US1256562A - Portable breastwork. - Google Patents

Description

aamm UEVECESQ W. G. HOFFMANN.

PORTABLE BREASTWORK, APPLICATION FILED APR-7,1917.

1,256,562. Patganted F9b.'19, 1918.

IN VEN TOR. W. 6. HOFFMAN/V m5 ATTOINEY5 091. sates, Beam lilUHlbHUN ANS REL/Um DEVEQES.

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WILLIAM G. I-IOFFMANN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PORTABLE BREASTWORK.

Application filed April 7, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM Gr. Horr- MANN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented a new and useful Portable Breastwork, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to protective shields for use in warfare.

An object of my invention is to provide a portable breastwork with which a soldier may protect himself against rifle fire.

Another object of my invention is to provide a shield adapted to be folded for transportation and which may readily be unfolded and set in the ground to furnish protection to a soldier lying down.

The invention possesses other features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the Preferred form of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made by the said drawings and description, as I may adopt variations of the preferred form within the scope of my invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the device showing the hinged plates lying in the same, plane.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the rear of the device showing the plates in angular relation and ready to be set in position in the ground.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the smooth front of the breastwork.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the two plates folded together for transportation.

Fig. 5 is a side view showing one of the ways in which the breastwork may be set up.

Broadly, my invention comprises two plates of highly resistant material hinged to gether and adapted to be carried by the individual soldier. The plates are arranged to be opened and set in the ground to furnish a shelter behind which the soldier may lie in comparative security from frontal rifle fire. One of the plates is slotted to receive a rifle barrel so that the soldier may fire his own rifle without undue exposure. It is contemplated that my portable breastwork will find its chief uses not necessarily as a part Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19, 1918.

Serial No. 160,547.

of the soldiers regular equipment, but rather in attack over open ground or in furnishing shelter to sharpshooters in exposed positions. It may also be used to augment the value of any low hummock, or of a few shovelfuls of dirt quickly thrown up to form a shallow trench, and in this connection its value is obvious.

The portable breastwork comprises a main plate 2 to which a second plate 3 is attached by hinges 1. Preferably the hinge line is a short distance in from the edge of plate 2 so that while the plate 3 can be opened out fiat to lie in substantially the same plane", with plate 2, it cannot be turned back on the opposite side. In this method of hinging the plates together, the overhanging margin of the main plate furnishes complete protection to the long, narrow space between the plates which the hinges necessitate. A hook 5 is attached to one of the plates and two eyes 6 and 7 attached to the other plate. When the plates are fully extended as shown in Fig. 1, the hook is engaged in eye 6 to retain the plates in this position. When the plates are arranged in angular relation as in Fig. 2, the hook is engaged in eye 7.

In order to avoid unnecessary weight, the plates are made very thin and for this reason it is desirable to avoid placing them pen; pendicular to the probable path of the bullets, which they are designed to deflect rather than stop. For this reason the plates are arranged preferably in one of the two positions illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5. In either case the exposed faces of the plates offer a smooth, slanting surface which will deflect any bullet or small shell fragment not striking from a direction perpendicular to the surface.

Means are provided for fixing the plates in the earth. Pivoted adjacent the lower edge of each plate is a stake 9. Normally the stakes are folded within the edge of the plates as shown in Fig. l where they are held by raised buttons 12 fixed in the surface of the plate. The natural spring in the stake is relied on to hold it in position between the buttons 12. Buttons 13 are provided to offer suflicient resistance to the turning of the stake out of the extended position to hold them extended preparatory to pushing them into the ground. When the plates are to be set up in angular relation as in Fig. 3, only the stakes 9 are neededand the breastwork is erected with the plates approximately perpendicular to the surface of the ground.

Means are provided for supporting the plates at an angle to the ground surface, comprising stakes 15, one of which is pivoted on each side near the top. A lip 16 is formed integral with the stake 15 to limit its outward swing from the plate and normally the stake is held against the plate by fixed hooks 17 under which the stake may be sprung. When it is desired to have as extended a shelter as possible, or to use the device as a unit in a series forming a continuous line, the plates are opened and latched in the extended position, both sets of stakes 9 and 15 extended, and the plates set in the ground at an angle as shown in Fig. 5.

Handles 18 are affixed to each plate to facilitate handling them. Preferably each handle is pivoted in a socket 19 formed so that the handle may swing in against the plate when the plates are folded together, but cannot swing past the perpendicular position. The sockets are sufliciently close together so that the two handles may be grasped together as one.

All the fittings on the plates are arranged alinement or in angular relation with the plates substantially vertical, and means for supporting said breastwork upon the ground in either position.

2. A portable breastwork comprising a main plate, and a second plate hinged to said main plate in a line spaced from the edge thereof whereby a portion of the main plate projects across the hinge opening between said plates.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco, California, this 2d day of April, 1917.

WVILLIAM Gr. HOFF MANN In presence of C. S. EVANS.

Copies 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G.

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