Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 3rd Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 6th Jan., 1888
1, ADAM GRASSMÜCK of Munich, in the Regency of Bavaria, Empire of
Germany, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
The object of this invention is a bullet-proof uniform or covering for the body and
it consists principally in a peculiar combination of a cuirass with a new underlayer,
by means of which the shock on the body produced by the bullet is completely
neutralised and the effect of the bullet on the cuirass is diminished, so as to allow
comparatively thin steel plates to be employed, without danger of the bullet piercing
the cuirass or producing a shock on the body.
To give the cuirass-plates an elastic but sufficiently compact underlayer, cork plates
of about 10 to 15 millimetres thickness are employed, which are previously prepared
to prevent them from losing their elasticity. For this purpose they are boiled in
water containing alkaline soap or salpeter and an alkaline soap, subsequently well
beaten and saturated with boiling oil. The cork plates are then cut into plates
corresponding in size to the plates forming the cuirass and surrounded with a laver
of wool. The cuirass is fastened in a peculiar manner to an underlayer consisting
of a felt plate of about 4 mm. thickness. The cuirass plates which are preferably
circular for the sake of movability are arranged so as to overlap each other. Thus,
of course each plate cannot receive the above described cork underlayer, but only
some of them. By these contiguous plates however is formed a substantially con
tinuous underlayer, on which are also supported the rest of the cuirass plates without
underlayer, which are shifted between the other cuirass plates and the cork
plates.
A flat-headed bolt is passed through the felt under plate into the centre of each of
the cuirass-plates passing through the cork underplate in the case of such cuirass
plates as are provided with the said cork plate, so that the whole is rigidly secured
together. Between the felt plate and cork-plates is placed a thin wool layer.
To completely neutralise the effect of the shot, weakened already by the cork under-
layer, that is to say to distribute it over a larger surface, a cushion of air is produced

page_text: by a double caoutchouc casing under the felt plate, which can be suitably filled with
air to facilitate in case of necessity the swimming of the person wearing the cuirass.
Close to the body is placed a thin woollen weft or a fine wash-leather, covered with a
net or webbing to render the wearing of the uniform as agreeable as possible and to
allow of free perspiration from the body. For this purpose the caoutchouc casing
should be divided into partitions or tubes passed through the same, corresponding to
which the felt plate may be provided with ventilating holes.
To give the cuirass bolts a better connection with each other, they may be cross-
wise connected by means of wires or gut-strings.
In lieu of the circular steel-plates above described, also square or rectangular
plates may be employed. These lic beside one another and are connected by steel
rings. Of course any other form of cuirass may also be employed and an under-
layer of any other suitable elastic material may be used instead of the cork
underlayer.
The underlayer for neutralising the shock may in this case be somewhat simplified
and consist of elastic underplates of cork or other substance, and a folt plate, under
which is a cushion of wadding or wool, covered with a facing of stuff.
To cover such parts of the body as are particularly susceptible of receiving, or
being injured by, shocks, thicker underlayers or cushions may be used.
I employ also for such parts light steel-springs, holding the cuirass slightly away
from the body and thereby lessening the shock.
Dated this 3rd day of Narch 1887
HERBERT & Co.,
67, Strand, W.C.,
Agents to Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bullet Proof Garments.
I, ADAM GRASSMÜCK of Munich Brunnstrasse 9 in the Regency of Bavaria,
Empire of Germany, Manufacturer 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:—
The object of this invention is a bullet proof uniform or covering for the body, and
it consists in an improved combination of a cuirass with an underlayer, by means of
which the shock produced by the impact of a bullet upon the body is completely
neutralized and the effect of the bullet on the cuirass is diminished so as to allow
comparatively thin steel plates to be employed, without danger of the bullet piercing
the cuirass or producing a shock on the body of the wearer.
The accompanying drawing illustrates the construction of the improved bullet proof
garment.
Fig. 1 being a portion of the surface of steel plates.
Fig. 2 a section of same on line A A showing the novel underlayer.
Fig. 3 is a surface view of a modified construction.
Fig. 4 a cross section thereof.
Figs. 5 and 6 are similar views of the complete garment.
The cuirass plates a of hard and tough steel are backed with plates k, preferably
of cork about 10 to 15 mm. in thickness the same having been previously pre-
pared by first boiling them in water containing alkaline soap, or alkaline soap and
saltpeter, thereafter beating, and saturating them with boiling oil.
The cork so
prepared is cut to the required size, corresponding more or less to the shape of
the plates a, and covered with a layer of wool. The plates a forming the cuirass
surface are arranged to overlap as shown in Fig. 1 and such of them are pro-
vided with the before mentioned cork plates that the cork plates form a substantially
continuous layer. Behind the cork layer is a felt plate of continuous piece
about 4 mm. in thickness and between the said felt and cork layer and behind the
felt are preferably arranged layers of light woollen fabric or of wool. The whole
is firmly secured together by the pins or rivets u screwed at one end into the
centre of each cuirass plate a and passing through the various underlayers,
terminating in a head or rivetting plate u as shown.
The said cuirass and underlayer may be further combined with a system of air
cushions arranged thereunder for more particularly neutralizing the effect of shock
upon the cuirass by causing the same to be distributed over a larger area, the said
air cushions may be contrived by a double casing of rubber or caoutchouc m behind
the felt plate f, said casing being likewise adapted to be inflated with air to a greater
extent for use as a buoyant garment to sustain the wearer in the water should such
be necessary. Within this double caoutchouc layer that is to say on the side nearest
to the body is arranged a layer of woolen fabric or wash leather t. and behind or
within the latter a net or webbing for rendering the wearing of the uniform as

page_text: comfortable as possible, to allow a free passage of air under the garment. The
caoutchouc cushions should also be divided into parts and tubes m³ formed through
them for providing of ventilation.
Figs. 3 and 4 show a modification in which the circular plates described are replaced
by others adapted to lie in contact edge to edge, the same being connected to each
other and to the parts thereunder by rings of steel. The underlayer may likewise
be modified by adding under the felt layer f, a layer of wadding or wool y. covered
with a facing of fabric-w.
Other forms of cuirass may likewise be employed and the cork may be replaced by
other convenient elastic material.
To cover such parts of the body as are particularly susceptible of receiving or
being injured by shocks thicker under layers and cushions may be employed, for such
parts also light steel springs may be employed holding the cuirass slightly away from
the body and thereby lessening the shock.
The above described modifications may also be combined together.
To further connect the pins u described and shown in Figs. 1 and 2 wires d may
be wound about them passing from one to another as a network.
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 ;-
In bullet proof garments and fabrics―
1. The combination with steel face plates of cork under plates prepared as
described, a felt plate thereunder, and pins u or equivalents for connecting said
plates.
2. The combination with steel cork and felt plates as set forth of air cushions
thereunder having ventilating tubes or channels, woollen or leather layer and
netting thereunder substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. The combination of steel face plates with plates of resilient material thereunder
and a plate of felt substantially in the manner set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of December 1887.