An Improved Portable Balcony for Use when Cleaning Windows, and for such like purposes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 1st May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Portable Balcony for Use when Cleaning Windows,
and for such like purposes.
1, RUDOLF BAHNSEN, of 10 Chemnitzstrasse, Barmstadt, Holstein, Germany,
Master Upholsterer, 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:-
This invention has for its object to prevent accidents happening to servants and
others when cleaning the windows of dwelling houses or other windows situated
above the ground level.
In carrying out my invention I suspend from a transverse rod fixed inside the
window to be cleaned, a protecting basket or framework resembling a balcony
in shape. This basket or framework is so lightly constructed and so easily
manipulated that it can be readily transported from place to place by anyone
without great exertion.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood I have
hereunto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings whereon:-
Fig. is a longitudinal section and Fig. 2 a front view of a window with the
device attached.
Fig. 3 is a detail view.
On the drawings a are safety hooks or catches (see detail view Fig. 3) which are
screwed or otherwise fixed into the wall or into the uprights of the window frame
on each side of the window. is a transverse rod of suitable length which is
inserted into or fastened to the hooks a. Collars care fitted to each end of the
rod b to prevent it sliding off the hooks a. To the rod the protecting basket or
framework d is fitted by means of eyes g and spring hooks or catches h.
The protecting basket or framework consists essentially of a metal frame d
surrounded by osier work or other light material d'. The foot plate e is of such a
length that when the device is in use its rear portion bears against the window sill.
Inclined rods f are connected at their lower ends, by means of bolts or the like, to
the front portion of the foot plate e while, at their upper ends, they form the
eyes g which engage with the spring hooks h fitted on rod b and thus support the
device.
The protecting basket or framework may be of any suitable size or shape but is
preferably made so that only one person can conveniently move therein. The
shape of the basket or framework prevents any possibility of the person cleaning
the windows falling out of it.
The invention provides at a small cost a protective appliance which can be
readily connected to or removed from any window.
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
consider novel and desire to claim is :-
A protecting device or balcony for preventing accidents when cleaning windows
consisting of a light basket or framework (d) which rests, by means of a foot
plate (e) against the window sill, said basket or framework being provided with
inclined rods which are capable of being hooked to a transverse rod (b) held in

page_text: place at the inside of the window by safety hooks (a) substantially as hereinbefore
-described with reference to the drawings annexed.
1
1000
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.