A NEW CLOAK FOR MILITARY AND OTHER PURPOSES WHICH CAN ALSO BE USED AS A SHEET OR COVERING
Year: 1870

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alexander Carlyle Bell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 24th December 1870.
I, ALEXANDER CARLYLE BELL, of 7, Great Winchester Street
Buildings, in the City of London, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW CLOAK FOR MILITARY AND
OTHER PURPOSES WHICH CAN ALSO BE USED AS A SHEET OR COVERING," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to a military travelling or ordinary cloak,
which can also be used as a sheet, cover, or formed into a tent.
The simplicity of the form renders it applicable to all purposes for
which the ordinary travelling rug or sheet can be used. It can be made
of any material and of any suitable size. The size most suitable for an
ordinary man or for soldiers generally would be six feet six inches by
six feet broad. In order to form this sheet into a cloak, which is the
essential feature of the Invention, the top edge of the sheet is fastened
round the neck by hook and chain, or eye or loop, button or tab, the
About three feet or any distance
corners hanging down in front.

page_text: desirable from the bottom of the sheet a strap, belt, or cord is attached
within a casing. This strap, belt, or cord is so fastened that by drawing
it the cloth is gathered in at the back, a sufficient width only being left
to pass round the waist, where it is secured by a button, and by fastening
the strap, belt, or cord, the buttons are then fastened. The upper
portion forms a loose cape and is held down by a tab secured to the
waist button just above the belt. By undoing the neck fastening and
passing the cloth over the shako a hood is formed entirely protecting
the head and neck in heavy rain. Should the soldier come suddenly
into action, by undoing the neck and cape fastenings the body above
the waist is instantly free and the garment hangs suspended from the
waist and in no way interferes with locomotion. In marching the
corners of the skirts can be looped up so as to give freer action to the
legs by buttoning the button holes at the lower corners on to the buttons
at or near the waist; when not required for use the whole can be rolled
up, the strap, belt, or cord passing through the centre forming a sling
by means of which it can be suspended from the shoulders, or if
preferred worn round the waist as a cummerband. For soldiers on the
march without tents the advantages of this garment are obvious, it can
be made of almost any weight and any material; if waterproofed it can
be used as a ground sheet to sleep on. If pierced with eyelet holes at
the corners and edges, it can be suspended so as to improvise a roof
under which two or more men might sleep, using the second cloak as
a ground sheet, or by using several, a tent could be formed; it can also
be used as a protection to baggage.
Used as a cloak it leaves the arms and accoutrements perfectly free,
although covered and protected from rain, keeps the butt and lock of
the rifle dry, also the ammunition pouch, haversack, and knapsack, all
of which can be worn under it without diminishing their efficiency, &
the soldier has perfect freedom in firing or taking aim; from its looseness
it will be cool in marching and will decrease the weight necessary to be
carried by the men.