An Improved Appliance for Cleaning Windows.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 25th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 25th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Appliance for Cleaning Windows.
We WALTER THOMAS QUINSEY, Ironfounder, of 28 George Street Balsall Heath,
Birmingham and THOMAS GUY BLOOD, Japanner and Sheet Metal Worker of
27 Great Hampton Street Birmingham do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
manner.
In constructing our mechanical window cleaner we proceed in the following
We form out of wire netting, wood, sheet metal, or other suitable material,
a pair of hinged jaws, hinged in such a manner that a window leather or cloth can
be placed between the open jaws, and the sides of the jaws then pressed together
thereby clipping and securing the window cloth, leather, or other cleaning material.
We next secure the sides of the jaws by means of an elastic band passing over the
outer surface of the jaws, the tension exerted by the stretched band secures the window
cloth or leather between the grip faces of the hinged jaws; instead of one band we
may.provide two smaller or shorter bands connected to projections formed on the ends
of the jaw cheeks, or we may connect spiral steel springs or other equivalent elastic
substance for the purpose of closing the upper faces of the hinged jaws on to the
window cloth, leather, brush, or other cleaning material. The hinged jaws so formed
would present an appearance somewhat similar to the top portion of an ordinary vice
cut off and hinged about 4 inches from the grip.
At or near this hinged part of our cleaner-jaws, we provide a projecting tang of
any suitable length and of any suitable transverse section, the axis of this tang would,
by preference, be formed at an angle with the vertical transverse section of the grip
jaws, the tang, in some cases, would be similar to an ordinary mop nail, in other cases
it would be formed with a niale or female screw.
We next provide a handle of any suitable length, in some cases one piece only
would be provided, the length of which would be about 18 inches (more or less) this
handle would be drilled at its end and driven on to the mop nail shaped taug pro-
jecting from the jaws, a thumb rest would be provided on one of the outer faces of
the jaws.
In using our mechanical window cleaner the operator would hold the handle in one
hand, place his thumb on the thumb rest, and press down the said thumb rest, thus
radiating the jaws on their hinge joints and thereby opening the said jaws to receive
the leather or window cloth, the thumb pressure would next be removed from the
thumb rest, the action of the india rubber bands or other springs would cause the top
faces of the vice shaped jaws to close on to and grip tightly the window cloth or
leather, the operator could then stand on the floor of any ordinary room and by
gripping the handle of our mechanical window cleaner reach the panes of glass without
risking his neck by standing on steps or other insecure support, the operator could
also lift up the sash a few inches, put his arm outside the window, and clean the
outside without risk of falling into the street thereby endangering the lives of
pedestrians.
In some cases we form our handle in sectional lengths with screw joints some-
what similar to the arrangement utilized by chimney sweeps, in such cases the tang
connecting end of the grip-jaws would be provided with a male or female thread
suitable for connecting with the sectional lengths of handles hereinbefore mentioned.
Our mechanical window cleaner connected to a handle 12 feet long (more or less)
can be used for cleaning the inside and outside of large plate glass shop windows. ....

page_text: In some cases we can provide a handle 15 feet in length or longer, the operator
could then take a perambulating water tank with him together with our mechanical
window cleaner and pass down the side of a factory or along a street and clean the
whole of the windows without the use of a ladder.
Dated this 24th day of January 1889
WALTER QUINSEY.
T. G. BLOOD.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Appliance for Cleaning Windows.
WALTER THOMAS QUINSEY, Fire Grate & Range Manufacturer, 4 Conybere Street
Birmingham and THOMAS GUY BLOOD, Japanner & Tin & Ironplate Worker, 27
Great Hampton Street, Birmingham, 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 in constructing our mechanical window cleaner, we proceed in the following
manner. We form out of wire netting, wood, sheet-metal, or other suitable material
a pair of hinged jaws A, hinged in such a manner that a window leather or cloth can
be placed between the open jaws, & the sides of the jaws then pressed together
thereby clipping & securing the window cloth, leather or other cleaning material.
We next secure the sides of the jaws by means of an elastic band passing over the
outer surface of the jaws, the tension exerted by the stretched band secures the window
cloth or leather between the grip faces of the hinged jaws; instead of one band we
may provide two smaller or shorter bands (B) connected to projections formed on the
ends of the jaw cheeks, (C) or we may connect spiral steel springs or other equivalent
elastic substance for the purpose of closing the upper faces of the hinged jaws on to
the window cloth, leather, brush, or other cleaning material. The hinged jaws so
formed would present an appearance somewhat similar to the top portion of an
ordinary vice cut off and hinged about 4 inches from the grip. At or near this part
of our Cleaner Jaws we provide a projecting tang of any suitable length or transverse
section, (D) the axis of this tang would by preference be formed at an angle with the
vertical transverse section of the grip jaws, the tang in some cases would be similar
to an ordinary mop nail in other cases it would be formed with a male or female
screw.
We next provide a handle (E) of any suitable length, in some cases one piece only
would be provided; this handle would be drilled at its end and driven on to the mop
nail shaped tang, projecting from the jaws. A thumb rest (F) is provided on one of
the outer faces of the jaws.
In using our mechanical window cleaner the operator would hold the handle in one
hand, place his thumb on the thumb rest & press down the said thumb rest, thus
radiating the jaws on their hinged joints & thus by opening the said jaws receive
the leather, or other cleaning material; the thumb pressure would then be removed
from the thumb rest, the action of the india rubber bands or other springs would cause
the top faces of the vice shaped jaws to close on to and grip tightly the window cloth
or other material. The operator could then stand on the floor of any ordinary room
or other place & by gripping the handle of our mechanical window cleaner reach the
panes of glass without risking his or her neck by standing on steps or other insecure
support, the operator could also lift up the sash a few inches, put his arm outside
the window and clean the outside without risk of falling into the street thereby
endangering his own life and those of pedestrians.
In some cases we form our handle in sectional lengths with screw joints (G) some-
what similar to the arrangement utilized by chimney sweeps. In such cases the tang
connecting end of the grip jaws would be provided with a male or female thread

page_text: suitable for connecting with the sectional lengths of handles hereinbefore mentioned,
or we sometimes connect the sectional lengths of handle by sockets in the same way as
is used in ordinary fishing rods.
By the use of these sectional lengths our handles can be extended to any length;
for example we can provide a handle 15 feet in length or longer & pass down a factory
or along a street and down the side of a factory, or along a street & clean the whole of
the windows without the use of a ladder or steps.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The configuration & application of the jaws.
2. The springs for working same with the projections on the jaws for holding same
in place.
3. The thumb rest on the jaws for opening & closing same.
4. The mop nail shaped tang for driving or screwing into handle.
5. The wooden handle in one length or sectional lengths.
6. The screw or socket as applied to a window cleaner for connecting the sectional
lengths of the handle.
1000
W. T. QUINSEY.
THOMAS GUY BLOOD.