IMPROVEMENTS IN KNAPSACKS AND IN THE MODE OF SUSPENDING THE SAME.
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William White, of Wimpole Street, ´in the
County of Middlesex, Architect, F.S.A., for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN KNAPSACKS AND IN THE MODE OF SUSPENDING THE
SAME.
"
Scaled the 1st August 1871, and dated the 3rd May 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William White at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd May 1871.
I, WILLIAM WHITE, of Wimpole Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Architect, F.S.A., do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNAPSACKS AND IN THE MODE OF SUSPENDING THE SAME,"
to be as follows :-
-
This Invention relates partly to an improved construction of knapsack,
and partly to an improved appliance which I call a "porte knapsack "
for suspending the same or any ordinary knapsack or bag from the
shoulders, whereby all pressure upon the lungs and main arteries is
avoided.

page_text: According to one part of my Invention I propose to stiffen the side
of the knapsack which is towards the back of the wearer, by intro-
ducing canes or other light stiffening supports therein, both vertically and
horizontally or vertically only. I also introduce a cane or stiffener along
the back and front edge at the top of the knapsack and connect these
two canes by means of straps and loops or rings, so as to contract to any
desired extent the upper portion of the knapsack by simply drawing or
tightening the connecting straps.
My improvements in the mode of or means for suspending knapsacks
of any kind consist essentially of a light frame or support of wicker-
work or other suitable material, which is composed of three parts hinged
together, so that when folded it will lie flat. When opened for use the
top and bottom flaps are respectively fitted to the shoulder and back,
being properly curved or shaped for that purpose. To the two front
corners of the top flap there are attached two straps which may severally
or united in one pass through the back piece and by preference towards
the centre thereof in order to be secured to the knapsack which rests
upon the frame. These suspending straps are the only ones which need
be employed, and take their bearing directly upon the two shoulders of
the wearer. If desired the top and bottom flaps may be hinged directly
to the knapsack itself in lieu of being attached to the back frame, in
which case the use of the separate frame will be dispensed with.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William White in the Great Seal Patent Office;
on the 3rd November 1871.
TO ALL TO.WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
WHITE, of Wimpole Strect, in the County of Middlesex, F.S.A., sond
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William White, Her special license that
I, the said William White, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said William White, my exccutors, administrators,

page_text: or 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 KNAPSACKS AND IN
THE MODE OF SUSPENDING THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said William White, my executors or administrators, by au
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 William White, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say :—
66
My said Invention relates partly to an improved construction of knap-
sack, and partly to an improved appliance which I call a porte
knapsack" for suspending the same or any ordinary knapsack or bag
from the shoulders, whereby all pressure upon the lungs and main
arteries is avoided.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings,
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the
corresponding Figures.
Figure 1 of my Drawings represents the mode of carrying my
improved knapsack with porte knapsack combined in one; Figure 2
is a perspective view detached of my improved knapsack with porte
knapsack combined; and Figure 3 is a similar view of my separate porte
knapsack for carrying any ordinary knapsacks.
In my improved knapsack I stiffen the side which is towards the
back of the wearer by introducing canes a, a, or other light stiffening
supports therein, both vertically as at a, a, and horizontally as a' along
the bottom edge of the knapsack, or I apply them vertically only. I
also introduce a cane or stiffener b, b', along the back and front edges

page_text: at the top of the knapsack, and connect these two canes by means of
straps and loops or rings às shewn at c, c, so as to contract to any
desired extent the upper portion of the knapsack by simply drawing or
tightening the said connecting straps.
My improvements in the mode of or means for suspending knap-
sacks of any kind consist essentially of a light frame or support (sec
Figure 3) of wickerwork or other suitable material, which is composed
of three parts d, e, and f, hinged together so that when folded the parts
will be flat. When opened for use (as in Figure 3) the top and bottom
flaps d and fare respectively fitted to the shoulder and back as shown
in Figure 1, when the same flaps are supposed to be hinged to the
To
knapsack itself, being properly curved or shaped for that purpose.
the two front corners of the top flap, which I prefer for the sake of
lightness to make in the form of a yoke having two projecting arms d, d,
as shewn in my Drawings, there are attached two bearing straps I, I,
which may severally or united in one pass through or to the back piece e
of the porte knapsack or behind the vertical stiffening canes a, a, of
the knapsack itself when of my improved construction of the back piece
or knapsack as the case may be. This strap or straps is or are secured
to the knapsack near its centre when a separate knapsack is employed,
in which case it rests upon the frame or supporting back piece e of the
porte knapsack, Figure 3. These suspending straps 9, 9, are the only
ones which need be employed, and take their bearing directly upon the
two shoulders of the wearer, as shewn clearly in Figure 1.
In Figures 1 and 2 I have shown the top and bottom flaps or arms d
and f, hinged directly to the knapsack itself, in lieu of being attached
to a separate back frame as in Figure 3, in which case the use of the
separate frame will be dispensed with as the knapsack contains its own
means of support. The bottom flap which serves to prop up the knap-
sack and distribute its weight on to the loins may consist for the purpose
of extreme lightness merely of two crossed canes (see Figure 2) hinged
by leather or other joints to the two vertical stiffening canes a, a. A
broad band connects the two ends of these canes or hinged flap, and
forms an easy and flexible bearing against the loins of the wearer,
the shoulder bearing straps 9, g, being also made of broad and of soft
and flexible material, so as to prevent chafing. The adjustable straps
and fastenings i, i, are intended to be brought under the arms and
fastened loosely in front to prevent the knapsack from becoming

page_text: displaced by any sudden and violent exertion, but they are not at all
requisite for keeping the knapsack in its proper position under ordinary
circumstances as the angle of the upper yoke or arms d, d, is so adjusted
as to hook over the shoulders and be maintained in position by the
weight of the load, whilst the supports or props,f, distribute the weight
easily over the loins, and by keeping the knapsack clear of the back
of the wearer (as shewn in Figure 1) tend to keep the back cool as well
as to facilitate the carriage of the load.
The hinging of the upper flap or yoke d, d, to the upright stiffening
canes a, a, or to the back piece e as the case may be, may be effected in
a simple manner by means of a leather strap or straps as shown in
Figures 2 and 3. This application is available also for combination with
knapsacks having a framed or stiff back, in which case the canes are not
required. Although I prefer to combine the parts d and f with the
body of the knapsack itself, as shewn in Figures 1 and 2, by having
them combined with a light back piece e, so as to form a separate franie
as shewn in Figure 3, facility is afforded for carrying in my improved
manner any ordinary knapsack or burden.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider
to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The combination with a knapsack of stiffeners or supports of
cane or other suitable light material, substantially as and for the purpose
herein-before described.
Second. The application of stiffeners to the back and front edges of
the top of a knapsack in combination with straps or other equivalent
appliances for contracting to any desired extent the upper portion of the
said knapsack, substantially as herein-before described.
Third. The combination with a knapsack of the arms and props d
and f, the bearing straps 9, 9, and the back strap h or their equivalents,
substantially as and for the purpose herein-before described and illus-
trated by my Drawings.
Fourth. The construction and use of a light frame or support provided
with hinged flaps or other equivalents, and made to fit on to the back of
the wearer when supporting any ordinary or other knapsack, substan-
tially as herein-before described.

page_text: .
Fifth. The so arranging a knapsack or a frame for supporting a knap-
sack as that the weight shall be borne by the shoulders and the loins
only of the wearer, substantially as herein-before described and illus-
trated by my Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William White, have to this my 5
Specification set my hand and scal, the Thirty-first day of
October One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.