Year: 1888

page_text: I, ANDREAS SÖHNER, of 6, Josephstrasse, Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia,
German Empire, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
--
This invention comprises an improved knapsack which is composed of two parts,
that is to say a lower case which rests against the back of the person carrying the
knapsack, and an upper or outer case. The lower case of the knapsack and the straps
or other devices for carrying the knapsack are permanently connected with each other,
and the upper case is fixed to the said straps or other carrying devices in such a
manner that it can be readily detached and removed by few manipulations. The said
two cases can be packed and used either separately or as a single case or receptacle so
that the lower case can be carried alone or in combination with the upper case
which may be packed either by itself or together with the lower as a single case or
receptacle.
The object to be gained by dividing the knapsack in two parts is to enable the upper
case for containing more or less dispensable articles to be thrown off from the lower
case for receiving the articles absolutely necessary for defence, food, experiments or
other purposes in an advance, an assault upon fortresses or hills, in ascending summits
of mountains, or in a flight in order that with the decreased load quicker, easier and
more sustained progress may be obtained.
The connection of the two cases is such that the lower can be rapidly and con-
veniently detached during the march, assault, or the like, and the upper with the
dispensable contents can be thrown off by shifting it upwards or backwards, or by
The two cases can
turning it backwards upon the upper assembling bolts or hooks.
also be connected again with facility.
The ends or side walls of the cases are made of stiff material, preferably strong but
light wood. The bottom of the lower case (backwall of the knapsack) is made of one
piece by stretching upon the frame of the lower case suitable fabric or material such
as water-proof linen, leather. hide, or the like. The bottom of the upper case as well
as the covering parts of both cases consist of several flaps secured to the ends or side

page_text: walls and can be connected by buttoning, lacing, buckling, or the like. For example,
on each of the four internal sides or walls of the lower case for the covering part,
and of the upper case for the bottom and the covering part, can be secured
a rectangular flap which is broad enough to cover the whole interior of the
case and which in the covering of the interior of the case overlaps the opposite flap to
a certain extent. The two pairs can be connected with each other by straps and
buckles. The cover thus formed is double and prevents the penetration of wet into
the interior of the case. Or the two covering parts and the bottom of the upper case
can be formed of triangular flaps which are secured to the four inner walls or sides
and overlap each other. These triangular flaps can all be connected in the centre
by a common button, and at the diagonal joints in pairs by one or more buttons, laces
straps and buckles, or other suitable means.
There is no necessity for the cover of the lower case to be tightly closed. It can also
be arranged so as to only partially cover and hold the contents, and to carry the upper
case, as it is covered over by the hide or other covering material of the knapsack when
not in use or after the upper case has been removed. For example, in order to
prevent wet from penetrating, short flaps of rectangular shape which overflap one
another only in the corners of the knapsack can be arranged on the four internal
walls or sides, one or two pairs of girths or straps that cross each other, and are
adapted to be connected by buckling, being fixed to the said flaps or walls.
The connection of the upper case with the lower case can be effected in various
manners, for instance by making provision on the one hand for suspending, hooking
inserting or otherwise affixing the top part of the upper case, which has on its right
and left hand side suitable mountings, to mountings arranged on the right and left
hand side of the top part of the lower case, and on the other hand for connecting the
two lower parts of the casing by a pair of bolts, slides, latches, hooks or the like, in
such a manner that the two cases are thereby made absolutely secure against longi-
tudinal displacement. To prevent lateral displacement, the upper case is placed on its
right and left hand side between a slat or strip that is either fastened to the lower case
or is integral with the side pieces of the same. In the former instance the said strip
may consist of metal occupying little space and enabling both cases to be made of
equal width whereas in the latter instance the upper case must be of less width
than the lower.
The hide of the knapsack covers either the two cases, or the lower case alone when
the upper case has been removed, and has at its lower end a pair of straps which are
provided with holes, and by means of which it can in either instance be fastened to a
pair of buttons on the lower part of the lower case.
When the aforesaid two cases are combined so as to constitute a single case or
receptacle, straps, girths or the like, secured to the covering part of the lower case,
and to the bottom of the upper case are laid along the walls or sides and upon the
back of the lower case.
In knapsacks designed for military purposes the upper frame part of the lower case
can be provided with a cavity in the middle in order that, when the soldier lies down
for shooting upon his belly, the lower case shall not displace the cap or helmet on
his head.
The back wall of the lower case preferably corresponds to the curvature of the back,
but it may be made straight or of any other suitable shape.
In one form of my improved knapsack, four flaps constituting the covering part of
the knapsack are connected in pairs through the medium of straps and buckles. The
covering part and bottom of the upper case may be made in a similar manner.
Both
cases are used in combination and separately. A simple device which I sometimes
employ for connecting them at their lower end comprises a spring plate hinged to the
upper case and having a slit through which a pin on the lower case is passed and
then turned a little so that a projection on the pin retains the said spring plate.
The slats or strips provided on the lower case as hereinbefore described prevent the
lateral displacement of the upper case.
The connection of the two cases at the upper end of the knapsack is readily

page_text: established by means of a recess or slit formed in each of the lateral slats or strips,
and of a pin or journal secured to the upper case and adapted to engage with the
said recess or slit.
To remove the upper case from the lower in the described arrangement, the con-
nection at their lower end is first severed and the upper case is then lifted and turned
backwards. The hide or outer covering material of the knapsack is fastened only at
one end of the lower casing for the purpose of ouabling the said lifting movement of
the upper case to be effected with facility.
The improved knapsack may be made with short flaps having each two pairs of
girths. One pair of these girths need not extend over the whole case as the
desired object can also be attained by fastening their extremities to the other pair
of girths.
When the two cases are combined to form a single receptacle, the partition or
bottom part which divides the cases when they are used separately and the flaps and
girths at the joint of the said cases may be placed in the lower case.
The covering part for the upper case can be made of triangular flaps which overlap
one another and which are all held together by a common button in the centre or by
straps and buckles. The said flaps can moreover be connected by one or more buttons
arranged in diagonal rows.
The devices for connecting the two cases can be carried out in various manners..
For example, in order to connect them at their upper part, I sometimes affix to the
lateral walls of the upper case a hook which is bent upwards and engages with an eye
in a plate or bracket on the lower case. The upper case is disengaged from the
lower by a turning motion.
Another mode of connecting the upper parts of the two cases consists in sliding a
bolt or pin fastened to the upper case into a socket fixed to the lower case, or in
sliding a socket on the upper case on to a bolt of the lower case.
I also use hooks and pins as a ready and convenient means of connecting and
disconnecting the said cases at their lower ends. The covering and bottom parts of
the cases can also be arranged and connected in any other suitable manner than
described.
I do not limit myself to the employment of any particular straps or devices for
carrying the improved knapsack, but they are connected only with the lower case.
Besi les enabling a considerable reduction in the weight of the knapsack, and con-
sequently more rapid and sustained mobility and progression of the person carrying
the same by throwing off the upper case, and moreover providing for a single receptacle
or case to be formed with the aggregate capacity of the two cases by placing the
partitions separating the latter in the lower case the described improvements prest
the further advantage that, as the upper case can be rapidly removed as a whole
without opening or unpacking it, access to the contents of the lower case is rendered
very easy.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, ANDREAS SOHNER, of 6 Josephstrasse, Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia, German
Empire, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said 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 comprises an improved knapsack which is composed of two parts.
that is to say a lower case which rests against the back of the person carrying the
knapsack, and an upper or outer case. The lower case of the knapsack and the straps
or other devices for carrying the same are permanently connected with each other, and
the upper case is fixed to the said straps or other carrying devices in such a manner
that it can be readily detached or removed by a few manipulations. The said two
cases can be packed and used either separately or as a single case or receptacle so that
the lower case can be carried alone, or in combination with the upper case which
may be packed either by itself or together with the lower one as a single case or
receptacle.
The object to be gained by dividing the knapsack into two parts is to enable the
upper case for containing more or less dispensable articles to be thrown off from the
lower case for receiving the articles absolutely necessary for defence, food, experiments
or other purposes in an advance, assault upon fortresses or hills, in ascending summits
of mountains, or in a flight in order that with the decreased load quicker, easier and
more sustained progress may be attained.
The connection of the two cases is such that the lower can be rapidly and con-
veniently detached during the march, assault, or the like, and the upper with the
dispensable contents can be thrown off Ly shifting it upwards or backwards, or by
turning it backwards upon the upper assembling bolts or hooks. The two cases can
also be connected again with facility.
The ends of side walls of the cases are made of stiff material, preferably strong hut
light wood. The bottom of the lower case (back wall of the knapsack) is made of
one piece by stretching upon the frame of the lower case suitable fabric or material such
as water-proof, linen, leather, hide, or the like. The bottom of the upper case as well
as the covering parts of both cases consist of several flaps secured to the ends or side
walls and can be connected by buttoning, lacing, buckling, or the like For example,
on each of the four internal sides or walls of the lower case for the covering part and
of the upper case for the bottom and the covering part can be secured a rectangular
flap which is broad enough to cover the whole interior of the case and which in the
covering of the interior of the case overlaps the opposite flap to a certain extent. The
two pairs can be connected with each other by straps and buckles. The cover thus
formed is double and prevents the penetration of wet into the interior of the case.
the two covering parts and the bottom of the upper case can be formed of triangular
flaps which are secured to the four inner walls or sides and overlap each other. These
triangular flaps can all be connected in the centre by a common button, and at the
Or

page_text: diagonal joints in pairs by one or more buttons, laces, straps and buckles, or other
suitable means.
It can
There is no necessity for the cover of the lower case to be tightly closed.
also be arranged so as to only partially cover and hold the contents, and to carry the
upper case, as it is covered over by the hide or other covering material of the knap-
sack when not in use or after the upper case has been removed. For example in order
to prevent wet from penetrating, short flaps of rectangular shape which overflap one
another only in the corners of the knapsack can be arranged on the four internal walls
or sides one or two pairs of girths or straps that cross each other, and are adapted to be
connected by buckling, being fixed to the said flaps or walls.
The connection of the upper case with the lower case can be effected in various
ways, for instance, by making provision on the one hand for suspending, hooking,
inserting or otherwise affixing the top part, of the upper case, which has on its right
and left hand sides suitable mountings, to mountings arranged on the right and left
hand side of the top part of the lower case, and on the other hand for connecting the
two lower parts of the casing by a pair of bolts slides, latches, hooks or the like in such a
manner that the two cases are thereby made absolutely secure against longitudinal
displacement. To prevent lateral displacement, the upper case is placed on its right
and left hand side between a slot or strip that is either fastened to the lower case or
is integral with the side pieces of the same. In the former instance the said strip may
consist of metal occupying little space and enabling both cases to he made of equal
width whereas in the latter instance the upper case must be of less width than the
lower.
The hide of the knapsack covers either the two cases, or the lower case alone when
the upper case has been removed and has at its lower end a pair of straps which are
provided with holes, and by means of which it can in either instance be fastened to
a pair of buttons on the lower part of the lower case.
When the aforesaid two cases are combined so as to constitute a single case or
receptacle, straps, girths or the like secured to the covering part of the lower case, and
to the bottom of the upper case are laid along the walls or sides and upon the back
of the lower case.
In knapsacks designed for military purposes the upper frame part of the lower
case can be provided with a cavity in the middle in order that, when the soldier lies
down for shooting upon his belly the lower case shall not displace the cap or helmet
on his head.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings the figures of which are
hereinafter referred to.
One form of the improved knapsack is represented in Figures 1 to 3 in which A is
the lower case, B the upper case, G the knapsack hide covering the both. The
back wall a of the lower case is in this example formed so as to correspond to the
curvature of the back but it may be made straight or of any other suitable shape.
The covering part a¹ consists of four flaps a² which are connected in pairs through the
medium of straps and buckles a³. The covering part and bottom b' of the upper case
may be made in a similar manner.
Figure 2 shows an arrangement in which both cases may be used in combination
or separately. A device which I sometimes employ for connecting them at their lower
end comprises a spring plate d hinged to the upper case and having a slot, through
which a pin d' on the lower case is passed and then turned a little so that a projection
on the said pin retains the said spring plate in position. The slats or strips provided
on the lower case as hereinbefore described prevent the lateral displacement of the
upper case. Figure 2 shows this connection severed and Figure 3 closed or established.
Figure 4 shows a transverse section of the frame of the knapsack from which can be
seen how the frame of the upper case is held and displaced upon the frame of the
lower case within the ledges a. Figure 5 shows the parts a and b laid in the lower
case so that only one case is formed. Figure 6 shows the position of the upper case
in which the upper lower and lateral connection of the said upper case with the lower
case is severed. Figure 7 shows the lower case alone with a closed knapsack hide.

page_text: The connection of the upper frames is represented in Figure 8 to an enlarged scale.
The said connection here consists of a slit as formed in each ledge a into which a pin
or journal secured to the upper case can be readily and conveniently introduced by
means of the rounded part a. The position shown in dotted lines of the upper case, as
shown in Figure 6 is that in which the said case can be separated from the upper
connection and thrown off, or inserted in the same.. To remove the upper case from
the lower in the described arrangement, the connections d d' at their lower ends are
first severed and the upper case is then lifted to the position shown in Figure 8; it is
afterwards or simultaneously turned back to the position shown in Figure 6 and finally
turned backwards. The hide or outer covering material of the knapsack is fastened
only at one end (as at a Figure 8) of the lower casing for the purpose of enabling
the said lifting movement of the upper case to be effected with facility. In Figure 8
and 8 are shown transverse sections of the connection of the ledges of the upper and
lower cases drawn to an enlarged scale. In one instauce the cases are provided with
the metallic ledge and in the other with the ledge a" formed from the side piece of
the lower case.
Figures 9, 10, 11 show the knapsack provided with short flaps a having each two
pair of girths a¹. The lower half of Figure 9 shows a modification of this arrange-
ment, according to which one pair of these girths does not extend over the whole case
the desired object being attained by fastening their extremities to the other pair of
girths by means of slings a¹. Figure 10 shows both cases for separate use and
Figure 11 both for common use with flaps a", girths a¹ and bottom part 1 placed in
the lower case.
Figure 12 shows the covering part for the upper case having triangular flaps 63
which overlap one another and which are all held together by a common button
or knob in the centre that is common to all. Moreover these flaps can if necessary
be connected by one or more buttons 6 arranged in diagonal rows.
Figure 13 shows these triangular flaps connected by straps and buckles.
In Figures 14, 15 and 16 are represented three connections for the upper frame
parts. In Figure 14 a hook e on the upper case which is bent upwards and engages
with an eye in a plate or bracket on the lower case. The upper case is disengaged
from the lower by turning it into the position shown in dotted lines.
In Figure 15 a bolt on the upper case is simply slid into a socket f1 fixed
to the lower case, in Figure 16 a socket f2 on the upper case is slid over a bolt f³
on the lower case.
Figure 17 shows another connection adapted to be readily severed, from the lower
frame part by means of a hook g and pin g'. These connections can moreover be
modified in various ways. The covering and bottom parts of the cases can also be
arranged and connected in any other suitable manner than that described and
represented.
The carrying straps for this knapsack, can likewise be modified in any desired or
suitable manner but they are as already explained, only connected with the lower
case.
Besides enabling a considerable reduction in the weight of the knapsack, and
consequently more rapid and sustained mobility and progression of the person carrying
the same by throwing off the upper case, and moreover providing for a single receptacle
or case to be formed with the aggregate capacity of the two cases by placing the
partitions separating the latter in the lower case, the described improvements present
the further advantage that, as the upper case can be rapidly removed as a whole with-
out opening or unpacking it, access to the contents of the lower case is rendered
very easy.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
First. A knapsack, consisting of a lower case A, connected with any suitable
carrying device, and an upper case B fixed to the said lower case and adapted to be

page_text: readily detached, which cases can be closed either (each by itself by means of a
covering part and bottom,) or (having been formed into one case after putting in the
covering part a¹ of the lower case) which consists of the flaps a² and straps a³
(Figures 1, 2, 4, and 5) or of the flaps a' and girths ato (Figures 9 to 11) and also
pulling in the bottom part 61 of the upper case which is made of two similar flaps into
the lower case) together by the covering part of the upper case, which is formed as a¹
or of flaps 63 (Figures 12 and 13.)
Second. In the knapsack above described the threefold fastening of the upper case B
to the lower case A in such a manner that the upper case B is connected above with
the lower case by means of pins 2 and slits a' (Figure 8) hooks e and eyes el
(Figure 14) or pins ff³ and sockets "f2 (Figures 15 and 6) is held laterally by two
ledges a provided on the lower case (Figures 4 to 8) or a (Figure 8) and is
connected below to the same by latches d d (Figure 3) or hooks g g¹ (Figure 17) for
the purpose of enabling the upper case to be thrown off after detaching this lower
connecting device by the upward or rearward displacement or the turning of the
same rearwards upon the upper connecting device.
Dated this 5th dow of Docambar 1888
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.