ANTI-SNORING DEVICELOUIS F. LIEBHARDT
Patented September 8, 1908
To all whom it may concern:
Be it known that I, Louis F. Liebhardt, a citizen of the United States,
residing at the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain
new and useful Improvements in Antisnoring Devices; 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 the letters and figures of reference marked
thereon, which form a part of this specification.
My invention relates to improvements in devices whose object is to prevent
sleeping persons from lying upon their backs, its function therefore being to prevent
snoring, dreaming and so called nightmares, being the disagreeable sensations to
which sleepers are subjected while lying upon the back.
Briefly speaking my invention consists of a hollow, compressible, imperforate
body of a suitable size, adapted to be centrally secured to the back of the sleeper and
protruding sufficiently therefrom, to make it practically impossible for the wearer to
lie upon his back for any length of time, since as soon as he assumes this position, the
prominence of the device will make the position so uncomfortable that he will
immediately awake.
More specifically considered, the construction shown in the drawing and
herein described, consists of a hollow compressible imperforate ball preferably
composed of rubber, the same being secured to a strap or band adapted to be passed
around the body of the patient, the device being preferably so applied that the ball is
in the middle of the back just below the shoulders, the securing strap passing around
the chest. This device may be applied on the outside of the night garment of whatever
character the patient may choose to use.
Having briefly outlined my improved construction, I will proceed to describe
the same in detail reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which is
illustrated an embodiment thereof.
In this drawing, Figure 1 is a view of the device
shown in detail and lookingdownwardly thereon when in position for use. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken through the device, the parts being shown on a larger scale and partly broken away. Fig. 3 shows the device as viewed from the rear when in position for use upon the body, the form of the body of the wearer being outlined.
The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.
Let the numeral 5 designate a hollow ball or spherical body composed of
compressible material preferably rubber, the ball being free from openings whereby
its internal resistance to compression from without is that of one atmosphere. This
ball is attached to a securing strap 6 in any suitable manner. In the construction
shown in the drawing, I have applied to the ball exteriorly, three leather straps 7, 8
and 9, the same being passed around the ball and intersecting each other at right
angles at six points. These straps at the various intersecting points are connected
preferably by rivets 10. In order that this harness may be applied to the ball, two of
the straps are provided with buckles as shown at 12, the straps being separable where
the buckles are located and one extremity of each having openings to receive the
buckle tongue, whereby the length of the strap is adjustable. After the straps
composing the reinforcing harness for the ball are riveted together, the ball is placed
therein and the straps 7 and 8 buckled together. The strap 9 intersects each of the
straps 7 and 8 at two opposite points and is connected at these intersecting points
with the other straps by the rivets 10. At one point of intersection of the straps 7 and
8, the said straps are connected with the securing strap 6 and a circular leather pad or
disk 13 by means of a rivet 14 passing through the straps 7 and 8, the securing strap
6 and the said pad or disk which is sufficiently flexible to give comfort to the wearer,
and at the same time has sufficient thickness and stability to prevent it from becoming
wrinkled or creased. This pad together with the reinforcing straps 7, 8 and 9, provide
means for securely attaching the ball to the strap 6.
It will be understood that the manner of attaching a rubber ball securely to a
leather strap is of considerable importance especially where the ball is hollow and
must not be punctured owing to the fact that atmospheric pressure within the ball
must be maintained. If the air were allowed to escape by reason of a puncture, the
ball would not have sufficient resistance to properly perform its function. However,
constructed as it is, it possesses sufficient resistance for the purpose desired and at the
same time has comparatively little weight and is therefore practically no encumbrance
to the wearer.
The securing strap 6 has its extremities connected by a means of a buckle 15
which is attached to one extremity of the strap, the other extremity being perforated
to receive the buckle tongue in the usual manner making the device adjustable to fit
persons of different chest measurements.
From the foregoing description the use of my improved device will be readily
understood. Assuming that the device is constructed as heretofore described, it is
only necessary to pass the securing strap 6 around the chest of the wearer below the
arms, the ball 5 being adjusted to occupy a position in the middle of the back just
below the shoulders. By attaching the strap with reasonable tightness, the device will
maintain its position without difficulty and the strap will not readily slip to allow the
ball to change its position. If desired, however, the securing strap may be attached
to the night garment thus compelling the ball always to maintain the same relative
position on the garment, and a corresponding position upon the body of the patient.
Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:
1. An anti-snoring device comprising a hollow compressible ball having an
imperforate wall, and suitable means for maintaining the same in position upon the
back of the wearer, the ball projecting exteriorly from the securing means.
2. A device of the class described, comprising a hollow compressible ball
having an imperforate wall, and a securing strap to which the ball is exteriorly applied
whereby it projects outwardly from the body of the wearer when in use, the said strap
being adapted to pass around the body of the patient and equipped with suitable
adjusting means.
3. A device of the class described, comprising a hollow compressible ball
having an imperforate wall, means for reinforcing the ball exteriorly, and means for
securing the same to the body of the wearer, the ball being attached exteriorly to the
securing means whereby it projects outwardly from the body of the wearer when in
use, substantially as described.
4. A device of the class described, comprising a hollow compressible ball,
reinforcing straps passed around the ball and secured together to maintain them in
position thereon, and means for securing the ball upon the body of the wearer,
substantially as described.
5. A hollow compressible ball, reinforcing straps passed around the ball
exteriorly and intersecting each other, the straps being connected at their points of
intersection, and means connected with the reinforcing straps for maintaining the ball
upon the body of the wearer, substantially as described.
6. An anti-snoring device, comprising an elastic ball having an imperforate
wall and means for maintaining the ball in position on the back of the wearer, the ball
projecting exteriorly from the said means, substantially as described.
7. An elastic ball provided with intersecting reinforcing straps applied to the
ball exteriorly, and a securing strap attached to the reinforcing straps, the securing
straps being adapted to pass around the body of the patient, substantially as described.
8. A device of the class described comprising a hollow, compressible body
having an imperforate wall, and means for securing the same upon the back of the
wearer, the said body projecting exteriorly from the securing means.
9. A device of the class described, comprising a hollow compressible body
having its wall intact and free from opening or puncture, reinforcing straps applied to
the said body exteriorly, a flexible pad attached to the reinforcing straps, and a
securing strap passed between the pad and the reinforcing straps and secured to both
the said compressible body projecting exteriorly from the securing strap, substantially
as described.
In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.
LOUIS F. LIEBHARDT
Witnesses:
Dena Nelson
A. J. O'Brien