Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 4th June, 1887
Complete Left, 30th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 16th Mar., 1888
I EDWARD STANISLAUS BULFIN Lieutenant in Her Majesty's 2nd Battalion of the
"Princess of Wales Own (Yorkshire Regiment)" now stationed in South Camp
Aldershot do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the form of a military valise and its object
is to render the same convertible to other uses.
According to this invention the valise is attached to the soldier's person in a manner
similar to the system at present in use but differs therefrom inasmuch as it not only
carries the man's kit and necessaries, but enables him to utilize his valise when his kit
is removed from it. Thus, when detached from his person, unstrapped, and unrolled
it will form a rectangular sheet of waterproof material. At one end of this sheet (one
of the lesser sides of the rectangle) I place a pocket to hold the man's kit. The kit is
placed in a second covering, so that when removed from the pocket in the sheet, it is
still kept together. When thus unrolled, the sheet can be utilized as a waterproof bel
and two of such sheets can be fastened together so as to form a tent d'abris," the
sheets being supported by two poles, so constructed as to be conveniently carried by
the man.
Dated this 4th day of Tuna 1887
<<
EDWARD S. BULFIN, Lieut.,
2, P.W.O., Yorks. Regt.

page_text: I EDWARD STANISLAUS BULFIN Lieutenant in Her Majesty's 2nd Battalion of the
"Princess of Wales' Own" (Yorkshire Regiment) now stationed in A and B Lines
South Camp Aldershot in the County of Hampshire, do hereby declare the nature of
my 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 relates to improvements in the form of a military valise the object
being to render the same convertible to uses other than that of merely carrying a
soldier's kit. My improved valise, besides carrying the kit, can, in conjunction with
one or more similar valises, be utilized to form a tent; or where tents are provided,
each valise can be used as a sheet on which to rest. It can likewise be utilized for
other uses, such as for the purpose of forming an extempore ambulance stretcher for
wounded men or for "rivetments."
My valise consists of the seven following principal parts namely (1) a rectangular
sheet of waterproof material, (2) a triangular sheet of the same or similar material);
(3) a kit bag in which the man's necessaries are placed, (4) an outer waterproof cover
to protect the valise when packed from rain, (5) two short lengths of pole, (6) the
combination of straps by which the valise is fastened and attached to the soldier's
person, and (7) a length of cord with runner and one picket attached, and a spare
length of cord with three separate pickets made either of metal or wood.
Each of
these seven parts either forms part of, is packed within, is carried under the straps of, or
is adjacent to the valise when placed in position on the man's back.
The following is a particular description of these several parts, reference being had
to the accompanying drawings, and it being provided that I do not bind myself to
the exact measurements herein mentioned which are only those that I have found to
bo convenient and I give them for the purpose of illustration.
Fig. 1 represents the rectangular sheet measuring six feet six inches in length
by four feet six inches in width, having six metal eyelets a¹-a at equal intervals along
the two longer sides, and having a flap or fly, B, nine inches in width with metal
eyelets as shown at a-a along its outer edge, attached to the whole length of one
of its longer sides. Short loops of cord are fastened through the eyelets, as shown,
on the side opposite to that on which the flap is attached. Along each of the shorter
sides of the sheet I place a strip one inch from the outer edges, containing seven metal
eyelets as denoted at 1-7. I sometimes place a pocket at one end of the sheet (one
of the lesser sides of the rectangle) to hold the kit bag or for other purposes.

page_text: Fig. 2 represents the triangular sheet measuring four feet one inch from e io d
and three feet one inch from eto e (strictly this is a four-angled figure but its general
shape being that of a triangle I have employed the term "triangular" for simplicity)
and having metal eyelets as shown, at the three outer angles and seven metal hooks
shown at 1-7 corresponding with the eyelets in the rectangular sheet denoted by the
same figures. I also sometimes place a pocket in this triangular sheet.
Fig. 3 represents the kit bag of a convenient size, made of waterproof material,
rectangular in shape, and having flaps to close the mouth as shown.
Figs. 4 and 5 represent the outer waterproof cover, likewise of convenient size,
rectangular in shape, and closing at its lower side-or that side which is towards the
ground when the valise is in position on the man's back.-I sometimes place a pocket
in this outer cover on which triangles are sewn envelope fashion, and small receptacles
may be placed in these triangles for the reception of rations or ammunition or for
similar uses.
The rectangular and triangular sheets and kit bag can be packed into
the pocket and a great coat and cape can then be laid on the outer side of this pocket.
with the triangles folded over.
The lengths of pole are constructed in such a manner that the ends of the different
pieces. fit into each other. Fig. 6 illustrates a convenient method. The pole is ten.
inches in length and about three-quarters of an inch in diameter at its upper end and
generally made to taper very slightly towards its base; it is preferably made either
of strong light wood, bamboo, or cane, and has a hollow, bound with metal, at its upper
end and either a plug projecting with a short pin, or simply a pin projecting without
a plug at its lower end. Each man carries two of these lengths. In one of the two
lengths I place a hole a short distance from its hollow end to allow of the admission of
a cross-pin of iron wire as shown at f
The combination of straps round the valise, instead of being attached to the outer
cover, as in the valise at present in use, is in my valise kept quite separate therefrom.
Fig. 7 gives a diagram of the straps laid open ready to have the valise placed thereon.
The cross-strap, n, at the bottom, bears the whole weight of the valise and runs on the
parallel straps from the buckles, b. The straps with buckles at, o, which splay outward
correspond to the buckles now used to receive the "kicking strap" (constructed to
draw the lower part of the valise to the soldier's waist in order to prevent its bumping
when the soldier is walking). The metal pieces at, p, are used in conjunction with the
buckles on the straps, 7, to attach the valise to the braces now worn.
The cross-
strap,, which is at the top of the valise, also runs on the parallel straps in the same
manner as the cross-strap, n, as far as the straps, , and it has a loop, s, on its inner
side equidistant from the parallel straps for the purpose of holding the canteen strap.
A similar loop is placed on the outer side of the cross-strap, n, through which the
canicen strap is likewise passed, thus keeping the canteen firmly on the top of the
valise. The cross-strap, n, also carries on its outer side two loops at each end between
the parallel straps to receive the two poles. I sometimes dispense with the two cross-
straps, r, and, n, and substitute the two lengths of pole fitted into loops placed for
that purpose in the parallel straps in such a position that one pole shall be at the top
and the other at the bottom of the valise when strapped.
Each man has a length of cord with an eye spliced at one end and a runner affixed
to it; a picket is threaded below the runner. Each man also carries three pickets.
and an extra length of cord inside his valise.
Fig. 8 illustrates the method of folding and packing the valise. The triangular
sheet (fig. 2) is attached to the rectangular sheet by its centre hook, 4, and one hook.
on either side either at, 3, or, 5, (the third hook is sometimes more convenient but it
is immaterial which is used of these two); the kit bag (fig. 3) is then placed on the
triangular sheet, clear of the rectangular sheet as shown; the three corners of the
triangle, x, y, are drawn neatly over the kit bag respectively as shown by the
dotted lines; the flap, B, is folded inwards and the rectangular sheet is then
folded lengthwise; the triangular sheet folded with the kit bag, as described,
is doubled over as at, t, and the whole is rolled up. It is then placed in the.

page_text: outer cover as shown at fig. 4; the flaps, g, h, k, m, are closed as shown by the dotted
lines, and at this stage a great coat or similar article can be placed over the flaps, g, h;
the whole.is then closed as at fig. 5; the two poles with the cord, runner, and picket
twined round being put through the two loops placed for that purpose on the outer
side of the lower cross-strap so that the poles are securely fixed underneath the valise
and thus help the cross-strap to resist the weight.
The rectangular sheet when open can be simply utilized to rest upon; the kit bag
forming a head rest.
The cord carried by four men can be doubled, put through the four corner eyelets
of the rectangular sheet (the pegs which are attached forming handles) and the sheet
can be used as a stretcher; the ends being kept apart by means of two rifles laid
across the lesser ends, the butts held by the cords attached to the eyelets and the
muzzle by a like cord twined round the foresight. It is preferable to use the sheet
carried by the wounded man for this purpose; and the cords, being carried by the
other men with the poles outside the valise, can be easily got at.
The sheet can be utilized in conjunction with other sheets in the formation of
"rivetments" to sustain the interior slope of a parapet. The sheet is stretched
lengthwise by means of strong anchoring pickets, attached to the cords placed through
the eyelets, driven firmly into the earth of the parapet and the flap laid along the top
of the "superior slope." The width of the sheet, four feet six inches, is the exact
height laid down for infantry rivetments.
The particular form of tent I have designed the valiso to make is that termed the
"Tent d'Abris" to hold four men ; the four valises and four sets of poles being utilized
to make the tent and cover the ground beneath it. Each sheet, triangle, pole, and
cord being identical any four men can make the tent of which Fig. 9 illustrates the
construction. The lengths of pole carried by each two men are joined and placed at
the proper distance from each other; two sheets are joined by cords along the sides
having the flap, B, and the ends of the cord are brought round the tops of the poles;
the poles are stayed as shown by means of the cords and runners previously referred to;
the cords being prevented from slipping down the poles by the cross-pin of iron wire
shown at, f, in Fig. 6. The lower ends of the two sheets are drawn apart and pinned
to the ground by means of the pickets also referred to being placed through the loops
attached to the cyclets. The four triangular ends are closed by means of the
one triangular sheet carried by each man being hooked to the eyelets 1-7. The two
flaps, B, close the apex of the tent and prevent rain from entering; the flap of the
windward side sheet overlaps the other, and the eyelets, aa, of both sheets admit
of a cord being attached from them to the pickets, thus preventing the flaps from being
blown up.
The remaining two rectangular sheets are laid on the ground inside the
tent for the men to lie upon, the kit bags forming headrests. A variety of different
shaped tents can be made by combinations of valises.
Á valiso constructed on the same principle as that hereinbefore described can be
adapted for use with the Cavalry Mounted Infantry and other mounted branches of the
service by merely altering minor details of shape, size, and method of strapping.
The material I prefer to use for the manufacture of the rectangular and triangular
sheets is that known as "Imperial number 3" and waterproofed by being immersed
in a solution of alum and afterwards in a solution of sugar of lead.
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. In the construction of a military valise, the use of a rectangular sheet of waterproof
material with or without a flap on one side of it and with or without a pocket in it,
and of a sheet of the same or similar material triangular in its general shape and with
or without a pocket in it, and of poles the ends of which are capable of being fitted
into each other substantially as hereinbefore described.

page_text: 2. The combination in a military valise of a rectangular sheet with or without a flap on
one side of it, with a sheet triangular in its general shape, and with poles, substantially
as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
3. The methods of folding, packing, strapping, and attaching, the rectangular and
triangular sheets, kit bag, outer cover, poles, and other articles substantially as hercin-
before described.
4. The military valise capable either singly or in conjunction with other similar
valises of being utilized for and converted to the several uses in manner substantially
as hereinbefore described.