US38701A - Improvement in knapsacks - Google Patents

Description

i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

E. F. SOUTHVVARD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN KNAPSACKS.

-Specifcation forming part of Letters Patent No. 38,70 I dated May 26, 1863.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, E. F. SoUTHwARD, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knapsacks for Soldiers; and I do hereby declare that the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, hereinafter referred to, forms a full and exact specification of the same, wherein I'have set forth the nature and principles of my improvements by which my invention may be distinguished from all others of a similar class, together with such parts as I claim anddesire to have secured to me by Letters Patent.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the mode of constructing knapsacks for soldiers, the essential features of which consist in so forming the same as to render it adapted to many uses in addition to that as a means of conveying the usual articles placed therein. It is of course desirable to decrease as much as possible the amount of material to be transported by the army train without, however, in the least degree encroaching upon the actual necessities of the soldier in camp or active military life, and among the many articles heretofore found necessary to so transport may be mentioned the following, viz litters for wounded and disabled men, mattresses, shelter-tents, &c.

Now, the present invention has for its objects to so construct the ordinary soldiers knapsack that while its weight or bulk is not increased it can be easily adapted,when desired for instant use, as a litter, bed, mattress, hammock, or shelter tent. To accomplish these advantageous results, so much desired,

I form upon or attach to the case or box por-Y tion of the knapsack `a flexible ilap or blanket or extension of sufcient length to meet all the requirements above stated, which flap or blanket, when the knapsack is to be strapped to the back of soldiers, is finally rolled up and fastened toits top by straps or otherwise. Within this ap pockets are made for the reception of either articles of apparel, &c., for conveyance, or of hay, straw, or suitable material when the knapsack is used as a litter, 8vo.; but to more especially adapt my improved knapsack to the purposes of a litter, hammock, or cot bed, I have provided a mode of stiffening its sides, which consists in making a series of eyelets or apertures in and along each side of the ilap or blanket, through which cords being passed a pole or other proper article can be lashed and securely fastened to the same.

Having thus stated generally the objects of the present invention, I will now describe in detail its peculiar features, first, however, referri n g to the figures in the plate of drawings, in which- Figure lis a plan or top view, with the flexible flap or blanket wholly extended, and Fig. 2 a longitudinal central section of the same. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of the same when rolled up ready to be strapped upon the back.

a a in the drawings represent the box or case portion of the knapsack, made of indiarubber, gutta-percha, sail, or any other suitable water-proof and durable material; and b b is an'extension or ilexible ap or blanket of one of the sides of the said box remade of the same material and with sufficient length to answer all the purposes for which myimproved knapsack i-s to be used, if desired, as has been hereinbefore stated. Upon the inner surface, c, of this flap b pockets d d are made, in which can be inserted any articles of apparel, &c., desired to be carried, they also serving as receptacles for hay, straw, and other similar material to adapt the knapsack more particularly as a mattrass or for any other similar purpose. This ap b b, when the knapsack is ready for conveyance, is rolled up and fastened to the top side, j', of the box a by straps g g or any other suitable devices, the whole then being fastened to the back or shoulders of the person by any of the ordinary modes.

h h are apertures or gummets made at suitable intervals along each edge k 7c of the flap. Through each ofthe two series of holes cords are passed when it is desired to lash or secure a pole or other similar device to the sides of the knapsack in order to stiffen the same, as is evident it would be necessary so to do if the knapsack was to be used as a litter, cotbed, or hammock. The knapsack also, it is evident, when thus secured to poles, &c., can be hung at each end thereof t0 any suitable holding devices above, thus allowing of its practical use as a hammock, or the said poles being sustained by any suitable frame-work resting upon the ground, the knapsack is thus made to serve as a cot-bed, the advantages of which results need not be herein more particularly specified, as they are perfectly apparent to all versed in the necessities and Wants ot' military life.

Having thus described my improvements, I shall state my claims, as follows l. So combining,` the knapsack and waterproof blanket with a yoke and straps as that the said blanket may be rolled up on top of and held down onto the knapsack by the said yoke, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a knapsack, Waterproof blanket, and eyelets, or their equivalent, under such an arrangement that the same may be attached to a frame, poles, or mnskets, thereby forming a litter upon Which the Wounded may be supported or transported from place to place, substantially as herein set forth.

E. F. SOUTHWARD. Witnesses:

ALBERT W. BROWN, EDWIN W. BROWN.

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