AN IMPROVED PORTABLE CHEVAUX-DE-FRISE OR BARRICADE
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Claude Léon Desmolins, of Avallon, in the
Department of Yonne, France, at present of 31, Charing Cross,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
PORTABLE CHEVAUX-DE-FRISE OR BARRICADE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Claude Léon Desmolins
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 23rd July 1872.
I, CLAUDE LÉON DESMOLINS, of Avallon, in the Department of Yonne,
France, at present of 31, Charing Cross, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
PORTABLE CHEVAUX-DE-FRISE OR BARRICADE," to be as follows:-
The apparatus forming the subject of the present Invention consists
of three arms or branches, made of solid, hollow, round, or flat iron, wood,
or bamboo, which in the two latter cases would be tipped with steel.
In the accompanying Drawings these branches are marked respectively
a, b, and c; the two first, a and b, are permanently united, and pivot in

page_text: the centre in a similar manner to the blades of a pair of scissors, and
open and close like them; the third branch or arm c is independent,
the object of this arrangement being to facilitate the transport of the
apparatus, as by this mode of construction it can be packed in a small
compass, and only a few minutes is required to establish a whole line of
chevaux-de-frise or barricades.
In the branch or arm a, just above the pivot d, is a circular aperture g
communicating with a slot o, and on the branch cis a circular rim or pro-
jection near the centre, and below it is fixed a ring e, which latter serves
a double purposo; for instance, in fixing the chevaux-de-frise the two
arms or branches a and b are opened, the end of the third one c is
then inserted into the opening g and pushed up to the projecting rim,
the ring e passing simultaneously through the slot o, the arm c is then
turned so that the ring e occupies a position inverse to that of the slot o,
the arms or branches are then all united and cannot accidentally become
detached; this ring e also serves to unite a number of the apparatus by
a strong chain fpassed through it from one to another, and so forming
a line of chevaux-de-frise or barricades. When fixed each apparatus
forms a tripod, that is to say, no matter what position it occupies it will
always rest on three points.
A number of apparatus of this description connected in the manner
described without any further defense would render the crossing of a
bridge, a ford, a strait, passage, strect, or a breach impracticable, since
the three branches when developed always present three menacing
points to leap or climb over.
In construction it is simple and cheap, and may be advantageously
employed in bridging over large or small rivers, as it is calculated to
bear a great weight, and would carry all the requisite timber for forming
a temporary bridge,.
Employed as a barricade it is merely necessary to place thereon.
fascines, or fagots, branches of trees, bundles of straw, sacks of earth,
or any substances capable of offering the requisite resistance to the pro-
jectiles of an enemy.
It is evident from the nature of the apparatus, the facility with which
it can be transported, and the rapidity with which it can be fixed or
removed, it forms an engine of warfare of the greatest utility, as it may
be adapted to various purposes. -

page_text: boarding.
The dimensions of the apparatus would naturally vary according to
requirements, the feature of novelty and principle of the Invention
consisting in rendering a chevaux-de-frise portable by making it to fold
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Claude Léon Desmolins in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 23rd January 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE. PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CLAUDE
LÉON DESMOLINS, of Avallon, in the Department of Yonne, France,
at present of 31, Charing Cross, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Claude Léon Desmolins, Her special licence
that I, the said Claude Léon Desmolins, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Claude Léon Desmolins,
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 "AN
IMPROVED PORTABLE CHEVAUX-DE-FRISE OR BARRICADE," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Claude Léon Desmolins, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Claude Léon Desmolins, do hereby
declare the nature of: my said Invention, and in what manner the
་

page_text: same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, and accompanying Drawings, that
is to say.:-
My Invention has for its object the combination of an engine of
warfare destined either to impede the advance of an enemy or to protect
the soldiers whilst firing.
This engine, which I name the portable chevaux-de-frise, is shown by
the accompanying Drawings, of which Figure 1 represents the union of
two branches closed, and by the dotted lines open; Figure 2 represents
the separate branch; Fig. 3 represents the three branches fixed and con-
nected by a chain with two or more apparatus so as to present an
uninterrupted line of obstacles so to speak insurmountable.
The apparatus therefore consists of three branches a, b, c, in metal,
solid or hollow, round or flat, with pointed ends, or of wood or bamboo
tipped with steel; the two first a and b are connected in the centre by
means of the articulation d, in the same manner as a pair of scissors.
One of these branches a is furnished with an aperture destined for
the passage of the third branch c, provided with a ring e which permits
of the union of several apparatus by means of the chain f, Fig. 3;
this ring forms a projection on the branch c, and passes in a slot in the
aperture o, and when turned prevents the separation of the branches a
and c by accident. It will thus be seen that in fixing the apparatus
it suffices to introduce the independent branch c in the opening o by
passing the ringe in the slot of this aperture, then to gently turn the
branch c and to open out the points which then forms a tripod which
is perfectly firm, and on which may be placed fascines, fagots, branches
of trees, bundles of straw, sacks of earth, or any substances capable of
offering the requisite resistance to the projectiles of an enemy. The
branch 6 is furnished with a notch corresponding with the aperture o,
and in which the branch c passes, this latter has a little below the
ring e a shoulder which limits its entry in the hole o of the branch a,
and which serves as rest to it.
This engine may be employed independently, or in large numbers
united by a chain; 100 for instance, so connected without any further
defence would render the crossing of a bridge, a ford, a strait, passage,
street, or a breach impracticable, since the three branches when
developed would always present three menacing points dangerous to
leap or climb over. Moreover the apparatus is simple in construction

page_text: and inexpensive, and may be advantageously employed in crossing
rivers, streams, for the construction of temporary bridges, as it is
calculated to bear a great weight, and would carry all the necessary
material, as no matter what position it occupies it will always have a
firm base.
The apparatus when packed for transport occupies very little space,
the independent branch being detached, and those a and b being closed
are easily packed. A cubic mètre or 100 engines when developed would
cover 150 mètres or an are and one half.
Each apparatus weighs about 9 pounds, the branches being between
3 and 4 feet high, a horse could therefore carry several.
An engine 6 feet high would be so formidable to horse or man, that
on a bridge for instance 10 men armed with rifles could prevent the
passage of 100 men equally armed.
The same apparatus reduced to much smaller dimensions, and having
the two branches a and b merely, forms an arm of defence to be used
by hand.
Finally I claim as my Invention the union of the three branches as
already described and illustrated and having pointed ends and occupy.
ing a firm position when developed, forming a tripod, no matter how
placed, and thus always presenting three menacing points to leap or
climb over, and forming a barrier to both cavalry and infantry, or to
guard ports, cross rivers, act as barricades, defend bridges, straits, passes,
breaches.
I claim also the manner of opening and closing the apparatus as
heretofore mentioned, as well as the hand or pocket apparatus described.
The dimensions and material of construction would naturally vary to
suit the exigencies of the case.
In witness whereof, I, the said Claude Léon Desmolins, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of January,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.
CLAUDE LEON DESMOLINS. (L.S.)