A Military Knap-sack.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 24th June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 24th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 26th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Military Knap-sack.
We, AUGUST FONSON, Manufacturer, of 49-51 Rue des Fabriques, and JEAN
BAPTISTE SCHMID, Captain of Grenadiers, of 19 Rue Montagne aux Herbes
Potagères, both in Brussels, Belgium, do horeby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
In the following description, the part of the Knap-sack which is in contact with
the man's back when in position will be termed the front of the Knap-sack, and the
opposite side which is covered by the flap, will be termed the back. In like manner,
the upper, the lower, the left, and right hand sides respectively, are the corre
sponding parts of the Knap-sack when in position and looking from the back of the
wearer.
Our Military Knap-sack composed of two separable compartments, viz. an upper,
and a lower portion covered by one flap only. The upper is intended to contain
the full quantity of amunition 60 rounds of reserve cartridges enclosed in a case of
waterproof fabric and is provided with a shoulder belt, and separated from the
reserve provisions by a movable strip. To the outside of this upper compartment
the cooking or other vessel is attached, and above it is the reserve clothing, rolled
up. The lower compartment contains the marching load, viz., boots, linen, and other
necessaries. The soldier may detach this compartment himself by undoing the
fasteners, or by slipping it sideways to the left by means of a handle, the appearance
of the Knap-sack remaining the same.
The shape of the Knap-sack is formed by two frames made of cane and water-
proof fabric, to ensure lightness and to obviate the usual rigidity, thus permitting it
to give or yield to all the movements of the body.
The back, front, and sides are covered with calf skin, the.lair being outside.
The flap made as a pocket, covers the whole of the back of the Knap-sack and it
serves to hold the two compartments in position by the aid of two straps, the flap
being longer by 8 centimetres than the length of the Knap-sack, in order to cover
an extra article that may be added to the marching load, if required.
Two straps pass round the two compartments for securing the Knap-sack at the
lower part in a closed condition, the straps passing through two loops.
A short strap is also provided for the cooking or other vessel.
The shoulder straps are attached to the front, the fabric at the point of attachment
being strengthened by a piece of leather. The shoulder straps are narrowed near
their ends and are terminated by two adjustable hooks which are fastened to two eyes
on the waistbelt, and they are arranged so as to be lengthened or shortened to suit
the man's height.
At the narrow part of the shoulder straps are attached two straps which faston
to the buckles placed at the ends of the straps.
On the upper compartment are four loops, and two straps serving to secure a
supplementary garment or overcoat, rolled up.
On the right side is a flap closed by a button, and opened by the brusque action
of the shoulder belt of the reserve cartridge case which when fighting is expected is
allowed to project outside.
The cartridge case should be placed in such a manner that one of the ends of the
shoulder belt will be underneath and passes to the outside on the left of the
astening button, whilst the other end passes out on the right of this button.
On the left side is a leather handle or strap for drawing out the marching load
rom its compartment.

page_text: The advantages of this Military. Knap-sack are:-
1. It is light, strong and waterproof. It contains the ammunition, the reserve
provisions, and the articles of equipment.
2. Under certain urgent circumstances the soldier may temporarily abandon his
marching load, but still carrying with him his amunition, provisions, cooking, or
other vessel, and his extra garment.
3. It enables the soldier, at any given moment, such as when a decisive effort is
to be made, to relieve himself of 3 kilogrammes, without stopping his march.
4. The arrangement of the two separable compartments gives a certain elasticity
to the Knap-sack and allows it to yield, or give to all the movements of the body.
5. It presses against the shoulders and shoulder blades, that is to say, to the
upper part of the back, the lower part of the Knap-sack being held at a distance
from the loins when it resis upon the support, which forms the complement of our
proposed system. This Knap-sack support is the subject of another application for
Patent, dated 20th June 1889, No. 10111.
6. The mode of attaching the straps and buckles leaves freedom of movement to
the arms and to the gait of the soldier when marching.
7. The weight is equilibriated and conveniently distributed bearing in mind that
60 cartridges are stored in two cartridge pouches and act as a counterpoise.
8. The arrangement of the reserve cartridge case enables the soldier to extract his
own reserve amunition and use it almost instantaneously by passing the shoulder belt
round the neck.
9. The Knap-sack being narrower at the lower part, allows free movement of the
arms.
10. The Knap-sack is equally adapted for use either for ordinary service, or for a
campaign.
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London.
Agent for the said August Fonson and Jean Baptiste Schmid.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Military Knap-sack.
We, AUGUST FONSON, Manufacturer, of 49-51 Rue des Fabriques, and JEAN
BAPTISTE SCHMID, Captain of Grenadiers, of 19 Rue Montagne aux Herbes Potagères,
both in Brussels, Belgium, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
In the following description, the part of the Knap-sack which is in contact with the
man's back when in position will be termed the front of the Krap-sack and the
opposite side which is covered by the flap, will be termed the back. In like manner,
the upper, the lower, the left, and right band sides respectively, are the corresponding
parts of the Knap-sack when in position and looking from the back of the wearer.
In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 represents the soldier carrying the Knap-
sack, showing the arrangement of shoulder straps; Figure 2 shows the back of the
Knap-sack with the removable compartment B partly drawn out.
Figure 3 shows the front face of the Knap-sack with the shoulder straps.
Figure 4 shows the Knap-sack without the removable compartment B.
Figure 5 shows the right hand side and Figure 6 the left hand side of the Knap-
Back.
Figure 7 is a view of the Knap-sack in an open position, that is to say, with the
flap Clifted and the removable part taken out.
Figure 8 is a view of the reserve cartridge case with its shoulder belt.
Figure 9 shows the removable compartment B open; and Figure 10 shows the
Knap-sack open, but showing the removable compartment B.
Our Military Knap-sack is composed of two separable compartments, viz. an upper,

page_text: and a lower portion covered by one flap only. The upper is intended to contain the
full quantity of amunition 60 rounds reserve cartridges enclosed in a case of water-
proof fabric and is provided with a shoulder belt, and separated from the reserve
provisions by a movable strip. If desired the movable strip may be turned down, so
as to form one space only.
To the outside of this upper compartment, the cooking or other vessel is attached,
and above it is the reserve clothing, rolled up.
The lower compartment B contains the marching load, viz. boots, linen, and other
necessaries. The soldier may detach this compartment himself by undoing the.
fasteners i, i, or by slipping it sideways to the left by means of the handle h, the
appearance of the Knap-sack remaining the same.
The shape of the Knap-sack is formed by two frames made of cane and waterproof
fabric, to ensure lightness and to obviate the usual rigidity, thus permitting it to give.
or yield to all the movements of the body.
The back, front, and sides are covered with calf skin, the hair being outside.
The flap C (Figure 1) made as a pocket covers the whole of the back of the Knap-
sack and it serves to hold the two compartments in position by the aid of the two
straps a a (Figure 2), the flap being longer by 8 centimetres than the length of the
Knap-sack in order to cover an extra article that may be added to the marching load,
if required.
The two straps a, a, pass between the flap and its lining and are brought to the
outside at the lower part for securing the Knap-sack in a closed condition by the
buckles i, i. These buckles i, i, as also the buckles s for securing the straps K, K, of
the shoulder straps, are attached with their sliding loops to the same straps, and
looking towards each other but placed inversely.
c, Figure 2, is a short strap for the cooking or other vessel.
The shoulder straps L, L, are attached to the front and joined together in the form
of a V, the fabric at the point of attachment being strengthened inside by a piece of
leather d, d, (Figure 3). The shoulder straps (about 35 centimetres long) are attached
by means of double buttons u, u, of brass to removable suspension straps having
hooks R, which are fastened to two eyes on the waistbelt, and they are arranged so as
to be lengthened or shortened to suit the man's height by means of the sliding
buckles. On the same button u are attached straps K, K, which are fastened by the
buckles s, s, as above mentioned.
On the upper compartment two straps f,f, serve to secure a supplementary garment
or overcoat, rolled up.
On the right side is a flap A' closed by a button, and opened by the brusque action
of the shoulder belt of the reserve cartridge case, which when fighting is expected, is
allowed to project outside. The end of this shoulder belt is fastened under the Knap-
sack by means of a copper button.
The cartridge case should be placed in such a manner that one of the ends of the
shoulder belt will be underneath and passes to the outside on the left of the fastening
button, whilst the other end passes out on the right of this button.
On the left side, is a handle of hard leather for drawing out the marching load
from its compartment. This handle, of which only the lower part is sewn, has its
upper end formed as a bolt which slides in the loops g.
By this arrangement, the handle h when not pulled out serves to secure the movable
compartment to the fixed compartment.
The advantages of this Military Knap-sack are:-
1. It is light, strong, and waterproof. It contains the amunition, the reserve
provisions, and the articles of equipment.
2. Under certain urgent circumstances, the soldier may temporarily abandon his
marching load, but still carrying with him his amunition, provisions, cooking or other
vessel, and his extra garment.
3. It enables the soldier, at any given moment, such as when a decisive effort is to
be made, to relieve himself of 34 kilogrammes weight, without materially stopping his
march.

page_text: 4. The arrangement of the two separable compartments gives a certain elasticity to
the Knap-sack and allows it to yield or give to all the movements of the body.
5. It presses against the shoulders and shoulder blades, that is to say, to the upper
part of the back, the lower part of the Knap-sack being held at a distance from the
loins when it rests upon the support, which forms the complement of our system.
This Knap-sack support is the subject of another Application for Patent, dated
20th June 1889, No. 10111.
6. The mode of attaching the straps and buckles leaves freedom of movement to the
arins and to the gait of the soldier when marching.
7. The weight is equilibriated and conveniently distributed bearing in mind that
60 cartridges are stored in two cartridge pouches and act as a counterpoise.
8. The arrangement of the reserve cartridge case enables the soldier to extract his
own reserve amunition, and use it almost instantaneously by passing the shoulder belt
round the neck.
9. The Kaap-sack being narrower at the lower part, allows free movement of the
arnis.
10. The Knap-sack is equally adapted for use either for ordinary service or for a
campaign.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
=
1. The arrangement and the construction of a Military Knap-sack composed
essentially of two compartments, the upper one A containing the fighting amunition
enclosed in a cartridge case held in place by the flap A', the fire arm requisites, and
the reserve provisions; the other (lower) compartment B which may be removed by
pulling the handle h, contains the marching equipment such as boots, linen, etc. the
Knap-sack being formed of waterproof fabric on a skeleton of cane, wood, or a founda-
tion of felt, and covered on the outside with calf skin, the whole as above described
and substantially as shown, and having the advantages above named.
2. In a Military Knap-sack, the arrangement of a cartridge case for containing the
reserve amunition, placed in the upper compartment A and retained by the flap A',
and which the soldier may himself draw out without removing the Knap-sack from
the back, by simply pulling out the shoulder belt attached to it, as above described
and shown in the drawings.
3. In a Military Knap-sack, the arrangement of the lower removable compartment B,
whereby the soldier may, if needed, disengage himself from his marching load, and
thus lighten his burden of a certain weight, by unfastening the buckles i, i, and simply
pulling the handle h, this movement being effected almost instantaneously, without
stopping his march, as above described and as shown in the drawings.
4. In the Military Knap-sack, the arrangement of shoulder straps L, L, terminated
by hooks R for attachment to the waist belt, and capable of being lengthened
according to the man's height, joined to straps K, K, for engaging in buckles s, s,
beneath the Knap-sack, allowing great freedom of movement of the arms, the whole
as above described and substantially as shown.
4th ... f Manch 1000
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said August Fonson and Jean Baptiste Schmid.