IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND POLISHING WINDOWS"
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Henry Southall of Leeds in in the county of
York for an Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLEANING
AND POLISHING WINDOWS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Henry Southall at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th August 1882.
CHARLES HENRY SOUTHALL of Leeds in the county of York
IN APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND POLISHING WINDOWS,"
"IMPROVEMENTS
The object of my Invention is to construct a machine or apparatus whereby
windows may be cleaned and polished both inside and out at the same time, the
apparatus being simple of construction can be made at little cost.
My apparatus consists of a spring bow frame and stock made preferably of wood
on account of its lightness, one side is preferably straight and the other bowed, the
whole forms a machine in appearance similar to a pair of tongs the lowed side
being hinged and having a suitable spring attached thereto, to press the ends of the
spring bow together on each of these two ends I fix brackets long enough for the
two ends to clear any ordinary window frames to the brackets I attach boards or
frames swivelled so as to be easy of removal the boards or frames are covered with
cloth, wash leather or other suitable material for cleaning attached thereto in any
convenient manner so as to be easy of removal as in washing windows a wet cloth
is necessary and in polishing a dry cloth or wash leather when changing the
boards it is necessary to keep them apart this can be. done by a lever of suitable
length hinged so that when desired it springs out the bows and holds the boards
apart and free whilst they are changed.
The machine operates as follows;-the cloths are well washed in clean water
wrung out and placed on the boards in position the bow of the machine is drawn
apart sufficiently to pass over the frame of the window first from the top and then
17

page_text: from the bottom as convenient the boards close towards each other having the
glass between them the machine is worked up and down and both sides of the
glass are cleaned in a rapid and effectual manner when dry the boards are changed
and a dry cloth or wash leather is substituted and a beautiful polish is obtained
with little trouble the operation is carried on from the inside of the room so that
there is no danger of any accident occuring such as falling out of the window
Instead of one side of the machine being hinged as described it may be made in
the form of a long bowed spring screwed to the stock the armed brackets carrying
the swivelled boards being attached to the ends of the bow springs and so do
without hinge.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Henry Southall in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th February 1883.
CHARLES HENRY SOUTHALL of Leeds in the county of York IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND POLISHING WINDOWS
The object of my invention is to construct a machine or apparatus whereby
windows may be cleaned and polished both inside and out at the same time the
apparatus being simple in construction, can be made at little cost.
My apparatus consists of a spring bow frame, or stock, made preferably of wood
on account of its lightness, one side is preferably straight, and the other bent or
bowed, the bowed side is screwed to the straight part of the frame, the whole forms
a machine, in appearance, similar to a pair of tongs, or the bowed side may be
hinged to the straight side, and have a suitable spring attached thereto, to press
the ends of the bow or frame together, on each of the two ends of the frame I fix
brackets, large enough for the two ends to clear any ordinary window frame, to
the brackets I attach the boards, or rubbers, swivelled so as to be easy of removal,
and so that they will adjust themselves to the surface of the glass, at whatever
angle the frame or stock is held, whilst operating upon the windows, the boards or
rubbers are covered with cloth, washleather, or other suitable material for cleaning,
which is attached thereto by buttons, or studs, or in any other convenient manner,
easily adjustable, as in washing windows a wet cloth is necessary, and in polishing
a dry one; when changing the boards it is necessary to keep them apart, this can
be done by releasing the catch from the stud, and moving back the hinged arm of
the stock, this is also necessary to allow the rubbers to pass, or clear the window
frames, the catch is then turned back again to engage with the stud, the pressure
of the rubbers upon the windows is regulated, by the position of the adjustable side
piece, in which are slots, for the screws, or studs, the boards or rubbers have slots
in their back centres, in which the bracket arms rest, and are held in position by
buttons so as to be instantaneously attached or released Such being the nature
and object of this my said invention, in order that the same may be fully under-
stood, I have hereunto annexed one sheet of drawings illustrative thereof and
have marked the same with figures and letters of reference, similar letters referring
to similar parts throughout the several views
I attain these objects by mechanism, illustrated in the accompanying drawings
in which,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my invention.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig 1, Figs 3 and 4 are details of rubber and
bracket.
My bow frame, or stock is made preferably of wood on account of its lightness
one side is preferably straight, and the other bent, or bowed, the bowed side B, is
screwed to the straight part of the frame A, the whole forms a machine in
appearance, similar to a pair of tongs, or the bowed side may be hinged to the
straight sido, and have a suitable spring attached thereto to press the ends of the
bow or frame together, on each of the two ends of the frame I fix brackets C. C,
large enough for the two ends to clear any ordinary window frame such as D, to
the brackets C. C, I attach the boards or rubbers E, E, swivelled so as to be easy of
removal, and so that they will adjust themselves to the surface of the glass D', at
whatever angle the frame or stock is held, whilst operating upon the windows, the
boards or rubbers, are covered with cloth, washleather, or other suitable material
for cleaning, which is attached thereto by buttons or studs F, F, or in any

page_text: other convenient manner, easily adjustable, as in washing windows a wet cloth is
neccessary, and in polishing a dry one; when changing the boards it is necessary to
keep them apart, this can be done by releasing the catch G, from the stud H, and
moving back the hinged arm A, of the stock A, in the direction of the dotted
line A, this is also necessary to allow the rubbers to pass or clear the window
frames, the catch G, is then turned back again to engage with the stud H, the
pressure of the rubbers upon the glass is regulated by the position of the
adjustable side piece J, in which are slots K, K, for the screws or studs L, L,
the boards or rubbers E, E, have slots in their back centres, in which the bracket
arms rest and are held in position by buttons M, M, so as to be instantaneously
attached or released.
Having thus fully described and particularly ascertained the nature and object
of this my said invention and the manner in which the same may be performed or
carried into effect I would have it understood that what I desire to be secured to
me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is.-
1 In my improved window cleaner and polisher the spring frame A. B having
swivelled rubbers E, E, substantially as shewn and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof I the said Charles Henry Southall have hereunto set my
hand and Seal this thirtieth day of January in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
Witness
JOHN E. WALSH
Patent Agent and Consulting Engineer
Halifax Leed and Bradford
CHAH SUUINALD