Military Combination Implement or Field Equipment, applicable as a Shield, a Cooking Vessel, a Combination Tool, and for other purposes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 8th Dec., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Military Combination Implement or Field Equipment, applicable as
a Shield, a Cooking Vessel, a Combination Tool, and for other
purposes.
I, JASPER WETTER, Patent Agent, of 433 Strand, in the County of London,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, a communication from Jens Zinn,
Architect, of Copenhagen, in the Kingdom of Denmark, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention is a further development of the combination implement described
in the Patent Specification No. 20859, dated 17 Nov. 1892, and has for its object,
to provide a field equipment adapted to serve as a bullet proof shield, as a cooking
utensil, as a spade, and for various other purposes, without occupying too much
space, as will be more fully described and illustrated by the drawings, of which
Fig. 1 is a diametrical section of the implement ready for use as a shield for the
breast or arm;
Fig. 2 is a side view of the same;
Figs. 3, 4, and 5, show the shape of the cooking vessel and frying pan.
Fig. 6 shows the shield after it has been opened by turning back the lid ;
Figs. 7 to 16 show various tools and field implements, which may be enclosed by
the shield.
The shape of the shield, when closed, is similar to that of a watch. It encloses a
cooking vessel or kettle, composed of several conically shaped rings, the width and
height of which are such, that they may be telescoped together, as shown by Fig. 1,
or drawn out, as shown in Fig. 4.
The undermost ring has a solid bottom, and the uppermost is covered with a
frying pan P, which in the position shown by Fig. 4, serves as a cover. When the
implement is used as a shield, the frying pan will appear as shown in Fig. 1 inside
the innermost ring. To the outermost ring is hinged a circular handle Q, which,
when the cooking kettle is drawn out, occupies a vertical position, and by means of
a stop the rings are then prevented from being shoved together, as shown by
Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 5 represents two vessels connected face to face with their top
edge, so as to form a small barrel, which may be used for the preservation of frozen
meat. In the position shown by Fig. 1, there is inside the frying pan P. an
open space, which may be filled with various smaller articles. The invention
has also for its object to enable the soldier, when on field service, to dispose of
an electric light useful for various operations. For this purpose the shield
contains an accumulator with appurtenances.
If, for instance, in a company of 15 soldiers each carries an accumulator, they
will be able to produce a very strong electric light by connecting the 15 accumu-
lators. In the appended drawings, Fig. 1, a indicates an accumulator and b
Fig. 17 a coil of electric conductors which may be connected with the same.
The space which is still left unoccupied may be used in various ways. As
it is desirable, that the soldier should have at his disposal a suitable disinfecting
or antiseptic substance, a capsule d Fig. 1 containing the same is also enclosed
in the shield, and the other unoccupied space marked with H contains dressings
to be used in connection with the said antiseptic. The shield then contains,
besides a cooking vessel and a frying pan (that may be used as a cover), also
an accumulator, an electrical conductor and lastly a capsule with antiseptics and
a store of dressings.
The invention also comprises a spade of special construction, which may be of
service in the field not only as a spade, but also as a hoe, hatchet, crow-bar.

page_text: wrench, saw, file and hammer. Fig. 7 shows the spade with saw teeth in one
side of the blade, while the opposite side is cut like a file and the end of the
handle is fitted with a hammer, shown separately in Fig. 13.
Fig. 9 shows the spade transformed into a hoe, the blade being mounted on the
handle at a right angle by means of a hole made through the head K. Fig. 10
shows the hatchet, where the handle is placed parallel with the rear edge of the
blade and firmly screwed in the head K. The handle forms a tube composed of
two parts h h (Fig. 9), one half having such a width that it can be telescoped into
and out of the other part. If the upper part h' of the handle is lost, the hammer
may be screwed on to the lower part of the tube (Fig. 8). The spade handle is
shown on a larger scale by Fig. 12. The inside of the lower half of the tube may
be employed for keeping maps. Fig. 11 shows the same spade blade, but with a
handle composed of an expansible trellis work which may collapse as shown in
Fig. 16. The upper end of the hammer forms a rest for the rifle. Fig. 17 shows
a measuring tape rolled up, consisting of a steel spring provided on one face with
linear measures and on one edge with saw teeth, as shown in Fig. 18, so that it may
be used as a saw for heavier work. The spade, together with hammer and
measuring tape, as described above, may, when folded together, be carried in a
leather case, as shown in Fig. 14, where the dotted lines indicate the spade blade
inside the case, and the lower end of the handle together with the screw kis
protruding. Lastly the handle, Fig. 16 may likewise be pushed into the case.
The whole of this case with its contents may be placed on the exterior of the
shield, Figs. 1-2, and will then contribute to render the same bullet-proof. The
invention has further for its object, to provide the soldier with suitable means for
carrying and using a small quantity of a strong explosive. On account of the
danger, it is not advisable to use every kind of explosive. Some explosives, such
as fulgurite, according to the reports given of it, can only be ignited by means of
electricity, and as the soldier, who carries the said shield, disposes of electrical
apparatus, this explosive will be particularly suitable for employment with this
shield. For storing such an explosive, I utilize the lower end of the spade handle,
and insert the explosive either loosely, or after it has been cuveloped in suitable
capsules.
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. A military combination utensil or field equipment comprising in its construction
an outer shield or casing made of two parts, a telescopic cooking vessel enclosed in
the said casing, and a convertible spade, with or without a measuring tape, adapted
to serve as a saw, substantially as described.
2. A military equipment or combination utensil comprising in its composition an
outer shield or casing made of two parts, a telescopic cooking vessel, an electric
accumulator and conductor, antiseptic and dressings, enclosed in the said casing,
substantially as described.
3. A couvertible spade suitable as a field equipment, substantially as described.
4. The combination of a shield containing an electric accumulator, with a
convertible spade containing in its hollow handle a safe explosive.
Dated this 5th day of November 1894.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433, Strand, London, Agents.