Improvements in Window Cleaning Chairs, Applicable also to Platforms for the Use of Painters and other Purposes.
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in Window Cleaning Chairs, Applicable also to
Platforms for the Use of Painters and other Purposes.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, Fel. Inst. P.A, of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord St. Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, and
323 High Holborn in the county of Middlesex, Civil Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of the said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDOW CLEANING
CHAIRS, APPLICABLE ALSO TO PLATFORMS FOR THE USE OF PAINTERS AND OTHER
PURPOSES, (a communication from abroad by Anna Dormitzer of the City, County,
and State of New York, and United States of America Inventor) to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the combination with a chair or platform adapted to
be fitted in, and secured to, a window opening to facilitate the cleaning or painting
of the window and its casement of a folding step-ladder whereby the upper portions
of the window and casing may be the more readily reached.
It consists in fitting to the frame of a window-cleaning chair or platform of any
approved form of construction, but preferably to such as are made in manner as
described in Letters Patent heretofore granted for the invention of Anna Dormitzer
two uprights which are hinged at their lower ends to the rear or outer end of the
seat or platform so as to fold down flat inwardly upon the face of the seat or
platform on each side thereof. These binged uprights are connected and braced by
cross-bars. To the outer face of the upper end of each upright bar a side-bar is
pivoted to swing freely out therefrom so as to reach diagonally, when the uprights
are at right angles to the platform, to about the middle of the side of the platform,
where it is inade to fit into a socket provided for it, or is otherwise secured thereto.
These swinging side-bars whose lower ends are thus secured on each side of the
platform serve as diagonal braces for the frame.
A series of two or more steps are pivoted to and between these diagonal side-bars
so as to fold up between them and when the steps are opened out parallel with the
face of the platform or seat they are each supported by lateral strips, preferably of
thin sheet metal, hinged in the iniddle and each pivoted at one end to the edge of
the outer end of the step and at the other to the inner face of the side-bar so

page_text: that when the step is turned in upon its pivotal axis they will double up in the
middle and being thin, will, when folded, pass in between the side-bar and edge of
the step.
As a useful adjunct to the ladder an upright rod may be inserted through an
aperture at either or both ends of the lower step to pass into an aperture or socket
in the seat or platform beneath it. This rod, projecting upward, may be further
supported by a brace fitted to extend out from each of the steps above the lower
one and when thus secured serves as a firm hand support for a person mounting the
ladder, and also as a standard upon which to suspend a water-pail, paint-pot or
other device.
Auxiliary devices may be employed to lock the ladder when opened or closed and
to facilitate its ready movement.
The principal feature of invention consists in the construction of a folding step
ladder with a window-chair or platform.
WP. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Window-cleaning Chairs, Applicable also to
Platforms for the Use of Painters and other Purposes.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, Fel. Inst. P.A. of the Agency for Foreign Patent
Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High
Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention (a communication from abroad by Anna Dormitzer of the City,
County and State of New York, and United States of America, Inventor) 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 the combination with a chair or a platform adapted
to be fitted in, and secured to, a window-opening, to facilitate the cleaning or
painting of the window and its casement, of a folding step-ladder whereby the
upper portions of the window and casing may be the more readily reached.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the platform of a window-cleaning chair,
made and adapted to be secured upon a window-sill substantially in manner as
described in Letters Patent heretofore granted for the inventions of Anna Dormitzer,
and having fitted thereto an adjustable and removable step-ladder in accordance
with the present invention.

page_text: Figure 2 is a side elevation of the ladder detached and removed from the platform
and folded up for storage or transportation.
In these drawings, A represents the platform or seat of a window-cleaning chair
or painter's scaffold, which may be of any approved form of construction but which,
as shown, is made to be secured to a window-sill by means of fixed clamps B, B,
adapted to engage the face of the wall inside of the window, and an outer, movable
clamp C to bear against the face of the wall outside the window, said movable
clamp being drawn up and made fast as required by a screw actuated by a
thumb-piece D.
It is not necessary herein to describe more particularly the manner of adjusting
and securing the platform or seat A upon a window-sill, as the present invention
relates solely to the combination therewith of the detachable step-ladder as hereinafter
described.
This step-ladder is constructed of two rear-legs or braces E, E, hinged at their
lower ends to the rear or outer end of the platform A, so as to admit of being
folded down flat on the face thereof by means of hinges F, F. The two leaves b
and b', in each hinge, are preferably united by a detachable pintle and a single rod c,
may be made to serve as a pintle for both hinges as illustrated in Figure 1, to
facilitate the detachment of said two braces from the platform. These hinged legs
or braces are connected by cross-bars E¹, E¹, near to each end constituting a
frame E, E, E¹, E¹.
To the outer face of the upper end of each rear leg or brace E, a side-bar G, is
pivoted to swing freely against the side of the brace and out therefrom into a
diagonal position so that its lower free end may enter a socket H, secured to the
side of the platform or seat. The end of the side-bar is reduced and fashioned to
enter the socket readily, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 1.
The steps J, J, are pivoted, each at its inner end to and between the side-bars G, G,
so as to fold up between them (see dotted lines in Figure 2) and when opened out
parallel with the face of the platform or scat are supported by lateral braces K, K.
These braces are preferably made of thin sheet metal. They are hinged in the
middle and each pivoted at one end to the edge of the outer end of the step and at
the other to the inner side of the side-bar G, so that when the step is turned up
upon its pivotal axis they will double up in the middle, and being thin, will pass,
when folded, in between the side-bar and the edge of the step.
As a useful adjunct to the ladder, an upright rod or standard L, may be inserted
through an aperture mat either end of the lower step to pass into an aperture or
socket n formed in the platform or seat beneath it. Each rod or standard may be
further supported by passing it through an opening in the outer leaf r, of a strap
hinge R, secured upon the tread of each step to extend, when open out beyond the
edge of the step to embrace the standard. The outer leaf of the strap-hinge fitted
to project from the uppermost step, is provided with a bolt S, secured upon its
under side to slide forward into a transverse aperture in the standard L as shown
in Figure 1.
One of the standards is furthermore provided with a hook P at its upper end by
which a vessel for paint or water can be readily suspended as shown in Figure 1,
for the convenience of the party using the ladder.
By withdrawing the standards L, L, the steps may be folded up parallel with the
side-bars G, G, and between them. The side-bars may then be lifted out of their
sockets and their lower ends carried back parallel with the rear legs or brace-bars E, E,
and the latter be then folded down upon the platform A, so that the entire ladder
will be thus compactly folded upon the top of the platform.
By withdrawing the hinge rod c, from the hinge F, F, the ladder is now com-
pletely detached from the platform so as to admit of entire removal therefrom, as
indicated in Figure 2, and it is designed to be so light in weight as that it may he
readily manipulated and carried about.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is
1st. The combination with a window cleaning chair-seat or painter's platform, of
a step-ladder constructed substantially as specified, of brace-bars hinged to the
seat or platform; side-bars pivoted to the brace-bars; and folding steps hinged
between the side-bars and supported by lateral hinged braces, substantially in the
manner and for the purpose herein set forth.
2nd. In a combined step-ladder and window-cleaning chair or platform, a standard
passing through an aperture in the lower step and stepped into a socket in the
platform, in combination with a hinged leaf projecting from one or more of the
upper steps to embrace the standard and steady the same, substantially in the
manner and for the purpose herein set forth.
3rd. The combination with a seat or frame A provided with sockets H, and
hinge-leaves of a step-ladder constructed with folding-steps J, J, perforated
strap-hinges R, R, and hinge-leaves b¹, b¹, a rod c, uniting the hinge leaves b, b¹, and
standards L, passing through the lower step and perforated strap-hinges R, all
substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.
Dated this 21st day of December 1885.