Improvements in Window-cleaning Chairs.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1890-Accepted, 30th Aug., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Window-cleaning Chairs.
I, WILLIAM MYRON REYNOLDS, a citizen of the United States now residing at
New York, in the County and State of New York, U.S.A., Gentleman do hereby
leclare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDOW-CLEANING CHAIRS,
nd in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
scertained in and by the following statement:
My invention relates to chairs which are used upon the sills of windows when
domestics are engaged in cleaning the glasses. The general purpose of such chairs is
o diminish the danger attending such operation and to afford a convenient and
comfortable seat for the person thus engaged, and enable him freely to use
both hands.
The subject matter claimed is hereinafter specified.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a chair embodying my improvements:
Figure 2 a side elevation indicating the chair in position upon a window sill:
Figure 3 an enlarged view of one of the keepers or straps with which the chair is
interlocked when in place:
Figure 4 a detail view of the end of one of the braces which support, the chair
bottom:
Figure 5 a detail prospective view of one of the chair bottom hooks.
Figure 6, a side elevation showing brace rods running from the sides of the
chair-back to the window frame:
Figure 7 a plan showing the same matter ; and
Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6, but showing a high-back chair.
The bottom of the chair A is preferably of the rectangular shape shown and it is
provided with a back-bow A¹ and side braces a of any suitable construction. The
braces or supports B, B. are applied to the back bow at band to the rear edge of the
chair bottom at 1, and are then curved inwardly as shown and their lower ends
formed with rectangular notches or seats 62 which embrace the corner of the sill when
the chair is in position.
The braces are preferably formed with a strengthening web and may be cast. in
one piece of malleable iron, or otherwise constructed of suitable material. At
the front of the chair and preferably at two points hooks are secured. They each
consist of two horizontal plates c, the upper one being let into a counter-sink in the
face of the chair bottom and the lower one lying against the under face of the chair
bottom, and a hook c¹ projecting from the front of the chair and formed with a curved
outer face. Upon the sill, straps or keepers D are rigidly secured by screws or
otherwise and the under faces of the horizontal parts of the keepers are preferably
curved to conform to the interior faces of the hooks.
In placing the chair in position the chair bottom is held vertically with the back
projecting into the window and the hooks C are inserted in the keepers D and the
chair turned outwardly until the feet 62 of the braces B rest upon and embrace the
corner of the sill.
I preferably so arrange the braces that the chair bottom shall have an inclination
inwardly towards the window: This relieves the keepers and hooks of a portion
of the strain, and gives the body of the person a tendency towards the direction
of safety.
Since the braces B extend from the extreme rear edge of the chair back and bottom
to the sill the weight of the person occupying the chair will be thrown upon the edge
of the sill and there can be no tendency for the front edge of the chair bottom to tilt
upwardly and throw a strain upon the hooks and keepers.

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This
The shape and location also of the braces B. are such that if the person occupying
the chair should lean back so as to throw his weight upon the hark-bow A¹ there
would be but a. slight tendency of the front edge, of, the chair to tilt, upwardly:
the main strain would be outwardly about in, line with the chair bottom, and
the hooks and keepers are best adapted to resist a strain in that direction.
result is partly due as above mentioned to the shape and location of the braces and
also to the fact that the vertical faces of the notches in the ends of the braces lie
against the vertical face of the sill. In order to protect the edge of the sill from
abrasion or scratches I preferably line the seat or notch 3 with felt, rubber, vulcanized
fibre or other suitable material, a.
By providing two hooks and keepers and two braces B, so that near each side of the
chair a brace, hook and keeper shall be in line I avoid torsional strain and thereby
further increase the durability and safety of the chair.
As shown in Figures 6 and 7 rods E may be connected or pivoted at each side of
the chair, preferably at the ends or sides of the back bow, and have their hooked ends
engage eyes F secured to the sides of the window frame. This affords a further
measure of safety, and in fact makes the occupant of the chair absolutely secure. I
may also, as shown in Figure 8 make high back chairs specially adapted for standing
so that the occupant may readily and without fear reach the upper sash and upper
parts of the window frame. In this case I also provide brace rods E and eyes F in the
sides of the window frame.
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 combination, with a chair bottom and devices, as C D, for connecting it
with the sill, of a brace or support bolted to the chair bottom and to the back-bow and
adapted to rest upon and embrace the corner of the sill.
2. The combination, substantially as set forth, of the chair bottom and back-bow, રી
brace B secured directly to the back-bow and chair bottom and having a seat or
notch for embracing the corner of the sill.
3. The combination of a chair bottom, and devices for connecting it with the sill,. of
a support or brace B connected with the chair back and the rear of the chair bottom
and extending inwardly under the chair bottom its foot being formed with a notch or
seat for embracing the corner of the sill.
4. The combination, substantially as set forth, of an ordinary chair seat having a
back, devices for removably connecting the seat of the chair with the window sill a
support adapted to rest upon the outer part of the sill to sustain the chair seat and
braces swiveled to the sides of the chair back and adapted to engage eyes or catches
on the sides of the window-frame.
5. The combination,, substantially as set forth, of the chair bottom, devices for
connecting it to the sill a high chair back, braces or supports connected with the
chair-back and rear of the chair bottom and adapted to rest upon the outer part of the
sill, and brace rods connected with the sides of the chair-back and adapted to engage
eyes or catches on the window frame.
Dated at New York, N.Y., U.S.A., this 9th day of June 1890.
WILLIAM MYRON REYNOLDS.