IMPROVEMENTS IN KNAP- SACKS AND IN APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING THEM OR OTHER SIMILAR BURDENS UPON THE SHOULDERS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Fyfe, of 46, Leicester Square, in the County'.
of Middlesex, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNAP-
SACKS AND IN APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING THEM OR OTHER SIMILAR BURDENS
UPON THE SHOULDERS."
Sealed the 5th August 1862, and dated the 11th February 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Fyfe at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 11th February
1862.
I, THOMAS FYFE, of 46, Leicester Square, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN KNAPSACKS AND IN APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING THEM OR OTHER SIMILAR BURDENS
UPON THE SHOULDERS," to be as follows:-
The improvements refer to a mode of constructing knapsacks, and other
similar articles, and to supporting apparatus consisting of straps, and of
constructing knapsacks, and to append two horns or projections of metal,
wood, or other suitable substance of sufficient stiffness. The two horns are
attached to the upper part of the knapsack, and project one over each
shoulder of the bearer, the weight of the knapsack is supported by them; the
strain of the weight being so thrown by means of the stiff supporting projec-

page_text: tions, as to interfere as little as possible with the free movements of the
The two horns are either firmly attached to the knapsack, or are
connected therewith by sliding them into sockets, and are kept in their place by
pins or screws, or bolts, or springs, or buckles, and so fitted that they can be
lengthened or shortened to suit the sizes of small or large men, or the horns
may be made with a joint or hinge to fold down.
To the ends of the horns or projections the straps which keep the knapsack
or other similar article upon the man's shoulder are rivetted or stitched,
and are attached to the bottom part of the knapsack or other article by hooks
and eyes, or studs or buckles, as usual. The straps may have a ring or hook
fixed to them at a convenient distance from the point of the horn or lever
in front, for the purpose of suspending the gun therefrom when soldiers are
on the march, thereby relieving their hands and arms from the load of
the gun.
The knapsack or other article may be made larger at the bottom part than
at the top next to the man's back, from back to front, by from one to two
inches according to the form of the man's back, so that when placed on a
man, a small space may be left open between the man's shoulders and the
knapsack or other article.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Fyfe in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
August 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
FYFE, of 46, Leicester Square, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of February in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Thomas Fyfe, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas Fyfe,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas
Fyfe, my executors,. administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNAPSACKS

page_text: )
AND IN APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING THEM OR OTHER SIMILAR BURDENS UPON THE
SHOULDERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Fyfe,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their. hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said. Thomas. Fyfe, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and. in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
:
The improvements refer to a mode of constructing knapsacks and other
similar articles, and to supporting apparatus consisting of straps, and of con-
structing knapsacks, and to append two horns or projections of metal, wood,
or other suitable substance of sufficient stiffness. The two horns are attached
to the upper part of the knapsack and project one over each shoulder of the
bearer, the weight of the knapsack is supported by them, the strain of the
weight being so thrown by means of the stiff supporting projections as to
interfere as little as possible with the free movements of the wearer. The
two horns are either firmly attached to the knapsack or are connected there-
with by sliding them into circular sockets, the ends of the horns being made
round to fit into the circular sockets, by which means the flat part of the
horns which rest on the shoulders will always adapt themselves to the peculiar
form of the wearer's shoulders. Or the horns may be made to fit into flat
or square sockets, and are kept in their place by pins, or screws, or bolts, or
springs, or buckles, and so fitted that they can be lengthened or shortened to
suit the sizes of small or large men, or the horns may be made with a joint or
hinge to fold down.
To the ends of the horns or projections the straps which keep the knapsack
or other similar article upon the man's shoulders are rivetted or stitched, and
are attached to the bottom part of the knapsack or other article by hooks and
eyes, or studs, or buckles as usual. The straps may have a ring or hook
fixed to them at a convenient distance from the point of the horn or lever in
front, for the purpose of suspending the gun therefrom when soldiers are on
the march, thereby relieving their hands and arms from the load of the gun.
The knapsack or other article may be made larger at the bottom part
than at the top next to the man's back, from back to front, by from one to two
inches, according to the form of the man's back, so that when placed on a

page_text: man a small space may be left open between the man's shoulders, and the
knapsack or other article.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Fyfe, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the said
Thomas Fyfe, in the presence of
W. W. AUSTIN,
43, Chancery Lane,
London.
THOMAS FYFE. (L.S.)