IMPROVEMENTS IN SLINGS OR STRAPS ADAPTED FOR KNAPSACKS, WALLETS. GAME BAGS, AND OTHER SUCH LIKE USES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Prater, of the Firm of Charles Prater and
Company, of Charing Cross, in the County of Middlesex, Army Accontre-
ment Makers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SLINGS OR STRAPS
ADAPTED FOR KNAPSACKS, WALLETS. GAME BAGS, AND OTHER SUCH LIKE
USES"
Scaled the 9th August 1861, and dated the 12th February 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Prater at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th
February 1861.
I, CHARLES PRATER, of the Firm of Charles Prater and Company, of
Charing Cross, in the County of Middlesex, Army Accoutrement Makers, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SLINGS
OR STRAPS ADAPTED FOR KNAPSACKS. WALLETS, GAME BAGS, AND OTHER SUCH LIKE
USES," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to secure upon the human back knapsacks,
wallets, game bags, or other packages, without confining the arms of the
wearer, as is usual, with the slings ordinarily used for such purpose.
I propose placing on the upper part of such packages two buckles, into
which one extremity of the slings is secured, the other ends thereof pass
over the shoulders, and are lined with malleable steel plates so that they may
lie flat on the chest, or when the body is inclined to be corpulent shall accomo-
date themselves to the figure. These plates of steel are supplied with studs

page_text: for the purpose of allowing a short strap to cross over the chest, said strap
passing over bridges or mounts upon the shoulder straps which prevent the
cross strap pressing on the chest. These straps are so arranged with buckles
and graduated holes to suit the various heights of the persons they are intended
for, the principal object being to attach packages of various kinds to the back,
at the same time leaving the arms perfectly free.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Prater in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
August 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
PRATER, of the Firm of Charles Prater and Company, of Charing Cross, in
the County of Middlesex, Army Accoutrement Makers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Charles Prater, Her special licence that I, the said Charles Prater, my
exccutors, adminstrators, and assigus, or such other as I, the said Charles
Prater, my executors, administrators, 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
SLINGS OR STRAPS ADAPTED FOR KNAPSACKS, WALLETS, GAME BAGS, AND OTHER SUCH
LIKE USES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles
Prater, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
or their, or one of their hauds 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Prater, 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,
that is to say :-
The object of this Invention is to secure upon the human back knapsacks,

page_text: wallets, game bags, or other packages without confining the arms of the
wearer as is usual with the slings ordinarily used for such purpose.
In order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect, as follows:-
I place on the upper part of the package or other parcel to be carried two
buckles, into which one extremity of the slings is secured, the other ends
thereof pass over the shoulders, and are lined with malleable steel plates so
that they may lie flat on the chest, or when the body is inclined to be corpulent
shall accommodate themselves to the figure. These plates of steel are
supplied with studs for the purpose of allowing a short strap to crossover the
chest, said strap passing over bridges or mounts upon the shoulder straps
which prevent the cross strap pressing on the chest. These straps are so
arranged with buckles and graduated holes to suit the various heights of the
persons for whom they are intended, the principal object being to attach
packages of various kinds to the human back, at the same time leaving the
arms perfectly free.
Having now described the nature and objects of my said Invention of
"Improvements in Slings or Straps adapted for Knapsacks, Wallets, Game
Bags, and other such like Uses," I would remark in conclusion that what I
claim as my Invention, and therefore wish to be secured to me by the herein in
part recited Letters Patent, is, the mode of attaching to the human back
various descriptions of packages by slings or straps in the manner herein
described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Prater, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Witness,
CHARLES PRATER. (L.s.)
ALEX. PRINCE, Agent for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross.