US1972080A - Truss - Google Patents

Description

H. A. FRENCH l sept. 4, 193,4.

TRUSS Filed Sept. 25,- 1933 INVENTOR, /Ymzy 1km/,

ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 4, 1934 ulrsosrA'rss y y *1,972,080vl rATENToFi-ICVE.

Y 'moss Y Henry A.`French, Charlestown, N. H. Application septemberes, 19373, serial 310,596,828

6 claims.k (C1. 12s-103) My invention relates to improvements in trusses.

An object of my inventionis to provide a truss of light weight, resilient material, having means 5 thereon for adjustably locating the pressure pads and also vmeans thereon for adjustably controlling the 'pressure exerted bythe pressure pads.

Other objects and advantages yof my invention will belmore completely describedvand disclosed' in the following specication, the accompanying drawing, and the appended claims.

Broadly, my invention comprises a truss frame consisting of two,`or more, thin, resilient, metal bands, pivotally connected, pad-supporting mem- V bers pivotally secured to the free endsv of the truss frame, ahinge incorporated in one, or both, of said pad-supporting members, pressure pads secured on the pad-supporting members, an elastic band member, slidably secured on the inner surface of the resilient truss frame, the band member being xedly secured to oneof the padsupporting members and adjustably secured to the other cf the pad-supporting members, and means for securing the free end of the elastic band member, in adjusted position.

A preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in whichz- Fig. l is a perspective view of a truss embodyv ing the principles of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an exterior, elevational view of one end of the truss, illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an interior, elevational view of the pivotal joint in the truss frame, at the side of the truss.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the opposite end of the truss, illustrating the hinged connection of the pad support.

Fig. 5 is an exterior, elevational view of the end of the truss, shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail, sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2, illustrating the supporting means for the elastic tension band, and

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic plan view, illustrating 4 5; the truss in position on the body of a wearer.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout:-

The truss frame members 1 and 2 have their ends 3 and 4 pivotally connected by means of the .5.0L pin, or stud, 5. The end portion 3 or the` member 1 is formed with a plurality of openings 6, which, in co-operation with the pin, or stud 5, provide for longitudinal adjustment ofthe members 1 and 2. The opposite end 'l of the member 1 has 5i pivotally secured thereto, at 8, the link member 9. A pad-supporting member 10 is hingedly secured to the link member 9 by the hinge 11. The

free end 12 of the truss frame member 2 haspivotaly'secured thereto, at 13, the pad-supporting member 14. Pressure pads 15 and 16, of any suitable resilient material, are secured to the members l0 .and 14, respectively, in any suitable manner, such as rivets 17. i A leg strap 18, of elastic webbing,` or similarmaterial, is secured to the members l and 2, as indicated in Figfl.

An elastic band member` 19, xedly 'secured at one end 2O tothe pad-supportingmember 10, is slidably secured on theinner surface of the members l and2 by clips 21. `The free end 22, (see Fig. 2), of the bandmember 19 is passed through the-opening 23,1' formed in the supporting mem`` ber 14, and held in place, after the desired tension is exerted on pads *'15 and 16, by meansof the pin 24 secured on the outside of the support- `ing member 14.

In operation, the truss frame is rst longitudinally adjusted' to iit the body and the points to be protected, by positioning the pin, or stud 5, in the proper opening 6. Further adjustment is secured by turning, or moving, the members 1 and 2, relative to each other, as indicated in Fig. 3, and by moving the membersl 9 and14, relative to the members 1 and 2, respectively, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 5. When the desired adjustment has been secured, the pads 15 and 16 are pulled inwardly by pulling on the free end 22 of the elastic band member 19, until the desired pressure is obtained. The band 19 is then secured in position to maintain this pressure, by means of the pin 24.

In order to provide a smooth, flush, unbroken surface, next the body of a. wearer, the members 1 and 2 are formed with recesses 25, as indicated in Fig. 6, where the clips 21 are secured onthe members 1 and 2, so that the inner surlface 26 of the clips 21 and the inner surface 27 of the band 19 are flush. It is to be understood that the truss, when in use, engages, or contacts, at only two points, namely, on'the spine and at a point where pressure is to be applied, as shown in Fig. 7, at the two points only at 28 and 29, with a Space 30 between the body and the truss.

1. A truss construction comprising, in combination, a plurality of spring band members forming in combination a U-shaped spring frame, said band members being pivotally connected for movement relative to each other, pad-supporting members pivotally secured to the free ends of of said free ends for movement relative `to the.,

said frame, a pressure pad secured on said pad-` supporting member, and a tensional band mem; ber slidably secured on the inner surface of said frame and operatively connected to said' pressure pads for forcing said pressure pads inward-1, ly of said resilient frame and towards each other,

substantially, as described.

3 A truss construction comprising, in oomrbination, a LJ-shapedl member of resilient material, a plate pivotally secured to each end. of said member, a cushion pad on each plate, an elastic: member slidably supported on the inner surface`- ofl the Urshaped; member and connect. ed to the plates for drawing"thecushion pads inwardly, and means for Varying'the tension of the elastic member.

4, A trussE construction comprising, in combination, a U-shaped member` of resilient material, a hinge plate pivotally secured to each end oirsaid. member, a cushion pad on each hinge plate, an elastic member slidably supported on theinner surface of the vU -shaped member and connected to the said hinge plates for drawing the cushion pads inwardly, means for Varying the tension of the elastic member, said means comprising an opening in one of the hinge plates, a sharp pin adjacent the opening through which an end of the elastic member passes, the opposite end of the elastic member being attached to the other pad-supporting hinge plate, whereby the pressures exerted by the pads on the wearer may be varied.

5. In a truss construction, a resilient frame member having free end portions, front and rear padsupporting members pivotally connected to the said free end portions of the resilient frame member, pressure pads on the end of said padsupporting members, an elastic band member slidably secured on the inner surface of the resilient frame member and having one end thereof fixedly secured to the front of the pivotally connected pad-supporting members and the opposite en'd thereof being adjustably secured to the other one of said pad-supporting members.

6:. In a truss construction, a resilent spring frame member having free ends comprising a. plurality of Abands of resilient metal pivotally connected, front and rear pressure` pads pivotally secured on the free ends of said frame, an elastic tension band located on the inner surface of the said spring frame and xedly secured toroneof'v the pressure pads of said frame and adjustably secured; tov thev other pressure pad of said-y fgrame, means for holding said tension band in adjustedV position, and means for slidably supportingV said tensionrband on the inner surface 0f said springframe. Y,

HENRY FRENCH.

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