Improvements in Equipments or Accoutrements.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left 8th lan 1897-Accented
3rd Apr. 1897
Improvements in Equipments or Accoutrements.
A communication to me from PATRICK LEWIS, of Quebec, in the Dominion of
Canada.
I, THOMAS HENRY COTHILL, of Ashmore House, Leave's Green, Keston, in
the County of Kent, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to equipments or accoutrements used for military, naval,
or sporting purposes. It has for its object a novel method of constructing and
arranging the parts of such equipments or accoutrements, so that they are more
readily put on and taken off the wearer, more capable of effective adjustment, the
weights to be carried are better distributed, and generally the equipment is more
convenient and effective for the purposes required than has heretofore been
the case.
In order to put the invention in operation, I take a waistbelt, of suitable leather
or other material, which is fitted round the waist of the wearer outside the tunic,
and is fastened in front by a fastening of any of the ordinary well-known kinds.
The belt is preferably adjustable at the sides, its front ends being for this purpose
passed round, and buckled to, loops in two shorter pieces which form the front and
to which the fastening is attached.
Broad straps pass over the shoulders of the wearer, (and may pass under shoulder
straps on the tunic), and to the front ends of each of these straps are rivetted or
otherwise attached two brace straps, the free ends of which are adjustably buckled
to short leather loops which carry the buckles and also through metal loops or
square rings sewn or otherwise attached, to the main part of the belt, and to the
separate front pieces of the latter, respectively.
The back ends of the broad shoulder straps have rivetted or otherwise attached
to them narrower leather straps, which after crossing each other are buckled to
buckles at the upper ends of short leather loops (similar to those already described
at the front), these loops also passing through metal loops or square rings sewn
to or otherwise attached in the proper positions to the back of the belt. The
straps at the back, at the point where they cross, are held together by a stud
or button, which may be fixed to the inner one and pass through a button hole in
the outer one.
To the back of the equipment described is suspended a magazine pouch for
ammunition. This consists preferably of a rectangular box or case of leather or
other suitable material, having an upper compartment closed by a leather or other
hinged lid or cover, which when closed is held down by short straps attached to it
and buttoning over studs on the case.
Below this compartment is a larger one, closed by a similar vertical leather or
other cover hinged at the top to the pouch, and provided with short straps
buttoning over studs at the bottom of the pouch. All the compartments are
provided with partitions of metal or other suitable material, forming receptacles to
receive the required number (preferably about 210) of cartridges.
The magazine pouch described is suspended to the broad shoulder straps already

page_text: described by two adjustable straps,-one at each end of the pouch, to metal loops
at the ends of which they are adjustably buckled or buttoned, whilst their upper
ends are also adjustably buckled to buckles strongly sewn or otherwise fixed upon
the back ends of the broad shoulder straps. The magazine ponch described, (which
may be made entirely of leather), need only be carried on service and not on home
parade. It is held in position against the back of the wearer, by one or more short
straps, the upper ends of which are sewn to the back of the ponch whilst their other
ends after passing down inside the waistbelt are buttoned to studs at the bottom of
the pouch.
A smaller leather pouch, provided with a buttoning flap or cover, is also carried
upon the belt at one side by a strap attached to it which passes up inside the belt
and is then brought down and buttoned upon a stud or button upon its lower end.
The supporting strap may be kept in position by a short light strap attached at
its back end to the side buckle of the belt, and at its front end buttoned to a stud
or button on the belt.
The other side of the belt is provided with a bayonet carrier of the usual kind.
The knapsack, constructed preferably of strong waterproof canvas, with leather
corners and edges, is carried at the back of the wearer.
For this purpose, at the upper edge of the back of the pack, where the flap opens,
a sufficiently strong horizontal strip of wood rounded at its edges is fixed by
leather caps or straps at its ends and centre, sewn to the back of the pack.
Round this strip, between the fastenings described, are looped the ends of two
leather straps the other free ends of which pass over the shoulders and are
adjustably buckled to buckles sewn or otherwise attached to the broad shoulder
straps. The looped ends of the two straps described are connected by a transverse
strap, in order to keep them in their proper positions.
Instead of the wooden strips described, a leather strap may be used, and the pack
may be sustained by separate short light straps connecting its lower edges with the
waistbelt.
To the front of the equipment, three leather straps of sufficient width are
attached, their front surfaces being provided with a series of transverse loops,
serving as baudoliers to receive cartridges (about 10 in each). The side straps, so
forming bandoliers, have at their upper ends short leather straps which pass up
through metal loops carried by leather attachments on the shoulder strap, and are
then brought forward and down, and buttoned upon studs on their inuer ends, so
that they can be readily removed when desired. The lower ends of the side straps
forming bandoliers are buttoned upon studs fixed to the separate ends of the
waistbelt which carry the fastening of the latter as first described. The front
horizontal bandolier strap has a button hole at each end, which button upon the
same studs as the lower ends of the side vertical bandoliers. All can therefore be
very easily removed and replaced.
In addition to these already described, attachments in the shape of straps and
buckles, or spring hooks may also be provided, at suitable points upon the waistbelt
and different straps of the equipment described, for carrying other articles, such
for instance as bavresack, small pouches or pockets, a folding spade (which is
suspended directly by a short strap to the waistbelt), and the like.
The improved equipment cau be removed from the waistbelt very quickly when
required, and the entire equipment is put on and off in the same manner as a coat
or vest, as there are no straps or buckles to be undone except the front belt
fastening. Whatever weight may be put upon it, it will not drag back, even with
the waistbelt open, or even with the tunic itself open. The weight is perpendicular
from the shoulder points, and a soldier may march with ease even with the waistbelt
open, requiring no service ammunition to balance it.
The animuuition pouch may be arranged above the pack instead of below it, and
above the pouch may be carried the soldier's mess tin, these separate articles being
held in their proper positions by suitable straps and buckles.
The precise proportion and relation of the several parts of the improved

page_text: equipment or accoutrement, may be modified or varied more or less according to
the particular purpose for which it is to be used, and the number and character of
articles which are to be carried.
Dated this 8th day of April 1896.
EDWARDS & Co.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements
quipments or
ements.
A communication to me from PATRICK LEWIS, of Quebec, in the Dominion of
Canada.
I, THOMAS HENRY COTHILL, of Ashmore House, Leave's Green, Keston, in
the County of Kent, Gentleman, 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, and accompanying drawings, that is
to say:-
This invention relates to equipments or accoutrements used for military, naval,.
or sporting purposes. It has for its object a novel method of constructing and
arranging the parts of such equipments or accoutrements, so that they are more
readily put on and taken off the wearer, more capable of effective adjustment, the
weights to be carried are better distributed, and generally the equipment is lighter,
and more convenient and effective for the purposes required, than has heretofore
been the case.
In the accompanying drawings, which are in illustration of the invention,
Figure 1 is a front view, and Figure 2 a back view, of the improved equipment,.
without the various articles to be carried.
Figure 3 shows an improved cartridge pouch or holder and
Figures 4, 5 and 6 show (on a smaller scale) in front back, and 'side view,
respectively, a soldier equipped with the improved equipment and accoutrements.
The same letters indicate the same parts in the different figures.
In order to put the invention in operation, I take a waistbelt a, of suitable
leather or other material, which is fitted round the waist of the wearer outside the
tunic, and is fastened in front at 6 by a fastening of any of the ordinary well-known
kinds. The belt is preferably adjustable at the sides by ordinary buckles at c', its
front ends being for this purpose passed round and buckled to, loops c, c, in
two shorter pieces d, d, which form the front, and to which the fastening b is
attached.
Broad straps e, e, pass over the shoulders of the wearer, (and may pass under
shoulder straps on the tunic) and to the front ends of each of these straps are
sewn, rivetted, or otherwise attached, two brace straps, f, f, g, g, the free ends of
which are adjustably buckled to short leather loops h, which carry the buckles and
also pass through metal loops or square rings i, k, sewn or otherwise attached
to the main part a of the belt, and to the separate front pieces d, d of the latter,
respectively.
The back ends of the broad shoulder straps have rivette: or otherwise attached
to them narrower leather straps l, l, which after crossing each other are buckled
to buckles m, m, at the upper ends of short leather loops n, n, (similar to those
already described at the front), these loops also passing through metal loops or
square rings o, o, sewn to or otherwise attached in the proper positions to the
back of the belt a. The straps l, l, at the back, at the point where they cross, are

page_text: held together by a stud or button p, which may be fixed to the inner one and pass
through a button hole in the outer one.
To the back of the equipment described is suspended a magazine pouch 4 for
ammunition, (shown in Figure 3). This consists preferably of a rectangular box
or case of leather or other suitable material having an upper compartment,
closed by a leather or other hinged lid or cover s, which when closed is held
down by one or more short straps t attached to it and buttoning over studs on the
case.
Below this compartment is a larger one u, closed by a similar vertical leather
or other cover v hinged at the top to the pouch, and provided with a flap, or
short straps, buttoning over studs at the bottom of the ponch. All the
compartments are provided with partitions of leather, metal, or other suitable
material, forming receptacles to receive the required number (preferably about 210)
of cartridges.
The magazine pouch described is suspended to the broad shoulder straps already
described by two adjustable straps, one at each end of the pouch, to metal loops
at the ends of which they are adjustably buckled or buttoned, whilst their upper
ends are also adjustably buckled to buckles a strongly sewn or otherwise fixed
upon the back ends of the broad shoulder straps. The magazine pouch described,
(which may be made entirely of leather), need only be carried on service and not
on home parade. It is held in position against the back of the wearer, by one or
more short straps, the upper ends of which are sewn to the back of the pouch whilst
their other ends after passing down inside the back of the waistbelt are buttoned
to studs at the bottom of the pouch.
A smaller leather pouch provided with a buttoning flap or cover '1, is also
carried upon the belt a at one side, by a supporting strap 2 attached to it which
passes up inside the belt a and is then brought down and buttoned upon a stal or
button 3 upon its lower end.
The other side of the belt is provided with a bayonet carrier 5 of the usual
kind.
The knapsack 6, constructed preferably of strong waterproof canvas, with
leather corners and edges, is carried at the back of the wearer, by means of two
leather straps the other free ends of which pass over the shoulders and are
adjustably buckled to buckles at y sewn or otherwise attached to the broad
shoulder straps, and the pack may be sustained and kept in position by separate
short light straps connecting its lower edges with the waistbelt.
To the front of the equipment, three separate leather straps 7, 8, and 9, of
sufficient width, are attached, their front surfaces being provi ted with a series of
trausverse loops, serving as bandoliers to receive cartridges (about 10 in each).
The side straps, 7 and 8, so forming bandoliers, have at their upper ends short
leather straps which pass up through metal loops y carried by the leather
attachments y, on the shoulder strap, and are then brought forward and down an
buttoned upon studs on their inner ends, so that they can be readily removed when
desired. The lower ends of the side straps forming bandoliers are battoned upon
studs, fixed to the separate ends of the waistbelt which carry the fastening of the
latter as first described. The front horizontal bandolier strap 9 has a button
hole at each end, which button upon the same studs as the lower ends of
the side vertical bandoliers. All cau therefore be very easily removed and
replaced.
If the bandoliers are not used, a pouch carried by the waistbelt may be used in
their place.
In addition to those already described, attachments in the shape of straps and
buckles or spring hooks may also be provided at suitable points upon the waist belt
and different straps of the equipment described, for carrying other articles, such
for instance as havresack 10, mess-tin 11, waterboule 12, small pouches or
pockets 13, a folding spade (which is suspended directly by a short strap to the
waist belt), and the like.

page_text: The improved equipment is light, and can be removed from the waistbelt very
quickly when required, and the entire equipment is put on and off in the same
manner as a coat or vest, as there are no straps or buckles to be undone except
the front belt fastening. Whatever weight may be put upon it it will not drag
back, even with the waistbelt open, or even with the tunic itself open. The
weight is perpendicular from the shoulder points, and a soldier can march
with ease even with the waist belt open, requiring no service ammunition to
balance it.
The ammunition pouch may he arranged above the pack instead of below it, and
above the pouch may be carried the soldier's mess tin 11, these separate articles
being held in their proper positions by suitable straps and buckles.
The precise proportion and relation of the several parts of the improved.
equipment or accoutrement may be modified or varied more or less according to the
particular purpose for which it is to be used, and the number and character of
articles which are to be carried.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The equipment, consisting of the waistbelt a, with fastening b, shoulder
straps e, brace straps f, g, loops h and buckles, and metal loops i, k attached to
belt a, cross straps 7, buckles m, loops n, and metal loops or rings o attached to
the belt a, and stud p, all arranged and used substantially as described and shewn
in the drawings.
2. The magazine pouch consisting of case 4, having an upper compartment r
divided by partitions for cartridges, cover 3 and straps t and buttons, lower
compartment u divided by partitions for cartridges, cover with short straps w
buttoning over studs at the bottom of the pouch, and end loops to receive
adjustable straps buckled to the shoulder straps e at y, and back straps having
their upper ends attached to the back of the pouch and their lower ends, after
passing down inside the back of the waistbelt a, buttoned to studs at the bottom
of the pouch, substantially as described and illustrated.
3. In combination with the equipment described and claimed in Claim 1, the
removeable broad straps 7, 8, and 9, having compartments to receive cartridges,
the straps 7 and 8 being buckled at their upper ends to the straps e, and buttoned
at their lower ends to studs on the belt a, and the strap 9 being buttoned at its
ends to the same studs, substantially as and for the purpose described and
illustrated, in Figures 4 and 5.
4. In combination with the equipment described and claimed in Claim 1, the
several fittings and attachments to carry waterbottle, bayonet, hanger, pouches,
knapsack, messtin, and the like, substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 8th day of January 1897
EDWARDS & Co.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.