An Improved Washing Board.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 30th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Apr., 1891-Accepted, 23rd May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Washing Board.
I, RUDOLPH GEORGE EVERARD LEMPRIERE, of Becchen Cliff Cottage,
Holloway, Bath, in the County of Somerset, Commercial Traveller, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to washing boards employed as rubbing surfaces for
rubbing clothes in the process of washing. The improved washing board in which
this invention consists has two faces for rubbing or chafing clothes. One of the
faces is of corrugated or grooved india-rubber. It is secured to a suitable frame
upon which it is curved to the requisite degree.
The corrugations in this rubbing face, instead of being angular, are rounded, the
curves thereof being approximately semicircular. The rubbing face does not
extend at the sides to the frame but a space is left between it and the frame at each
side for draining off water from the grooves in the rubbing face.
On the reverse side of the frame to the corrugated face of the "board is a
second rubbing face consisting of a sheet of india-rubber the face of which is
studded with conical, rounded or other projections suitably shaped for rubbing
thereon clothes in the process of washing.
With such rubbing surfaces the clothes are less liable to injury than when
rubbed on metallic faces, and the corrugations in the front face are not so liable to
fracture.
Dated this 29th day of July 1890.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol Bank Buildings, Bristol, Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Washing Board.
I, RUDOLPH GEORGE EVERARD LEMPRIERE, of Beechen Cliff Cottage,
Holloway, Bath, in the County of Somerset, Commercial Traveller, 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 relates to appliances known as washing boards and used as
surfaces on which to chafe or rub clothes in the process of washing.
According to this invention that part of the board on which the clothes are
rubbed consists of a sheet of india-rubber provided at the front with semicircular
or approximately semicircular grooves and ridges alternating with each other.
This corrugated or fluted sheet of india-rubber is curved to the requisite degree
and is held at the sides in a suitable frame. With such rubbing surface the clothes
are less liable to injury than when rubbed on metallic faces having more or less
angular or pointed grooves and ridges. The rubbing sheet is also less liable to
fracture at the apex of a ridge or the bottom or bed of a groove.
In the Provisional Specification left with my application for Letters Patent to
this invention the rear of the board is described as consisting of a sheet of india-
rubber having conical or other suitably shaped projections. This part of my
invention is attended with objections in practice and I prefer, therefore, not to
adopt it.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings, Fig. 1 is a front
view of a washing board constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is
a vertical section, and Fig. 3 a transverse section.

page_text: Extending from one handle a of the frame to the other and curved to the
requisite degree is a sheet or tablet of india-rubber the front face of which
is ridged and grooved by semi-circular or approximately semi-circular ridges and
grooves. At the sides it is let into the frame and is fitted at back with a stiffening
panel as shewn. Upon the ridged face of the tablet the clothes are rubbed and
chafed in the process of washing.
In the example illustrated in the drawings the ridges and grooves in the rubbing
face of the sheet or tablet bare continued from one side to the other. Under a
modification they are not so continued throughout the entire width, but are stopped
short at each side so as to provide a vertical channel at each side for the
free escape of water expressed from the clothes in process of being rubbed.
The ridges and grooves being rounded, and not angular as heretofore, the clothes
are not liable to injury and the ridges and grooves possess greater strength and are
consequently less liable to fracture.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is : :-
In a washing-board" the provision of a rubbing face for the clothes consisting
of a sheet or tablet such as of india-rubber ridged and furrowed with semi-
circular or approximately semi-circular ridges and furrows alternating with one
another, the said sheet or tablet being secured at the sides in the frame substan-
tially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying sheet of
illustrative drawings.
Dated this 21st day of April 1891.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol Bank Buildings, Bristol, Agent.