US2425397A - Belt for garters and sanitary pads - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 12, 1947. L. ROSEMAN I BELT FOR GARTERS AND SANITARY PADS Fileci Aug. 18, 1945 2 Shegts-Sheet 1 Aug. 12, 1947.

L. ROSEMAN BELT FOR GARTERS AND SANITARY PADS 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 18, 1943 Aw. E am Patented Aug. 12, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates in particular to a hose supporting belt and a support for surgical bandages or sanitary pads, constructed so as to permit natural body movements without undue or uneven strains on the belt or support, the hose or'the bandage and without shifting of the latter.

A hose or stocking supporter in general similar to that mentioned above, is described and claimed in my United States Patent No. 2,377,651, dated June 5, 1945. That hose supporter comprises a flexible, non-elasticconnector such as a tape that has its ends connected to the front and rear portions of the stocking and has its intermediate portion slidable in a guide on a belt, so that, for example, as the rear end of the tape is pulled downwardly by sitting or bending the body of the wearer, the front end will be pulled upwardly, wher by the downward pull at the rear is compensated by relaxation of the tension atthe front and the strains at the front and rear engaged portions of the stockings are equalized.

Prime objects of my invention are to provide a novel and improved support for a surgicalbandage, for example a sanitary pad, which shall comprise a waist-encircling belt and a suspension strap that shall have its ends adapted for connection to the front and rear ends of the bandage or pad and its intermediate portions slidable in a guide on said belt so that said strap may slide girthwise of the body to accommodate body movements of the wearer and to prevent shifting of the bandage or pad; and to provide a novel and improved combination of a stocking supporter and a surgical bandage supporter of th character hereinbefore described such that one and the same belt can serve for both the stocking supporter and the support for the surgical bandage and the combination shall be simple, inexpensive and reliable.

In structures of this character, the tapes must r peatedly slide back and forth in the guides on the belt and the en portions of the tapes bend or turn'at approximately right angles-to the intermediate portions and to thebelt at the zones where the tapes enter and leave the guides on the belt, as a consequence of which excessive strain on and frictional wear of the'tapes and itheguides at said zones may occur unless some means is provided to alleviate said strain and the frictional contact of the tapes with the guides. Moreover, the excessive friction impedes or hinders sliding of the tapes in such a way that the support does not properly accommodate movement of the body.

Therefore further objects of myinvention are to provide a novel and improved guide element for said tapes, to reduce the strains upon said tapes and the friction incident to contact of the tapes with the guides; to providea curved tubular, flexible guide element attached to the belt and through which the tape may be threaded, such that there shall be a minimum of frictional resistance to slidin of said tape and the guide may accommodate itself to different angular relations between the end portionsof the tape and the belt to reduce the strains imposed on the tape and to.

ensure a minimum of impedanceto sliding of said tape relatively to the belt, and to utilize for such a guide member a bias woven vfabric tube having its end portion turned inwardly to provide a double thickness in Walls of the tube and to-pree vent fraying of the fabricat the end of the ,tube.

Other objects are to provide novel and improved means to facilitate attachment of said tape-and guide members toan-d removal thereof from the belt and adjustment of the guideele: ments girthwise on .the belt, so thatthe bandage supportcan be laid aside when not needed and the guide members can be ,adjustedto properly locate-theends of the tapes girthwise ofthe body for --attachment-to the stocki gs O: flnita y.l .fl 1 and also to permit easy launderin of thebeltahd tapes; I andto obtain other advantagesand results that will be brought outb the following description in conjunction with the accompanying, drawings in which Figure l is a perspective view. oiasanitary belt embodying m invention.

Figure 2 is an enlargedtransverse verticahsec: tional view on the line-2 2 of Figurel.

Figure 3 is afurther enlarged fragmentary per: speetive view of .a portion .of thebelt and one of the. guide :members showing ,the llide memberin longitudinal-section.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional View on thelinell-ipf Figure ,3.

Figure 5 is a vi w si ila .tQF sur h w a modification of the invention.

Figure 6 is .a perspective view of another modification of the invention.

Fi u e 7 is .a fra ment ry s tion pe spe tive view. of a mod fiqation of the guide members. Figure ,8 is ,an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view on the lined-,8 of Figure 7.

.Figurei) is a view similar to Figure 7 showing a further modificationpftheinvention. I

-..Fig.ure i0, is a side elevational view of a modifled c mb a io of the quali ng ta e an a uide. member.

Figurell is a view similar to Figure 10, illustra ing portions inside elevationand showing a modification of the structure depicted in Figure 10, and

Figure 12 is a horizontal sectional view on the line |2-l2 of Figure 11.

Specifically describing the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive the reference character A designates a support to encircle the body above the hips, in which is mounted a suspending strap or equalizing tape B to be connected at its extremities to opposite ends of a surgical bandage, for example, a sanitary pad C, so that the equalizing tape and the support may freely move relatively to each other to compensate for various positions of the body such as those occurring during walking, sitting and bending.

The'support A preferably constitutes a waistencircling belt and comprises a length of textile fabric l which has its longitudinal edge portions turned inwardly at 2. The belt has guide means for. the equalizing tape B which is shown as com prising a plurality of guide elements in the form of cross strips 3 of fabric which are secured to the main strip'l in spaced relation circumferentially or lengthwise of the strip in a row. The cross strips 3 are secured at spaced points in their lengths to the main strip l as by lines of stitches 4 and the portions of the cross strips between the stitches 4 are free and spaced from the main strip as clearly shown in Figure 2. The cross strips thusserve as guide elements forthe equalizing me B. a

Theequalizing tape B may be of any suitable construction but preferably comprises a length of suitable woven fabric tape or a tubular woven fabric lace, which is threaded between certain of the cross strips 3 and the main strip l with each end of the tape projecting from the belt. Preferably the ends of the cross strips 3 are located between the main portion and the inturned edge portions of the strip I so that said inturned end portions provide a channel between them in which the tape B is nested and slidable, said channel and the cross strips 3 thus forming a guidewayj With this construction the belt is smooth and devoid of projections or protuberancesi If desired a reenforcing or backing strip 5, whichmay be of cushioning 'material, may be secured to the strip I.

The end portions of the tape are so related to the belt that when the belt is applied to the body, one of said end portions will be located at the front of the body while the other end portion will be located at' the rear of the body, the intermediate portion of the tape B between said end portions being slidable along half of the circumference of the belt. It is necessary that the end portions of the tape be bent or turned downward- 1y out of the plane of the belt for connection to the sanitary pad C or the like, and it is desirable that some means be provided to reduce the strains on and frictional wear of the tapes at certain zones of bending or turning where the tapes enter or leave the guide means.

For this purpose I provide a tubular flexible guide member 6 at each end of the guideway through which the corresponding end portion of the tape B is threaded. Preferably each guide member 6 comprises a length of bias woven seamless, collapsible and expansible fabric tube one end of which is attached to the belt and'is directed circumferentially thereof in line with the guide channel, while the other portions are curved downwardly out of the plane of the belt.

It is desirable that the guide member be at- 4 tached to the belt at the upper side of the guide member, as by squeezing or flattening portionsof the walls of the tube as indicated atB in Fige ure 4 and passing stitches 1 through said Wall sand the belt. Preferably a line of superposed or tying stitches is utilized to ensure a secure at'-' tachment of the guide to the belt. This leaves the lower side of the tubular guide member yieldable and flexible as shown in Figures 3 and 4 so as to reduce to the minimum the friction incidentto the contact of the tape with the guide'member' and to ensure a minimum of impedance to slid ing of the tape through the guide member at the bend of the tape. It is also desirable that the end portions of the fabric tube be turned inwardly as indicated at 3 in Figure 3, this providing a double thickness in'the walls of the tube and also preventing fraying or unraveling of the fabric at the end of the tube.

As shown, suitable devices D are provided for attaching the ends of the equalizing tape B to the sanitary pad C. These devices may. be-fabric tabs to be pinned to the pad as shown in Figure 1, or may constitute metal or plastic grippers as shown in Figure 5. If desired, the end of the tape I B may be directly connected to the device D, or

justed as desired. Generally such an-adjustment at only one end of the equalizing tape is neces sary, although both ends may be made adjustable if desired.

Any suitable means may be provided for at-- taching the belt to and removing it from the body and for 'adjustingthe belt to fit the body; for example the ends of the belt' may be separably overlapped as indicated at F and separably conneoted by head and socket fasteners or hooks and eyes,'or a buckle may be used for separably connecting the ends of the belt.

When the belt is applied to the body, the device D at the front of the tape 13 is connected to the front end of the pad C, while the device D at the rear end of the tape is attached to the rear end of the pad. The length of the tape initially will be adjusted, as by the clamp E, to snugly hold the pad in proper position when the'body is erect.

As the body moves from one position to another the equalizing tape Bjwill slide relatively tov the belt A through the guideway provided by the strip 1, the cross strips 3 and the guide members 6 so as to equalize the strains and pulls on the ends of the pad and to permit movements .of the body without shifting of the pad. The guide members 6 and tape B as described'have been found to be long-lived, permitting repeated reciprocation of the tape under tension through the guide member many thousands of times without appreciable evidence of wear, and the life of the equalizer tape is many hundreds of times greater when sliding in said guide members than when sliding directly in contact with across strip 3. Furthermore, the tape freely slides through the curved guide member so that there is a minimum of tendency to binding of the tape at the point where the tape enters and leaves the 'in'fri'ctional Contact ea ends,suitable' devices life H "necting the tape tot-he -front an rear 'po "of thecorre'spondingstocking. A

member l 5 attached tdthe' -belt the breath tapeG, 'sa idguide memb rs-being of thesam construction aridsecuredfin thesame However, the guidemembers {re the guide members 6 f 'that"the the bodyandprevent skin by "the "end "portion structure and function "in g Figures although the'ends tfrtn tar-drapes diife'r'ent guide members 6 'i'l Viith this constructiontne mbverrient ""of the garter equalizing tape has tenq ncy" to "fa- 'cilitate sliding of the mean. iIt'wilfb'emo'td that'the' forces ap'plid'to 'tli tape'fGare reatr tha'n'those applied lid-the tabe B' ll lfiblfbdd rnents soany tendency of the" tape :3 to remain stationar dlii i llg a bbdyffiovnlht w ill be overcome by the frictional contactw'ith the tape B of the garter tapel G.

formed by-attaching to the strip l 2-which corresponds to the stripi cross strips 13; corresponding-to the 'strips z but longer, and then securing to the strip i2, in transverse relation to the cross strips It, a circumferential c'irlong'itudinal strip M.

In this way, the guide'way'L is formedbet'ween the strip M. and one of the intuin''d edges is "(if the main strip f2 while the other guideways I are formed between the strip 14 and the other .inturned edge lb of the main strip. n

l Figure fialso shows thatfthe g-uide member 5 for the equalizing tape of the"sanitaryapad may beomitted'if desired. As shownbne OffthBfCI-OSS strips it serves as a guide member at the bend where the equalizing tapeeriters or leaves the guideway.

' In the constructions so far de'scribe'dfi itwill be observed that in attaching and removing the equalizing tapes to and from the belt, they must be threaded through the guideways beneath the cross strips 3 and through the guide members 6 and II. If desired, however, the cross strips 3 or the like may be omitted or separably attached to the main strip l of the belt and. the guide members such as 6 and H may be separably attached to the belt to permit removal of the tapes by simple detachment of the guide members. Many different constructions may be utilized for making this separable attachment. As shown in Figures 7 and 8 the guide member N is permanently secured to a strip l6 which also "mines; se arab fastener garments- {i 1; -siich as t e k ei ee ie si a plement'al separable fastener pockets H3 in astrip l 9 of fabric'which issecufd w the new 0. *Withthis -en saqa1an i *wi11- be -observed that the eq uali zing' tz'n zue- P maybe fp'er- "I'nanently threaded through the'guide members N and ca befeasi'ly' attahed'to removed rrom 'ule belt with the gui'defmembers by simpl inserting and removingthehooks ll" into and from the pockets"iiirespectively. This isespecially "advantageous "where "it"may be desirable to *remove the sanitarypad equalizing tape but continue to'wear' thebelt'asagarter belt. Moreov'enthe use of the pocket stripavoi'ds" the presence bf metal and objectionable protuberances.

Also "the structure facilitates laundering of the parts.

"I f desired, byv providing'eiitra separable fasten'erelements on the belt, thev position of the guide members may be adjusted cireumferentially 'of ithe belt to accommodate variations in' body girth and permit accurate 'ljocation of the pad orgarter claspsgirthwise 'of the body, especially to compensate for adjustments in the lengt'h bf the belt.

With this construction, it will be observed that the guide'memb'er NWill be-held in spaced relation to the belt and above the'pla'neof the guide member Q for the garter equalizertape, so that the tapeP'for the sanitary pad will be heldout 'dfiritional contact with said guide member Q.

It will be understood that the equalizing tapes for the garters maybe separably-attached tothe belt in the same manner.

If desiredthe equalizing tapes may be-entirely enclosed Within the belt-as shown-in-FigureQ where the belt is shown as formed of twopieces of fabric '20 and 2l stitched together to form a guide channel 22 between them in which the equalizing tape R may-be slidably-mounted. The

tic for h olding the pad'againstmovement, the

forceapplied tothe elastic-tdaccommodatebody movements and "atthe same time prevent slipping ofthe padgis two or three-times "greater than that applied to the equalizer tape of-my invention. This advantage or my invention over the prior devices ;is'due in large part to the guide members .6, I I, -N,'- etc. My guide 'memberg also are advantageousdn the "same way over more' current sanitary belts which "have I pad=suspending=tapes slidab'le in' belts orother'"supports.

As shown in Figures 5 and 10, for the purpose of adjusting the length of the garter equalizing tape between the stocking-attaching devices It], the guide members ll may extend from the belt to the extremities of the respective tapes G and be fastened to the tapes as by stitches 25; and both the tape and the associated guide member may be threaded through the adjusting device T, like the device E, so that the length of both the tape and the guide can be adjusted at the same time and the same amount. While such a construction generally is necessary and preferable only at the rear end of the tape, either the rear end or the front end, or both ends, of the 7 tape may be made adjustable as described. If desired the ends of the equalizing tape and guide members for the sanitary pad maybe constructed in the same way.

If desired, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, the

'free end of the guide member 29 may be turned guide member by suitable means, for example, a

loop 29 which is attached to said free end portion and slidably embraces said main portion. The loop may be formed of thread, fabric, plastic or any suitable material. With this construction, as the guide member and tape are pulled through the adjusting device T, the loop 29 will slide along the guide member and hold said free end portion neatly in an out-of-the-way position.

To avoid circumlocution in the claims the term farticle of apparel is used to include the sanitary pad, stocking, or other articles that might be supported by the belt as described.

What I claim is:

1. In combination a support to encircle the body, and a tape having devices at its end portions to be connected to an article of apparel, said support having guide means in which the intermediate portion of said tape between said end portions is slidable, said guide means including tubular flexible guide members arranged spaced circumferentially of the support, one for each end portion of said tape with one end of each guide member directed circumferentially of said support and the other portions of said guide member curved downwardly away from the support, the walls of each guide member at the upper side and over a portion of the circumference thereof being squeezed together, a line of superposed tying stitches penetrating said squeezed-together portion and said support for securing the upper side of said end of each guide member to said support, the lower side of each guide member being yieldable and flexible, and said tape being threaded through both of said guide members with its end portions projecting from the other ends of the respective said guide members.

2. The combination of a support to encircle the body, a tape having devices at its end portions guide member directed circumferentially of said support and the other portions of said guide member curved downwardly away from the support, a line of stitches extending lengthwise of each guide member along the upper Side of said end to secure said guide member to said support and so that the lower side of said guide member is yieldable and flexible, said tape being threaded through both of said guide members with its end portions projecting from the other ends of the respective w said guide members. 7

3. The combination of a support to encircle the body, a tape having devices at'its end portions to be onnected to an article of apparel, said support having guide means in which the intermediate portion of said. tape between said end portions 7 is slidable, said guide means including flexible soft guide tubes arranged in spaced relationcircumferentially of said support, one for each end ing means extending along and passing through the upper side of said end of each guide tube and into said support to secure said tube on said support and so that the lower side of said tube is yieldable and flexible, 'said tape being threaded through both of' said guide tubes with its end portion projecting from the other ends of the respective said guide tubes.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein each said guide tube comprises a bias woven fabric tube the walls at the upper side and over'a portion of the circumference of which are squeezed to gether, and said means for securing the tube to said support comprises a line of stitches passing through said squeezed-together portion of the walls of the tube into said support. 7 V

5. The combinationset forth in claim 3 wherein each said guide tube has one end portion turned inwardly of the tube to form a double thickness in the walls of the tube and to prevent fraying of the end of the tube and said means for fastening each guide tube to said support passes through said double thickness in the walls of'said tube. LEO RO'SEMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare of' record in the to be connected to an article of apparel, said support having guide means in which the intermediate portion of said tape between said end portions is slidable, said guide means including tubular flexible guide members arranged at the front and rear of said support respectively, one for each end portion of said tape with one end of each Number Name Date 1,919,299 Levin July 25,1933

428,964 Shapley May 27, 1890 1,664,626 Ito- Apr. 3,- 1928 2,064,740 Fontaine Dec. 15, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 331,198 Great Britain July 3, 1930

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