IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OR SUPPORTING STRETCHERS AND OTHER ARTICLES OR WEIGHTS FROM THE SHOULDERS OF BEARERS, AND IN STRAPS TO BE USED IN COMBINATION THEREWITH FOR ATTACHING OR SECURING BODIES TO STRETCHERS
Year: 1864

page_text: ussen, of A
Street, negents rark,
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OR SUPPORTING STRETCHERS
AND OTHER ARTICLES OR WEIGHTS FROM THE SHOULDERS OF BEARERS, AND IN
STRAPS TO BE USED IN COMBINATION THEREWITH FOR ATTACHING OR SECURING
BODIES TO STRETCHERS."
Sealed the 3rd January 1865, and dated the 8th July 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Godfrey Russell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th
July 1864.
I, GODFREY RUSSELL, of Albany Street, Regent's Park, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OR
SUPPORTING STRETCHERS AND OTHER ARTICLES OR WEIGHTS FROM THE SHOULDERS OF
BEARERS, AND IN STRAPS TO BE USED IN COMBINATION THERE WITH FOR ATTACHING
OR SECURING BODIES TO STRETCHERS," to be as follows:-
The first part of my Invention consists in forming or adapting to the
shoulder of a bearer a somewhat broad strap or band, formed by preference of
leather. This strap is wider at or about its centre than at either end, and is.
curved or shaped so as to fit and adjust itself to the shoulder of the wearer;
it is united to another and similar strap for the other shoulder by a small con-

page_text: necting piece, also of leather or other suitable material, which passes round
the back part of the neck, and so always maintains the shoulder pieces in
position. Straps are connected to the shoulder pieces, or they may be formed
in a piece therewith, and depend therefrom, carrying a ring at bottom for the
reception of the stretcher arm when used for carrying stretchers, the length of
the straps being regulated by a buckle, so that the apparatus may with great
facility be adapted to any wearer to whom it may be applied. The bearing
surfaces of the apparatus before described are applied to the shoulders in
such manner that they are enabled to bear great strain without much exertion
from the wearer, and being immovable thereon do not exert that friction
which is so detrimental to the straps hitherto employed for supporting
stretchers.
The second part of my Invention consists in attaching to straps for securing
bodies to stretchers of additional or supplementary straps for passing round the
legs of the body. These straps are stitched to the strap proper, and to secure
the legs the strap proper is passed underneath the legs, and the additional
straps are passed round and buckled to each leg, while the strap proper is
buckled round the pole of the stretcher. Sometimes I conuect the ends of
the strap with the part carrying the buckles by rings, or the whole of the
strap may, however, be made in one and the same piece. To secure the body
to the stretcher I use a strap somewhat similar to that just described, but in
which the additional or supplementary straps are made to travel or slip along
the strap proper, so as to enable them to be adapted to the arms of the body
to be secured. To use this strap one end is fastened to the stretcher by a
slip, is passed under both arms of the body, across the chest, and being drawn
tight is secured by buckle or otherwise on the other side of the stretcher.
The arms are placed across the chest, and are secured by the additional straps,
as described for the legs. The fastenings for the additional straps may consist
of buckles, clips, toggles, or any other known appliance or appliances for
connecting two ends of a strap together.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Godfrey Russell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th January 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GODFREY
RUSSELL, of Albany Street, Regent's Park, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Godfrey Russell, Her special licence that I, the said
Godfrey Russell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Godfrey Russell, 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 THE CONSTRTCTION OF APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OB
SUPPORTING STRETCHERS AND OTHER ARTICLES OR WEIGHTS FROM THE SHOULDERS
OF BEARERS, AND IN STRAPS TO BE USED IN COMBINATION THEREWITH FOR ATTACHING
OR SECURING BODIES TO STRETCHERS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Godfrey Russell, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par
ticularly 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 Godfrey Russell, 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 fol-
lowing statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
that is to say:-
The first part of my Invention consists in forming or adapting to the
shoulder of a bearer a somewhat broad strap or band, formed by preference
of leather. This strap is wider at or about its centre than at either end, and
is curved or shaped so as to fit and adjust itself to the shoulder of the wearer;
it is united to another and similar strap for the other shoulder by a small con-
necting piece, also of leather or other suitable material, which passes round
the back part of the neck, and so always maintains the shoulder pieces in
position. Straps are connected to the shoulder pieces, or they may be formed
in a piece therewith, and depend therefrom, carrying a ring at bottom for the
reception of the stretcher arm when used for carrying stretchers, the length
of the straps being regulated by a buckle, so that the apparatus may with
great facility be adapted to any wearer to whom it may be applied. The
bearing surfaces of the apparatus before described are applied to the shoulders

page_text: in such manner that they are enabled to bear great strain without much
exertion from the wearer, and being immovable thereon do not exert that
friction which is so detrimental to the straps hitherto employed for supporting
stretchers.
.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a front, and Figure a side 5
view of apparatus constructed according to my Invention for carrying or
supporting stretchers and other articles or weights from the shoulders of
bearers.
a, a, are the broad straps or bands for the shoulders, and 6 is the connecting
piece; e, e, are straps depending from the shoulder pieces a, a, and carrying
rings f,f, at bottom. The length of the straps e, e, are adjusted by means of
the buckles g. 9.
I prefer to use the rings f, f, at the end of the straps when
the apparatus is used for carrying stretchers, but I also apply hooks, clips, or
other appliances when found desirable to do so.
The second part of my Invention consists in attaching to straps for securing
bodies to stretchers of additional or supplementary straps for passing round
the legs of the body, as shown in plan at Figure 8, and side view at Figure 4.
These straps are stitched to the strap proper h, and to secure the legs the strap
proper his passed underneath the legs, and the additional straps i, i, are
passed round and buckled to each leg, while the strap proper h is buckled
round the pole of the stretcher. Sometimes I connect the ends of the strap
with the part carrying the buckles by rings, as shown, or the whole of the
strap may, however, be made in one and the same piece. To secure the body
to the stretcher I use a strap, a view of which is given in side elevation at
Figure 5, somewhat similar to that just described, but in which the additional
or supplementary straps i, i, are made to travel or slip along the strap
proper h, so as to enable them to be adapted to the arms of the body to be
secured. To use this strap one end is fastened to the stretcher by a slip, is
passed under both arms of the body, across the chest, and being drawn tight
is secured by buckle or otherwise on the other side of the stretcher. The
arms are placed across the chest, and are secured by the additional straps, as
described for the legs. The fastenings for the additional straps may consist of
buckles, clips, toggles, or any other known appliance or appliances for
connecting two ends of a strap together.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First, the forming or adapting to the shoulders of a bearer or bearers an
apparatus consisting of broad straps or bands united at the back, and carrying
straps in or to which the article to be supported is inserted or attached, all

page_text: substantially as herein-before described and illustrated at Figures 1 and 2 of
the accompanying Drawings.
Second, the construction and employment of straps for securing bodies to
stretchers, as herein-before described and illustrated at Figures 3, 4, and 5 of
the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Godfrey Russell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of January, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-five.
Witness,
Evw". G. BREWER.
G. RUSSELL. (L.S.)