US718408A - Truss-pad. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JAN. 13, 1903.

W. C. WETMORE.

' TRUSS PAD.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 7, 1901.

K0 MODEL.

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"ATENT, OFFICE.

WILLIAM C. VETMORE, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

TRUSS-PAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 718,408, dated January 13, 1903.

Application filed December '7, 1901. Serial No. 85,090. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that LWILLIAM O.WETMORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Truss-Pads; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to lthe letters of reference marked thereon, which are to be considered .as forming a part of this specification. y

My invention provides for the improvement of that class of truss-pads which are inliated with air or water; and it has for its object the production of a pad which is cool and light and Which will effectively retain the se- Verest hernia with comfort.

Another object is to provide a truss-pad which will hold all forms 0f hernia, forming itself to the exact shape of the body and presenting an even rear face without projecting parts, which invariably damage the clothing of the wearer and are also entangled therewith, causing the pad to be displaced.

Other objects are to provide an inflatable pad in which the valve-stem is confined in a pocket provided therefor and which can be made to project from said pocket through the rear wall of the pad for convenience in inflating the same and to provide a protuberance or projection on the face of the pad which is designed to enter the cavity or depression on the person which has been found to exist in some cases.

The invention consists in the new and im proved arrangement and combination of-parts and in the particular construction thereof, as will he hereinafter pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a face View of the truss-pad. y Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same, the plate or cover being removed. Fig. 3 is a section taken on a plane indicated by line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4t is a section taken on a plane indicated by line 4t 4, Fig. 3.

Ain the several iigures.

The letter A designates the forming plate or frame, which is shaped into the form it is desired that the pad should be made, and arranged therein is an elongated opening a.

B designates the elastic or inflatable bulb, which may be ini-lated with water, air, or any other suitable agency. It is formed to substantially the shape of the forming plate or frame A and has a cavity or pocket b on its fiat side and a protuberance h' on its curved or convex side. At the point where the protuberance is formed from the inflatable bulb B it is provided with a contracted neck b2, in which the connecting-passage b3 is formed, which latter connects the hollow protuberance with said bulb. This passage in practice is made very small, and therefore permits the protuberance to be greatly distended without proportionately increasing the size of the neck. A valve-stem C is formed on the bulb at one end of the cavity or pocket b and normally assumes a position at an angle to the said [iat side thereof, as shown in doti ted lines, Fig. 3.

Interposed between the bulbB and the forming plate or frameis an interliningD of leather or other suitable material to prevent injury to the bulb by constant pressure and rubbing on the plate A and also to prevent the screws which enter the forming-plate from coming in contact with the said bulb. This interlining is of substantially the same form as the flat side of the bulb which it protects, and ithas an aperture E formed therein, through which the valve-stem C projects.

F designates a covering or inclosure made of non-elastic material or of material having less elasticity than the inflatable bulb confined therein, but which by preference is made of soft leather out to the desired shape and sewed or otherwise arranged to completely inclose the bulb and forming-plate A except at two' points, Where it is provided with apertures ff', respectively. The aperture j' is preferably of circularv form, through which the protuberance h' on the bulb may project, while the aperture f is elongated and of corresponding shape and size to the aperture a in-the forming-plate, with which it coincides.

IOO

A plate Gr is secured to the fiat side of the pad, serving as a cover for the cavity or pocket in which the valve-stem is confined and also as a means to which the belt-straps or springbands usually employed to hold truss-pads in place may be attached by means of screws or any other suitable arrangement.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4E, the valve-stem is held in the cavity or pocket by placing the outer end of the same underneath the forming plate or frame A, and in order to inflate the bulb it is sim ply necessary to remove the plate G and release the outer end of the valvestem, when it will assume a position at an angle to the flat side of the bulb, as shown in Fig. 3, in which position it projects through the elongated apertures in the plate A and inclosure F, permitting the bulb to be inflated with ease and allowing also of the use of a Valve Within the stem.

In such cases where the protuberance on the pad is desirable the pad is applied to the person before being inflated and the protuberance in its collapsed condition is placed in the cavity on the person. The bulbis then inflated, which causes the protuberance to distend and till the cavity on the person, thus properly holding the rupture and eliminating all pain. The contracted neck b2 permits the protuberance to fill the cavity on a person without crowding the flesh at the entrance thereof, and at the .same time permits the pad to act efficiently against the parts surrounding the cavity.

It is evident that without departing from the scope of my invention the elastic bulb may be formed without the protuberance, as it may be reduced in thickness at the point it is desired the protuberance should be located, and when being inflated that portion reduced in thickness will be forced through the aperture in the inclosure F, thus forming the protuberance.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. In a trusspad, an inflatable bulb having a protuberance projecting therefrom and communicating therewith by an intervening contracted passage, substantially as set forth.

2. A truss-pad consisting of an inflatable bulb having an inflatable protuberance, and

a covering for said bulb, said covering being non-elastic or of less elasticity than said bulb and having an aperture through which said protuberance projects, substantially as set forth.

3. A truss-pad consisting of an inflatable bulb having an inflatable communicating protuberance and a non-elastic covering having an aperture through which said protuberance projects, substantially as set forth.

4. A truss-pad consisting of an inflatable bulb having a valve-stem and a cavity or pocket in which said valve-stem is confined, a plate or frame having an aperture through which said valve-stem may projectwhen inflating the bulb, said plate or frame serving to hold the stern in the said cavity, and a second plate serving as a cover to close the said aperture, substantially as set forth.

5. A truss-pad consisting of an inflatable bulb having a valve-stem and a cavity or pocket in which said valve-stem is confined, a plate or frame having an elongated aperture arranged in line with the valve-stem and underneath which the outer end of' said valvestem is held, an inclosu re surrounding the inflatable bulb and the said plate, and having an aperture coinciding with the aperture in the latter, and a plate serving as a cover and also as means to secure belt-straps thereto, substantially as set forth.

6. A truss-pad consisting of an inflatable bulb having a valve-stem and a cavity or pocket in which said valve-stem is confined, a plate or frame having an elongated aperture which is arranged in line with the valvestem and underneath which the outer end of Vitnesses:

CHAS. A. BURKHART, EMIL NEUHART.

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