US730877A

US730877A - Combined blanket-roll, field-mattress, and clothing-bag.

Info

Publication number: US730877A
Application number: US12356902A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert I Clapham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1902-09-16
Filing date: 1902-09-16
Publication date: 1903-06-16
Anticipated expiration: 1920-06-16

Description

PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903.

7 R. I. GLAPHAM. COMBINED BLANKET ROLL, FIELD MATTRESS, AND CLOTHING BAG.

APPLICATION rILnn SEPT. 16, 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 KODEL.

INVENTOR:

WITNESSES:

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THE "cams PETERS scvwomuwn wnsnmmom n. c.

No. 730,877 PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903.

R. I. CLAPHAM.

COMBINED BLANKET ROLL, FIELD MATTRESS, AND CLOTHING BAG. nrmoulon FILED SEPT. 1a, 1902.

K0 MODEL. -2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- INVENTOR:

WlTNESSES: 13% .4

'fl e/ By Atfome'ys,

UNITED STATES Patented June 16, 1903.

ROBERT I. OLAPHAM, OFBROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

COMBINED BLANKET-ROLL, FIELD-MATTRESS, AND CLOTHING-BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 730,877, dated June 16, 1903.

Application filed September 16, 1902. Serial No. 123.569. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ROBERT I. CLAPHAM, a

citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New'York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Blanket-Roll, Field-Mattress, and Clothing-Bag, of which the following is a specification.

My invention aims to provide a military blanket-roll which is capable of use also as a field-mattress and a clothing-bag in which small articles of baggage maybe carried. It is at once a substitute for the haversack now ordinarily carried, a protecting-roll for the blanket, and a comfortable bed-sack. It is very light, and, being rolled with the blanket, occupies no appreciable space in a soldiers luggage. It provides a most convenient way of carrying small baggage, such as shoes, comb, brush, soap, towels, nnderclothes, &c., things which are ordinarily carried nowadays in a Merriam pack.

Various improvements in detail are also provided, as specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, illustrating an embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 shows the device in use as a bed. Fig. 2 shows the manner of transporting the same in connection with a blanket. Fig. 3 shows the device laid out with an overcoat and blanket thereon ready to be rolled up and to form a complete roll in which the blanket is entirely protected. Fig. 4 shows the same rolled up tightly. Fig. 5 shows the roll with its ends brought together ready to be slung over the shoulder.

The improved military blanket-roll of my invention consists in the embodiment shown of a bag, which when fiat is of a suitable shape and size to be rolled up around a blanket and of flexible material throughout, whereby when so rolled it may be doubled and slung over the shoulder, and which has a compartment at one end for-small articles of baggage and another compartment extending nearly its entire length adapted to be stuffed ;with straw or the like when in the field to form a mattress Referring now to the'drawings, the roll as a whole is seen to consist of a double strip or sheet of canvas, duck, or rubber or other suitable material, slightly longer and wider than an ordinary field-blanket folded once along the middle. The greater portion of the roll is taken up with a compartment or pocket A,

which is provided with an edge or flap B B,

whereby it is open at a side and also at an end to enable it to be readily and completely filled with straw and permit free access to all parts of thecompartment, so that the straw may be spread out uniformly and smoothly. Tapes 0 or other devices for closing the open edge of the mattress-compartment are provided. hen the compartment is properly stuffed, the'tapes C are tied together and the its opening adjacent to the end opening of the mattress-compartment A. The flap E of the clothing-compartment carries, preferably, tapes F at suitable intervals along its length. Similar tapes G are attached to the bottom of the roll. Gromets H are provided near the edge of the flap B of the mattress-compartment. Bypassing the tapes G through the gromets H and tying them to the tapes F the adjacent openings of the two compartments are closed at a single operation. Along one edge or just inside of one edge of the base of the roll are attached straps J, provided with buckles K for use in strapping the roll when on the march, as hereinafter explained.

In preparing for a march the compartment D is stufied with the various small articles of baggage above referred to, these being spread out as much as possible to avoid making the roll thick at this end. The stuffing of the mattress is of course out, this not being carried by the individual soldiers. The overcoat,which'is usually carried, is spread on top of the roll in substantially the position shown at L, Fig. 3, the cape being drawn up over .the'collar and the lower corners being folded ICO to bring it to a substantially rectangular shape. Upon this is placed the usual blanket M, folded once along a central longitudinal line. The increased thickness of the overcoat at the lower end counterbalances to some extent the increased thickness of the clothing-compartment at the upper end. The straps .I are spread out in the position shown in Fig. 3. If desired, the rubber cape or poncho which is ordinarily carried may be spread on top of the blanket; but this is preferably carried in the belt, as shown at N, v,

Fig. 2. Starting with the parts in the position of. Fig. 3, they are rolled, starting with the upper long edge, so as to form a roll substantially like that shown in Fig. 4, with my improved blanket-roll on the outside to protect the blanket, overcoat, and small clothing. The straps J K are fastened tightly to hold it in this shape. It is impossible now for small clothes to fall out of the compartment D or for the blanket or overcoat to be displaced. All the baggage which the soldier needs is carried in one bag or roll of a most convenient and light shape. In order to sling it over his shoulder in the manner shown in Fig. 2, the ends of the long roll are brought together, Fig. 5, and tied either with an extra strap 0 or with one of the end straps J, made of extra length for this purpose. This yoke or collar is then of just a suitable size and shape to be passed over the head and one shoulder of the soldier and rests on his other shoulder and under one arm, as shown in Fig. 2. Here it interferes with his movements no more than does the ordinary blanket when carried in this way.

For greater convenience the clothing-compartment D may be divided into two or more compartments, either arranged one above the other or alongside of each other. These may by formed by merely running lines of stitching through the walls of the compartment, or an additional flap may be inserted in the compartment, separating it into upper and lower portions, and the upper portion may be reserved for soft material, which will forma suitable pillow for the head when sleeping. The blanket M instead of being separate from the roll AD may be stitched directly there' toas, for example, along one of the longitudinal edges. Such an arrangement would make it possible to form the traveling-roll more quickly than with a separate blanket and would also assist in keeping the blanket on a person sleepingon the mattress.

Where it is not necessary to carry a blanket, or in any case, the device-may be used without straw. The soldier may lie with his body in the compartment A, tying the edge B to form a sleeping-bag or not, as desired. In

fact the device may be used in a great number of ways, which will readily suggest themselves to persons using it.

It will be seen that the invention provides a combined blanket-roll, field-mattress,and clothing-pack of great simplicity, so as to be cheap, and adapted to be easily carried and capable of usefulness in a great variety of ways.

Though I have described with great particularity of detail a device embodying my invention, yet it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific device described. Various modifications of the same and additions thereto are possible to those skilled in the art without departure from the invention.

What I claim is 1. A military blanket-roll, of a size and shape suitable when fiat to be rolled up around ablanket, and of flexible material throughout whereby when so rolled it may be doubled and slung over the shoulder, and havingjat one end a smaller open compartment adapted for carrying small articles of clothing and bag gage when on the march, and a single larger open compartment extending substantially to the opposite end of the roll, and adapted to receive a mans body so as to serve as a sleeping-bag, or to be stufi ed to form a field-mattress at night. 2. A military blanket-roll, of a size and shape suitable when flat to be rolled up around a blanket,and 0t flexible material throughout whereby when so rolled it may be doubled and slung over the shoulder, and having at one end a smaller open compartment adapted for carrying small articles of clothing and baggage when on the march, and a single larger compartment open at its end and side, extending substantially to the opposite end of the roll, and adapted to receive a mans body so as to serve as a sleeping-bag, or to be stuffed to form a field-mattress at night.

3. A military blanket-roll, consisting of a bag of a suitable size and shape when empty to be rolled up around a blanket, said bag having a clothing-compartment'at one end for small articles of baggage and a compartment extending nearlyits entire length adapted to be stuffed to form a field-mattress, said compartments openingadj acent to each other and a single closing means for closing both said adjacent openings.

4:. A military blanket-roll, consisting of a bag of a suitable size and shape when empty to be rolled up around a blanket, said bag having a clothing-compartment atone end for small articles of baggage and a compartment extending nearly its entire length adapted to be stufied to form a field-mattress, said for carrying small articles of clothing and. baggage when on the march, and a single larger open compartment extending substantially to the opposite end of the roll, and adapted to receive a mans body so as to serve as a sleeping-bag, or to be stuffed to form a field-mattress, combined with a means for fasteningsaid roll in its rolled and doubled condition.

6. A military blanket-roll, of a size and shape suitable when flat to be rolled up around a blanket, and of flexible material throughout whereby when so rolled it may be doubled and slung over the shoulder, and having at one end a smaller open compartment adapted for carrying small articles of clothwitnesses. 1

ROBERT I. OLAPHAM.

Witnesses:

DOMINGO A. USINA, FRED WHITE.