Improved Method of and Apparatus for Carrying Military Knapsacks.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 20th June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 20th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 26th Apr., 1890
Daten aus day of me 100.
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said August Fonson and Jean Baptiste Schmid.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Apparatus for Carrying Military
Knapsacks.
We, AUGUST FONSON, Manufacturer, of 49-51 Rue des Fabriques, and JEAN
BAPTISTE SCHMID, Captain of Grenadiers, of 19 Rue Montagne aux Herbes Potagères,
both in Brussels, Belgium, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The present mode of supporting a knapsack is by means of braces or straps, so
that all the weight rests on the man's shoulders, which causes great fatigue after long
wear and impedes the free movements of the arms.
The object of our invention is to obviate these disadvantages by constructing a

page_text: !
support composed of a rigid table or shelf A as shown on the annexed
drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3 on which the knapsack rests, this shelf being
connected at right angles to a plate B which is secured. to the waist belt by a slide
loop C
The shelf A and the plate. B may be in one piece, or formed of two different parts
connected. by hinges,, but in, the latter. case small stops or. brackets A! must be
provided in order that the shelf may rest. at right angles to the plate, when
lowered.
T
The slide, loop C by which the support is attached to the bolt. may be placed above
or below the shelf, according to the height of the man.
As will be seen by reference to Figures 4 and 5 on a smaller
may be fitted to the hinge, so that whilst the knapsack is
the latter is in a
a position at right angles to the plate B, but
removed the shelf rises automatically and lays flat against the
scale a spiral spring. D
resting on the shelf A
when the knapsack is
man's back.
It will be found useful to provide the plate B with two pads to soften the contact
with the back and protect the spine.
The knapsack may be secured to the shelf by a bolt, a key, or other arrangement,.
and in Figures 4 and 5 we have shown an opening in the middle of the shelf A for
that purpose.
This support may be made of strong leather strengthened by thin plates of steel
or iron; of wood, of metal, of cured leather (cuir bouilli), or of other suitable
material.
Figure 1 of the Drawings is a face view of the support provided with hinges, the
shelf A being raised.
Figure 2 is a side view, the shelf shown as lowered; and Figure 3 is a perspective
view showing at C, C¹, the two positions in which the slide loop may be placed for
the waist belt.
The advantages of the support are ;
1. It serves to distribute the weight or load of the knapsack on the thighs and to
equilibriate the weight.
2. The knapsack does not press in close contact with the man's back but is held
from it, thus allowing circulation of air.
.
3. As the knapsack rests partly on the support, the shoulder straps need not be
tightly braced, thereby giving desired freedom to the arms, the man's chest is not
compressed, he breathes better, and can march longer:
4. By reason of the shoulder straps being comparatively loose, they do not drag
the upper part of the garment, nor the neck band.
5. As the shelf rises when the support is not required, (automatically if the
hinge spring is affixed) it will not be in the way when the man sits down in a
train, or when lying down etc.
6. The support may be applied for all systems of knapsack.
.. Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
The arrangement of a support for a knapsack composed essentially of a shelf
connected rigidly, or by means of hinges with or without spring to a plate attached
to the waist belt by a slide loop or loops which may be above or below the level
of the shelf; to obtain the advantages set forth, as above described and substantially
as shown in the Drawings.
1?
von day
DEATH.
H: GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Patent Agent,
Agent for the said August Fonson and Jean Baptiste Schmid.