Year: 1886

page_text: I JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN of 169 Fleet Street in the City of London, Fellow
of the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(a communication from abroad by Alfred Mendel of Strehlen near Dresden, Saxony,
German Empire) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has reference to the means for carrying knapsacks which form
the subject of Letters Patent granted to me on the 27th October 1883 N° 5098.
The main idea in the former invention was not to let the weight of the knapsack
rest on the small horizontal surfaces of the shoulders, but to let the knapsack rest
on a bearer, which is carried by the front and partly by the sides of the body
mainly above the waist;-this feature remains unchanged.
But instead of the coat, which according to my former patent received at its
front part (in combination with the back of the wearer) the weight of the knapsack
I now employ another garment or article of dress which assists in carrying the
weight of the knapsack.
This employment of another garment in lieu of the coat offers the great advantage,
that the garment may be made adjustable or capable of adjustment to fit any
person whereas a coat, provided with the means for carrying the knapsack, must
fit the individual form.
The garment or article of dress employed for the purpose of the present invention
may be somewhat similar to a waistcoat or to a corset, which may be worn over or
under the coat or may take the place of the coat altogether, or may be fastened to
the coat or overcoat and constitute part thereof. It is important for such waistcoat
or corset to cover a sufficient part of the surface of the chest to allow of the
expansion of the chest and of the necessary power being exerted to take up that
part of the weight of the knapsack that falls to its share. The corset or waistcoat
may consist of one piece or of two pieces; if made of two pieces the two parts may
be connected in front of the breast by means of buttons, hooks, clasps, cords, straps
or any other connecting devices; in the rear, at the back of the body, adjustable

page_text: straps or such like devices may form the connecting parts. This corset or waistcoat
is thus capable of fitting or of being adjusted to the form of the body in every
respect.
At the two sides of such garment I provide, as in the coat of my prior patent, a
ring or other device to receive the strap or chain attached to the knapsack bearer.
As such bearer I have described in the Specification of my former patent a field or
camp-kettle (for military purposes). Such bearer may however consist of any
suitable contrivance, either the field or camp-kettle placed horizontally or vertically,
a cartouch box, a folded plaid or over-coat, or several articles of equipment arranged
together in a bundle. The bearer, formed in any suitable way, may be directly
connected to the above mentioned strap or chain, or the bearer may rest in a basket
or receptacle formed of straps etc, and the chains or straps be fastened to this basket
and be fixed to the rings or other devices at the sides of the garment.
It is not absolutely necessary for the bearer or basket to be connected to the
sword belt or waist belt. The entire device for carrying the knapsack may be
quite independent of such belt.
The improved means for carrying knapsacks may thus be summarized as
follows:-
A garment, of a waistcoat or corset like appearance, which is worn so as to
partly or wholly cover the front of the body (and if desired part of the sides)
mainly above the waist. This garment is kept to the body by means of adjustable
straps round the collar and waist or any part between the collar and waist, these
straps being sewn or otherwise fixed to the garment. Into hooks, rings or other
devices fixed to the sides of said garment are fastened the straps or chains which
extend from the knapsack bearer or from the basket in which the bearer rests.
The knapsack is kept in position by any convenient means.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. As an improvement on the means of carrying knapsacks described in the
Specification of my aforesaid Letters Patent, the employment of a corset-like or
waistcoat-like garment, which partly or wholly covers the front and sides of the
body and takes the place of the coat (as described in my former Specification) in
assisting to carry the weight of the knapsack as hereinbefore described.
2. The improved means of carrying knapsacks hereinbefore described.