therewith, preferably by means of a
double acting face fastening, which allows of an even narrowing or widening
of the body belt without the stiffening bars altering their position as regards
each other or the body, or diminishing their supporting action.
In the accompanying drawings, this improved arrangement is shown in
Eigure 1 in elevation, attached as an example to a body belt. Figures 2 and 3
and 5 two
are two forms of construction of the supporting band and Figures
cross sections of same. Figure 6 is a vertical elevation of the back support.

page_text: The support band may be made in any suitable way and be elastic, partially
elastic or entirely non-elastic, and its form may be any suitable one.
For instance, Figure 3, of the drawings shows a belt or band A' running all
round, of equal breadth, Figure 2 a band in two parts of unequal width, the said
parts being connected in the middle by studs and eyes b, or other suitable
fastening devices. For fastening the ends of the band to the body belt or the
like, in the drawings, tabs a provided with button holes are shown, which are
buttoned or engaged on suitable buttons or hooks on the body belt or the like.
The attachment of the band to the body belt or the like may however be made
in other suitable way and at any other suitable place.
The pad like cushions a and a¹ of the band may also be made in any suitable
form and pattern. Preferably they are made broad and thick in the middle and
tapering towards both ends with a more or less round or elliptical shape (sec
Figures 4 and 5).
The pad may also be made with or without filling or stuffing, for which latter
horsehair, wool, wadding or the like, and also indiarubber tube, spiral springs
or any other suitable material may be utilized as insertion or strengthening.
The back support consists of two strong stiffening bars 1 which are rigidly
or if desired adjustably or removably connected with one another by means of
bars d. The bars D may also be held together movably or elastically by means
of bands, straps or the like instead of by said bars . The back support is con-
nected with each end of the body belt or the like by means of a lace fastening E,
which is preferably formed as a common double lace fastening. Of course any
other suitable connection such as by means of bands, straps or the like may be
employed. The back support may be made of more than two stiffening bars, if
necessary.
The
By the pad like strengthening or thickening herein before described of the belt
or band, the latter is considerably more effective, its more or less soft and if desired
expansible pad or cushion fits into the crease of the abdomen of the patient and
produces a firm fitting of the belt, thus preventing any slipping up or down.
wearing of a body belt, corset or the like fitted with such a band and the back
support will be found very agreeable and affords a very beneficial and powerful
support to the abdomen.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:.
1. A body belt, abdominal binder, corset and the like in which a fastening and
support band is rigidly or removably attached to the belt, corset, binder and the
like, and may be in one or more parts, and provided with a pad or cushion, which
latter presses into the abdomen and affords the latter a firm and comfortable
support and which prevents the band, corset or the like from being displaced
upwards or downwards, substantially as herein before described and shown.
2. In body belts, abdominal binders, corsets and the like, a back support con-
sisting of two or more suitably connected stiffening bars inserted in the back of
said body belt, binder or the like, said bars being preferably connected with the
belt corset or the like by means of a double lace fastening with the object of
always affording a constant and firm support to the spine even with an increase
of bodily circumference, substantially as herein before described and shown in the
accompanying drawings.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.