Improvements in the Method of and Means for Carrying Intrenching Tools, especially applicable to Military Uses.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 15th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 8th Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Means for Carrying Intrenching
Tools, especially applicable to Military Uses.
HERBERT FERDINAND WOODGATE Lieutenant H.M. South Wales Borderers
Aldershot, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improved ways of carrying intrenching tools, and
similar weapons and is especially applicable to military purposes.
The intrenching tools I carry in frogs of any suitable material, in such a manner
that they hang with the blade below the belt of the wearer, and the handle in a
perpendicular position above the belt and against the body, preferably the back.
The blade of the tool is placed in a case which covers it either wholly or in part,
to which is attached a loop or loops through which the belt passes or I may fasten
such loop or loops with a buckle around the belt. At the top end of the loop or
loops as the frog hangs on the belt, I place a small buckle and strap, which is
fastened round the handle of the tool and thus keeps it in its proper position against
the body of the wearer.
Another method I may employ is to attach a long strap and buckle to the top
of the blade case which for preference I pass over the shoulder of the wearer
whilst another strap and buckle keeps the tool in its case and at the same time
attaches it to the belt to steady the same. In this case the implement would for
preference be carried under the arm.
Dated this Twelfth day of November 1891.
HERBERT FERDINAND WOODGATE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Means for Carrying Intrenching
Tools, especially applicable to Military Uses.
I, HERBERT FERDINAND WOODGATE, Captain, H.M. South Wales Borderers,
late of Aldershot in the County of Hants but at present of the Gymnasium,
Woolwich in the County of Kent do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
My invention relates to an improved method of and means for carrying
intrenching tools and similar weapons and is especially applicable to military
purposes.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings which illustrates the method
and suitable means for carrying out my invention,
Figure 1. is an elevation of an intrenching tool carried in a frog of novel
construction and adapted to be suspended from the belt of the wearer with the
blade downwards.
Figure 2. is an end view thereof.
Figure 3. is an end view of a pick suspended in a similar manner.
Figure 4. is an elevation thereof, and
Figure 5. is a diagrammatic view showing how the principal parts of the frogs
shown in Figures 1. and 2. may be cut out from a skin or piece of leather or other
material with a very slight amount of waste.
The intrenching tool O Figures 1 and 2 which is similar to that shown and
described in my Patent Specification No. 13462 and dated 27th August 1890 is
carried in a frog in such manner that it hangs with the blade below the belt A of

page_text: the wearer and the handle in a perpendicular position or nearly so above the belt
and against or just clear of the body, preferably the back. The blade of the
tool O is placed in the frog or case B which covers it either wholly or partly. In
the drawing I have shown the frog made of two picces B, B which for the sake of
economy and lightness are only made to cover the edges of the tool and Figure 5
represents as aforesaid the mode of cutting out the blanks.
The frog may be provided as shewn with one or more rivets b' on each side to
keep the edges of the tool from wearing the stitching at the edge and a cross strap
and buckle to hold the sides of the frog together and prevent the edges from
becoming turned or rolled up in use.
At the back, the sides or ends of the frog
are held together by having fastened or stitched thereto a single piece of leather B
which may either be a straight strap or as shown of an angular shape.
If the
back of the frog be made to cover the whole of the blade of the tool there is no
necessity for the separate piece B². Attached to the strap B2 is a loop or as shown
preferably two loops C through which the belt A passes.
These loops C may each be made in one piece or as shown on Figure 2 be
provided with buckles c so as to allow of adjusting the length of the same and
fastening to the belt without removing the latter from the body of the wearer.
At or near the upper ends of the loops C I fasten a small strap and buckle c¹ which
is fastened round the handle of the tool O and thus keeps it in its proper position
near or against the body of the wearer.
The mode of carrying the pick is as shown in Figures 3 and 4 similar to that
already described. The frog consists of two parts B stitched or otherwise fastened
together at the bottom and sides or it may be made of one piece of double the
size of one of the parts bent over and stitched together at the sides. The blade
of the pick O is placed in the frog B which, wholly, or as shown, only partly covers
The blade is normally held in the frog by straps which button on studs 63 or
are otherwise fastened. Similar loops C to those already described are secured to
the frog and hang on the belt A and have a strap c' which keeps the pick in its.
proper position.
it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The method of carrying an intrenching or other tool consisting in suspending
the tool in a frog below the belt-with the blade of the tool downwards-and the
handle upwards substantially as described.
2. The constructions of frogs for carrying an intrenching or other tool substantially
as described and shown.