Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Sept., 1887
Specification Accepted, 6th Dec., 1887
I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of 52 Chancery Lane, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention which has
been communicated to me from abroad by Mrs. Anna Dormitzer of the City, County
and State of New York, United States of America, Gentlewoman, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
The objects of this invention are to simplify and improve the construction of the
window-cleaning chair or platform for which Letters Patent have been previously
granted for the inventions of Anna Dormitzer, and to combine therewith certain novel
and important auxiliary devices in order to make the chair applicable to other purposes
than those for which it was at first designed.
The improvements consist, in combination with the chair or platform, of an
adjustable stop, fixed on the clamping block on the under side of the chair; of an
improved clamp frame; of improved devices for adjusting the step frame; of novel
devices for holding certain parts of the chair in place when desired, and permitting
their ready detachment; of devices which enable the operator better to reach the top
of a window on the outside and which facilitate the operation of window cleaning;
and of a fire-escape attachment, all of which will be hereinafter fully set forth.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of the
specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all
the figures.
Figure 1, is a plan of the under side of the chair with parts removed.

page_text: Figure 2, is a sectional side elevation of the chair adjusted in position on a window-
sill, with auxiliary steps in position.
Figure 3, is a side elevation of a portion of the device, showing the steps folded up
when the chair is packed for transportation.
Figure 4, is designed to illustrate certain details of construction.
Figure 5, is an enlarged, vertical section on line a. x. Figure 2.
Figure 6, is a front elevation of my improved step ladder designed for use in
combination with the window-cleaning chair.
Figure 7, is an enlarged view of the ladder folded up for transportation.
Figure 8, is a side elevation showing the step ladder fixed in operative position on
the window-cleaning chair.
Figure 9, is a front elevation of my improved sponge and water bucket designed
for use with the window-cleaning chair as indicated in Figure 2.
Figure 10, is a plan of the said bucket.
Figure 11, is an elevation showing my improved fire-escape, suspended from, and
combined with my window-cleaning chair, in position for use.
Figure 12, embraces certain details of the fire-escape.
In the drawings, the chair-frame consists of side strips, AA, firmly held together
by front and rear end strips, A' A³, respectively, and on these strips is secured a
platform or seat, B. This frame or platform is ro-enforced at its outer rear edge by
a strip, B, which projects up above the level of the frame, and serves to give support
to the lower edge of a back piece or guard, D, hinged to the frame, to fold down
inwardly thereon between. the side guards, E, that are cach hinged to a side strip, a,
on the edge of the platform, high enough to permit of their folding inward upon the
top of the guard D, when the latter is folded down. When turned up, the side
guards, E, are supported by the interposed rear piece, D, which in turn receives
its support against lugs b, projecting slightly from the inner rear faces of the side
guards, E.
Rigidly fixed between the side strips, A A, near the front ends thereof, is a
beam, F, to which is hinged by hinges c the step frame hereinafter to be
described.
Beneath the platform B, and extending between the end strips, A¹ A², to which it
is rigidly secured, is a central bar, G, slightly undercut along its edges, so that grooves f
are formed between it and the platform B, as shown in figure 5.
Two T-shaped lugs, H, with their heads channeled, so as to clamp the opposite
edges of the bar G, form the clamp-frame, and are fitted longitudinally on said bar,
and these lugs H hold rigidly between them a clamping-block, I, projecting downward
at about right angles from the platform B, said clamping-block I being preferably
bent or curved slightly inward to give it a firiner hold against the outside of a window-
sill when applied thereto. Adjustably secured on the inner or front face of this
clamping-block I is a stop, I, that may be adjusted and secured at a higher or lower
point by passing its bolt h through any one of the several corresponding bolt-holes in
the block I, and tightening the nut thereon. The very important function of this
stop I is to steady the chair in position on a window-sill by contact with the upper
face of the sill outside of the window, as shown in Fig. 2, and to hold the outer end
of the chair at the desired elevation or inclination.
The clamping-block I is adjusted by means of a long thumb-screw, K, passed through
the middle of the front frame-strip, A', and extended along beneath the central line
of the bar G, into a lug, i, that is fixed on said bar in the rear of block I. On this
thumb-screw K is fitted a traveling nut, L, which is perforated transversely, and is
connected with the block I by means of a bent rod, L', that is passed through said
transverse perforation k, and has its ends carried down and passed through the block I,
and there secured by nuts k¹. This traveling nut L is provided with side flanges, k²,
that engage in grooves formed, by two guide-bars, L2, which are secured parallel to
each other on the bar G, and thus said nut L may be moved steadily forward or back,
and the block I with it, by the turning of the screw K.

page_text: Upon either side of the chair a nearly triangular block, M, having a rack, M', fixed
on its inner face, is fitted to slide longitudinally upon its side strips and to project
downward therefrom, with its inclined face downward and its smaller end forward.
These sliding blocks M are held in place by means of their lugs m engaging in
grooves m¹ of the side strips, and they are prevented from becoming accidentally
detached from the chair by means of a flexible metallic rod, M², which is centrally
connected with the clamping-block I by eye-bolts g, and has its ends inserted in the
teeth of said racks M'; and by means of this rod M2 the sliding blocks M are moved
forward and back synchronously with the clamping-block I, thus making their proper
adjustment automatic, as it were. The ends of said rod M² may be fixed between any
of the opposite teeth of the racks M', so that on adjusting the block I the blocks M,
by means of the rod M², may be moved and held in the required position and with
necessary firmness upon the outer window-sill.
The step-frame N, hinged at c, has fixed on the rear edge of each sido bar a
block, d, that has its exposed edge preferably covered with felt or leather, as indicated
at d', to give it a better hold against the inner face of a window-sill against
which it may make contact, and at the same time to prevent it from defacing the paint
on the sill.
Pivoted between the side bars of the step-frame N on a rod p, is a step, N1, that is
supported in place by jointed braces p', whose upper ends are pivoted on the inner
faces of said side bars, so that when said braces are extended the step is in operating
position, and so that said step may be folded up when desired, as indicated in Figure 3.
On the inner edges of the said step side bars, near the lower ends thereof, are secured
pad-blocks N2, provided with pads 92, designed to bear against the wainscot when the
chair is in use.
This step N' enables the operator to easily mount to the chair plat-
form. This step-frame is, when lowered in operative position, as shown in Fig. 2,
held firmly in place by a catch, o, which is secured on the upper cross-bar of said
frame, and is made to engage over a stud, o¹, fixed in the lower edge of the chair
frame strip A.
To facilitate the use of the chair in reaching the extreme upper portion of a window,
I supply therewith a detachable step, P, whose legs are hinged on the under side of
said step. Two of the feet or lower corners of these logs are provided with tenon-
plates s adapted to fit into corresponding mortise-plates, s, as shown in Fig. 4, secured
in the chair-platform, so that said step P may be securely fixed in the position shown
in Fig. 2.
Instead of one step, as P, I may use two or more steps or a step-ladder removably
fixed on the chair-platform to enable the operator to reach still higher. The rear
edge of this step P is provided with a raised edge, ³, to keep the feet of the operator
from contact with the window-glass when cleaning the windows.
The step-frame and step N N and step P may be folded together for transportation,
as indicated in Fig. 3. The step P has a pin, v, projecting from each end, and on the
outer face of one of the side strips of the frame N is secured a rigid perforated lug, vl,
(see Fig. 2.) and on the other side strip a perforated spring or clastic lug, 2, outside
of or over which is a rigid U-shaped stop, v³. Hence when folded together a pin, e,
of the step P is entered in the lug v', (see Fig. 3,) and the other pin in the lug
which is pulled back for the purpose and then springs inward again, so that the step
P
is held in place with its edge over-lapping the lower ends of the side strips of the
frame N. The legs of the step P are then turned down and secured by a button, w,
that is fixed on the under side of said step.
In packing the chair for transportation the sliding blocks M may be removed from
the chair, and the clamp I and clamp frame H may be taken apart and removed.
When the chair is applied to use, the platform or seat is placed upon the window-
sill, with the inner edges of the blocks F bearing against the inner edge of the sill,
while the clamp I projects downward beyond and against the outer edge of the sill,
and the stop 11 rests on the sill. Then the clamp is drawn inward by turning the
thumb-screw K until said clamp is brought to bear forcibly against the outer face of

page_text: the sill, and the end of the clamp biting under the lower edge thereof. Then the
sliding blocks M are drawn inward by the rod M2, as indicated in Fig. 2, and the
chair is fixed rigidly in position. The step-frame and step N N¹ are then adjusted in
place, and the auxiliary step P fixed in position, if desired, as shown in Fig. 2.
Firmly secured to the rear and sides of the chair-frame are strips A³ A³, provided
with vertical sockets a³, and, preferably, an iron band, A, is fastened on and over
these strips to further strengthen them and hold them in position.
I do not confine myself to strips A³ of this precise construction and shape, as bands
of corrugated iron could be so attached to the 'sides of the chair-frame as to afford
the desired sockets for holding the proposed standards. These sockets a³ are designed
for the insertion therein of standards, on which to suspend pails and wash-rags for
the convenience of the operator when cleaning windows.
In order to enable the operator to more easily reach the top of a window from
the outside, I have provided an auxiliary step, Q, whose hinged leg may be folded up
and held by a buttons, when the said step is not in use. This step is designed
when in use to be fixed on the rear end of the chair-platform, as shown in Fig. 2, and
to be firmly secured in place by any suitable device. A long standard, r, inserted in
one of the sockets a³ and projecting up through a corresponding hole (not shown) in
an edge of the step Q, will serve to support a pail when said step is in use, and will
also serve to steady the operator who may grasp it as he gets on or off the step.
The value of this improved window-cleaning chair is further demonstrated when a
fire-escape device is combined with it. Let it be supposed that a house is supplied
with two of the chairs, for instance, which, not in use, are hung up, packed for
transportation, by attached rings in some convenient place, one in an upper and one
in a lower story, and that a fire-escape device is also conveniently at hand. On an
alarm of fire the chairs can be taken down and adjusted in position, without the
auxiliary steps, on window-sills in less than a minute. The fire-escape device can be
attached to the chairs in another minute, and then by means of the combination the
inmates of the house can safely descend to the street.
In combining the step ladder with the chair to better adapt the latter for the use of
painters when painting the window frame and sashes, I dispense with the usual back
and side platform-guards of the chair and form, or secure, suitable sockets a', on the
sides of the chair platform to secure the front legs of the ladder, and on the rear edge.
of the platform hinge-leaves a³, are secured to which the rear legs of the ladder may
be hinged, as shown in Fig. 8.
The ladder A is constructed preferably as follows, i.e. The front legs, f², are
reduced on their lower ends, as shown in Fig. 8, in order to enter the chair-sockets a²,
while the rear legs, g', which are hinged at 2 to the front legs, have hinge-leaves
secured on their lower ends, to correspond with the hinge-leaves a on the said
platform. The ladder may he provided with two or more folding steps. Three are
shown in the drawings. The lower step, i, is hinged or pivoted at both rear corners
to the front legs at 2, and is supported in horizontal operative position, as shown in
Fig. 8, by folding braces 3, which extend from said front legs of the ladder. The
next step, 3, is hinged to the ladder in like manner and supported by folding braces,
and has secured on its tread strap-hinges, which, when open, extend beyond the
step-edge, and have their extensions perforated, as indicated at 2, Fig. 8. The upper
step, is hinged and supported in the same manner as the step k³, and on the under
side of each of its perforated folding strap-hinges is a bolt, 12, whose functions
will be hereinafter set forth. To complete the step-ladder and to make the structure
more convenient, effective, and secure, poles or standards S are provided, having
collars m² secured about them near their upper ends, and holes o made through them
just below said collars. These standards S are passed down through the perforations
in the strap-hinges, and through corresponding holes, 4, in the lower step, i,
and then into mortises p², made in the chair-platform, so that the collars m² come in
contact with the upper faces of the hinges and arrest said standards. Then the
bolts are thrown into the holes o² in the standards, and then, when the rod 2 is

page_text: passed through the hinge-leaves 6161, the entire structure is securely and firmly fixed
on the chair-platform. With this improvement my chair is perfectly adapted for all
the uses for which it is intended. The operator, by taking hold of one or the other
of the standards S, steadies himself as he goes up the ladder, and, for his convenience,
can suspend a bucket for paint or water from one of the standards, as indicated at P,
Fig. 6. This ladder may, on withdrawing the rod 62 from the hinges b¹ b¹, be readily
removed from the chair, and may be compactly folded up for storage or transportation,
as indicated in Fig. 7, and it is designed to be of so little weight that it can be easily
manipulated and carried by any one.
1
The standards S may he made hollow and in two or more telescoping sections, so
that they may be shortened or lengthened to suit the height of a ladder.
The bucket S, is especially adapted in combination with the chair, for use for
window cleaners or painters.
The body of the bucket is preferably of ellipsoidal shape in plan view and with
sloping sides, as shown. One of the longer sides of the bucket has an outside vertical
groove or indentation, se, formed in it, and soldered or otherwise firmly secured in this
grooves, is a tube s preferably slightly tapering from bottom to top, open at the
bottom, and preferably closed at the top, which tube is designed to extend somewhat
above the rim of the bucket, as shown. This bucket is designed, when in use, to be
fixed on the top of an upright rod, pole, or staff, which may be fixed to a window-
cleaning chair, painter's jack, or step-ladder, as shown in Fig. 2, the tube s' being
fitted over the said pole or staff, so that the bucket shall be safely and steadily held in
position. The staff-tube s, being fixed in an outside groove of the bucket, and being
extended above the rim thereof, it is evident that the bucket will be very securely
held on a staff and without danger of tipping to the one side or the other, as it would
if it were suspended in the usual manner of buckets. Two or more pockets or
receptacles,,, are made in the bucket by a partition or partitions, so, as shown in
Fig. 10, wherein the pocket, s8 is designed, say, for water or paint, and the pocket s
for sponge or brush.
I know of no article of manufacture so well adapted as is this device to the purposes
alluded to.
In Figure 11, the combined chair and fire-escape are shown in position, or rather
the complete chair is not shown but only its frame, platform, screw and clamping
device; these parts being sufficient for full illustration.
The fire-escape device U, preferably consists of a rope ladder having rings w¹ on
its upper end, and sliding clutches or clamps z on its side ropes.
When the chairs are in position on window-sills, as indicated, the short standards,
are fixed in place in each chair, then the ladder rings w¹ are engaged over the
standards of the upper chair and the clamps are engaged over the standards of
the lower chair, and the ladder is drawn tightly down, and the swinging latches x' of
the said clamps bite on the side ropes and prevent the ladder from becoming slack
between the chairs.
The lower end of the ladder may be secured to a weight that will hold it taut and
steady, so that the descent from the windows may be safely and easily made.
Preferably the rope ladder is made of wire rope sides and iron rungs.
It is not necessary that the combined chair and fire-escape should embrace two or
more chairs, for one chair would be enough to render the combination operative, but I
have herein shown two chairs in combination with the fire-escape device to indicate
that escape from a burning house may safely be made at one and the same time by
the same device from two or more stories.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :
1st. The combination with a window-cleaning chair or platform adapted to be
clamped to or upon a window-sill, of a step-ladder adapted to be removably secured
on the said chair or platform, a staff or pole fixed upright in said chair or platform,

page_text: and a paint and brush bucket secured on said staff, all arranged and adapted to operate
substantially as herein shown and described.
2nd. The combination with a window-cleaning chair or platform constructed
substantially as herein shown and described, and provided with clamping block I,
stop I', thumb-screw K, travelling nut L, rod L', blocks and racks M, M³, and rod M²,
of fire-escape U, connected with said chair or platform, all arranged and operating
substantially as herein shown and described.
3rd. In combination, the window-cleaning chair or platform, the step-ladder, the
detachable step, the fire-escape device, and the paint and brush bucket, all adapted to
be arranged substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 99th day of Santamber 1887