Improvements in and connected with Window Cleaning Devices.
Year: 1895

page_text: Improvements in and connected with Window Cleaning Devices.
WILLIAM COLIN MORISON 72 Willows Road Birmingham Gentleman do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is in some respects_similar to and is an improvement on that
described in Specification No. 4678 A.D. 1894.
This invention has a handle similar to a, (see said Specification 4678) which is
connected with a frame, somewhat similar to d, in a similar manner that, in said
Specification, a is connected with d and is worked in a similar manner.
In this invention the frame'd carries two rubber strips, of equal length, &
similar respectively to u and v, but instead of v being inserted in a groove and
u fixed in the form of a curve, said strips are laid straight, flat, and parallel with
each other in a recess, or lower step, formed in the under surface of said frame, in
depth equal to the thickness of u and v together and in width an "less than the
width of so that being properly laid in the same it may project beyond the
outer edge of said recess an ", and u being an " wider than and properly laid
upon its outer edge will project an " beyond that of v.
The free surface of u near and parallel with its back edge is formed with a
groove into which fits and presses a suitably bent edge of a strip of sheet metal
which extends sufficiently beyond the back edge of u to be fixed to the surface of
said frame flush with the free surface of u and in that manner caused to retain u
and firmly in place. If desired and may be further fixed in place by
means of a suitable substance such as shellac varnish which in drying fixes rubber
either to rubber or to wood.
If preferred u may be sufficiently wider than vso that when properly laid upon
and extending said " beyond the outer edge of vit may at the same time extend
inwards beyond the back edge of v about a " to enable. said " of its back portion
to rest in and be fixed to a recess or step formed in d flush with the surface, on
which u is laid, of v.
In either of said methods of fixing said rubber strips the frame d may be made.
much more readily than when made to receive u and v as shown in Specifi-
cation 4678 and said rubber strips are much more easily fixed as described than
they can be as shown in said Specification.
The rubber u to work properly on glass must have an edge either moulded .or
otherwise suitably prepared, and e, which may be a cut strip of ordinary rubber,
is placed as described in the present invention to stiffen u close to the outer edge
of the frame at the same time to protect u from the cutting action of said edge
while leaving the outer edge of u very flexible. If desired may be moulded
sufficiently thickly and suitably tapered towards and to its outer edge so as to
answer the required purpose without the use of v.
As the aforesaid arrangement enables both the frame to be much more readily
made and the strips u and v much more readily properly fixed to it than has
itherto been done for the purpose of efficiently cleaning glass I claim that this
rrangement is a distinct improvement over any other.
In this invention the handle a may be lengthened when desired by suitably
connecting it with a long handle such as r furnished with a socket k¹ (in Specifi-
ation 4678), said handle also carrying a socket p', across the socket k¹, to receive
he handle of a suitable brush; but if preferred said cross tube or socket p¹
nay be dispensed with by forming the brush with a piece that may be inserted,

page_text: and fixed, into said socket k¹ and the brush be thus maintained at the proper
angle to the handle to enable it to be used as desired for washing windows and
the like previous to applying the cleaner the proper use of which is to remove
water from, and thus to dry, the glass.
While operating the cleaner a small quantity of water accumulates on the
working edge of u which if not removed before the commencement of a fresh
stroke leaves a mark on the glass where said edge is first placed, therefore before
the commencement of each stroke said water must be removed and that has
hitherto been done by hand with a cloth or the like.
In this invention said water is removed by the application of an absorbing pad
so connected with said frame d that by pulling a string it is duly applied
10, and on said string being released it is not only automatically removed
from, the edge of u but when being returned (by the action of a spring)
to its normal position a plain plate is caused to press upon, and force, it against a
perforated plate thus forcing out of it sufficient of the water it may have absorbed
from the edge of u to enable it on being again applied to absorb water as required
from said edge.
There are of course many ways that may readily suggest themselves to any
competent mechanician of forming and operating such a pad or the like for
the aforesaid purpose therefore I claim the employment or use of a suitable pad for
said purpose and I prefer to form it and operate it in the following manner.
Said pad I prefer to form of a suitable calico bag " longer than the strip u and
14" wide somewhat loosely filled with small pieces of clean sponge and having its
longitudinal sewn edge stitched to the upper (when at the end of its up stroke)
edge of a light wire skeleton frame carrying a perforated plate of same length and
width as said bag. Extending inwards from each end of and at right angles to said
frame is an arm the other, or inner, end of which is fixed to a rod, placed longi-
tudinally parallel with the undersurface (when in position for working) and near
the back of the frame d, working in a bearing, at each end, formed in a piece
respectively fixed to and projecting downwards from said under surface of d, while
extending from said rod on the side from said arms is a short lever which being
pulled downwards, say, by a string moves the perforated plate upwards to, in front
of, and parallel with, the edge of u and thus places a suitable portion of the upper
and inner surface of the pad against the edge of u, thus enabling said pad to
absorb water accumulated on the edge of u.
The upward movement of the perforated plate causes a spring to be compressed
which on said lever being released recoils and thus causes said plate to be returned
downwards to its first and normal position rendering the rubber u free to be
operated.
While the perforated plate is being returned to its first position a plain plain plate,
similar in length and width to the perforated plate, is duly forced against said bag
pressing it as required against the perforated plate (to force water from it). By
means of said plain plate having fixed to and projecting inwards, at right angles,
from each end of its inner surface, an arm the inner end of, each of, which is
fixed to a rod working in bearings, in a stationary piece, parallel with the
aforesaid rod connected with the perforated plate, in such manner that as the
perforated plate is being moved upwards or downwards the plain plate is moved
upwards or downwards with it but eccentrically to it; the plain plate receding from
and approaching the perforated plate respectively in the upward and downward move-
ment, so that in the upward movement the pad may have freedom to expand and be in
that condition when applied to the edge of u and in the downward movement that it
may be duly compressed. The arms fixed to and extending inwards from the plain
plate are suitably arranged with springs so that the pressure to which the pad is
subjected may be of a somewhat yielding nature. In the upward movement the plain
plate is moved near and not quite up to the undersurface of the frame d whereas
the upward movement of the perforated plate extends somewhat further;
two rods, with which the perforated and plain plates are respectively connected,'
the

page_text: are connected by means of a spring which enables the two plates to be worked
upwards and downwards together at the same time enabling the plain plate in its
upward movement to be stopped at a given point while the perforated plate is .
moved up somewhat further. If preferred either or both of said two rods. may be
substituted by suitably built up pieces furnished with arms to work on pins fixed to
pieces fixed to and extending from the undersurface of the frame d and thus
enabling the said two plates to be worked as aforesaid.
As the handle a is connected by means of a joint with the frame d. in the
manner described in said Specification No. 4678 A.D. 1894 the rubber u may be
worked either by pulling said handle or reversing its position and duly pushing it.
If preferred in lieu of connecting the handle a with the frame d by means of a
joint as aforesaid the two may be connected together by means of a ball and socket
or the like.
WILLIAM COLIN MORISON 72 Willow's Road Birmingham Gentleman 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:
This invention is for the purpose of cleaning windows and the like as hereinafter
described.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a front view (with much of the lengths
of various portions broken out) and Fig. 2 is a side view, of the complete device.
Fig. 4, is a side view of said device in a simple form, and Fig. 3 is a front view of
the hereinafter described double joint arrangement.
The letters of reference apply to the same parts in the different drawings.
The handle a (with much of its length broken out) and also that of the brush to
be, preferably, used, may respectively be of any desired length, and, one or
both, may as desired be suitably jointed, so that the length of either may
readily be reduced or increased. To the upper end of a is fixed the socket b
so arranged with a suitable jaw c to receive the free end of the piece d,
through which end is fitted loosely the pin e which is fitted tightly through
said jaw thus enabling d to be turned within the jaw and on said pin. The pin f,
suitably fitted through a hole in a projecting portion of one side of said jaw and
through a suitable hole in said free end, retains the piece d in its present position.
The other end of d is suitably formed to be fixed to the, preferably wooden, piece g
in the front portion of which is formed a recess into which is fixed the rubber
strip to the free side of which is fixed the rubber strip i which is formed with a
groove in its back portion so that it may be fixed in place by the suitably bent
edge of the, preferably metal, strip k fitting, and duly pressing into, said groove,
said strip being duly fixed to g preferably by screws. That the strips, h, i, may
be more firmly fixed in place than possible by simply the use of the strip k
suitably dissolved rubber, shellac varnish, or other suitable substance, may be used
for said purpose.
The rubber h is simply a cut strip, but the rubber requires to be suitably
moulded with its free edge very smooth and preferably somewhat rounding, it
being the portion to be applied to, and worked on, glass.
The incline of 9 in relation to the handle a may be altered as may be desired,
from the position shown with the rubber i under h, which requires the handle a to
be pulled downwards to work said rubber edge properly, to the reverse position
causing i to be above the rubber h, requiring the handle to be pushed upwards;

page_text: 4
org may be placed vertically, or nearly in line with said handle, enabling said
rubber to be worked with a in nearly a horizontal position. By forming the
piece d and jaw c with suitable holes 9 may be placed, and duly retained by a
suitable pin, in any required position.
To operate this device the foreign matter which may be on the glass must first
be removed by the use of water (or the like) and preferably a suitable brush, then
said free edge of i be duly applied in close contact with, and steadily moved over,
the glass, by which action the water which may be adhering to said glass is duly
removed and the glass is thus rendered clean.
At the end of each stroke some water remains on said edge which must be clean,
and dry before commencing a fresh stroke.
9.
The
With the view of suitably and readily drying said edge an absorbing pad is
suitably fixed in the trough formed piece m, preferably of zinc with very sinall
perforations, fixed between and to the free ends of the two similar arms n, 12',
(which are in the same plane) the upper ends of which are fixed respectively to the
ends of the shaft o which is free to turn in the bearings p, p, p, fixed to
free ends of the arms n, n', are extended beyond m and suitably formed to furnish
bearings for the ends of the shaft g between them and parallel with said trough.
To the shaft g are fixed two similar arms, 1, (in the same plane) close to n, n',
respectively and between, and fixed to, the free ends of said arms ", ', is fixed the
plain pieces, of preferably nearly right angular cross section and which is
arranged so as to be pressed against said pad when the arm t, fixed to the middle
portion of the shaft q, is forced, by means of the spiral spring o', which has its two
ends respectively fixed to the piece g and the arm n, against the projection u
formed on a ring fixed to the handle a. The object of pressing s against said pad
is to, in a great measure, press water it may have absorbed out of it; the
perforations in the piece m permitting water to pass freely through them.
By pulling the cord v, connected with the free end. of the arm w, the other end
of which is fixed to the shaft o, the pad is duly carried to and against the
working edge of i and thus placed in the position to absorb water from said edge.
In this position it is shown in dotted lines, with the pressing piece, s; clear from it.
As soon as the arm t is free from the projection u the spiral spring a suitably
withdraws s from said pad and so retains it until the arm t is pressed against u.
I prefer to form said pad by rather loosely filling a suitable calico bag with very
small pieces of sponge and suitably stitching its longitudinal edges to the
corresponding edges of the trough.
If preferred. it may readily be arranged so that the absorbing pad may be
suitably placed close to, and against, the said edge of i and be duly suitably folded
partly under and partly above said edge of i to absorb the water from said edge,
and be duly withdrawn and water pressed out of it.
The aforesaid arrangement may, as any competent mechanic may readily
perceive, easily be. altered in many ways, that described in the Provisional
Specification being one of said ways, to serve the aforesaid required purpose,
therefore I claim the general arrangement as my invention.
The
The use of such rubber strips is not new, but the method as described and
shown of arranging them in a simple easily formed recess is, I believe, new.
advantage of said arrangement consists in being capable of being manufactured
more readily and cheaply than is possible in the manner such strips have, I believe,
been hitherto fixed:
1. prefer to use the rubber strip i with the backing piece, and to use it only in
one direction, but if desired the device may be arranged with it alone and also to
use it either upwards or downwards (the handle. meanwhile being in the same
position) but in such case said strip, i, should preferably be formed 'slightly
tapering, being a little thicker in the back than in the front edge.
If preferred the said device may be used without the absorbing pad arrangement
as shown in Fig. 4, and if preferred be connected with two joints, the front and
side view of which are respectively shown in Figs. 3 and 4, which enable to turn,

page_text: backwards or forwards within the jaw b', on the pin el fixed through the piece b³,
and be duly retained in place by a pin, 61, suitably placed through two
corresponding holes respectively formed through d' and through . The piece gl
being fixed to d¹ may also be readily moved at right angles to the plane of said
first movement by means of the lower portion of 61 fitting the jaw, c', which is .
formed on the upper portion of the socket, 4", and duly turning on the pin,,
fixed through said jaw c¹ (of which the part connecting with the handle is partly
broken off) and by means of suitable holes formed respectively in the lower
portion of band through the jaw c¹, and a suitable pin ¹, said two pieces may, of
course, be placed and duly retained in any required position. By means of said
double joint the said cleaning device may be placed in any required position in
relation to the handle.
If preferred the ordinary ball and socket joint (or the like) with a suitable
binding screw may be used in lieu of said double joint but it would not be capable
of so much movement as said joint.
This device is to enable the operator to clean the outside of windows not only
from the outside of the same but also, say, ordinary sash windows from the inside,
either om above, by pushing the cleaner downwards, or from below, by pulling it
downwards; the hand being, of course, suitably thrust out for using a suitable
handle respectively for the brush, with water, and for the cleaner. The piece g¹,
rubbers,, and the strip k¹ see Fig. 4, are respectively similar to the aforesaid
piece g, rubbers h, i, and the strip k see Fig. 2.
As when operating as aforesaid on the outside of a sash window from the inside
and below it is desirable to prevent water, which may run down from the window,
falling on the operator's hands or arms, the device shown in cross section in Fig. 5,
and in side elevation in Fig. 6, (with much broken off) may be used for said
purpose.
The sash frame 1 is grasped by the piece 2 with, preferably, the rubber 3 held
against the side of the sash; water entering the channel 4, shown in Fig. 5, is led
to and off the ends of 2 which may be made of any desired length.
Said piece 2 may be thus held in place by suitably arranged set screws, 7, 7,
(broken off) through the plain side of 2, or in any other simple well known
manner.
If preferred said device may be formed of suitable sheet metal as a trough
preferably with open ends and so shaped, and placed, that water falling down, and
off, the side of the sash may drop into it and duly run off at it's ends, and retained
in position by means, say, of suitable clamps with set screws. The upper edge of
one side of the trough being under and, say, against the bottom of the sash while
the other side extends sufficiently upwards, parallel with, and a short distance
from, the side of the sash to enable suitable rubber studs, fixed to and projecting
from the inner surface of said higher side, to be, by means of said clamps and set
screws, suitably pressed against the proper side of the sash and thus cause the said
trough to be firmly retained in position.
Said arrangement for the aforesaid purpose may, of course, be readily varied in
many ways.
Of this trough arrangement (which I believe is new) no mention is made in the
Provisional Specification of the present invention, but as without it said invention
would not be complete 1 think it may surely fairly be admitted to be a reasonable
development of said invention and therefore of the nature allowed by a Provisional
Protection for a Patent.
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;
1st. The construction or general arrangement and combination of the parts of
my said invention substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and
substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 2nd. The arrangement of the piece g formed with the recess to receive and have
fixed to it either one or more strips of rubber substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described and substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings.
3rd. The arrangement of the piece g combined with the joint as shown in Fig. 2
substantially as and for the purpose described and substantially as shown in the
accompanying drawings.
4th. The arrangement of the piece g¹ combined with the joints as shown in
Figs. 3 & 4 substantially as and for the purpose described and substantially as
shown in the accompanying drawings.
5th. The arrangement of the absorbing pad substantially as and for the purpose
described and substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings.
6th. The arrangement of the trough substantially as and for the purpose
described and substantially, as shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated 19th day of March 1896.
W. C. MORISON.