A New or Improved Appliance or Device for Cleaning Windows, Casements, and other Fittings or Places.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 14th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 21st Dec. 1895
A New or Improved Appliance or Device for Cleaning Windows,
Casements, and other Fittings or Places.
I, ESTHER FILLEUL TIMS of 4 Dorville Crescent, Ravenscourt Park, in the
County of London, Widow, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:-
My invention refers to devices or appliances suitable for cleaning windows,
casements, and other fittings, or places, with facility and comparative case, and
without the risk of falling during the process of so cleaning, for it is well known
that many accidents have happened to servants and others, when occupied in the
my invention
cleaning of windows, by falling to the ground, whereas by the use of
it is practically impossible to do so, because the operator has not to go outside the
window to effect the cleaning of same when using my appliance, device, or
apparatus.
According to my invention I provide a box-like framework of say triangular
shape, I say triangular because it then somewhat resembles the shape of a hand,
and I believe this to be a shape most suitable to the purpose, and to some extent,
at any rate, imitating, when in use, the effect produced by the action of the hand,
although of course other shapes may be adopted. This box-like frame is or may
be made from metal, say zinc, tin, or possibly of wood; when made of metal it is
convenient to stamp it out of one piece and so that one triangular surface can be
folded on the other whereby the two points come opposite one another leaving a
space between them, and so that I then have a sort of stirrup-shaped case, say
about six inches from base to point; to the two side edges I hinge side pieces
which latter are provided at the sides opposite the hinges with claws or points
curved or so shaped as to facilitate the gripping action which I desire to obtain
for the purpose hereafter mentioned; these hinged flaps or side pieces are each
connected to levers acted on by spring or springs (for example a spiral spring) to
keep the flaps closed or to cause them to have a tendency always to do so, and in
this way for the claws to grip and hold any soft material placed between them and
the lower edges of the frame before mentioned.
As applied to the cleaning of windows, I cause the claws to grip the edges of a
sponge which has been laid on the outside of the box shaped frame; to the other
side of the frame there is a handle fitted, or a stock for a handle into which a
handle can be easily inserted of any required length. Instead of a sponge of
course a cloth or wash leather may be employed or any other suitable material for
the purpose.
To use the appliance it is only necessary to dip the sponge in water and taking
hold of the apparatus by the handle to rub the places to be cleaned, the point
entering the crevices in imitation to some degree of the hand or fingers.
Apertures should be provided at the base end of the frame for superfluous liquid to
run off.
After washing with the sponge or damp cloth the same can be removed and a
dry polisher substituted therefor, or another appliance may be fitted with a dry
polisher such as one of wash or chamois leather."
By my invention windows can be cleaned on the outside without risk to the
operator, even should it be necessary when cleaning a large casement to employ a

page_text: pair of steps to stand on for the purpose of reaching the top sash of the
window.
Dated this 13th day of September 1895.
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for Applicant.
A New or Improved Appliance or Device for Cleaning Windows,
Casements, and other Fittings or Places.
I, ESTHER FILLEUL TIMS of 4 Dorville Crescent, Ravenscourt Park, in the
County of London, Widow, 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, that is to say:
-
My invention refers to devices or appliances suitable for cleaning windows,
casements, and other fittings, or places, with facility and comparative ease and
without the risk of falling during the process of so cleaning, for it is well known
that many accidents have happened to servants and others when occupied in the
cleaning of windows by falling to the ground, whereas by the use of my invention
it is practically impossible to do so, because the operator has not to go outside the
window to effect the cleaning of same when using my appliance device, or
apparatus.
The invention will be best understood by describing same with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a top plan of this new or improved
windows, casements, and other fittings or places.
same,
appliance or device for cleaning
Figure 2 is a side elevation of
Figure 3 is a face elevation of one of the doors or gripping plates.
Figure 4 is a vertical section through the line y of Fig. 1, and
Figure 5 is a perspective view.
Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in all the figures.
According to my invention I provide a box-like framework A, of say triangular
shape, as shown, say triangular because it then somewhat resembles or approxi-
mates to the shape of a hand, and 1 believe this to be a shape most suitable to the
purpose and to some extent is capable of being caused to imitate, when in use,
the effect produced by the action of the hand, although of course other shapes
may be adopted. This box-like frame is or may be made of or from metal, say
zinc, tin, or possibly of wood; when made of metal, it is convenient to stamp it
out of one piece and so that one triangular surface A can be folded on the other A¹
whereby the two points come opposite one another leaving a space between them,
and so that I theri have a sort of stirrup shaped case, say about six inches from
base to point, connected at its rear part by the end piece B, and in front
by the stay B; to the two side edges I hinge side pieces, doors, or gripping
plates C which latter are provided at the sides opposite the hinges C, with
claws or points E curved inwardly or so shaped as to facilitate the gripping
action which I desire to obtain for the purpose hereafter mentioned; these hinged
flaps or side pieces CC are each connected to levers D, and connected and acted
on by spring or springs F, (for example a spiral spring) to keep the flaps CC
closed, or to cause them to have the tendency always to do so. In the drawing
the spring Fis shown located in the interior of the case connected from one plate C
to the opposite plate, and the latter plates C are provided with suitable stops such
as C2, but it will be understood that the plates C may be fitted with springs
otherwise arranged in order to cause the plates C to have a tendency to close
inwardly, with the object that a cloth, rubber, polishing leather, sponge, or the

page_text: like G placed over the lower surface A' of the frame as shown at Figure 4 and
having its edges or parts inserted within the frame over the edge of the lower
surface A, may be gripped by the gripping plates (which have been previously
held open) being closed and the teeth E thereof gripping the material G and
firmly holding same. Although the triangular box-like frame is shown as being
made of plate, yet it will be understood that if desired the frame may be of what
I may call skeleton" formation and may be made of wire.
To the other side or upper part of the frame there is a handle H, or a stock
for a handle, into which a handle can be easily inserted of any required length
and this handle may be supported by stays such as H'H' and secured by say
a piu H or the like. I have found it convenient to fit the handle into the stock
about parallel with the box-like frame A, so that when using the appliance it
is not necessary to reach far out of the window or over the sash in order to
bring the cleaner against the glass.
To use the appliance it is only necessary, for example, to dip the sponge in
water and taking hold of the apparatus by the handle, to rub the place to be
cleaned, the points entering the crevices, in imitation to some degree of the hand
or fingers. Apertures J should be provided at the end or ends of the frame for
superfluous liquid to run off.
After washing with the sponge or damp cloth, the same can be removed and
a dry polisher substituted therefor, or another appliance may be fitted with a
dry polisher, such as one of wash or chamois leather.
By my invention windows can be cleaned on the outside without risk to the
operator even should it be necessary when cleaning a large casement to employ a
pair of steps to stand on for the purpose of reaching the top sash of the
window.
An appliance such as before described might be used for many cleaning
purposes other than those enumerated in this Specification, for example, as a
sponge holder for use in a bath, and of course for any purpose to which it might
be with advantage applied.
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
claim is
1. The new or improved appliance or device for cleaning windows, casements,
and other fittings, or places, essentially composed of a box-like frame in com-
bination with hinged and spring retaining and releasing doors or flaps C, having
claws or gripping edges E for holding a sponge or other cleaning material, and
handle for using the appliance, all constructed arranged and acting substantially
as and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
2. In window and other cleaning devices the spring operated doors with
gripping appliances or claws for gripping and retaining a sponge or other soft
material substantially as herein before described and illustrated with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
3. The window or other cleaning device or appliance as set forth, together with
any mere modification or modifications thereof.
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for the Applicant.