IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF CARRYING KNAPSACKS AND OTHER ARTICLES SUSPENDED AT THE BACK BY MEANS OF LEVERS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Seaville Truss, of 53, Gracechurch Street,
City, London, Civil. Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MODE OF CARRYING KNAPSACKS AND OTHER ARTICLES SUSPENDED AT THE BACK
BY MEANS OF LEVERS."
Sealed the 20th October 1864, and dated the 26th April 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Seaville Truss
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 26th April 1864.
I, THOMAS SEAVILLE TRUSS, Civil Engineer, 53, Gracechurch Street, City,
London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MODE OF CARRYING KNAPSACKS AND OTHER ARTICLES SUSPENDED AT THE
BACK BY MEANS OF LEVERS," to be as follows:-
My said improvements consist in the construction of levers of such a form
as shall lie as close to the body of the wearer as required, being forked at one
end, and having two fulcrums, one on each shoulder. The forked ends of the
levers are nearest to the fulcrums, and project from the back of the wearer,
and to these ends the knapsack or other article to be carried is attached by
hooks, straps, or other means. The other end of the levers is attached to the
front of the waist belt by means of hooks, straps, or other suitable appliances.
The portion of the levers between the fulcrums and the ends attached to the
waist belt is formed in two pieces, one to slide upon the other, and secured to
each other with screw bolts and nuts, in order to regulate 'the length of the
levers, but this is not absolutely necessary, as the levers may be made in one

page_text: piece. The fulcrums are attached to metal plates, which plates are attached
to the coat, and rest upon the shoulders. To keep the knapsack or other
article in its proper position for carrying, a strap is attached thereto, which is
secured to the waist belt behind. As my said improvements are capable of
various modifications without departing from the principle thereof, I do not
restrict myself to the precise form or the material to be employed in the con-
struction thereof, but for strength I prefer the levers to be made of steel. For
some purposes the levers may be made in several pieces, also the ends
projecting from the back may be united; and these ends may also be formed
for the article carried to rest upon.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Seaville Truss in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 24th October 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
SEAVILLE TRUSS, of 53, Gracechurch Street, London, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand-eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant: unto
me, the said Thomas Seaville Truss, Her special licence that I; the
said Thomas Seaville Truss, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others. as I, the said Thomas Seaville Truss, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 THE MODE OF CARRYING KNAPSACKS
AND OTHER ARTICLES SUSPENDED AT THE BACK BY MEANS OF LEVERS," upon the
condition (amongst others.) that I, the said Thomas Seaville Truss, 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 to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Seaville Truss, 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 :-
My said improvements consist in the construction of levers of such forms
as shall lie as close to the body of the wearer as convenient, being forked,
branched, or so formed at one end as to pass over and rest upon the shoulders
of the wearer. To the ends of each such lever projecting from the shoulders
of the wearer the knapsack or other article to be carried is attached by means
of hooks, straps, or other suitable appliances. The other end of the lever is
attached to the waist belt or clothing of the wearer by means of hooks, straps,
or other suitable appliances. The lever is formed in two parts for the purpose.
of regulating the length, so as to be applicable to persons of various heights,
one part sliding upon the other, and secured to each other by means of screw
bolts and nuts, but this is not absolutely necessary, as the lever may be made
in one piece or in several pieces, so as to fold up. Plates may be attached to
the lever by means of studs, staples, or other appliances to protect the shoulder
when required. To keep the knapsack or other article to be carried in proper
position for carrying, a strap is attached thereto, which is secured to the waist
belt or clothing of the wearer when such is necessary.
Figure 1 is a side view, Figure 2 is a front view, and Figure 3 is a plan of
the apparatus. The same letters refer to the same parts in each.
A, B, C, is the lever, formed in three parts, the two parts A, B, are made
to slide one upon the other, and are secured to each other by the screw bolt a.
That part of the lever from C to B is forked, branched, or formed so as to.
pass over each shoulder of the wearer. b is a shoulder plate for the lever to
rest upon, and to this is attached à stud or pivot c, which passes through the
lever at d; e is a rod connecting the forked ends of the lever; f is the end of
the lever secured to the knapsack D by means of the hook g; h is the end of
the lever secured to the waist belt E by means of the bar i passing through
the staple ; is the strap, attached to the knapsack D, and secured to the
waist belt E. The ends of the lever C, C, are made to slide upon the rod e,
and also to clip the part of the lever B, B.
By way of further illustration, I have shewn a few modifications of the lever
attached to the knapsack or other article to be carried in Figures 4, 5, and 6,
which are marked with the like letters of reference as Figures 1, 2, and 3.
Figure 4 shews the shoulder plate 6 attached to the lever A, B, C, by means
of the staples m, m, with that part of the lever C not clipping the part B.
Figure 5 shews the lever A, B, C, in two parts only, with the shoulder plates

page_text: attached thereto by means of the staples m, m. Figure 6 shews the lever
A, B, C, in two parts only, and without shoulder plates, and the end C thereof
formed for the reception of the article to be carried.
As my said Invention is capable of various modifications without departing
from the principle thereof, I do not restrict myself to the precise form or the
materials to be employed in the construction thereof, as the lever may be made
in one or many pieces, and also formed for the reception of the articles to be
carried; nor do I restrict myself to the precise mode of attaching the same to
the wearer. I prefer the levers to be made of steel for strength.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my Inven-
tion the construction of levers forked, branched, or otherwise so formed as to
pass over and rest upon the shoulders lying as close to the body of the wearer
as convenient for the purpose of carrying knapsacks or other articles, in the
manner herein-before described.
I also claim as my Invention the making of the levers in two or more pieces
for the purpose of regulating the length thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Seaville Truss, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
THOS. SEAVILLE TRUSS. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by
the above-named Thomas Seaville
Truss in the presence of
SHELDON D. ASHBY,
9, Clement's Lane, Lombard Street,
London, Solicitor.