US937724A - Abdominal supporter. - Google Patents

Description

' E. E'. SMALL. k

ABDOMINAL SUPPORTBR.

PPLIGATION H LBD snr'r. 21, 190s.

Snowdon ZZ/M/JZJm/Z,

mouw. n auml m Pmumonmniin: Mmm. n.

lprovement, there is detachably combined UNITED saires rA'rnNfr cerros.4

EDWARD FEATHERSTON SLIALL, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIS E. RAGAN, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

ABDOIVIINAL SUPPORTER.

Application filed September 21, 1908. Serial No. 453,911.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD FEATHERSTON SMALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Abdominal Supporter, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to abdominal supporters.

The object of the invention is to provide an article of this character that shall be ycomfortable in use, and that shall combine, in a novel, practical and thoroughly efhcient manner, the features of an abdominal suporter and an external uterine, umbilical and femoral hernia and laceration sustainer, and that shall be a positive preventive against and cure for prolapsus, anteversion and retroversion of the uterus.

Vith the above and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better' understood, the same consists, generally stated in an abdominal supporter consisting of a shield, approximately triangular in perimetrical contour, and suitably braced and stiifened by appropriately disposed fleXible longitudinal stays. At the two upper corners of the shield are attached the two members of a body belt, and with each belt member is slidably connected the Aupper end of an elastic perineal strap, the lower end of each of which is provided with one member of a fastener, the other member of each of which is secured to the shield adjacent to its lower end. These straps are crossed and detachably secured together at such point adjacent to their lower ends, that when positioned upon the wearer, the intersecting parts will rest between the rectum and the vulva. Secured to the intersecting portion of the straps is a pad, of any suitable material, and which is shaped to conform to the vulva, thus to exert an inward pressure as well as an upward lift against the vagina, and cause its back wall to bear against its front wall. As the latter wall under these conditions will rest against the pubic bone, the vagina is held closed and thus forces the uterus back and retains it in its normal position, as it will repose upon the walls of the canal in natural posture.

As a matter of further and specific imwith the lower end of the shield an apron that is designed to cover the vulva and be l held in position thereagainst by the pad. This apron will preferably be constructed of soft leather, to avoid friction and discomfort when worn, and may readily be detached from the shield for purposes of cleansing.

The perineal straps are, as stated, slidably connected with the body-strap and are also longitudinally adjustable independently of each other, thus to insure the proper adjustment of the pad. The shield is provided with means for connection with ordinary hose supporters, thus to increase its utility.

The invention consists further in the various novel details of construction and combination of parts of an abdominal supporter, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts Figure l is a view of the upper portion of a woman, displaying the supporter as it appears when positioned in use. Fig. 9. is a perspective view of the supporter detached. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view of a portion of the shield, with the vulva apron connected therewith. Fig. A is a detail view, displaying the position occupied by the pad on the perineal straps.

The shield l is a multiple structure of approximately triangular form, and between the plies of the fabric of which are secured longitudinally disposed stays or reinforces 2 of any suitable resilient material. The stays, as shown in Fig. l, converge toward the apex of the shield in order to dispose the least yielding portion at the point desired, namely at the vulva. The upper corners 3 of the shield have secured to them the two members 4 of the body-belt, the latter being preferably non-elastic. One of the members carries a buckle 5 provided with a tongue 6 to engage an eye or ring 7 carried by the other member to hold the belt secured around the body of the wearer. Mounted upon each of the members A is a slide 8 each of which carries a buckle 9, and each of these buckles is engaged by the upper end of an elastic perineal strap 10 the lower end of each of which has secured to it the eye member ll of a clasp or fastening device, the hook or supporters 17 accidental disconnection when the supporter is positioned. The two straps 10 are crossed and are detachably secured together near their lower ends by an ordinary glove-fastener 13. The point of connection of the two straps will be so calculated as to bring it between the rectum and the vulva, and thus avoid any inconvenience in use. The straps have detachably secured to them, at their point of intersection, a pad 14 which will be shaped to correspond to the walls of the vulva. This pad may be constructed of any material suited to the purpose, and when used will bear against a vulva apron 15, preferably of soft leat-her, that is detachably connected with the shield by glove-fasteners 16, in order to permit of its ready removal for purposes of cleansing.

As a matter of further improvement and to increase the utility of the article, hose may be detachably connected therewith. j

As will be apparent, whenthe article is worn merely as an abdominal supporter, the vulva apron and pad may be detached.

In positioning the supporter, the buckle of the body-belt is first adjusted to render the belt at once comfortable and also suficiently tight to prevent slipping. The slide buckles should then be adjusted on the belt to rest back of the hips in order to insure comfort. rllhe perineal straps are then passed under the thighs, and the eye of the right perineal strap is hooked o'n kthe left handV stud and the eye of the left perineal strap on the right hand stud. When the pad and vulva apron are used, care must be observed to position these parts relatively to the vulva before securing the perineal straps. To secure the desired uplift and pressure,

the thumb is placed on one of the slides 8,

and the upper end of the strap is drawn' down to open the buckle 9, and the strap is the-n drawn upward until the required tension isfsecured, and the buckle clasp is then secured. The same procedure is observed with the other perineal strap.

For treating inguinal, femoral or umbil# ical hernias, one of the pads is placed un'- der the shield and immediately over the rupture. In practice, the shield will be large enough to cover the entire bowels in connection with the vulva apron,.and the latter will prevent the perineal straps from working into the mouth of the vulva, thus renhaving their upper ends slidably connected Y with theY belt, and having at their opposite ends means for attachment with the shield, a pad detachably connected with the straps at their points of intersection, and a vulvar apron detachably connected with the shield at a point between the end thereof and the 'points of attachment of the straps therewithVV and disposed over the straps and extending from the shield toward the pad. In testimony that I claim the'foregoing as my own, I have heretoaflixed my. signature Y inthe presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD FEATHERSTON SMALL. llitnesses: Y

MARCELLUS M. ANDERSON, IVM. ROBINSON.

Images