AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN NECESSARIES OR CLOTHING FOR THE MILITARY IN GENERAL
Year: 1815

page_text: HARRIS'
SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
HARRIS, of Shire Lane, in the Liberty of the Rolls and County of Middlesex,
Army Accoutrement Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Fourth day of January,
in the fifty-fifth year of His reign, give and grant unto the said Joseph
Harris, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, His especial licence, full power, sole
priviledge and authority, that I, the said Joseph Harris, my exors, admors,
and assigns, should and lawfully might, during the term of years therein
mentioned, make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the
Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in all His Majesty's Colonies and
Plantations abroad, my Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN
NECESSARIES OR CLOTHING FOR THE MILITARY IN GENERAL;" in which said Letters
Patent there is contained a proviso that if I, the said Joseph Harris, shall not
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, and cause the same to be enrolled in His Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent, that then the said Letters Patent,
and all liberties and advantages whatsoever thereby granted, shall utterly
cease, determine, and become void, as in and by the same, relation being
thereunto had, may more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Joseph Harris, do hereby declare that my improvement consists in an
appendage to the knapsack, (viz.), a cape and collar rendered waterproof to
protect the neck and shoulders of the wearer from wet.

page_text: My improved knapsack differs from those heretofore made, in these parti-
culars, first, a cape and collar made of painted cloth, oil skin, or any other
materials suitable for that purpose rendered waterproof, and attached to the
upper part of the knapsack, and intended to button, tie, or fasten in any other
way round the neck, to protect the back and shoulders of the wearer, when
exposed to inclement weather, from the penetration of wet through his
clothing. The rain falling upon the neck and shoulders is conducted by the
water proof cape down on to a board (or any material that may be substituted)
placed on an inclination downwards on the top of the knapsack, and covered
by the said waterproof cape, which board acts as a channel to conduct the
dripping water down the back of the knapsack, and so to the ground. On
the said board is two or more blocks and staples to receive straps for securing
the great coat, which by these is raised up, and the water permitted to pass
underneath. (A,) the cape and collar; (B,) the board; (C, C,) the blocks;
(D, D,) wings for conducting the water down the back of the knapsack;
(E, E,) straps which may be placed at the pleasure of the commanding officer
in any direction or number across the knapsack to attach the camp kettle and
canteen to, instead of the belts now used for that purpose. The cape and
collar may at all times in fine weather be rolled up without any incumbrance
to the wearer, and secured by a button and loop (or any other means) provided
for that purpose. The said capes and collars may likewise be attached to the
knapsacks of the old constructions, or they may be used as a protection from
the wet independant of a knapsack, which in all its uses I consider to come
within the meaning of the said Patent granted to me.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Harris, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand night hundred and fiftoon