A New or Improved Appliance for the Protection of Window Cleaners and others, also adaptable for other purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Mar., 1895
.COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Appliance for the Protection of Window
Cleaners and others, also adaptable for other purposes.
I, Alfred ChaFEU of Alexandra Cottage, Bitterne Park Southampton, in the
County of Hampshire Builder and Contractor 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 :-
.
My invention relates to an adjustable appliance capable of being quickly and
easily fixed to the frames of window sashes, when required, as a protection against.
the falling of domestic servants and other persons, when sitting or standing upon
the sill or ledge, for the purpose of cleaning the outside of the windows, and for the
use and like protection of painters, and others, whose duties compel them to stand
or sit upon the said sill, more especially when such windows cannot be reached with
a ladder.
The same appliance may be temporarily or permanently fixed to the outside of
windows and like places, and conveniently employed for having temporarily or
permanently attached thereto, ropes canvas-tubes, and other well-known devices, as
a means for escape in case of fire, which provides that my invention may be correctly
described as a combined fire escape and safety appliance for the protection of
window.cleaners, painters, and others.
In order that my invention and the manner in which I prefer to temporarily or
permanently fix the same in position for the purposes stated, may be fully under-
stood, I have hereunto appended a sheet of drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the appliance as I prefer to construct it, when
intended to be temporarily fixed to a window frame, as shewn by the internal and
external perspective views Figs. 2 and 3, and used as a protection against falling,
when the persons cleaning the windows, painting or otherwise, sits upon the window
sill or for temporary use as a fire escape.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the manner in which I prefer to duplicate Fig. 1,
while Fig. 5 illustrates the application and temporary fixation of such duplication
to a window frame, when the persons so cleaning the window, painting or otherwise,
stands upon the sill. This arrangement is also applicable for temporary use as a
fire escape.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged section of a portion of the appliance taken upon the
lines A B Fig. 4.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of Fig. 1 or its duplication in Fig. 2, when the
appliance is to be permanently fixed to the outside of the window frame or window
opening.
My invention consists of a preferably rectangular frame, made in two parts A
and B, of any suitable metal solid or hollow, but preferably iron gas barrel, to the
former of which is screwed, brazed or otherwise permanently fixed a socket C,
which for convenience may be a short length of gas barrel, of such diameter, that
the opposite end of the portion B may slide freely therein, which provides that the
said rectangular frame may be adjusted to suit windows of any width within
reasonable limits, the fixation of such adjustment, when made, being effected
d-by-the
means of a thumb screw, or its equivalent D, passing through aithreaded hole:in C,
and impinging upon the end of B, or engaging with one of a number of holes
provided therein. Upon the free end of A is brazed, cast, screwed or otherwise
securely fixed a plate E. and in like manner upon the free end of B, a similar

page_text: plate F, such plates being so placed as to extend at right angles from A and B,
and in an outward direction from both, each being provided with some suitable
means by which they may be fixed to the inside of the window frame G, when the
sash H has been raised, as shewn at Figs. 2 and 3, the said fixation being preferably
effected by the means of thumb screws such as JJ, passing through. holes in E
and F, and engaging with the frame G, or with suitable plates permanently fixed
thereon for the reception of same. To the portion A is brazed, screwed or
otherwise fixed a solid or hollow leg or stay K. and in like manner to the portion B
a stay or leg L, buth at such an angle, that when the frame A B is placed
extending horizontally from the frame G, the return ends M of K and L, will rest
within the angle formed by the lower horizontal portion of G and the sill N of the
window, as shewn in Figs. 2 and 5.
It will thus be seen, that for temporary use, during window cleaning, painting or
the like, all that is necessary is to raise the sash H, adjust and fix A and B to the
width of the window, place these outside with their stays K L resting in the angle
formed by G and N, when the weight of the apparatus alone would place the
plates E and F resting against the inner surface of G, and by simply screwing
home the thumb screws J, the whole would be firmly fixed, so that the servant or
workman could with safety sit upon the sill N with her or his back resting against
the portion C, without fear or danger of falling. In like manner the apparatus
could be as easily and quickly placed in position in time of fire, where any of the
well-known appliances for facilitating descent, or a rope or ropes, or sheets or
blankets knotted together, could be fastened thereto.
D
If desired that the apparatus be a permanent fixture so as to be always ready for
use for any and all of the purposes stated, the plates E and F may be dispensed
with, and in lieu of these the ends A and B may or may not be bent, and in like manner
be connected to plates such as O and P in Fig. 7, provided with suitable holes by
means of which these may be screwed to the sides R of the window opening
(Figs. 2 and 5). Or the ends of O and P may have projections thereon, capable of
engaging with slots in plates fixed upon R.
In Fig. 4 I illustrate the manner in which I may duplicate the appliance Fig. 1,
so that when fixed to the frame G in like manner as shewn at Fig. 5, a person may
stand upon the sill N in perfect safety, as the appliance would then reach their
waist or thereabouts. According to this arrangement I provide a rectangular or
other frame A and B', of similar material to A and B, and adjustably connected
to each other by a socket C¹ provided with a thumb screw D' in like manner.
The ends of A and B' may have plates E' and F' with or without being provided
with thumb screws or their equivalents J', for connection with the frame G as at
Fig. 4. The portions A and B₁ have legs or stays K' and L' depending therefrom,
at such an angle, that plates S S, semicircular in cross section. brazed or otherwise
firmly fixed upon their lower ends, may rest upon A and B of the lower frame, aur
be fixed thereto by any suitable means, but for preference, 1 screw, braze or
otherwise fix upon A and B upstanding screw bolts a a (shewn in dotted outline in
Fig. 1) with which engage suitable holes in the plates S S when fly nuts or their
equivalents cc may be screwed upon a a for retaining S and S in position. The
formation of S S and the manner of fixing same upon A' and B will be better
understood by reference to the enlarged section Fig. 6.
In like manner when the said duplicate appliance is to be a permanent fixture,
plates such as O and P in Fig. 7 or their equivalents previously mentioned, may le
used in lieu of E' and F¹ engaging with the window opening R in the manner
described when referring to the plates E and F of Fig. 1, and the said duplicated
apparatus may in the same way be used to assist escape in time of fire.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. As an improved temporary or permanent fixture to domestic and other

page_text: windows, for preventing accidents by fall occurring to persons sitting or standing
upon the window sill, when cleaning the window or painting the frame thereof, or
and for use for the attachment of ropes, canvas-tubes or the like to facilitate escape
at the time of fire, the construction and use of the herein described appliance and
the alternative methods of arranging, duplicating and fixing the same, connected,
combined, and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth and
shewn by the appended drawings.
2nd. In an improved appliance for preventing accidents occurring to persons
sitting or standing upon window sills during the cleaning of the windows or the
painting of the frames or other parts of same, the combination of a metallic
frame A B, rendered adjustable by the means of a socket or collar C, and thumb
screw or its equivalent D, and provided with legs K L and fixing plates E F and
thumb screws or their equivalents J, for attachment to the frame G, or plates O P
or their equivalents for attachment to the window opening R, substantially as and
for the purposes herein described and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
3rd. In combination with the appliance set forth in the preceding claim, the
application thereto of a metallic frame A¹ B' rendered adjustable by the means of
a socket or collar C', and thumb screw or its equivalent D¹, and provided with
legs or stays K' and L', and plates S, by means of which and fly nuts c, the said
legs or stays are connected to studs a upon the frame A B. The manner of
temporarily fixing the ends of A¹ and B¹ to the frame G by the means of plates E¹
and F with or without thumb screws J' or their equivalents, or permanently
fixing the said appliance to the opening R by the means of plates such as O P or
their equivalents, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and shewn
by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 15th dox of Fohm 1905
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1, Broad Street Buildings, Liverpool Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.