Year: 1899

page_text: I, KENDRICK SWAINE BOURNE, of Elford, Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, Artist, do hereby declare the nature of my said inven-
tion to be as follows:
My invention has for its object a new or improved bullet proof shield specially
suitable for use on the battle field and so constructed as to be quite portable
and easily manipulated and capable of easy transport on the backs of mules or
in transport wagons.
The shield or the front of the shield would be composed of sheets of steel or
iron or other bullet proof material made in sections or of such size as to be capable
of easy transport and I prefer to make them of such sections as would be easily
carried upon the back of a mule. The sections may be formed of thin sheets
stiffened by or angle irons so that when several of such sections are brought
end to end shields of any required length will be formed by bolting the angle
irons together. From the back of the shield say the end sections I mount crane
neck or other projecting pieces and under which a wheel or wheels are hung or
pivoted. Straps or sockets are also mounted upon some or all of the sections to
which pushing bars or shafts are attached by bolts screws straps or the like and
in such a manner that the inclination of the shafts may be varied so that when
the shield is stationary or the shafts rested upon the ground the shield would
stand upright or nearly so or rather inclined towards the back. The ends of the
shafts would be tapered and turned downwards so that the points could be forced
into the ground thus securing the shield firmly in position. The bottom edge
of the shield when necessary may be thickened or loaded so that the normal
tendency of the shield would be the upright position. In difficult positions or
narrow pathways the shield could be transported endwise on the pivoted wheels.
In attacking an entrenched enemy a number of such shields may be used either in
line or not but with spaces between each sufficient for the men to rush through
between them when near the entrenchments. The shields may also be constructed
from laths or sections or steel iron or other bullet proof material and when
required in such a manner that slits or openings would be left here and there
through which observations could be made and through which rifles could be
fired. Such strips may be flat at their centre with bevelled flanges at each side
which would abut or nearly abut against each other and at which parts the slits
could be formed in such a manner as to present the point of the angle to the
enemy. The stays or ledges to which these strips are fastened may be either Lirons
or timber or other material.
1 1
00
1 1
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1
1000

page_text: I, KENDRICK SWAINE BOURNE, of Elford, Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, Artist, do hereby declare the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:
--
My invention has for its object a new or improved bullet proof shield specially
suitable for use on the battle field and so constructed as to be quite portable
and easily manipulated and capable of easy transport on the backs of mules or
in transport waggons..
The shield or the front of the shield would be composed of sheets of steel or
iron or other bullet proof material made in sections or of such size as to be capable
of easy transport and I prefer to make them of such sections as would be easily
carried upon the back of a mule. The sections may be formed of thin sheets
stiffened by or angle irons so that when several of such sections are brought
end to end shields of any required length will be formed by bolting the angle
irons together. From the back of the shield say the end sections I mount crane
neck or other projecting pieces and under which a wheel or wheels are hung or
pivotted. Straps or sockets are also mounted upon some or all of the sections to
which pushing bars or shafts are attached by bolts screws straps or the like and
in such a manner that the inclination of the shafts may be varied so that when
the shield is stationary or the shafts rested upon the ground the shield would
stand upright or nearly so or rather inclined towards the back. The ends of the
shafts would be tapered and turned downwards so that the points could be forced
into the ground thus securing the shield firmly in position. The bottom edge
of the shield when necessary may be thickened or loaded so that the normal
tendency of the shield would be the upright position. In difficult positions or on
narrow pathways the shield could be transported endwise on the pivoted wheels.
In attacking an entrenched enemy a number of such shields may be used either in
line or not but with spaces between each sufficient for the men to rush through
hetween them when near the entrenchments. The shields may also be constructed
from laths or sections of steel iron or other bullet proof material and when
required in such a manner that slits or openings would be left here and there
through which observations could be made and through which rifles could be
fired. Such strips may be flat at their centre with bevelled flanges at each side
which would abut or nearly abut against each other and at which parts the slits
could be formed in such a manner as to present the point of the angle to the
enemy. The stays or ledges to which these strips are fastened may be either L irons
or timber or other material.
In order that my invention may be more clearly understood and easily carried
into practical effect I have appended hereunto seven double sized sheets of draw-
ings upon which I have illustrated examples of my new or improved bullet proof
shield.
Figure 1 is a back elevation of my new or improved bullet proof shield complete
ready for use in action.
Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation taken through the line - Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 3 shewing the shafts and wheels pivotally
mounted so as to enable the shield to be transported or moved along endwise.
Figure 5 is a plan view of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a back elevation shewing a slightly modified form of my shield.

page_text: Figure is a pian view of Figure 0.
Figure 8 is an end view of Figure 6.
Figure 9 is a back elevation shewing a further modified form of my shield.
Figure 10 is a plan view shewing a triangular form of my shield.
Figure 11 is a view shewing a ready method of transporting the plates which
form my shield on the backs of mules.
Figure 12 is an elevation shewing two of my plates fixed together ready for
transport.
Figure 13 is a plan view of Figure 12.
Figure 14 is a diagram view shewing one form of making entrenchments with
one of my shields in front.
Figure 15 is a perspective view shewing my shield being moved forward in
action.
In carrying my invention into practice I form the front or bullet proof portion
of my shield 'S of the rolled plates or sheets of steel or iron or other bullet proof
material of such a size as to be capable of easy transit, the shield being preferably
made in such sections as to be easily carried upon the back of a mule or other
animal. These sections or thin sheets & which are of such a height as to entirely
cover a man when standing are united together by the L or angle iron bars 13
which may be of any required length according to the size or length of the shield
the bars being then secured by the bolts and nuts b' which pass through the bolt
holes formed in the sheets or plates and in the bars, the nuts being preferably on
the inner side of the shield as clearly shewn on the drawings. The sides or
edges of each section or sheets are bent outwards or at an angle to form the
flanges and the sections or sheets are arranged or so fixed in position onto the
bars B as to leave the vertical slot or space or opening between each through
which the soldiers can fire. These slots or openings are an important feature as
when the shield is stationary they allow of three sets of men firing through each
slot at one, viz-one set standing, the other set firing from the knee, and the
other set lying flat on the ground. Bolted at the back of the shield near either
end are the brackets D or side cheeks in which the wheels ware mounted. These
brackets or side cheeks may be made of soft steel and the wheels may be either
made of wood or with a metal rim or entirely of metal. The sections or sheets
to which these brackets are fixed by the bolts d or otherwise are cut away at
their edges to form a slot sufficiently wide for a portion of the wheel to pass
through as clearly shewn at Figure 2. Fixed to the brackets or side cheeks D
preferably by the bolts el are the shafts E which shafts or handles may be made
of tubing or the like or of wood and fitted at the ends of these shafts are the
curved or bent end pieces or spikes e so formed that when the shield is stationary
these curved ends fix themselves into the ground the shafts being preferably so
fixed that the shield inclines slightly backwards. In order to better protect the
men near the ends of my shield I may bend or form the portions of the bars B
to which the end sections or sheets are fixed at an angle and to enable the
whole of the men behind the shield to more readily help to move the shield I
provide the cross bar or rod F which may be a steel tube and which is bolted at
either end to the brackets D as clearly shewn at Figures 1 and 2. In some
cases I may provide hooks or their equivalents near the lower ends of the sheets
or sections onto which short sheets or plates or sections may be hung so as to afford
better protection.
At Figures 4 and 5 I have shewn the brackets I pivotedly connected to the back
of the shield so that in difficult positions or on narrow pathways or passes the
shield could be transported or moved endwise. In this case the wheels w would
be so mounted in the brackets D as to be entirely behind or in the rear of the
shield, the slots for a portion of the wheels to pass through as shewn at Figures 1
2 and 3 being dispensed with. Or instead of pivoting the brackets D to the
shield they may be bolted thereto as shewn at Figures 6 and 7 and I may provide
what I term "path finders" H which are bolted or otherwise fixed to the shield

page_text: in front of the wheels as shewn at Figures 7 and 8. These "path finders" which
are provided for the purpose of clearing or moving obstacles out of the track of
the wheels may be formed of two strips of steel bent to the required shape and
bolted at their upper ends to the front of the shield, their lower ends being brought
together as clearly shewn at Figure 8. In order to facilitate the cutting or
breaking down of barbed or other wire fencings or. the like obstacles I fix two
or more cutters H₁ or their equivalents which cutters may be formed of two pieces
of angle iron bolted to the front of the shield, the meeting surfaces where the
edges are brought together being bevelled off so as to form the cutting edge h² as
clearly shewn at Figure 7.
In the modification as shewn at Figure 9 instead of bending or flanging the
entire length of the edges 2 of each section or sheet I leave the edges near the
upper and lower ends straight and flange outwards the central portion of the edges
only so that when the sections or sheets are fixed in position the upper and lower
portions of the edges butt together leaving the central slots or openings st. Or 1
may cut or punch a slot or slots in each section or sheet as shewn on the end
sheets or sections either with or without flanged edges and in order to rest the
rifle I provide. the cross bar or bars J which are preferably fixed by the bolts j
across the slots at the back of the shield thus forming a convenient rest for
steadying the rifle while firing. The shield as shewn at Figure 10 which is formed
V shape is constructed to enable the men to conveniently fire from the sides. The
angle bars B which unite or fix the sections or sheets s¹ together being held apart
by the cross stays K or their equivalents and the cross bar F. It will thus be seen
that a shield of this construction enables the advancing party to fire from the
sides as well as from the front of the cover. If desired my shields may be used
for entrenching purposes as shewn at Figure 14, or for protection during encamp-
ment as a number of them when placed together will afford good shelter.
At Figure 11 I have shewn how the sections or sheets which form my shields
may be fastened onto the back of a mule for transit purposes or two sections or
sheets may be bolted together back to back as shewn at Figures 12 and 13 thus
economising space and enabling a number of the sections or sheets to be packed
together so as to occupy very little room.
At Figure 15 I have shewn a perspective view of a party of men advancing
behind one of my shields towards the enemy's trenches, the shield is being pushed
forward by the men thus enabling them to advance within a short distance of the
enemy with comparative safety. My shields may be made of various sizes to
cover say twenty up to as many as seventy or one hundred men and as the sections
or plates are readily fixed together or taken to pieces for transit they will be
found of great service in protecting the men when advancing upon the enemy in
an entrenched position and will effect a considerable saving of life.
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
CLAIMS.
First The new or improved bullet proof shield consisting essentially of a
number of sheets or plates made of steel, iron or other bullet proof material con-
nected together and mounted upon wheels and having shafts or their equivalents
substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth and shewn upon
the accompanying drawings.
Second: A bullet proof shield made up of a number of sections or sheets or
plates such as s¹ of steel, iron or other bullet proof material each section or sheet
or plate having its side edges flanged at an angle the said sheets or sections being
connected together at certain distances apart by cross bars such as B and supported
upon wheels mounted in brackets or cheeks such as D) and having shafts such as E
in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein set forth and as shewn
upon the accompanying sheets of drawings,

page_text: Third: In bullet proof shields such as are claimed in the preceding claims
pivoting the brackets or cheeks in which the wheels are mounted to the back of
the shields so as to enable the shield to be transported or moved endwise in the
manner and for the purpose substantially as herein set forth and as shewn by
Figures 4 and 5.
Fourth In bullet proof shields such as are claimed in the first claim forming
slots or openings at intervals apart either with or without flanged edges in the
manner and for the purpose substantially as herein set forth and as shewn by
Figure 9.
:
Fifth A bullet proof shield made up of a number of sections or sheets or
plates such as s¹ of steel iron or other bullet proof material connected together by
cross bars and provided with slots or openings for firing through and supported
upon wheels mounted in brackets or cheeks and having shafts and path finders
and wire cutters" in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein
set forth and as shewn upon the accompanying sheets of drawings.
"
:-
"
"
Sixth In bullet proof shields the plates s with their inclined flanges s² sub-
stantially as herein set forth and shewn upon the drawings.
Date HS way
KENDRICK SWAINE BOURNE.
By George Barker,
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
Agent for Applicant, 77, Colmore Row, Birmingham.