US201597A - Improvement in combined shoulder-brace and suspenders - Google Patents

Description

G. H.-CUSHMAN. Combined Shoulder Brace and Suspenders.- No, 201,597.

Patented March 26,1878

I nv 707:0"

N. FETEBS. PHOTO-LITHGGRAFHER. WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED Y STATE PATENT OFFIoE.

CHARLES H. OUSHMA N, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED SH OULDER-BRACE AND SUSPENDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 201,597, dated March 26, 1878; application filed 'November 23, 1877.,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. GUsHMAN,

of the'city of Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented anew and useful Improvement in Shoulder-Braces and Suspenders Combined, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to shoulder-braces (commonly so called)'for restraining and cor recting the improper carriage of the upper part of the body, known as stoopin'g, round shouldered, &c., and'to'suspenders for'supporting garments on the body. 7 Such braces have generally been so con structed as to be objectionable, first, on ac'- count of irksomeness and cumbersomeness, owing to the amount of material employed,

the degree of restraint appliedin their action, and the unyielding character of construction and application to the wearer; secondly, on

account of the irritation, pain, and oftentimes actual soreness produced, especially in the hollow around and under the arm-pit, by the straps passing over that locality, 'resulting partly from its ligature character, partly from chafe, especially when moistened' 'by perspira tion, and partly from the tenderness of that part; thirdly, on account of the obstruction to circulation when tightened so as to be effective as intended; fourthly, on account "of their mode of operation, which is by a con siderable' and constant backward pull and; support to the shoulders, entirely relieving and protuberance of which are essential parts of stooping especially, such braces being usually and practically applied across theback on the line of the shoulders only. i

Such suspenders have generally been so constructed as to support the garments irregularly, to restrain to a certain extent the mo tions of the body by lack of free play of the parts-fastened together at one or more points of intersection, and by the arrangement of the parts to press down in the hollows between neck and shoulders and over the breasts,

so as to be uncomfortable, and induce stooping, &c.

The object of my invention was and is primarilyto produce in reality a substitute for shoulder-braces which, by the arrangement of the several parts of the material used,

should operate to encourage and induce :a proper carriage of the upper part of the body by the exercise and consequent strengthening of all the muscles properto that end, act as a support or stay only sofar as was necessarily consequent upon this arrangement, and accommodate fully all persistent and intentional movements of thebody, at the same time that they should be as light and any as possible, an'dfree from irksomeness' and'chafe to the wearer. Incidentally the bracesact as suspenders, free from the objections and defects named above: i The invention consists, then, first, of an arrangementof or disposition of the material. used for the braces and suspenders, such as to-efiect the action described in the proper manner and at the proper points; and, second, in a device for retaining the different parts of the material in proper relation over and under each other where they cross, while admitting the necessarymovement over each other and around the point of intersection; In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is aplan of the braces and suspenders spread out back'upward, so as to show the arrangement of the parts a'nd'the position and appli cation of the device referred to, the full lines showing the style with two ends or points of attachment on each side, and the broken lines a third end or point of attachment, to be provided if taste or necessity require, especially in the case of corpulent persons. Fig. 2 is a plan of a modification of the last for producing a stronger support and corrective for 'per-' sons of weak back. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the braces, &c., in. the style'which I suppose to bemost generally used, as if in-position upon the body. Figs. 4-, 5, and 6 are, respectively, side,front, andback elevations of the last as in position on the 'body. Figs. 7 and 8 are,respectively, a plan and a vertical sec-- tion (through one diameter of the plan) of the device for keeping the parts in proper rela tion, finished ready. for. use. Figs. 9 and 11 are perspectives of the two exactly similar parts of the same ready for putting together,

with corresponding diameters at right angles to each other, as when put together. Figs. 10 and 12 are sections of the lasttwo through their corresponding relative diameters. Fig. 13 is a plan of one of these parts as it is cut or struck out of the metal or other material used. Figs. 14 and 15 are, respectively, a plan of one of the parts of the guide-clasp, with the half-disks out upon an oblique instead of a right diameter, and an elevation, showing manner of putting parts together in that case.

' I will first describe the arrangement of the material used for the braces, &c.

, The main straps pass from a point, A, Figs. '1 to 5, inclusive, a little in front of and about on a line with the armpits on each side, upward to the points A, Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, on the proper shoulder a little inside of the joint, the outer edge really touching the joint; thence obliquely backward over the proper 1 shoulder and toward the opposite one; thence obliquely downward and across the back, Figs.

'1, 2, 3, and 6, passing over the upper point of the proper shoulder-blade, intersecting between the shoulders, but a little below them at B; thence passing over the lower point of the opposite shoulder-blade, over the lumbar muscles of the opposite side, Figs. 3, 4, and 6,

at the point C; thence partly around that side 'of the body to a point of attachment to the waist-belt of the proper garment, or one worn for the purpose, D, Figs. 3, 4, and 5, the direction of these straps at D being such that, if continued, they would pass obliquely downward and across the abdomen, and, meeting,

would form a band for its support.

The subordinate straps, when but two ends on each side are used, are secured to their respective main straps on each side at A, Figs. v1 to 5, inclusive, by any proper device, and 'pass thence obliquely downward and back-' ward around the proper side, Figs. 3, 4, and

.5, across the lumbar muscles on that side, and intersecting with the opposite main strap at the point 0, Figs. 3, 4, and 6; thence to points of attachment to the waist-belt at E, Figs. 1, 3, and 6, a little on their own side of the middle line of the back, their direction at E being such that, if continued, they would'pass' obliquely down and around the opposite side and across the abdomen, about at the same point with and nearly in the same direction with their respectivemain straps.

When three ends or points of attachment are used, (broken lines A F, Figs. 1 and 2, dotted lines A F, Fig. 3, and full lines A F,

Figs. 4 and 5,) this subordinate strap, instead of being fastened at A, is passed throughany proper device at that point, and continued to a point of attachment, F, on the waist-belt a little farther from the middle line of the front than customary with suspenders, which have this style ormodification, which I suppose to be most commonly-preferred, and is the general illustration of the invention. -When a more powerful support and more positive check to the habit of stooping, &c., is desired, the subordinate straps A E, A E, or F A E, F A E, Fig. 2, are crossed at G, each to the point of attachment of the other before described.

, By considering this arrangement of the parts of the material used, it will be seen that unavoidably a pressure, which is, however, very slight, will be produced by the main straps in opposition to any throwing forward of the shoulder-joints just below A, Fig. 5, to any projection outward of the shoulder-blades, or at G of the lumbar muscles, Figs. 6 and 4, and when the braces are attached to articles like pantaloons or drawers of males, or to any substitute for the upperpart of such for females or males, this pressure will be communicated to the abdomen through such garment or substitute from the points D. The subordinate straps A E or A E F contribute to this pressure, which opposes the throwing forward of they shoulderjoint and the throwing out at O of the lumbar muscles. This unavoidable pressure of the braces upon these points, even when worn by persons of erect carriage, is, however, but very slight, amounting only to a gentle stay or support,'except when the ends E are crossed "at G, Fig. 2, when it becomes more positive,

and in the incidental or primary use as. suspenders, while the garments are properly and equably supported,.is agreeable rather than irksome. At the same time, when the articles are worn either as braces or suspenders, all the parts have all the necessary play in any direction to accommodate any persistent and intentional motion of the body by the exercise of the proper muscles for that motion, instead of by the relaxation of other muscles," especially that in leaning forward, the subordinate straps A E, A E, or F A E, F A E, being slackened in'the direction of E A, allow the back part of the garment to accommodate itself to the downward pull from E E; also, it will be seen that the portions A A, being well out on the shoulder, and at A well out from the swell of the breasts, while .at the same time entirely clear of the armpits, or the angle just in front of and above them, produce no irritating or inconvenient pressure at either of those points; and, finally, that the whole arrangement is light, and without cumbersomeness or obstruction to ventilation of the body.,

When, now, these braces are worn as subh by persons inclined to stoop, to round'the shoulders, or to flatten in the chest, so soon as this tendency begins to operate, the slight pressure, support, or stay at the points described is increased to a decided check, in-

body above the hips. It will be found, in addition, that indirectlythis position will conduce to the proper carriage of the head, and to the elastic step from the hip, so essential to easy walking.

I proceed now to describe the device which I call a double guide clasp, bywhich the parts of the material are held in proper relation without obstructing necessary play upon and around the points of intersection. This is formed of two exactly similar parts, one of which is shown in plan, Fig. 13, consisting each of a circular disk, G, connected on each side at a a (or b b in the other half, if shown) with a half-disk, H, of the same diameter, by a narrow strip continuation of the material, (usually metal) used in its production.

These disks and half-disks are given an annular form, for lightness and convenience of interlocking, by striking out disks and halfdisks in their centers.

The half-disks c a a c are turned around a (t or b b as an axis, partly upon the whole disks, as shown in Figs. 9,10, 11, and 12.

The ends 0 c of Figs. 11 and 12, for example, the part in Fig. 11 being turned over for the purpose, are now inserted or hooked under the sides of the half-disks of the part in Figs. 9 and 10, and reciprocally for these latter. The parts are then flattened toward each other, the half-disks of each being between the whole and half-disks of the other, and, mandrels be ing inserted between the whole disks of each and the half-disks of the other to preserve space and give form, the parts are fully fiattened down to the shape of the finished guideclasp, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

The half -disks may also be cut (Fig. 14) upon an oblique instead of a right diameter, such that each shall have one end or leg longer than the other by the width of the connecting-strips on the circumference of the whole disk, the long leg of each on either part of a guide-clasp being on the same side with the short leg of the other. When thus cut the half-disks are turned upon the whole disks, as before; but, in putting the two parts of the clasp togeth'er, the long legs of the half-disks of one part are (Fig. 15) sprung under the long legs of those of the other part, and the two parts are then turned upon a common center in opposite directions till the short ends of the one can be sprung under those of the other, so as to interlock, as before. By this form or manner of cutting the half-disks on an oblique diameter instead of y a right diameter, and the resulting ability to put the two halves of a clasp together, as described, the character of the clasp is not changed, nor the function thereof, while a decided advantage is gained in the labor of putting the two halves of a clasp together whenever the material is springy or stiif instead of soft, and it will presumably be preferred over the other form or manner of cutting the halfdisk or a right diameter, with legs or ends of cqual'length. Thus is produced a device of two parts held together with spaces, through which strips of material of the properwidth and thickness may be passed at angles with each other, be held in proper position to each other, and. yet be free to slide lengthwise of each other or turn in their planes about a common intersection a half-circle, less twice the width of the connecting-strips a at b, and which, being used to pass the parts of the material of the braces, &c., through at B, Figs. 1, '2, 3, and 6, at 0, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6, and at G, Fig. 2, retain those parts in position without preventing necessary play.

The arrangements of material before described, theconstruction of the guide-clasp, and its application now pointed out constitute my invention.

There are subordinate modifications of the arrangement of material contemplated, such as passing the straps A E through any suitable loop on a waist-belt for females, at D, then through a similar one attached. to the main strap, terminating at 0, instead of using the guide-clasp there, and thence to E, orof having A E, A E, on one piece, and passing through, in addition, or only a similar loop on the middle of the back of the waist-belt between E E, instead of using the guide-clasp at G. Also, the guide-clasp may be made of wire, or in any modification of the exact form shown which does not interfere with the principle of construction; but, after many experiments, I prefer the arrangement and the form shown and described, as best suiting the ob ject in view, with, perhaps, the exception of the size in special cases of a loop on the middle of waist-belt, and the unity of A E, A E, passing through A, instead of using theguideclasp at G.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. The combined shoulder-brace and suspenders, consisting of the straps A B (J D E, constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combined shoulder-brace and suspenders, consisting of the straps A B G D E F, constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The double guide-clasp, composed of two parts, each consisting of the disk G and halfdisks H H, constructed and combined to operate substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

4. In combination with shoulder-brace or suspenderstraps, arranged to cross on the back, the double guide-clasp, constructed as described, for the purpose set forth.

G. H. GUSHMAN.

Witnesses J AGOB F. WALTHER, 011s. VIREU'BER.

Images