Improved Appliances for Use as Cleaners for Slates, Glass, and the like, and as Toilet Articles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Improved Appliances for Use as Cleaners for Slates, Glass, and
the like, and as Toilet Articles.
I, NICHOLAY JENSEN, of Washington, District of Columbia, United States of
America, Inventor, 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:-
My invention relates to cleaning devices for slates, blackboards, glass and like
articles and consists of certain features of construction which will be hereinafter more
fully described.
I have illustrated several forms in which I have contemplated embodying my
invention in the accompanying drawings and the said invention is fully disclosed in
the following specification and claims.
In the drawings
Figure 1 is a top view of my improved cleaning device.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same.
Figure 3 is a similar view of a slightly different species of cleaner embodying my
invention.
Figure 4 is a sectional view of still another species of my improved cleaning
device.
Figure 5 illustrates the preferred form in which I contemplate embodying my
invention, and,
Figure 6 is a view of a toilet article in which the principle of my invention is
employed.
In the form shown in figures 1, 2, and 3 my improved cleaning device is preferably.
made of rubber or other elastic material which will hold its shape and consists of two
receptacles or chambers A and B united by a short neck C. The neck is provided
with a narrow slit or perforation connecting the chambers A and B which is
normally held in a closed or nearly closed position. This aperture may be distended
by drawing the side walls of chamber B in opposite direction to permit the insertion
of some absorbent material preferably sponge which is forced through the distended
opening. When the material has been introduced into chamber A, the tension of
the rubber will draw the sides of the slit together thus closing the aperture. I prefer
to provide the chamber A with a thicker portion C as shown in figure 3 and form
therein a wedge shaped slit or perforation or a cone shaped opening having its
greatest diameter at its lower end. By this means, when the slit is distended, the
inclined sides will guide the absorbent material through the opening, or it may be
forced through in any desired way. The compartiment B is open at its lower

page_text: extremity and is filled with some soft drying material such as cloth rags, felt, cotton-
waste or dry sponge as desired. The compartment A is also provided with a slit
or aperture a or a series of such slits or apertures. I prefer to employ a single
slit or series of slits running in the same direction which will be normally held
in a closed position by the tension of the rubber. I may however employ a series of
round or other shaped apertures.
The operation is as follows:
The side walls of chamber A are subjected to a slight compression sufficient to
cause the slit a to open, and the upper portion of the device immersed in water or
other cleaning fluid. The fluid will enter the aperture a and saturate the sponge
r other absorbent material. When this is effected the device is removed from the
fluid and the pressure released when the slit will close, thus forming an air tight
receptacle for the sponge and preventing the evaporation of the liquid. When it is
desired to employ the device for cleaning slate, blackboard, glass or other article
the compartment A is inverted over the article and subjected to slight lateral pressure
which will cause the slit a to open and allow a few drops of water to fall upon the
article. The device is then returned to its normal position and the soft material
in the compartment B brought into contact with the article effectually cleaning and
drying the same. The operation may be repeated as often as desired until the
liquid in the sponge is exhausted when it may be refilled as before described.
The sponge or other absorbent material forms a reservoir for the retention of water
and the peculiar construction of the compartment A prevents evaporation so that the -
supply of water will last a long time without replenishing. When the material in the
chamber B has become soiled or for any other reason it is desired to change the same,
it can be instantly withdrawn and fresh material substituted. Should it become
necessary to substitute a fresh sponge or absorbent material in the compartment A
the same can be easily accomplished by first removing the material in the compart-
ment B and distending the opening c in the neck C. When the form of neck shown
in figure 3 is employed the water will be effectually prevented from entering the
chamber B by the form of the slit c.
.
The pressure exerted upon the side walls of the receptacle A will cause the slit or
aperture c to close more tightly and no water will enter the receptacle B.
If by
accidental pressure a quantity of the liquid be squeezed out of the sponge and settle
in the bottom of the chamber A, the curved portion will cause the water to remain
at the base of the same and will prevent it from entering the receptacle B.
In figure 4 I have shown another species of my improved cleaning device' which
will be found especially desirable in cleaning glass and kindred uses.
In this con-
struction I provide the base portion B of harder material such as glass or hard rubber
or any other suitable material. This receptacle is open at its upper end and, is
provided with a flange which diverges outwardly from the point where it joins the
chamber B.
The receptacle A is formed of flexible material in the manner already described and
is provided with a flange c¹ on its lower side slightly smaller than the flange b.
This flange being elastic may be expanded and placed over and in engagement with
the flange as shown in figure 4 and will retain the receptacle A in position by the
tension of the elastic material of which it is composed. If preferred or found
desirable the flanges c and b may be united by means of cement. The sponge may
be inserted within the receptacle A before it is applied to the chamber B or after
as preferred. I may prefer to form the chamber B with a solid top and place the
sponge within the receptacle A before applying it to the base portion, in which case
may dispense with the bottom of the receptacle A and construct the side walls of the
same to engage the flange b.
The forms shown and described are my preferred forms and constitute a very
efficient cleaning device for slates and blackboards and by its peculiar form will rest
upon a desk or table in the position shown in the drawings. The water being held
by the absorbent material in an air tight receptacle will not come in contact with the
desk or table or any objects thereon should the reservoir become accidentally inverted

page_text: and the shape of the base tends to keep the said reservoir in an upright position.
I may provide the lower portion of the chamber B with a flap or cover which will
prevent it when used on a desk or table from soiling the objects with which it comes
in contact.
. By constructing the parts of elastic material the device cannot be easily broken or
rendered unfit for use and hence it is very durable and the spong being protected
from wear will last indefinitely without renewal.
While I have shown the receptacles A and B as being integral and composed of
elastic material and again as being the one of elastic and the other of harder material
the parts being suitably connected I may construct them both separately of soft rubber
or other elastic substances and unite the parts in any suitable manner.
I have shown the receptacle A smaller than the chamber B and above the same I
may however construct them of equal size and of any preferred form without
departing from the spirit of my invention.
In manufacturing my improved articles I prefer to employ the form shown in
Figure 5 as being the cheapest, simplest and consequently the most advantageous of
the forms shown. In this figure B represents the cup or receptacle for holding the
drying material which is preferably of wood but may be of hard rubber, glass or other
suitable material. The upper portion of this receptacle B is provided with a recess.
or depression adapted to receive the liquid receptacle A which is of the same form
and construction as that shown in the other forms. A short screw threaded bolt
having a wide flat head is passed through an aperture in the bottom of the receptacle A
and extends through the top of the receptacle B within the chamber B with a nut.
By turning this nut the head of the bolt and said nut will hold the two receptacles A.
and B firmly together. The receptacle B is then filled with the drying material and
the receptacle A is filled with the absorbent material or sponge through an aperture in
the top of the same as before described. This form I prefer for the reasons before
stated and can be made very cheaply. It will also be very durable and effective in its
operation and use.
In figure 6 I have shown a modification of my invention in which I have applied
the principle of construction to a toilet article. The device consists of the receptacle A
provided with a sponge or absorbent material and the chamber B united as shown.
and described with references to figure 5. Beneath the chamber B is a slightly larger
chamber preferably formed integral therewith but separated therefrom by an annular
flange c. The lower edge of the walls of the chamber C is screw threaded and a
cover D is provided with similar threads to engage those on the chamber C. The
flange c within the device is provided with an annular groove in which is fitted a
sieve or netting of wire, cloth, or other material which is preferably provided
with a peripheral spring wire so that it can be compressed and its edges placed in the
said groove when the force of the spring wire will hold it securely in place. The
cover D is provided with a powder puff d or any preferred form as shown in the
drawings: The receptacle B is filled with powder such as is used for toilet purposes
before the sieve or netting bis placed in position. This netting is then sprung in
place and will allow the powder to sift down upon the powder puff d in quantities
sufficient for use and will retain the powder in the receptacle when the puff dis
removed. The sponge in the receptacle A is saturated with perfume of any desired
kind and the perfume may be sprayed upon the face or upon any desired article or
articles by compressing the sides of the elastic receptacle A. This device will be found
of great convenience to ladies in their toilet operations and also to gentlemen especially
after shaving.
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 1
claim is :-
C
(1) A cleaner for slates, blackboards, glass and like articles, consisting of receptacles
Ha
1. and for during material the said liquid recentacle

page_text: being composed of elastic material and provided with absorbent material within the
same, substantially as described.
(2.) A cleaner for slates, blackboards, glass and like articles, consisting of receptacles
for containing a liquid supply and for drying material, the said liquid receptacle
being composed of elastic material and provided with an opening normally closed by
the tension of the said elastic material, substantially as described.
(3.) In a cleaner for slates, blackboards, glass and like articles, the combination
with a receptacle for containing absorbent material, and having 'an opening for the
insertion of the same, of a receptacle adjacent to the said liquid receptacle the liquid
receptacle being composed of elastic material and provided with a discharge opening,
both of the said openings being normally closed by the tension of the elastic material,
substantially as described.
(4.) In a cleaner for slates and other articles; the combination with an elastic
receptacle, complete in itself, of a receptacle of absorbent material, the said receptacle
being separable but connected end to end substantially as described.
(5.) In a cleaner for slates, blackboards, glass and like articles, the combination
with a liquid receptacle composed wholly of elastic material and provided with an
elastic flange, of a receptacle for drying material having rigid walls and provided with
a diverging flange adapted to be engaged by the said elastic flange substantially as
.described.
(6.) In a cleaner for slates, blackboards, glass and like articles, the combination
with a liquid receptacle composed of elastic material and provided with a thickened
bottom portion having an opening therein for the insertion of absorbent material and
being also provided with an elastic flange of a receptacle for drying material having
rigid walls and provided with a diverging flange adapted to be engaged by the said
elastic flange substantially as described.
-
(7.) A cleaner for slates, blackboards, glass and like articles, consisting of receptacles
for containing a liquid supply and for drying material, the said liquid receptacle being
composed of elastic material and provided with absorbent material within the same,
substantially as described.
(8.) A cleaner for slates, blackboards, glass and like articles consisting of a liquid
receptacle composed of elastic material and, having an absorbent material wholly
within the said liquid receptacle, substantially as described.
(9.) In a cleaner for slates, blackboards, glass and like articles, the combination
with a liquid receptacle composed of elastic material having an absorbent material
within the same, of a receptacle for drying material having rigid walls, the two
receptacles being rigidly connected by a bolt passing through their adjacent walls
and a nut on the said bolt, substantially as described.
(10.) The combination with the elastic liquid receptacle containing absorbent
material of a receptacle connected thereto and a cover for the said latter receptacle
provided with a powder puff, substantially as described.
(11.) The combination with the elastic liquid receptacle containing absorbent
material of a receptacle connected therewith having an annular groove, a sieve or
netting provided with a peripheral spring engaging the said groove and a cover for
the said latter receptacle provided with a powder puff, substantially as described.
Dated this 8th day of January 1889.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.