Improved Slate Cleaner.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 27th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 30th Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Slate Cleaner.
We ELI FIELDEN of 293 Rochdale Road Britannia near Bacup in the County
of Lancaster Boot and Shoe Dealer and EDWARD TURNER WHITELOW of
70 Deansgate Manchester in the County of Lancaster Consulting Engineer and
Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our said invention relates to an improved appliance for cleaning slates or other
writing tablets.
At one end of a reservoir or water receptacle we fix a sponge held in position by
a rim or a conical projecting part provided for that purpose, the sponge (or other
similar material) is so fixed and held that there is no direct access to it of the water
in the receptacle.
At the other end of the water receptacle is a diaphragm having one or more
perforations so minute that when at rest no water passes through. When however
the apparatus is shaken a few drops of water are ejected on to the slate and by
reversing the appliance and using the sponge the slate may be cleaned.
Surrounding and partly extending over the perforated diaphragm is a rim or
conical jacket for retaining any excess water.
In some cases we may make the water receptacle of elastic metal or other elastic
material so that when squeezed the water may be ejected without having to shake
the apparatus.
The reservoir may be variously shaped but we prefer to make the body part
thereof of prismatic shape or with flats on a cylindrical body so that it may not
roll when laid on a desk or table.
Instead of a sponge other suitable material such as cotton waste tow woolen
cloth india rubber or other material capable of cleaning a writing tablet may be
used.
D
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1
A1 1902
ELI FIELDEN.
EDWARD TURNER WHITELOW.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Slate Cleaner.
We ELI FIELDEN of 293 Rochdale Road, Britannia, Bacup in the County of
Lancaster, Boot and Shoe Dealer, and EDWARD TURNER WHITELOW of
70 Deansgate, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Consulting Engineer
and Patent Agent, 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 :-
Our said invention relates to an improved appliance for cleaning slates or other
writing tablets.
At one end of a reservoir or water receptacle we fix a sponge held in position by
a rim or a conical projecting part provided for that purpose, the sponge (or other
similar material) is so fixed and held that there is no direct access to it of the
water in the receptacle.

page_text: At the other end of the water receptacle is a diaphragm having one or more
perforations so minute that when at rest no water passes through. When however
the apparatus is shaken a few drops of water are ejected on to the slate and by
reversing the, appliance and using the sponge the slate may be cleaned.
Surrounding and partly extending over the perforated diaphragm is a rim or
conical jacket for retaining any excess water.
In some cases we may make the water receptacle of elastic metal or other elastic
material so that when squeezed the water may be ejected without having to shake
the apparatus.
The reservoir may be variously shaped but we prefer to make the body part
thereof of prismatic shape or with flats on a cylindrical body so that it may not
roll when laid on a desk or table.
Instead of a sponge other suitable material such as cotton waste tow woollen
cloth indiarubber or other material capable of cleaning a writing tablet may be
used.
The accompanying sheet of drawings shows various ways of carrying out our said
invention.
Referring to Figures 1 to 4 which are longitudinal sections a is the water
receptacle having at one end a perforated end or diaphragm and a projecting rim
or jacket c having an opening c. At the other end of the water receptacle is a
mop holder d carrying a mop or wiper d' of sponge india rubber felt cloth or other
soft material of a suitable nature. Instead of the raised rim e a simple tight fitting
cap may be employed which can be removed when the apparatus is to be used. A
similar cap may be provided to fit over the mop holder.
:
Figures 5 and 6 show in longitudinal section and end view the construction we
find most convenient for manufacture and use.
A is the water receptacle formed of waterproof card board in the shape of a
cylinder flattened on one side. At each end are dished plates B each of which has
an annular channel or bead to receive the end of the part A. C are dished end
pieces which have also annular recesses or channels embracing the beads of the
parts B and the ends of the parts A. When the dished end pieces are placed in
position the whole is tightly cramped together and a water tight joint is thereby
formed. One of the dished plates B is perforated and forms the diaphragm. Both
the end pieces C have openings C. One of the parts C forms the holder for the
sponge D while the other forms the projecting water retaining jacket.
To fill the apparatus with water it is held at a distance of say a foot or more
from a water cock so that the falling jet of water may impinge directly on the
perforated diaphragm. The falling water overcomes the resistance of the air under
the diaphragin and the water receptacle becomes quickly filled.
In the absence of a water cock the falling jet of water may be obtained by
holding a lipped water vessel in one hand and allowing a stream of water to fall on
to the diaphragm while the appliance is held in the other hand at some distance
below.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is,―
1. The cleaner for slates and other writing tablets consisting of a water receptacle
having one or more perforations at one end for ejecting the water and provided at
the other end with a mop substantially as set forth.
2. The combination with a water receptacle having a perforation at one end of a
sponge or mop holder at the other end substantially as set forth.
3. The combination of a water receptacle a perforated diaphragm therein a rim
or jacket for retaining the excess water and a sponge or mop holder substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 4. A slate cleaner substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 5
and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
5. A slate cleaner having a water receptacle of partly cylindrical form with a
flat surface a perforated diaphragm and a mop substantially as set forth.
Dated this 25th day of November 1893.
EDWARD TURNER WHITELOW.