US506886A

US506886A - Chin-rest for the dead

Info

Publication number: US506886A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1893-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 1910-10-17

Description

D A .3 ND E NE T R 0 M E .R N I H 0 (No Model.)

o. 506,886. Patented 001;. 17,1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES W. SEXTON, OF LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS.

CHIN-REST FOR THE DEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 506,886, dated October 17, 1893.

Application filed January 25, 1893. Serial No. 4 17l6- (N m l-l To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMEs W. SEXTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Leavenworth, in the county of Leavenworth and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chin-Supports for the Dead; and I do declare the following 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 theletters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a device for supporting the lower jaw and chin of a recently deceased person until the parts become rigid and will keep their natural position without the aid of artificial means.

It has for its object to simplify and cheapen the construction of such a device, and to provide a device of the character named which can be used for infants or persons of all ages and which can be readily applied and removed.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the construction and the combination of parts hereinafter particularly described and then claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof.

Figure 1 is a perspective of the chin adjuster; Fig. 2 a plan view of the same; Fig. 3 a side view of the corpse showing the chin adjuster applied; and Fig.4 a side view on an enlarged scale of a part of a corpse showlng the engagement of the lower end of the adjuster with the sternum bone and the other end with the chin.

The device consists of an elastic strip A, preferably of light spring'steel, provided at one end with a cup or concave plate B preferably formed with the two side extensions 0 and the intermediate extension D adapted to fit under the'chin as illustrated. The lower portion of the strip is preferably, although not necessarily, made with a slight upward curvature toward that end, the better to secure the device in position when in use. It

is applied by placing the cup under the chin and the lower end of the strip against the sternum bone where the two clavicles meet,

the elasticity of the strip allowing it to bend in a loop form between the chin and the sternum bone as illustrated. The length of this loop will depend somewhat on the age of the person to whom it is applied, the length of the loop being different in the case of an infant than in the case of an adult. It will thus be observed that the device is adjustable to suit the conditions required to be met in its use. When the strip is thus bent it is caused to exert a continuous elastic pressure against the chin so that the lower jaw and chin will be held to their natural position by the elastic pressure and the mouth likewise kept closed with a natural expression and without disfigurement of any part of the head or face and without distorting any of the features.

The device besides possessing the several advantages set forth has the further advantage of occupying but a very small space in the case for the undertakers implements. Furthermore, it causes the pressure to be ap plied for the best results and is self adjusting after being once applied andnot liable to become displaced.

I have illustrated and described what I consider to be the best form of the device and the best material of which to make the same but I do not confine myself to such details of form or material as both may be very greatly varied without departing from the essentials of the device.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim is- 1. A chin rest for the dead, composed of a strip of elastic material having one end adapted to bear against the sternum bone and the other end formed to fit under the chin to exert an elastic pressure from the sternum bone to the chin, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. A chin rest for the dead, composed of an elastic strip having a cup formed at one end to fit under the chin and the other end curved at an angle to the length of the strip, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES W. SEXTON.

Witnesses:

C. E. SEXTON, O. CHACEY.