#587,994 1897: Called "A surgical appliance" one intention was to prevent "self-abuse" The sketch looks like an early version of a KTB, but clearly less effective. The patent specifications list a method of permanent attachment which I doubt would be very permanent.
#641,979 1900: Another "surgical appliance" this one to prevent nocturnal emissions. This is a more complex version of the 1897 device. It includes provisions to attach it to a grammaphone to awake the sleeper. No provisions for permanent attachment, and it dosen't look all that practical.
#826,377 1906: A "Sanatary Appliance" this is an amazingly complex version of a KTB. It's intention is the same; "to prevent self-abuse in males", but the device is so complex it would take the combined efforts of a team of Swiss watch makers to construct it. Interestingly, the patent application states, "no model", which is quite understandable when you look at the drawings of this. It's the kind of thing you might expect to find in fantasy readings about CBs. But the drawing itself is really great to look at and think about.
#875,845 1908 "sexual armor". This item is meant to prevent masturbation among mental patients, and does come close to the concept of a functional CB. It's essentially close fitting shorts and tank-top that can be locked on the patient. The crotch area of the shorts is metal, and there is a perforated guard for urination. To defecate, the guard can be unlocked and swung out of the way. With modern construction this might become somewwhat practical, but based on the sketches, it looks like a determined wearer could slip out of this unless it was well secured.
#1,865,280 Called simply "garment", this is a more complex version of the previous. It consists of a shorts (or long pants) and a topmade of a canvas type material. There is a cup type moulding for the genitils similar to the Water Hole cup CB. Everything fastens with cords and laces which are securely knoted. To get out of the garment the laces and cords need to be cut. Certainly not 100% security, and you'd have to replace all the cords every time. But the illustrations are certainly interesting.
There you are. These patents (and possibly otheres in a similar vein) are of historical interest rather than practicality. But it's interesting to see the incredible lengths some people went to just to try to come up with a working chastity device. I hope you can get copies of the sketches (from the patent drawings or from me): They're quite interesting. And the text for these patents is good for a laugh. One thing: There has certainly been a long term and ongoing interest in chastity devices.
Page last updaged 97-Mar-03 by: Altairboy@aol.com