IMPROVEMENTS IN MILITARY ACCOUTREMENTS, WHICH IMPROVE- MENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER LIKE PURPOSES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmond Hoile, of Montrose, North Britain, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MILITARY ACCOUTREMENTS, WHICH IMPROVE-
MENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER LIKE PURPOSES."
L DAL Tema 199n and Inted the 18th December 1870
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmond Hoile at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th December 1879.
響
EDMOND HOILE, of Montrose, North Britain. IMPROVEMENTS IN MILITARY
ACCOUTREMENTS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER LIKE
PURPOSES."
My Invention relates chiefly to military accoutrements, but it is also applicable
to appliances for the use of tourists and others for carrying knapsacks and other
articles, as for example, to the human transport service where animal transport is
not available.
In carrying out my Invention I construct a skeleton frame or pack saddle of cane
or other suitable material, which is, by preference, bent or formed into a shape
approximating to that of an ellipse, but which may be made of any other con-
venient shape. This skeleton frame or pack saddle is carried on the back of the
person, and is attached at its lower part to the waist belt behind by means of one
or more loops, through which the waist belt may be passed, or by means of buckles
or other suitable fastenings; or by two or more of such fastenings in combination,
if desired; and to the upper part of the skeleton frame or pack saddle are secured
two straps which pass over the shoulders, and are connected to the waist belt in
front by means of buckles, hooks, or other convenient fastenings. The knapsack,
valise, or other article is attached to the frame or pack saddle by straps and buckles,
hooks, or other suitable fastenings, additional loops being in some cases provided
to admit of adjustment to suit the size of articles required to be carried.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edmond Hoile in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th June
1880.
EDMOND HOILE, of Montrose, North Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MILITARY
ACCOUTREMENTS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER LIKE
PURPOSES."
My said Invention relates chiefly to military accoutrements, but it is also
applicable to appliances for the use of tourists and others for carrying knapsacks
and other articles, as for example, to the human transport service where animal
transport is not available. The Invention consists in the use of a flexible skeleton
frame or pack saddle, which is worn upon and extends throughout the length of
the back of the person by whom the knapsack, valise, or other article is to be
carried. This frame or pack saddle is attached at its lower part, which is situate
over the loins, to the ordinary waist belt in the case of military accoutrements, or
to an equivalent belt worn round the waist when the Invention is intended for the
use of tourists or others; and the upper part of the frame or pack saddle is secured
to the person by straps passing over the shoulders, and connected to the waist belt
in front, or to other straps passing from the lower part of the frame or pack saddle
through loops or eyes carried on the front portion of the waist belt. To the frame
or pack saddle thus carried upon the back is attached the knapsack, valise, or other
article, the load being placed upon the upper part of the back in lieu of directing
upon the loins as heretofore, whilst as the frame or pack saddle extends down
throughout the entire length of the back the strain is sustained by the loins, and
the shoulders are relieved.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a perspective view of the frame or
pack saddle and its appurtenances; Figure 2 is a perspective view shewing the
same applied, the knapsack being indicated in dotted lines; and Figure 3 illustrates
diagrammatically the advantage of my said Invention over the ordinary method.
A is the skeleton frame or pack saddle composed of cane or other suitable material,
which is, by preference, bent or formed into a shape approximating to that of an
ellipse, as shewn, but which may be made of any other convenient shape. This
frame or pack saddle is made of sufficient dimensions to extend throughout the
length of the back of the person to whom it is to be applied, while therefore the
load may be attached at the back of the shoulders, thus ensuring a more
advantageous leverage than when placed at the loins, yet, at the same time, it is
supported and carried by the strong bones which form the arch of the pelvis.
The frame or pack saddle A is attached to the person by whom the load is to be
carried in the following manner:-
The lower extremity of the frame or pack saddle A. is connected to the waist
belt B at the back portion thereof by means of a strap a, which passes through a
loop or eye carried on the waist belt and over the frame or pack saddle, and is
fastened by a buckle; or the connection may be made in any other convenient
manner. To the upper part of the frame or pack saddle are secured 2 straps C, C,
which pass over the shoulders, and are connected by buckles to 2 other straps D, D,
secured to the lower part of the frame or pack saddle A, and passing through loops
or eyes c, c, carried on the outside portion of the waist belt B.
The knapsack E, valise, or other article is attached to the frame or pack saddle A
at the upper portion thereof by straps F, F, and buckles, as shewn, thus removing
from the loins the pack, which is directly placed thereon, according to the

page_text: arrangement ordinarily adapted, whilst at the same time as the frame or pack
saddle is supported by the loins the tendency for any undue strain to be thrown
upon the shoulders is obviated. The advantage of placing the load at the upper
part of the back when the frame or pack saddle is supported at the loins, as
hereinbefore described, over the method of placing the load directly upon the loins
will be understood from the diagrain, Figure 3.
Let 1, 1, be the vertical or mesial line passing through the centre of gravity in
the human body, and 2 the position of the centre of gravity; let 3 also be the
centre of gravity of the load when placed directly upon the loins, as in the ordinary
arrangement, and 4 the centre of gravity of the load in the position which it occupies
in carrying out my said Invention; then, according to the ordinary arrangement, in
order to bring the centre of gravity 3 of the load to approximate to the point 5
in the vertical line 1, 1, directly over the centre of gravity 2 of the human body it
will be necessary for the person to bend himself forward to an extent nearly
equivalent to describing an arc 5, 6, from the radius 2, 5. Whilst in carrying out
my Invention it is only necessary to bend the body forward sufficiently to describe
an are 7, 8, from the radius 2, 7, which is an angle considerably less than that
through which it is necessary to move the body in order to bring the centre of
gravity of the load over the centre of gravity of the body according to the ordinary
arrangement.
In addition to the advantages before enumerated the frame or pack saddle also
provides the necessary stay or support for the back to sustain the load, and from
the nature of its construction it exercises an elastic or a springy action, which imparts
increased ease and comfort to the wearer.
Also the accoutrements on account of their great simplicity can be readily put on
or taken off by the soldier himself wihout the assistance of a second person, even
in the dark; there is no compression of the chest, nor constriction of the armpits,
as the frame is so slung to the waist belt that the weight is actually supported by
and carried on the strong bones of the loins and haunches; owing moreover to the
frame intervening between the pack and the back there is a space for ventilation,
and the back does not become unnecessarily heated. Further, by reason of the frame
resting against the shoulder blades a great assistance is afforded in walking, as a
fixed point is obtained for the respirating muscles to act on, the same objects being
effected as that gained by bending the elbows, and making the muscles of the arms
rigid.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that I am aware that a frame attached to the
back has been previously used for transport purposes, and therefore to this I lay no
claim, except when extended down to the loins, and constructed, attached, and
otherwise arranged substantially in the manner herein described, but what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters patent is,―
The peculiar frame or pack saddle constructed, arranged, and applied substantially
in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edmond Hoile, have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of June, One thousand eight hundred
and eighte
EDMOND HOILE. (L.S.)