Improvements in Safety Appliances for Windows and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Safety Appliances for Windows and the like.
I, JOHN JONES of 40 Sidney Street, Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex, Builder,
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 designed to be fitted to windows and similar openings for the
purpose of protecting persons employed upon them as in cleaning or repairing them
from falling out and also to prevent the dropping of articles such as tools used in the
repairing of the windows from falling down and possibly causing damage to what
they fall upon.
Briefly described this invention may be said to consist chiefly of preferably two
straps or bands and a sheet or netting connected therewith as will presently be
described.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings
in which Fig. 1 is a representation of the two straps or bands, Fig. 2 represents in
elevation a window with the safety device applied and Fig. 3 represents in section
the window and safety device.
Like letters represent like parts in the different figures.
A is the upper strap or band which may be connected with some fixed portion of
the window frame or building by means of swivel snap hooks B so that the strap
may be freely attached or removed as required. To accommodate the length of this
strap to the requirements of the person using the device it is preferred to make
it in two portions connected by a buckle A' at the centre or other convenient part.
C is the lower strap or band similar to A and connected in a similar manner to
the frame etc. D represents a piece of canvas, netting, wire netting, or other suit-
able material secured in any convenient manner to the straps A and C as by the
loops A and C and preferably securely stitched or otherwise firmly secured to the
straps at their ends so as to prevent the canvas pulling away from the straps.
These latter may with advantage be made of strong webbing suitably secured to the
canvas; but leather may if preferred be employed.
Where strong canvas or equivalent is used for the sheet D the swivel hooks B
may be secured directly on to the sheet in which case the straps A and C may if
desired be comparatively short and be secured to the canvas at about the position
occupied by the loops A³ C; however it is generally preferable to employ straps of
the full length with the hooks secured directly to them. The sheet D may be made
of any convenient size and length but it is preferred to make it sufficiently long to
allow of its passing through the window space and hanging down into the interior
of the room as shown at D' in Figure 3; by this arrangement the person cleaning
or repairing the window would sit upon the portion of the sheet and prevent it
coming loose at the bottom and possibly dropping some of the tools.
Various devices may be adopted for securing this appliance to the window frame,
wall or other suitable part but a convenient fastening consists of a ring or loop E
carried in a plate or staple E which plate or staple may be made fast by any suit-
able means but should be efficiently secured so as to prevent the possibility of its
coming loose or pulling out while the device is in use. Two of these fixing rings E
one for the end of each strap at each side of the window will usually be sufficient
but it will be understood that other means may be employed for the purpose of
fixing this safety device. For example a couple of simple staples with a rod con-
necting the two and to which the straps and if desired other portions of the sheet
could be connected as by rings passed over the rod would serve the purpose and
would have the advantage of securing the whole of the edge of the sheet close to
the framing

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it to be understood
that I am aware that it has before now been proposed to secure to windows some
kind of device for the purpose of securing the safety of the person cleaning the
window and that therefore I make no broad claim generally to the use of a safety
device in window cleaning, but what I claim is ;—
1. The combination with a window or similar opening of an adjustable and remov-
able strap or land such as A provided with a buckle such as A¹ or equivalent length
adjusting device and swivel snap hooks such as B substantially as and for the purpose
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a safety device for use in window cleaning or the like the employment of n
sheet such as D substantially us and for the purpose described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
3. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete safety
device substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 3rd day of May 1890.
JOHN JONES.
W. P. Thompson & Bonlt,
Agents for the Applicant.
JOHN JONES.
W. P. Thompson & Bonlt,
Agents for the Applicant.