IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING AND PROTECTING PERSONS OUTSIDE BUILDINGS,
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Salomon Krakauer, of 22, Swan Street, Minories, in the
City of London, Administrator of John Louis, of Swan Street, Minories, in
the City of London, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR
APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING AND PROTECTING PERSONS OUTSIDE BUILDINGS,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Louis at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th July 1881.
JOHN LOUIS, of Swan Street, Minories, in the City of London. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING AND PROTECTING PERSONS
OUTSIDE BUILDINGS FOR WINDOW CLEANING, PAINTING, AND OTHER PURPOSES."
The Invention has for its object improvements in means or apparatus for
supporting and protecting persons outside buildings for window cleaning, painting,
and other purposes.
For this purpose I employ a frame constructed preferably of wood, and
consisting of two or more side bars rigidly connected together at the upper and
lower ends thereof by cross bars, and having at the lower end thereof one or more
steps. At the upper part of this frame and at each side thereof, I employ a vertical
sliding bar, which sliding bars are capable of being extended above the frame and
adjusted and fixed at the required height; and these bars are provided with sliding
brackets adjustable thereon for the purpose hereinafter explained.
Upon each side bar of the frame is a sliding clamp, and sliding horizontally
through each of these clamps is a bar formed preferably of wrought iron and hinged
about midway of its length. Upon the outer ends of these horizontal bars and
extending from one to the other is fixed a platform formed with a railing at the
back and two sides thereof, such railing being formed with capability of folding
down upon the platform when desired.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
The frame is placed against a window or other like opening, the platform
projecting through such opening.

page_text: The vertical sliding bars are then slidden up so as to bear against the inside of
the architrave or top of the window or other opening, and are securely clamped in
that position; the brackets sliding upon such bars are then slidden up underneath
the architave or top of the opening, and are there clamped in order to give
steadiness to the apparatus. The platforin is adjusted at the requisite height and
distance from the window by means of the horizontal hinged sliding bars and the
clamps sliding upon the side bars of the frame when the apparatus is ready
for use.
A person may now, through the medium of the steps, readily pass through the
frame on to the platform where he is securely protected from falling by the
railing.
When the apparatus is out of use the railing may be folded down upon the
platform, and the platform may, by means of the hinged horizontal bars, be folded
up against the frame, whereby the apparatus is rendered easily portable.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent (and of 1
an Order of the Lord Chancellor) filed by the said Salomon Krakauer,
Adminstrator of the late John Louis, deceased, in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 21st February 1882.
SALOMON KRAKAUER, of 22, Swan Street, Minories, in the City of London, the
Lawful Attorney of Bertha Louis (Widow and Relict of John Louis, who died on
the Twenty ninth day of November, One thousand eight hundred and eighty one),
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
MEANS OR
and Administrator of the said John Louis.
APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING AND PROTECTING PERSONS OUTSIDE BUILDINGS
FOR WINDOW CLEANING, PAINTING, AND OTHER PURPOSES."
The Invention has for its object improvements in means or apparatus for
supporting and protecting persons outside buildings for window cleaning, painting,
and other purposes.
For this purpose a frame is employed which is constructed preferably of wood,
and consists of two or more side bars rigidly connected together at the upper and
lower ends thereof by cross bars, and has at the lower end thereof one or more
steps.
At the upper part of this frame and at each side thereof is employed a vertical
sliding bar, which sliding bars are capable of being extended above the frame and
adjusted and fixed at the required height, and these bars are provided with sliding
brackets adjustable thereon for the purpose hereinafter explained. Upon each
side bar of the frame is a sliding clamp, and sliding horizontally through each of
these clamps is a bar formed preferably of wrought iron, and hinged about midway
of its length. Upon the outer ends of these horizontal bars and extending from
one to the other is fixed a platform, formed with a railing at the back and two

page_text: sides thereof, such railing being formed with capability of folding down upon the
platform when desired.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-The frame is placed against a
window or other like opening, the platform projecting through such opening. The
vertical sliding bars are then slidden up so as to bear against the inside of the
architrave or top of the window or other opening and are securely clamped in that
position; the brackets sliding upon such bars are then slidden up underneath the
architrave or top of the opening and are there clamped in order to give steadiness
to the apparatus.
The platform is adjusted at the requisite height and distance from the window
by means of the horizontal hinged sliding bars, and the clamps sliding upon the
side bars of the frame, when the apparatus is ready for use.
A person may now through the medium of the steps readily pass through
the frame on to the platform, where he is securely protected from falling by the
railing.
When the apparatus is out of use the railings may be folded down upon the
platform, and the platform may by means of the hinged horizontal bars be folded
up against the frame, whereby the apparatus is rendered easily portable.
And in order that the said Invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed, aided by the accompanying Drawings, more
fully to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an elevation of the apparatus showing it fixed in a window frame in
position for use; Figure 2 is a side view representing the apparatus in the same
position as in Figure 1, but showing the window frame partly in section; and
Figure 3 is a side view of the apparatus separately, representing the platform
folded up. The frame of the apparatus which is constructed preferably of wood,
consists of two or more side bars a connected together at the upper and lower
ends thereof by cross bars a¹, and having at the lower end thereof one or more
steps a². At the upper part of this frame a and at each side thereof is a vertical
sliding bar b, also preferably constructed of wood, which sliding bars are capable
of being extended above the frame a, and adjusted and fixed at the required
height by means of clamps 6¹ provided with set screws 6 or by other suitable
means; and these sliding bars bare provided with sliding brackets c adjustable
thereon by means of the clamps c¹, and set screws c³ or otherwise, for the purpose
hereinafter explained.
Upon each side bar a of the frame is a sliding clamp a³ provided with a set
screw a and sliding horizontally through an enlargement; on such clamp is a
bar d' formed preferably of wrought iron, and with a hinge joint d², set screws a³,
being employed to lock such horizontal bars in the position desired.
Upon the outer ends of these horizontal bars d¹ and extending from one bar to
the other and securely bolted or otherwise fixed thereto is a platform d, provided
with a railing d³ at the back and two sides thereof, such railing being hinged or
pin jointed at several points d' so as to be capable of folding down upon the
platform d, when desired. Tie bars do hinged or pin jointed to the railing at dº,
and capable of being locked in position by means of pins or screws d' passing
through holes in the tie bar and railing are employed to retain the railing in
position for use.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
The apparatus is placed against a window or other like opening e with the
platform & projecting through such opening.
The vertical sliding bars are then slidden up so as to bear against the inside of
the architrave or top e' of the window or other opering e, and are securely clamped
in that position by means of the clamps b' and set screws 6%, the brackets c are
then slidden up underneath the architrave or top e' of the opening, and are there

page_text: fixed in position by means of the clamps c¹ and set screws c² in order to give
steadiness to the apparatus. The platform d is adjusted at the requisite height
and distance from the window or other opening by means of the horizontal hinged
sliding bars d' and clamp a³ sliding upon the side bars a, and the set screws a³, a³,
when the apparatus assumes the position shown at Figures 1 and 2, and is ready
for use.
A person may now through the medium of the steps a² readily pass
through the frame of the apparatus on to the platform & where he is securely
protected from falling by the railing d³.
When the apparatus is out of use the railing ds may be folded down upon the
platform d by withdrawing the pins or screws d', and thus liberating the tie
bars d, and the platform d may by means of the hinges d² of the horizontal
bars & be folded up against the frame, whereby the apparatus is rendered easily
portable.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention, and the mode in which
_ he same may be carried into effect, I would have it understood that what I.
claim is,
The improvements in means ar apparatus for supporting and protecting persons.
outside buildings, for window cleaning, painting, and other purposes, substantially
as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Salomon Krakauer, have hereunto- set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of February, One thousand eight
hundred and eighty two.
SALOMON KRAKAUER.
LA.S.)