An Oscillating Brush or Wiper for Dusting, Cleaning, or Washing Walls and other Elevated Surfaces.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1890
Complete Speciñcation Left, 24th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 2nd May,
1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Oscillating Brush or Wiper for Dusting, Cleaning, or Washing
Walls and other Elevated Surfaces.
We, CHARLES ROMLEY ALDER WRIGHT D.Sc. F.R.S. Consulting Chemist
and PRISCILLA AGNES WRIGHT wife of the same, both of 3 Castellain Road,
Maida Vale in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
Ordinary long handled brooms, brushes, mops and cleaning pads such as are
usually employed for dusting wiping and cleansing ceilings cornices the upper
portions of the walls of dwelling rooms and other buildings, and such like purposes
are very laborious to use and greatly fatigue the arms; whilst the use of lofty
ladders to assist in reaching such elevated surfaces for the purpose of cleansing them
is attended with more or less risk of overbalancing and falling.
Our invention relates to devices or simple machines whereby the labour and
fatigue involved in the use of long handled brushes &c. may be greatly diminished
and the risk of strains during such use and of accidents with lofty ladders completely
obviated.
The brush or cleaning pad we support by a rod or stick which we attach by a
flexible joint to a suitable stand or support in such fashion that this rod may be
supported in an approximately vertical position and be swung about the axle or
joint to cause the brush to travel to and fro in a nearly horizontal path.
The stand we make of sufficient width at the base to prevent its overbalancing
and form it with stops to limit the movement of the rod and hinder it from being
inclined beyond any desired angle from the vertical and in addition we provide
means whereby the brush or pad may be brought to any desired height from the
floor level. When the stand is placed in proper position with respect to the surface
to be cleansed the brush is caused to sweep over the surface in much the same way
as it would do if held by the arms of the operator and moved to and fro in contact
with the surface.
According to the height to which the brush is intended to reach, the rod and
With a
stand and position of the moveable joint attached thereto may be varied.
room of not extreme loftiness the stand may be flat and low, and the axis of motion
may be situated but little above the floor level so that the oscillating handle may
be set in motion by grasping it with the hand some distance above the axis.
When on the other hand the brush is intended to reach to greater elevations,
the stand may be made proportionately higher and the axis attached to it some few
feet or more from the floor, in which case the motion may be more conveniently
given by prolonging the handle downwards below the axis, and grasping it at a
convenient point below the axis.
In such cases the stand may consist of a stout pole or mast stayed by ropes or
wires so as to maintain it upright and keep it from swaying, somewhat after the
fashion of the mast of a ship; or it may consist of "shears" with stout legs, or
it may be constructed in any other suitable way. To attain the highest elevations,
the axis may be attached to a second pole or mast capable of being hoisted
above the first one and rigged in position like a ships topmast; and the oscil-
lation of the brush handle may be effected by pulling cords or rods suitably
attached.
In all cases the range of oscillation of the handle is limited by means of suitably
adjusted guides and checkstops fixed to the stand these may be conveniently
made moveable so as to permit of the angle described by the brush being varied

page_text: if required. It is also convenient to employ springs or elastic cords to cause the
handle to return automatically to a vertical position when displaced therefrom and
released.
In order to place the brush successively at different elevations above the floor
so that when one layer of wall surface for example has been swept an adjacent
layer may be cleansed it suffices to raise or lower as required the pole to which
the axis is attached when the construction is such as to permit of this being done.
In other cases the same result may be obtained by altering the length of the
oscillating handle itself, by making it telescopic, or in joints screwing together or
socketted fishing rod fashion. Or the brush may be fixed to a sliding holder
capable of being moved up and down the handle by means of a rod from below,
or a cord passing over a pulley at the top of the handle. In these latter cases
the shorter the distance of the brush from the axis is made the less will be extent
of surface swept by the brush whilst oscillating through a given angle; so that if
required always to sweep the same width of surface the checkstops must be altered
in position so as to permit of the angle of motion being increased as the handle
is shortened.
In order that when one breadth or panel of wall surface for example has been
cleansed the next adjacent breadth may be similarly treated, the stand must be
moved to a suitable position to one side of its former position; to facilitate such
moving, the stand may conveniently be mounted on rollers wheels or castors.
When the surface to be cleansed is vertical, such as a wall and a brush is
employed, the brush is to be fixed in such a position that the bristles are nearly
horizontal projecting towards the wall; if on the other hand the surface be hori-
zontal and facing downwards, as a ceiling, the bristles must be vertical and pointing
upwards; whilst an intermediate position is requisite for inclined surfaces such as
certain portions of cornices. One and the same brush suitably shaped may be
employed in all such cases if attached to the handle by means of a flexible joint
or hinge, preferably so constructed that the brush is maintained in any given
position by a tightening screw applied to the joint, or by a spring arranged some-
what after the fashion of that in an ordinary pocket knife. Or instead of a joint,
suitably shaped holders and crooks may be used fitting the handle and supporting
the brush in the desired position. When a horizontal surface facing upwards, is
to be swept, such as a ledge, shelf or bracket the brush must be so arranged that
its long dimension is horizontal and at right angles to the handle, the bristles
pointing downward.
For certain purposes, instead of a brush, a sponge or pad, moist or dry as required
may be employed, attached to an oscillating handle as above described by means of
a suitable clamp or holder.
In some cases it is required to brush a wall surface &c. with a wet brush and
wash off the dirty water; this may be effected by syringing water on to the wall
whilst the brush is in motion; or a well known device may be employed consisting
of a flexible hose pipe running along the brush handle and terminating in a nozzle
or jet near the brush, so that the requisite water is conveyed to the wall by means
of a pump, or otherwise forcing water through the hose. By employing liquid
whitewash instead of water, walls and ceilings may thus be whitewashed without the
use of saffolding or ladders.
Instead of communicating the oscillating motion to the handle of the brush by
directly applying the hand, a rotary handle may be employed by turning which a
reciprocating motion may be given to the handle by well known mechanical devices.
By employing a crank rod one end of which can be placed at varying distances
from the centre of the axle turned by the rotary handle as is well known the
"throw" of the crank can be varied and thus the angle through which the brush
handle swings may be made greater or less as required according to the height of
the brush from the floor. To turn the handle any available suitable source of
mechanical power other than the hand may be employed, such as compressed air,
an clectro motor, or a water turbine. Instead of a rotary handle a lever working

page_text: back and forth or up and down may be employed connected with the oscillating
handle by a suitable rod; or a treadle may be used.
Dated this 27th day of May 1890.
CHARLES ROMLEY ALDER WRIGHT.
PRISCILLA AGNES WRIGHT.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Oscillating Brush or Wiper for Dusting, Cleaning, or Washing
Walls and other Elevated Surfaces.
We, CHARLES ROMLEY ALDER WRIGHT, D.Sc. F.R.S. Consulting Chemist,
and PRISCILLA AGNES WRIGHT wife of the same, both of 3 Castellain Road,
Maida Vale, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
Ordinary long handled brooms, brushes, mops and cleaning pads such as are
usually employed for dusting wiping and cleansing ceilings cornices the upper
portions of the walls of dwelling rooms and other buildings and such like purposes
are very laborious to use and greatly fatigue the arms; whilst the use of lofty
ladders to assist in reaching such elevated surfaces for the purpose of cleansing.
them is attended with more or less risk of overbalancing and falling.
Our invention relates to devices or simple machines whereby the labour and
fatigue involved in the use of long handled brushes &c. may be greatly diminished
and the risk of strains during such use and of accidents with lofty ladders completely
obviated.
The brush or cleaning pad we support by a rod or stick forming a handle which
we attach by a flexible joint swivel or axle to a suitable stand or support in such
fashion that this rod may be supported in an approximately vertical position and be
swung about the axle or joint so as to cause the brush to travel to and fro in a
nearly horizontal path and in addition we provide means for successively setting the
brush at different distances from the ground.
The stand we make with a base sufficiently heavy and wide to prevent its over-
balancing and form it with stops to limit the movement of the rod and hinder it from
being inclined beyond any desired angle from the vertical and in addition we
provide means whereby the brush or pad may be brought to any desired height from
the floor level. When the stand is placed in proper position with respect to the
surface to be cleansed the brush is caused to sweep over the surface in much the
same way as it would do if held by the arms of the operator and moved to and fro
in contact with the surface but with this difference that the weight of the brush is
supported by the stand so that the putting it in motion is attended with far less
fatigue to the operator.
According to the height to which the brush is intended to reach, the rod and
stand and position of the moveable joint attached thereto may be varied. With a
room of not extreme loftiness the stand may be flat and low, and the flexible joint
or axle may be situated but little above the floor level so that the oscillating handle
may be set in motion by grasping it with the hand some distance above the axis.
When on the other hand the brush is intended to reach to greater elevations, the
stand may be made proportionately higher and the axis attached to it some few feet
more from the floor, in which case the motion may sometimes be more
conveniently given by prolonging the handle downwards below the axis, and
grasping it at a convenient point below the axis.
or
In such cases the stand may consist of a stout pole or mast stayed by ropes or wires
or otherwise, so as to maintain it upright and keep it from swaying, somewhat after
the fashion of the mast of a ship; or it may consist of "shears" with stout legs, or
it may be constructed in any other suitable way. To attain the highest elevations,

page_text: the axis may be attached to a second pole or mast capable of being hoisted above
the first one and rigged in position like a ships topmast; and the oscillation
of the brush handle may be effected by pulling cords or rods suitably attached.
Whatever the nature of the supporting stand, to prevent overbalancing the range
of oscillation of the handle is limited by means of suitably adjusted guides and
check stops fixed to the stand; these may be conveniently made moveable so
as to permit of the angle described by the brush being varied if required. It is also
convenient to employ counter balancing weights springs or elastic cords so arranged
as to cause the handle to return automatically to a vertical position when displaced
therefrom and released; when suitably adjusted these may be made to answer the
same purpose as fixed or moveable checkstops for preventing overbalancing.
When springs are thus employed they may conveniently be made to form a part of
the flexible joint attaching the handle to the stand in well known ways; thus the
handle may be joined to the stand by means of one or more spiral springs somewhat
as the saddle is connected to the framework in certain forms of cycles or velocipedes;
or the handle may be made to fit loosely into a hollow cup or socket attached to the
stand forming a sort of ball and socket joint, whilst elastic cords or spiral springs
are attached connecting the handle and stand somewhat after the fashion of the
shrouds supporting the mast of a ship.
In
In order to place the brush successively at different elevations above the floor
so that when one layer of wall surface for example has been swept an adjacent layer
may be cleansed it suffices to raise or lower as required the pole to which the axis
is attached when the construction is such as to permit of this being done.
other cases the same result may be brought about by altering the length of the
oscillating handle itself, either by constructing it in joints screwing together or
socketted fishing rod fashion, or by making it telescopic, consisting either of tubes
sliding one within the other, or of rods or bars connected by loops so as to allow of
sliding one along the other in well known ways. Or the brush may be fixed to a
carrier or holder capable of sliding up and down the handle, and moved as required
either from below by a rod attached to the carrier, or by means of a cord passing
over a pulley at the top of the handle. Arrangements where the brush can be
moved up and down at will by means of a sliding carrier or telescopic handle or
other analogous appliance have the advantage that an up and down motion can thus
be communicated to the brush simultaneously with a sideways to and fro motion
produced by the oscillating handle, so that if required the brush can be made to
describe a more or less circular path by combining the two motions. In all such
cases the shorter the distance of the brush from the axis is made the less will be
the extent of surface swept by the brush whilst oscillating through a given angle ;
so that if required always to sweep the same width of surface the checkstops, when
used, must be altered in position so as to permit of the angle of motion being
increased as the handle is shortened.
In order that when one breadth or panel of wall surface for example has been
cleansed the next adjacent breadth may be similarly treated, the stand must be
moved to a suitable position to one side of its former position; to facilitate such
moving, the stand may conveniently be mounted on rollers, wheels or castors.
When the surface to be cleansed is vertical, such as a wall, and a brush is
employed, the brush is to be fixed in such a position that the bristles are nearly
horizontal projecting towards the wall; if on the other hand the surface be
horizontal and facing downwards, as a ceiling, the bristles must be vertical and
pointing upwards; whilst an intermediate position is requisite for inclined surfaces
such as certain portions of cornices. One and the same brush suitably shaped may
be employed in all such cases if attached to the handle by means of a flexible joint
or hinge, preferably so constructed that the brush is maintained in any given
position by a tightening screw applied to the joint, or by a spring arranged some-
what after the fashion of that in an ordinary pocket knife. Or instead of a joint
suitably shaped holders and crooks may be used fitting the handle and
supporting the brush in the desired position. When a horizontal surface facing

page_text: upwards, is to be swept, such as a ledge, shelf or bracket the brush must be so
arranged that its long dimension is horizontal and at right angles to the handle, the
bristles pointing downward.
For certain purposes, instead of a brush, a sponge, mop or pad, moist or dry as
required, may be employed attached to an oscillating handle as above described by
means of a suitable clamp or holder. The outside panes of windows may be readily
cleaned by an arrangement of this kind worked by an operator remaining inside the
room, the stand being placed on the window sill or on a shelf projecting outwards
through the lower part of the partly opened window, and fixed to a table or other
convenient support inside the room.
Figure 1 represents the front elevation of one form of oscillating brush as above
described where the axis a is but little elevated above the floor. The supporting
stand in this case is a metal casting somewhat flat and with three projections on
the upper part; one serving to connect the oscillating handle c c with the base by
means of the pin joint a; the others d d serving as similar attachments for the
controlling springs e e by means of which the handle is brought back automatically
to a vertical position when displaced therefrom. The square brush f surmounting
the whole is attached to a sliding bar yg capable of moving up and down the
handle e e as required by means of the loops hh, the upper one of which is attached
to the handle cc so that the barg slides through it, whilst the lower one is
attached to the bar g g and slides up and down the handle c c.
Figure 2 represents the base of a similar stand mounted on castors where the
lower end of the handle fits loosely into a cavity or socket in the low flat stand
so as to form, together with the controlling springs, a sort of ball and socket
joint.
Figure 3 represents the plan of a similar spring socket joint furnished with four
springs instead of two so as to permit of free oscillation in all directions, a being
the socket into which the handle fits, and bbbb the attachments of the four springs
to the low flat stand.
Figure 4 represents the front elevation of the base of a stand where the springs
forming the flexible joint are disposed after the fashion of those in certain well
known forms of saddles for cycles.
Instead of spiral springs of metal, stout elastic cords or rods of india rubber may
be employed as controlling springs.
Figure 5 represents the side clevation of another form of oscillating brush
where the flexible joint or axis of motion a is at some height above the ground,
and is attached to a bar d d capable of sliding up and down a supporting pole e
by means of the loops ff. In this case the oscillating handle is provided
with a counterbalancing weight c serving to bring it back automatically to a
vertical position when displaced therefrom.
Figure 6 represents the side elevation of another form where the axis a is
not much above the level of the floor and is attached to a wooden frame con-
sisting of a short set of steps mounted on castors. In this case the handle b b
and sliding bare e are arranged precisely as in Figure 1, but the springs c
bringing back the handle automatically to a vertical position are attached higher
up to the top of the steps. The brush is here represented as connected with
the sliding bar by means of a joint and tightening screw d so as to allow of
the brush being arranged vertically, horizontally, or in an intermediate inclined
position.
Instead of being formed as a set of steps, the stand to which the oscillating
handle is attached may be constructed as a table with flat top, a frame con-
taining one or more drawers, a box, or otherwise as found convenient.
with a
Figure 7 represents the front elevation of a somewhat similar stand consisting
of a frame with a drawer in the base a supporting two uprights
cross picce c serving as a guide for the oscillating handle d d.
springs are not used to bring back the handle to a vertical
In this case
position but

page_text: adjustable checkstops are used consisting of moveable pins or pegs e e e fitting
into holes bored in the cross piece c.
In some cases it is required to brush a wall surface or window &c. with a wet
brush and wash off the dirty water; this may be effected by syringing water
on to the wall whilst the brush is in motion; or a well known device may be
employed consisting of a flexible hose pipe running along the brush handle and
terminating in a nozzle or jet near the brush, so that the requisite water is
conveyed to the wall by means of a pump, or otherwise forcing water through
the hose. By employing liquid whitewash instead of water, walls and ceilings
may thus be whitewashed without the use of scaffolding or ladders.
Instead of communicating the oscillating motion to the handle of the brush
by directly applying the hand, a rotary handle may be employed by turning
which a reciprocating motion may be given to the handle by well known
mechanical devices. By employing a crank rod one end of which can be placed
at varying distances from the centre of the axle turned by the rotary handle
as is well known the "throw" of the crank can be varied and thus the angle
through which the brush handle swings may be made greater or less as required
according to the height of the brush from the floor. To turn the handle any
available suitable source of mechanical power other than the hand may be
employed, such as compressed air, an electro motor, or a water turbine. Instead
of a rotary handle a lever working back and forth or up and down may be
employed connected with the oscillating handle by a suitable rod; or a trendle
may be used.
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 combination of a brush or wiper attached to an oscillating handle in such
wise that the distance of the brush or wiper from the axis of motion can be varied
either by constructing the handle of separate joints fixing together, by making it of
telescopic character, or by attaching the brush or wiper to a holder capable of
sliding up and down the handle, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described.
2. The combination of a brush or wiper attached to an oscillating handle moving
about an axis fixed to a suitable support and capable of being raised or lowered as
required in such wise that the distance of the axis from the ground can be varied
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
3. The employment of adjustable check-stops guides counterbalancing weights
and springs for the purpose of limiting and regulating the extent of motion of a
brush or wiper attached to an oscillating handle and of automatically bringing the
handle back to an erect position when disturbed therefrom.
4. The construction of apparatus for dusting cleaning or washing walls windows
and other elevated surfaces substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in the drawings annexed.
Dated this 20th day of February 1891.
CHARLES ROMLEY ALDER WRIGHT.
PRISCILLA AGNES WRIGHT.