Improvements in Cushions or Pads for use in connection with Knapsacks.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1898-Accepted, 24th Sept., 1898
COMPLETE SPÉCIFICATION.
Improvements in Cushions or Pads for use in connection with
Knapsacks.
I, CLEMENS VON TROTT ZU SOLZ, of 22, Wilhelmstrasse, Berlin, in the Empire
of Germany, Soldier, 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:-
This invention relates to a back protector or pad for use in connection with
knapsacks, by which the person carrying the knapsack is enabled, to periodically
displace the weight carried on his back, whereby the strain due to the load bear-
ing constantly upon the same points of support is greatly reduced.
The essential feature of the invention consists in the arrangement of a bag-
shaped piece, which admits of being stuffed with any appropriate material and
which through the medium of loops, can be displaced upon supporting straps or
braces, so that the soldier for example, can use the upper half, or the lower half
of his back as desired for carrying the weight of the knapsack. Moreover when
employing this device spontaneous air ventilation is obtained beneath the knap-
sack, by which the perspiration is carried off, so that, from an hygienic point of
view the support or cushion is highly preferable to known and similar arrange-
ments.
The supporting straps above referred to are simply engaged with the slings
and the bottom hooks of the knapsack, so that the changing can be effected very
readily.
This improved device is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:-
Figure 1 represents the knapsack with the back-protector in elevation.
Figure 2 shows the supporting straps or bands with the back protector in
elevation.
Figure 3 shows the back-protector proper, and
Figure 4 a cross section through the latter.
The supporting straps or bands consist of two vertical straps or bands a and
a horizontal strap or band b, of which the former are made to engage with the
knapsack slings by means of the loops c c, whilst the latter is fastened to the
bottom hooks e e of the knapsack. The back-protector, proper, consists of a bag f
of strong and waterproof material, which through the intermediary of loops h, is
arranged upon the supporting straps or bands and can be closed in any suitable
manner as for instance by means of a flap and fastening.
Owing to this arrangement the soldier is enabled to stuff the back protector
with fresh material whenever required, in case the old filling should have become
somewhat compressed. The advantages of this back-protector, therefore, mainly
consists in the adjustability and ready exchangeability of the device and in its
spontaneous ventilation.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A back protector for use in connection with knapsacks, its characteristic
feature consisting in a bag, which can be stuffed with any appropriate material
and which is displaceably arranged on two supporting straps or bands by means
of loops.
2. În a back protector of the kind referred to in the First Claim, the arrange-
ment of the supporting straps or bands in such a manner as to admit of their loosely
engaging with the slings and the bottom hooks of the knapsack, so as to allow
of their being readily detached.
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London W.C., Agents for the Applicant.