IMPROVEMENTS IN KNAPSACKS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Spiller, of No. 15, Upper Southwick Street,
in the County of Middlesex, a Lieutenant-Colonel in Her Majesty's
Royal Artillery, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNAPSACKS."
Sealed the 3rd September 1860, and dated the 8th March 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Spiller at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th
March 1860.
I, GEORGE SPILLER, of No. 15, Upper Southwick Street, in the County of
Middlesex, a Lieutenant-Colonel in Her Majesty's Royal Artillery, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN KNAPSACKS,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements upon my former Invention
(for which Letters Patent were granted to me on the 2nd day of December
1858, No. 2760), the express objects being to prevent the knapsack itself
falling back, thereby touching or pressing upon the spinal column of the
wearer, and allowing a free circulation of air between the body and knap-
sack, these objects being effected in the following manner :-I propose
securing, by any suitable means, to the front end of the metallic supporters,
a breeching or short belt, which passes round the back of the wearer, said
belt or breeching being made of leather, web, or other suitable material. Or
an entire belt may be used as a breeching, by placing on each side thereof an

page_text: eye, or loop, or other suitable fastening, into which the metallic supporters
pass, being prevented entering too far by a stop upon each supporter, these
supporters being prevented pressing too much against the body by short straps
on the lower part of the knapsack. This belt or breeching can be loosened
or tightened at pleasure by a buckle in front, at the same time preventing the
supporters flying open, either by accident or otherwise, whereby the knapsack
would fall off the back, the express objects being before described. Eyes or
loops may also be placed in the ordinary pouch belt, thus dispensing with the
breeching or additional belt, if necessary. By these means either the
breeching or belt will have the effect of producing the desired objects.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Spiller in the Great Scal Patent Office on the
8th September 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
SPILLER, of No. 15, Upper Southwick Street, in the County of Middlesex, a
Lieutenant-Colonel in Her Majesty's Royal Artillery, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said George Spiller, Her special licence that I, the said George Spiller, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I; the said George
Spiller, 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 KNAPSACKS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Spiller, my exe-
cutors 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 immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Spiller, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements upon my former Invention
(for which Letters Patent were granted to me on the Second day of December,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, No. 2760), the express objects
being to prevent the knapsack itself falling back, thereby touching or pressing
upon the spinal column of the wearer, and allowing a free circulation of air
between the body and knapsack, these objects being effected by simple and
efficient means.
In order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect, reference being had to the illustrative Sheet of
Drawings hereto annexed, and to the numeral figures and letters of reference
marked thereon respectively, as follows:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
:
Fig. 1 is a side view of my improved knapsack, shewing the slings attached
to the ends of the metallic supporters; Fig. 2, the under side of the same
knapsack, shewing the breeching; and Fig. 3, plan view of the breeching
detached, and the under side of the knapsack with the supporters folded out
Similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts at each of the
Figures respectively.
of use.
I secure, by suitable means, to the front end of the metallic supporters a, a,
a breeching or short belt b, b, which passes round the back of the wearer,
said belt or breeching being made of leather, web, or other suitable material;
or an entire belt may be used as a breeching, by placing on each side thereof,
an eye or loop or other suitable fastening, into which the metallic supporters
a, a, pass, being prevented entering too far by a stop or catch upon each
supporter. The supporters a, a, are prevented pressing too much against the
sides of the wearer's body by short straps c, c, on the lower part of the knap-
sack. This belt or breeching can be loosened or tightened at pleasure by a
buckle in front, at the same time preventing the supporters a, a, flying open,
either by accident or otherwise, whereby the knapsack would fall off the
back of the wearer. Small straps d, d, are placed at the upper corners to
prevent the bulging of the flap, the express objects being before described.
Eyes or loops may also be placed on the ordinary pouch belt, thus dispensing
with the breeching or additional belt, if necessary. By these means either
the breeching or belt will have the effect of producing the desired objects.
Having now described the nature and objects of my said Invention of

page_text: "Improvements in Knapsacks," and the manner in which the same is to be
performed, I would remark, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details herein described, and shewn in the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings, as many slight modifications and variations may be made
therein without in any way departing from the principle of my Invention; but
what I claim as my Invention, intended to be secured to me by the herein in
part recited Letters Patent, is, the manufacture of knapsacks in the manner
herein described, and shewn by the annexed Drawing, for the purposes herein
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Spiller, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
JOHN TAYLOR,
64, Queen's Road,
Bayswater.
GEORGE SPILLEK. (L.S.)