Improved Safety-apparatus, suitable for Use in Cleaning Windows, and for like Operations.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 21st Dec., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Safety-apparatus, suitable for Use in Cleaning Windows,
and for like Operations.
I, ADOLPH FÜHR, of Mülhausen, Thuringia, in the Empire of Germany,
Master Joiner, 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 :-
Safety-apparatus according to this invention for use in cleaning the outsides
of windows comprises a railed-round supporting platform adapted to rest upon
a window-sill and to project outwardly therefrom. This platform is fixed in
position by means of bars, which bear against the framing of the window to
which the apparatus is applied, and of adjustable claws or the like, which engage
with the underside of the projecting edge of the inside window-sill. The
arrangement is such that a person is enabled to clean the window from outside
with case and comfort and without running any risk of falling.
Apparatus according to this invention is illustrated in the accompanying
drawings wherein,
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the apparatus as seen from inside a window to which it
is shown applied ;
Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, the window being in vertical section; and
Fig. 3 is a plan of the apparatus with the window in horizontal section.
The other figures are hereinafter referred to.
The outwardly projecting supporting platform T is provided with bars t, t
which are adapted to rest upon the window-sill and are formed with shoulders A
designed to bear against the window-framing R. The inwardly directed
extensions of the bars t and t¹ are provided with adjustable claws K and K'
respectively which pass under, and engage with, the inside window-sill or
framing B; these claws are preferably carried by thumb-nut screws arranged to
slide in slots i, in the extensions of the bars t t so that they can be adjusted to
suit the width of the window-sill.
Upwardly extending contractible supports S S' are fastened to the bars t, ¹in
an easily disconnectable manner by means of pins Z, Z. These supports S, S¹
which can be adjusted to fit windows of different sizes, bear against the inside
window-framing R, and thus afford, in combination with the claw-attachments of
the bars t, t', a firm hold for the platform T.
In order to increase the security of the apparatus, there are provided readily
disconnectable stays H, having hook-shaped ends which serve to stiffen the
connection between the platform T and the supports S, S¹. If desired there may
be provided on the underside of the bars t't', blocks (not shewn) which bear,
similarly to the shoulder A. but from outside against the window framing.
The platform is surrounded by a protective railing, which is composed of three
sides cr parts G, g and g¹ and is capable of being folded by means of hinges a, a¹
and a², by the last mentioned of which it is connected to the platform T. This
railing may be provided on all sides with a covering or lining of textile
material.
The lateral portions 9 and g' of the railing are fastened by means of hooks h
engaging in eyes provided on the supports S, S', thereby effecting a further strong
connexion between the supports S, S' and the platform T.

page_text: The supports S and S₁ are made capable of being varied in length so that they
can be adjusted to suit the height of the window. For this purpose, these
supports may, as in the arrangement illustrated, be provided with parts and
which are adapted to be drawn out and fixed in place in longitudinal grooves in the
said supports. They may for instance, be fixed in any desired position by mean-
of thumb-nut screws which are guided in slots and in the supports S and S¹
respectively.
In the case of high windows, the extensible portions u and u¹ of the supports S
and S1 bear against the upper part of the window-frame R (see Fig. 7). In the
case of very low windows the supports S, S' bear against the transverse stay bars Q
(Fig. 2); and if the projection of the parts u u¹ is not desired those parts can be
pushed down as far as may be required.
When the apparatus is not in use, it is folded as shown in Fig. 6. To this end,
the railing Gg g¹ is folded up as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5 and then turned down
on its hinges a² upon the platform T and its bars t, t'. The whole including the
disconnectable supports S, S₁, is then tied together by means of a rope or cord 80
as to be in a form suitable for storing, the hook-shaped ends of the stays H and H'
being engaged with eyes x (Fig. 7) provided laterally on the supports t and t¹.
Figs. 8 and 9 represent, in side elevation and in vertical section respectively, a
slight modification of the safety-apparatus represented in Figs. 1 to 7
are supporting plates which are provided with bent clamps K' turmshed with
screws y for securing them to the bottom bar A of the window-frame R. On the
supporting plates to rest the bars which carry the platform T.
At the upper
surface of the platform T there are secured bars 2 provided with openings, in
which engage angle-pieces h*, * attached to the side parts g g¹ and the front part G
of the railing G gg. The bars t are secured by means of hooks H' and eyes x²,
which are screwed into the window frame R.
In using the apparatus, the supporting plates 2 are first fastened by means of
the clamps K³, to the window frame and the hooks H' put into the eyes ²; the
railing G gg is then put on the platform T and secured by means of the bar
and the angle-pieces ³, h. As these angle pieces are situate on the inside of the
railing the latter, which is also held together, above by means of hooks h¹, is
prevented from being pressed outwards.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. A folding safety-apparatus suitable for use in cleaning the outsides of windows
and for like operations, comprising an outwardly projecting platform T provided
with a folding safety-railing G g g', and firmly connected with supports t and t¹
which are adapted to rest upon a window-sill and to bear, by means of shoulders A,
against the window-frame, the said supports and t¹ being also provided with
adjustable claws K and Ki adapted to engage with the underside of the inwardly
projecting portion of a window-sill, and with upwardly extending easily disconnect-
able supports S and S¹, which are adapted to bear against the fixed cross bar Q of
the window frame, or, by means of extensible and adjustable parts u and u¹, to
bear against the top part of the window-frame, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2. A safety-apparatus suitable for use in cleaning windows and in like operations,
comprising an outwardly projecting platform T provided with a folding safety-
railing Ggg and firmly connected with bars t which are carried by plates t' each
provided with a device K³ y for clamping it to the bottom bar A of a window-
frame and which are adapted to be connected with the said window-frame bv
means of hooks H2 arranged to engage in eyes a screwed therein, the railing G gg'
being arranged to be fastened to the platform T by means of bars 2 and angle
pieces, substantially as herein before described.

page_text: 3. My improved safety-apparatus suitable for use in cleaning windows and like
operations, constructed, arranged, and operating as herein before described with
reference to and shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, and the modification thereof con-
structed and arranged as herein before described with reference to and shown in
Figs. 8 and 9, of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 18th day of November 1895.
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.