Improvements in Burden Carrying Devices for the use of Soldiers, Travellers, and others.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Feb., 1892-Accepted, 26th Mar., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Burden Carrying Devices for the use of Soldiers,
Travellers, and others.
I JOSEPH WELLINGTON FRAZIER of 290 Broadway, City and State of New
York United States of America, Merchant, 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 invention relates to devices which are intended to increase the facility
and comfort with which baggage, equipments, or other burdens may be carried upon
the person of a traveller hunter or soldier.
The invention consists in distributing the weight of the objects to be carried by
hanging them, respectively, directly upon the lower extremities of suspenders com-
posed of two front legs, united to or formed in one piece with shoulder straps
which pass over the shoulders of the wearer, and are united to a single rear leg;
and in the employment of a waist belt for lightly holding said objects against the
body, and thereby preventing the movements of the wearer, in walking, running or
jumping, from imparting to the suspended objects swinging movements, which if they
were permitted, would result in the infliction of uncomfortable blows against the
person of the wearer.
The more bulky portion of the load is carried in a skeleton frame knapsack or
other receptacle, which is supported at the bottom upon the lower extremity of the
rear suspender leg and is stayed at the top by straps passing across the shoulders,
and connected with the suspenders, which prevent the knapsack or other receptacle
containing the bulky portion of the load from tipping backward.
Those parts of the load which are heavy in proportion to their bulks, as, for
example, ammunition pouches, are hung upon the front legs of the suspenders, by
means of elastic connections composed of appropriately arranged spiral springs.
The knapsack, or other receptacle for the more bulky portions of the load, may
also be supported by an elastic connection at the bottom, to the lower end of the
rear suspender, but this, although desirable is not essential because of the presence
of the springs introduced into the connections between the front legs of the
suspenders and the objects respectively hung thereon. Such springs, by yielding,
case any vertical jarring movement of either of the objects carried upon the lower
ends of the suspender legs.
The belt and the front legs of the suspenders may if desired be provided with
sockets or hooks to facilitate the carriage thereon of objects other than those hung
directly upon the suspenders, the weight of which other objects may also be utilized
to counterbalance to a greater or less extent, the weight of the knapsack or other
load supported upon the rear leg of the suspenders.
By this invention there is provided a suspensory apparatus by means of which the
total weight of the load is carried upon the shoulders of the wearer, and is so dis-
tributed that its centre of suspension is in a vertical line near the longitudinal axis
of the body, and in a horizontal plane near the height of the shoulders.
These results are accomplished without interference with the respiration or with
the freedom of action of the limbs and muscles of the wearer during the acts of walking
running or jumping, and without subjecting the wearer to the uncomfortable blows
which would be inflicted if the knapsack or other rear load were permitted to acquire
swinging movements toward and from the body.
Finally the apparatus affords ample facilities for carrying a large variety of
objects in positions where they are convenient of access, and from or to which they
may be easily removed or restored.

page_text: In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is an isometrical perspective view showing two ammunition pouches
hung respectively upon the front legs of the suspenders and also showing hung upon
the rear leg of the suspenders, the socket frame for supporting the rear load.
Figure 2 is an isometrical perspective view of a skeleton frame for carrying
bulky objects adapted for support upon a socket frame hung upon the rear leg of
the suspenders.
Figure 3 is a top view of the rear portion of the waist belt and rear socket
frame.
Figure is an elevation partly in section, of the rear socket frame and adjoining
portions of the waist belt, showing the lower extremity of the rear suspender leg
connected to the said socket frame.
Figure 5 is a rear elevation similar to Figure 4 but showing the spring tongue
connected to the bottom of the knapsack or skeleton frame, and deposited in its
socket in the rear socket frame.
Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section of the rear socket frame, showing in
elevation portions of the waist belt and suspenders, and exhibiting a knapsack
supported upon the rear suspender leg.
Figure 7 is a longitudinal section illustrating the mode of connection of the
shoulder straps with the suspenders, which is shown in isometrical perspective in
Figure 1.
The suspenders A are shown as composed of the front legs A' A' each of which
is made extensible by means of the return bend and buckle A2 and each of which
is provided at its lower extremity with the hook A. The front legs are respectively
united to or formed in one piece with the shoulder straps A A' which are adapted
to extend over the shoulders of the wearer, and are united to the rear leg, a, the
lower extremity a' of which is connected with a metallic frame hereinafter called
the rear socket frame B in which is formed a socket B' for facilitating the support
of the knapsack or other receptacle for the more bulky portion of the load directly
upon the lower extremity of the rear suspender leg a.
The socket frame B is composed of the metallic strip preferably leather
covered, the central portion of which is outwardly offset to form a recess with out-
wardly flaring side walls united to a rear wall which is parallel with the
main portion of the metallic strip . A vertical partition 63, has its vertical edges
brazed rivetted or otherwise secured to the flaring side walls ¹¹ respectively, and
serves as the inner wall of the socket B'. The ends of the metallic strip are
bent inwardly and have rivetted to them the vertical bends respectively, which
serve to loosely clasp the waist belt C against the inwardly turned ends of the
strip b.
The waist belt is provided in front with the usual clasp C¹.
b
Within the bight of the flaring bends of the metallic strip bare secured the
vertical cylinders in which are inserted the vertical legs 6'', which are affixed
to or formed in one place with the horizontal bar 68 to which the lower extremity, a¹
of the rear suspender leg is connected. Although not absolutely essential to the
successful working of the suspensory structure. It is preferred to introduce
within the cylinders the expanding spiral springs which abut at their
upper ends against the perforated heads of said cylinders, and at their lower ends
against the transverse keys or nuts 610 610, respectively applied to the lower
extremities of the vertical legs b. The quality of clasticity is thus introduced
into the devices connecting the socket frame B with the lower extremity of the rear
suspender leg at.
The ammunition pouches D D are carried respectively upon the pouch
frames D D. Each pouch frame is composed of the metallic strip d which is
preferably leather covered. The opposite ends d' d' of the strip dare bent
inwardly and secured respectively to the vertical cylinders d2 d2 and have rivetted
to them the bands d³ ³ which serve to loosely clasp the waist belt C against the
inwardly bent ends dd. Within the cylinders d² d are deposited respectively the

page_text: expanding spiral springs dª dª which abut at their upper ends against the perforated
heads of the cylinders d² ² and at their lower ends against the transverse keys or
unts dd, applied respectively to the lower extremities of the vertical legs de de
which are united to or formed in one piece with the horizontal bar d', to which
there is attached the eye for engaging one of the hooks A³ with which the lower
extremities of the front suspender legs A' A' are respectively provided.
The more bulky portion of the load is carried in the rear of the person, and
may either be contained within the knapsack E as illustrated in Figure 6 or within
the skeleton frame F illustrated in Figure 2. The latter preferably consists of a
metallic base frame F¹ to which is pivotally connected, on the side next the body
of the wearer, a short upright metallic frame f and upon the opposite side a longer
upright metallic frame F2 The upper extremities of the two upright frames
respectively, are provided with the strap eyes ff and F³ F. Flexible stay
straps G G are permanently secured to the strap eyes f1 f respectively and are
led upward therefrom and over the load contained within the skeleton frame
through the strap eyes F3 F4 and thence forward over the shoulders of the wearer
to their points of attachment to the suspenders; such attachment being effected
by the engagement of the hooks g g with which the free ends of the straps GG
are respectively provided, with the vertically adjustable links H H arranged on
the front legs of the suspenders. Each of the said links consists of a rectangular
frame, h, provided with a central cross bar from which there project laterally
two short pins 2 h² which are adapted for insertion through holes punched in the
suspenders. The suspender strap in each case is led over the cross bar h¹, but
under the bars of the rectangular frame which are parallel with the said cross bar.
The front legs of the suspenders are each provided with two rows of holes, 0, 0,
to provide for the adjustment of the links H H at different heights. Instead of
making the links H H vertically adjustable, they may be permanently secured to
the legs of the suspenders, as illustrated in Figure 6 in which case the stay strap.
for leading over the shoulders and connecting with the load in the rear of the
person will be constructed like the stay strap I shown in Figure 6 which, as will
be seen is made extensible by means of the return bend i and buckle i'.
The stay straps are intended simply to hold the load at the rear of the person,
so as to prevent it from tipping backward; the weight of such load, whether it be
contained in a knapsack or in the metallic frame For other receptacle, is directly
supported upon the lower extremity of the rear suspender leg. To that end the
bottom of the knapsack, or the bottom of the skeleton frame or other receptacle as
the case may be is provided with a tongue J which is adapted for deposit in the
socket B¹.
Although not essential, it is preferred to pivotally connect the tongue J with the
bottom of the knapsack, skeleton frame or other weight carrying structure, and to
employ in connection with said tongue a torsion spring, by the influence of which
the tongue, when removed from the socket B' will be rocked against the bottom of
the weight carrying structure as illustrated in solid lines in Figure 2, in which as
will be seen, the tongue J is looped around the horizontal bar E to which there is
applied the spiral spring k the central portion of which bears against one side
of the tongue J while its opposite ends are affixed to the lugs LL projecting
downward from the inner corners of the base plate F. The lugs L L may how-.
ever, be arranged to project downward from the base plate midway between its
front and rear corners as illustrated in Figure 6, in which they are represented as
so applied to the bottom e of the knapsack E. In such case the tongue J will be
bent to a right angle, as shown in Figure 6, so that when detached from the
socket Bits torsion spring k will cause its vertical portion to be rocked upward
against the outer side of the knapsack E approximately to the position in which
it is represented in dotted lines in Figure 6. When the tongue is inserted in the
socket B' the resultant effect of the torsion spring k is to lightly press the lower
portion of the knapsack E or of the skeleton frame F as the case may be, toward
the back of the wearer, so that, although the waist belt is not clamped tightly

page_text: around the body, there will be no opportunity for violent lateral swinging motion
to be communicated to the lower part of the knapsack or frame by the movements
of the wearer.
When a knapsack is employed, the stay straps may be connected with a buckle
eye El affixed to the top of the knapsack, as illustrated in Figure 6.
If desired the socket B¹ may be made of sufficient width to permit the insertion
therein of the tongue, m of a haversack or pouch M as illustrated in Figure 6.
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
First. The herein described burden carrying apparatus for travellers hunters or
soldiers the same consisting of suspenders composed of two extensible front legs
united to or formed in one piece with shoulder straps for hanging over the shoulders
of the wearer, a central rear leg united to said shoulder straps a frame connected
with the lower extremity of said rear leg, and provided with a suitable socket a
knapsack or other receptacle, for containing the more bulky portion of the burden,
provided at the bottom with a tongue for insertion in said socket and provided with
stay straps for passing over the shoulders of the wearer and connecting the top of
said knapsack or other receptacle with the suspenders; pouch frames hung respec-
tively upon the lower extremities of the front suspender legs for supporting objects
such as ammunition pouches, which are relatively heavy in proportion to their
bulk, and a waist belt loosely connected with said pouch frames and said rear
frame, and provided with a clasp for holding against the body of the wearer the
objects hung or supported upon the lower extremities of the suspender legs
respectively.
Second. The combination, as herein set forth of suspenders having two front
legs and one rear leg, a frame suspender upon said rear leg and connected with the
bottom of a knapsack or other receptacle, for bulky objects, in combination with
pouch frames respectively provided with spiral springs suitably suspended from
the lower extremities of the front suspender legs respectively and adapted to carry
the weight of said pouch frames and the weight of the ammunition pouches or
other objects deposited upon said pouch frames substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
Third. In combination with the leg of a suspender and a frame for supporting
an ammunition pouch or other object to be carried upon the person, two vertically
arranged spiral springs connected with said frame and suitably hung from the
lower extremity of said suspender leg.
Fourth. The combination as and for the purposes herein set forth of the suspender
leg A and hook A³ at the lower extremity thereof the pouch frame D', the spiral
springs d d the vertical legs do de inserted through said springs respectively, and
having transverse keys or nuts applied to their lower ends; the horizontal bar d
connected to the upper ends of said legs dede and provided with the eye d" for
engaging said hook A³ the waist belt and the bands d³ d³ affixed to said pouch
frame for loosely clearing said belt against said pouch frame.
Fifth. The combination as and for the purposes herein set forth of a knapsack
or other receptacle for bulky objects with the tongue J pivotally conuected to the
bottom of said knapsack or other receptacle, the spring for exerting a pressure
upon the said tongue, tending to rock it in an outward direction from the back of
the person carrying the knapsack the frame D hung from the rear suspender leg
and provided with a socket B' for engaging said tongue J and the waist belt C for
holding said frame 13 against the body of the wearer.
D
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1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.