Sacks of which the following is a specification.
This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in catamenial sacks
io the object being to provide a device for the purpose indicated which is so constructed that the pouch may expand laterally and will be held against stretching or expansion longitudinally the makeup of the parts being
15 such that the sack will fit about and surround the vulva without inconvenience to the wearer and without liability of the.catamenial or menstrual flow being discharged from the sack also to generally improve and
20 render more convenient a device of this character.
I have illustrated my invention by a per
spective view and referring to the drawings
A indicates a sack or pouch the sides a a be25 ing made up from two crescentshaped pieces
of sheet indiarubber the front ends of which
are. cut away so that the completed sack or
pouch will be much wider at the front than
at the rear and at the rear the side pieces 3o meet or form a point. The two pieces a a are connected to each other at their lower"or convex edges by a nonelastic strip or tape preferably of thin oilcloth or other waterproof material and the 'upper or concave edges have bindingstrips of like material. This construction prevents longitudinal stretching of the rubber sides and reinforces the elastic sack or pouch so that any distention will be lateral. The bindingstrips receive when the device is in use the entire strain or pressure necessary to hold the pouch in place and the side pieces depend from the bindingstrips being connected to the central longitudinal strip which strip prevents downward extension of the pouch. The strips may be attached to the rubber either by stitching or by being cemented thereto. Near the central portion of the pouch there is secured a flexible crosspiece b of non  elastic watero proof material the object thereof being to prevent undue separation of the upper edges. of the pouch and to retain therein the pledgeti which may be a sponge or absorbent cotton. To the rear end of the side pieces as well as to the bindingstrips and to the central connectingstrip is connected or joined a pad c to which is made fast by cement or sewing a single strap C of elastic webbing having at its upper end a buckle. The strap is of considerable width so that it will lie over the 6o recess between the nates and not incommode
the wearer.
To the front portion of the sack is attached  a pad B made up of two or more thicknesses
of textile fabric which is stitched or other 65 wise attached to the longitudinal strip and to the bindingstrip as well as to the rubber fabric and the lower part of the pad is cut pointed so that the strain or pressure will
be brought to bear upon the strips rather 70 than upon the rubber tissue and to the upper corners of the pad B there are attached diverging elastic bands D D having buckles which may be placed in engagement with straps connected to a belt as shown. The upper end of the pad B between the bands may have an opening so as to form a pocket in which can be placed a suitable disinfectant as a tablet of carbolic acid which will be convenient when it is desired to cleanse 8o and disinfect the pouch. In use the pad is
positioned considerably above the pad c at the rear end of the sack and there is no liability of the front portion becoming soiled.
When it is desired to empty the sack or 85 pouch or place therein a new pledget it is only necessary to undo the buckle or fastening at the rear when the sack can be brought to the front.
In the manufacture of the sack the side 90 pieces a a are cut from what. is known commercially as "dental rubber" and they are so shaped as to properly fit the body. The parts which are liable to be soiled in use are all of waterproof material. The centrallypositioned longitudinal strip at the bottom of the elastic side pieces prevents the sack sagging or being distended vertically as such strip receives the major part of the weight of
the pledget and menstrual dischargewhich is 'co absorbed thereby. The bindingstrips being nonelastic and flexible allow the edges of the pouch to be brought as close to the body as desired and the pressure and position may
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be varied by the elastic straps which have the buckles and are placed in engagement with the straps which depend from the waistband or belt.
5 I am aware that prior to my invention it has been proposed to construct a catamenial sack of rubber having a binding on the upper edges such sack having at its ends short elastic straps which are adapted to be placed in
io engagement with straps secured to a belt and that when the sack is made from two pieces of rubber they have been centrally joined also that elastic loops have been secured crosswise of the sack for securing therein an absorbent
15 pad. I consequently do not claim such construction as my invention and as far as I am aware such devices have been provided with a plurality of retainingstraps at both ends of the pouch the pouches being of the same
20 shape front and rear and no means have been devised for preventing the downward extension of the sack when weighted with the menstrual discharge.
IIaving thus set forth my invention what 25 I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is
1. As an improved article of manufacture a catamenial sack consisting of two side pieces of thin rubber connected to each other to form
30 a pouch a nonelastic strip secured to the side pieces at their line of jointure nonelastic bindingstrips secured to the edges pads at the opposite ends of the sack the pads being of different sizes the smaller one having
35 attached thereto a single strap the larger pad having attached at its corners diverging elastic straps substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.
2. A catamenial sack made up of two truncated crescentshaped side pieces of rubber a nonelastic strip secured to the longitudinal center of the pouch pads attached to the opposite ends of the pouch and elastic bands connected to said padssubstantially as shown and for the purpose set forth. 45
3. In a catamenial sack the combination with a pouch made up of indiarubber of a nonelastic strip secured to the longitudinal center of the pouch and nonelastic bindingstrips at the edges said bindingstrips being 50 of less length than the longitudinal strip together with pads attached to the bindingstrips and to the longitudinal strip and elastic straps secured to the pads the nonelastic binding  strips preventing longitudinal 55 stretching of the sack and the central strip preventing its downward extension substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a catamenial sack a pouch made up of two crescentshaped side pieces which are 6o wider at their forward ends than at their rear ends pads of different sizes attached to the ends of the pouch the larger pad being at the front elastic supportingstraps attached to the pads one at the rear and two diverging ones at the front the larger pad having an opening in its upper edge between the elastic straps which are attached thereto substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.
ALBERT L. GRAY. Witnesses:
H. V. RANKIN
J. F. ROBERTSON.
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