Year: 1899

page_text: I, HARRIET ANN HAWKIN, of "St. Hildas," Marmion Road, Southsea, Ports-
mouth, Lady do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a device for cleaning windows whereby both sides
thereof may be cleaned from the interior of an apartment. Lofty windows may
also be reached without necessitating the use of a step ladder or the like.
According to my invention, I employ a board padded on its face and provided at
the back with a bracket or projection to which is secured one extremity of a
telescopic rod, the other extremity of which has a suitable hand grip and wrist
strap. About midway of its length this rod is divided transversely and the
divided portions are respectively hinged to either end of a short connecting piece.
The hinges are provided with springs or otherwise so constructed that the jointed
telescopic rod aforesaid will keep extended in a straight line when arranged
in this position for cleaning the inside of a window. To clean the outside of a
window from the interior of an apartment, the rod aforesaid is folded at the
hinge joints so that the device assumes the form of two telescopic rods dependent
from either end of a bridge piece, one rod carrying the board before mentioned the
padded face of which faces the other rod provided with the hand grip. The two
rods dependent from the bridge piece are kept fixed at the proper distance apart by
a suitable tie piece or catch and the device may now be slipped over the top of a
window sash and the padded board rubbed over the outside of the pane by mani-
pulating by means of its handle the length of rod on the inner side of the sash.
In using the device, the padded face of the board is covered with a wet cloth,
leather or polishing cloth as required, the same being conveniently and detachably
secured in place by providing them with rings at their corners adapted to engage
with hooks at the rear of the board. Suitable stops or catches would be provided
for preventing the collapse of the telescopic sections.
I, HARRIET ANN HAWKIN, of "St. Hildas," Marmion Road, Southsea, Ports-
mouth, Lady, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
[Price 8.X

page_text: the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement;-
--
This invention relates to a device for cleaning windows whereby both sides
thereof may be cleaned from the interior of an apartment. Lofty windows may
also be reached without necessitating the use of a step ladder or the like.
I will now fully describe my invention and the manner of performing the same
having reference to the annexed sheet of drawings in which similar letters refer to
like parts in all the figures, and wherein;-
-
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a window cleaning device constructed in accordance
with my invention, the same being shewn in its extended position for cleaning
the inner sides of lofty windows.
Fig. 2 is a like view shewing the device in its folded position and adapted for
cleaning the outer sides of windows from the interior of an apartment.
Fig. 3 is a detached view on a larger scale of the cleaner proper.
16 b are two telescopic rods attached by hinges c c to either end of
a short connecting or bridge piece d. These hinges must be so constructed or
arranged that they may be firmly fixed in any desired position. In the drawings
rule joint hinges are shewn the same being clamped or fixed by the thumb screws e
which constitute their pivots. The device may thus be firmly fixed either in its
extended position (Fig. 1) or in its folded position (Fig. 2). I do not however
vonfine or limit myself to the particular construction of hinge or joint illustrated
as suitable modifications will readily suggest themselves, for example spring
hinges working on the clasp knife principle might be substituted. At or near
the extremity of the upper rod a there is secured, detachably or otherwise, the
cleaner consisting of a suitable padded board or surface over which is stretched
the wet cloth, leather or polisher needed for use, the same being conveniently fixed
in place by providing its edges with rings y or eyelets adapted to engage with
hooks g on the back of the padded board or surface, as clearly shewn in Fig. 3.
To ensure the cleaning surface lying flat upon the glass at all times during the
operation of cleaning i prefer that the cleaner should be so connected with or
mounted on the rod a as to be permitted a slight amount of independent play or
movement. To this end I preferably mount the cleaner on light springs h attached
to a suitable head which is secured, detachably or otherwise, to the rod a. Or,
in lieu of springs the cleaner may be connected with the rod a by a
universal joint or equivalent device. Suitable means, such as the pinching screws i
are provided for holding the telescopic sections in the position to which they
have been adjusted and preventing their collapse. In some cases plain in lieu
of telescopic rods may be employed, or one only of the rods may be telescopic,
preferably a
For cleaning the inner sides of lofty windows the rods a and b and connecting
piece d are arranged in line and fixed in this position by tightening up the screws e
(Fig. 1). To clean the outer sides of windows from within an apartment
the rods a and are folded on their hinges so as to lie opposite one another with
the working face of the cleaner facing the rod (Fig. 2). The end of the rod a
carrying the cleaner is then passed over the upper edge of the sash to be cleaned
(the same having previously been sufficiently lowered to permit of this) when
the cleaner may be rubbed over the outside of the pane by manipulating the rod
from the inner side of the window, the telescopic adjustments permitting the length
of either rod to be regulated according to the requirements of the case. The free
end of rod b is preferably provided with a convenient hand grip and wrist strap.
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:-
1. A window cleaning device comprising two rods hinged to a connecting or
bridge piece in such manner that they may be either extended in a straight line or

page_text: folded upon their hinges so as to lie opposite one another, one of said rods carrying
at or near its end a cleaning pad or surface the acting face of which faces inwards
when the rods are folded, and means being provided for fixing the hinges in the
position to which they have been adjusted, substantially as described.
2. In a window cleaning device the combination of two rods, both (or one only)
being telescopic, a bridge piece with which they are connected by hinges or joints,
a cleaner secured at or near the free end of one rod, means for clamping or fixing
the hinges in any desired position, and means for preventing collapse of the teles-
copic sections, when arranged and adapted to operate substantially as described.
3. A window cleaning device comprising a pair of rods connected by a bridge
piece to which they are hinged, and a cleaning pad mounted at or near the free
end of one rod so as to have a slight amount of play or movement independently
thereof substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a window cleaning device the combination of two rods, a connecting piece
to which they are hinged, a pad or cleaner, and a spring or universal joint con-
nection between the latter and the free end of one rod, the whole arranged and
adapted to operate substantially as and in the manner described.
5. The general construction, arrangement, and combination of parts constituting
as a whole a window cleaning device substantially as described and illustrated in
the drawings.
ited this 6th day of January 1900.
E. P. ALEXANDER & SON,
Chartered Patent Agents,
19, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.