US655961A - Truss. - Google Patents

Description

No. 655,96I. 7 Patented Aug. l4, I900. L. A; DEU-THER. TRUSS.

(Application filed Feb. 6, 1897.)

(No Model.)

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BY w W Attorney.-

THE NoRms PETERS co, Puoruuma, WASNINGTON. a c.

35 in Fig. 6.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LORENZ A. DEUTI'IER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

TRUSS.

'srncIrIcArI'ofi forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,961, dated August 14, 1900.

Application filed February 6,1897. Serial No. 622, 78- (No model To dill whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LORENZ A. DEUTHER, 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 Trusses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved hernial truss and method of constructing the to same, and will be fully and clearly hereinafter described and claimed,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a perspective view show- 2 ing my improved truss complete. Fig. 2 represents an enlarged outside face view of the back pad attached to a fragment of the band. Fig. 3 represents a section on or about line 0 c, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detached face view of one of the holding-catches. Fig.

5 represents a front elevation of the holdingcatch shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6'represe'nts a face view of a fragment of a modified end of the spring-band. Fig. 7 represents an enlarged front end view of the front pad. Fig.

8 is an enlarged elevation of the front pad attached to a fragment of the band and showing the inner or convex side. Fig. 9 represents a detached sectional view of one of the supplementary pads supported on the.

flexible perineal band, a section through a fragment of said band also being shown. Fig. 10 is a detached side View of one of the elastic cushions. Fig. 11 representsa side elevation of the modified end of band shown Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section on or about line a a, Fig. 8. Fig. 13 represents a transversesection through the bendable portion of the band on or about linee 6',

Fig. 8, the pad being omitted.

My improved truss consists principally of a spring band or body portion which is formed from a piece of white non-corrosive metal wire of suitable size and length. I preferably employ German silver containing about five per cent. of nickel. This alloy is entirely uncorrosible by'the sweat and perspiration of the body and always preserves its color and untarnished appearance. In preparing the .said band I first anneal the wire and then flatten certain portions of it with a powerspringy character thereto sufficient for the purpose required.

Various devices have heretofore been used in trusses to provide means of adjusting and holding the front pad properly and with sufficient force above the orifice of protrusion of hernia. By means of the unflattenedportion of the band I achieve a very simple, convenient, and positive adjustment in any direction of the said front pad, a more detailed description of which will appear farther on. I Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 and 2 represent the portions of the band which have been flattened under the power-hammer, and 3 the portion circular in cross-section (see Fig. 13) untreated by said hammer.

The front pad 4 is also preferably formed of German silver and is prov ded witha surrounding inwardly-turned flange 5. The portion 2 of the band is provided with a bent end portion 2, terminating in a rivet-point 2 In securing the pad 4 to the portion 2 the said portion 2 is introduced into the pad end, the flange 5 turned over the edges thereof, and the rivet 2" passed through an opening 6 in'the pad and riveted. (See Figs. 8 and 12.) The back pad 7, preferably formed of German'silver, is secured to the opposite end of the band by passing the said'end through slots 8 in the said pad and riveting or otherwise enlarging the protruding .end of the band at the point 9. (See Fig.2.)

The perineal band 10 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1) is formed of any suitable web material and is provided at its forward end with a metal portion 11, carrying 'a T-shaped fastening device 12, substantially as shown in Figs. 4and 5, with the exception that the T-shaped device is not bent at an angle from the metal portion, as therein shown, which fits in the longitudinal slot 13 in the end of the front pad. (See Fig. '7.) The opposite end is secured to the metal band portion 1, so as to be capable of longitudinal adjustment thereon, by looping the end of said'perineal band around the said metal portion,- substantially as shown in said Fig.1. I may, if required, use any well known means for lengthening or shortening the said perineal band.

' The supporting-band is composed of any suitable web material, preferably elastic material, and is provided at each end with a holding-catch or T-shaped fastening device 15, substantially as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The said fastening devices respectively fit and lock in the longitudinal slots 16 17 in the ends of the body portions 1 and 2, as shown in Fig. 1 partly by dotted lines. It will be noticed by referring to said Fig. 1 that the portion 2 is provided with two longitudinal slots 16, thus permitting a slight adjustment of the said band, if desired. If required, the said band 14 may be made in two portions and the ends joined by a buckle or other well-known means, thus affording a means for varying the length of said band.

Additional or supplementary pads 18 19 are secured to the metal band portion 1 and the supporting web portion 14, so as to be capable of longitudinal adjustment thereon. The pad 18, secured to the band portion 1, is snugly fitted thereon by the band passing through slots cut in the turned-over edge of said pad, and while it can be adjusted by hand it is held with sufficient friction to prevent displacement from its adjusted position, or, if desired, a supporting portion rigidly secured at its ends to said pad, substantially as shown by dotted linesin Fig. 1, may be used. The web portion 14 being fitted through and bent around the corners of the holding device on the pad 19, (see Fig. 9,) the said pad is more securely held in its adjusted position by friction when the truss is firmly fitted on the person. A series of small circular holes or perforations 20 are stamped or otherwise formed at equal intervals from each other in the spring portion. (See Fig. 1.)

The elastic cushions 21 are each provided with projecting pins 22, (see Fig; 10,) the said pins being arranged at a distance from each other equal to the intervals between the perforations 20. By this means one or more of the cushions may be secured to the band when desired by springing the projecting pins into said perforations. The office of the said elastic cushions 21 is to hold the metal band away from the body and also to assist in preventing the truss from slipping or disengaging itself from its proper position. The said elastic cushions do not project far enough to interfere with the sliding movement of the supplementary adjustable pad on the springband. I may in some instances encircle the spring-band with rubber by fitting thereon a section of rubber tubing of suitable size and length.

In some instances I may dispense with the back pad 7 and in lieu thereof bend the end 22 of the metal portion 1 upon itself in a circular form, substantially as shown in Figs. 6 and 11. In that case a slot 23 is out in the circular-bent end 22, substantially as shown in Fig. 6, to receive and hold the T-shaped fastening device.

Heretofore the perineal band 10, the supporting-band 14, and also all other supportportions to the shape required, but it hardens and imparts new properties thereto, chang= ing their nature and endowing them with a spring function sufficient to allow the truss to be adjusted to the person and held firmly thereto with a spring force. The portion 3 remains in its original annealed condition,and while it can be easily bent in any direction required to properly adjust the front pad on the person and with sufiicient pressure against the ruptured portion it still preserves sulficient stiffness to keep it in any position to which it may be bent.

I adjust my improved truss on the person as follows: The metal band being placed around the body with the back pad 7 against the back, I bend the portion 3 to the position required to adjust the pad 4 properly above the orifice of protrusion of hernia. The supporting-band 14 is then secured to the respective ends of the metal band by locking the T- shaped fastening devices 15 in the slots 16 17. The end of the perineal band is brought forward under the limb and the T-shaped fastening device 12 fitted and locked in the slot 13.

If the person upon whom the truss is fitted desires to prevent contact between the metal and the bands, one or more of the elastic cush ions 21 may be sprung into the perforations 20 in the band.

In some instances it may prove advisable to use a band with its end constructed as shown in Figs. 6 and 11 and adjust the sup plemental pad 18 to the position desired.

The adjustable pads 18 and 19 are chiefly designed to be used as hip-pads; but they may be placed where desired.

It will be seen from the above description that I have constructed a truss capable of being comfortably, easily, quickly, and properly fitted to any one, no matter how peculiar their form or where the ruptured part be located, and a truss that will never give forth foul odors, no matter how long it may be worn.

The means employed to lock the bands to the truss are positive and certain, owing to the fact that they cannot be detached without turning the fastening devices at an angle, which cannot be easily performed while the clothes are on the body.

It can be readily understood that in some cases the elastic cushions may be dispensed with. In others one or both of the supple- ICC mentary pads may be removed, and still in others the perineal band may not be required.

In rare instances adjustment of the back pad may be required. In that case an unhammered portion similar to the portion 3 may be left near or adjacent to said pad.

I olaimas my invention A truss comprising a band formed of one integral portion of annealed metal in which portions are rolled to a spring-temper and other portions are bendable, and having a main flattened portion of spring character curved to conform to the body, an intermediate short portion adapted to be bent in any direction, and a short end portion extending from said short bendable portion having its extreme bent at an angle and terminating in a rivet-point, and a hernia-supporting pad having its edge bent inwardly to form a pardaily-encircling flange, one end of the pad being reduced sufficiently to embrace the end portion of the band and having an opening through which the rivet-point of the bent ex treme of the band is passed and riveted, as set forth.

LORENZ A. DEUTHERi Witnesses:

'A. J. SANGSTER, JAMES SANGSTER.

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