CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING APPARATUS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT.. to Charles Henry Hudson, of the City, County,
and State of New York, United States of America, Manufac-
turer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING
APPARATUS,"
Sealed the 12th March 1869, and dated the 18th September 1868.
by the said Charles
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Henry
Hudson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 18th September 1868.
I, CHARLES HENRY HUDSON, of the City, County, and State of
New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING
APPARATUS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists, first, of a wash tub or wash box, the bottom
sides, and ends of which are so joined by hinges and packing that the
whole may be folded together compactly when not in use, the joints
being formed and made tight by causing the V-shaped edge of one piece
[Price 8d.]

page_text: to set into and against a packing of rushes, flag, india-rubber, or other
suitable material laid into and slightly projecting from a dovetailed slot
at the bottom or inner angle of a corresponding V-shaped groove in the
opposite piece, and the whole when opened ont to form the tub or box
being tightly clamped together by suitable clamps to render the joints
water-tight.
Second. Of a rubber consisting of a rigid frame or box in which two
or more fluted rollers for rubbing the clothes are hung, the said box
being provided with a suitable handle, and being of a proper length
and size to operate conveniently over a common washboard, and upon
the clothes which are placed thereon.
Third. Of a frame consisting of two swing posts, in the lower ends
of which the said rubber is hung, and a rock shaft to which the said
swing posts are so secured as to allow to the said rubber and posts a
free vertical motion; the said rock shaft is supplied with a journal at
each end, by means of which it, with the rubber.and swing posts attached,
may be hung in any suitable bearings in such a manner that the said
rubber may freely move to and fro over the washboard, the axes of the
rollers in the said rubber being transverse to the washboard, and rolling
or swinging up and down over the clothes in the manner of the hand in
washing.
Fourth. Of a frame composed of two uprights, each of which
terminate at the bottom in two prongs or jaws forming a fork, and at
the top in a bearing for the aforesaid rock shaft, the said uprights being
secured together by suitable rods or cross bars, and the whole device
being capable of being fastened to the tub or wash box by means of the
jaws or prongs, one of which in each pair is placed within the wash
box and the other without, and the whole is secured by a wedge sliding
on a stud or pin on one of the jaws, which when thrust down bears
firmly against the wash box or tub.
Fifth. Of two posts or standards fixed or hinged to the sides of a
common washboard in such a manner that when fixed in the upright
position they will be firm and rigid, while they may be readily folded
down upon the washboard for packing or laying away not in use,
the tops of the said posts containing bearings for the aforesaid rock
shaft. By means of this last-mentioned device the rubber swing frame
and washboard may be used in or in connection with any tub, box, or
vessel of sufficient size, and capable of holding water.

page_text: In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is a top view of the wash
box or tub opened out; Fig. 2 a vertical cross section of the same,
shewing the parts to the right of the line a, a, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, an
enlarged cross sectional view in detail of one of the joints with the
packing; Fig. 4, a top view of a rubber intended to be used without a
frame; Fig. 5 an end view of the same; Fig. 6, a front elevation of a
rubber swing posts and rock shaft for hanging in suitable bearings;
Fig. 7, an end view of the same; Fig. 8, an end view of a frame cou-
taining bearings for the rock shaft, the frame being adapted for being
clamped or fastened to the wash box or wash tub; and Fig. 9, a side
elevation of a common washboard, the posts in which are the bearings
for the rock shaft being attached thereto, and the method of attaching
them to the washboard being shewn.
In the wash box shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, A is the bottom; B and C,
the sides; and D) and E are the ends. The ends are secured to the
bottom by hinges a, a, and fold inward upon the upper side of the
bottom A. The side C is hinged to the bottom by hinges, one of which
is seen at b, Fig. the axis of this hiuge being so placed that the side C
will fold downwards, and fit snugly up against the under side of the
bottom A. The other side B is so hinged to the bottom A (one of its
hinges being seen at c, Fig. 2) that it fulds closely up against the under
side of the side C after it is folded under the bottom. F and G are
clamps which are fastened to the ends D and E by pins
which they turn freely. When the tub is opened out and
for use these clamps pass through holes in the sides, and drop down
into slots shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and are then screwed down
closely upon the sides, thus holding all the joints of the tub snugly
together.
or bolts, on
made ready
The rubber shewn in Fig. 4 consists of a rigid frame or box formed
by fitting to a zinc or other sheet metal top H the end pieces I and J,
the edges of the sheet metal entering channels in the ends, and points
or lugs a², a², formed on the top plate passing through holes in the end
pieces, where they are rivetted or clinched. In the ends I and J are the
bearings for three rollers; the handle K consisting of wood covered with
zinc or other suitable sheet metal, which is fastened to the wood by
bringing the edges of the zinc together, and forcing them into a groove
formed in the wood, is set into sockets d and e in projections on the
said end pieces. The top plate of the rubber may be drawn or struck up

page_text: out of one piece of metal in the form shewn in Figs. 5 and 6, and the
end castings may be fitted within the ends of the top plate, the pro-
jections L and M passing through slots in the plate and brackets N
and O, in which are the sockets for the handle K being rivetted to its
top. Between the brackets N and O and the projecting portions L
and M are the lower ends of the swing posis P, P, on which the rubber
is hung by the screws or bolts f and g. The swing posts pass through
holes in the rock shaft Q, being secured from coming out by the
heads h, h, and are connected together by the 'bar. or rod P¹. The rock
shaft Q has journals i, i, at its ends formed by the metallic sleeves R, R,
fitted over the ends of the shaft, and pinned or rivetted thereto. On
the sleeves R are flanges k, between which and shoulders on the rock
shaft the journal boxes or bearings fi..
In Fig. 8 is shewn a clamp or frame containing bearings S for the
journals i, i; the lower ends of the upright portions T of this frame are
formed into jaws or prongs m and n. On the jaw n is hung a wedge o
working on a pin p, which passes through a slot in the said wedge;
this wedge by bearing against the tub or wash box, as seen, holds the
frame firmly in place; the cross bars or rods of this clamp are shewn in
dotted lines. The rubber and swing frame heing hang in the bearings
of this clamp may be used with any kind of tub or vessel desired, or
suitable for the purpose of washing. The rubber and swing fraine may
also be hung in bearings upon posts or standards secured directly to the
sides of a common washboard, as seen in Fig. 9, and when so secured
they may be used with any tub or vessel, as the working parts are thus
all attached to the washboard. The posts or standards U are secured to
the board W by a metallic hinge and staple or socket combined, as at X,
the said device consisting of a T-shaped plater (the stem of the T,
which has a slot in it for the pin s to work in, being uppermost) having
a staple or socket & fixed into or upon it for the end of the post U to
fit into the post is held upright by the pin s.
;
When it is desired to
fold the posts down against the frame they are raised out of the staples t,
and swung down, the pin s rising and turning in the slot in the plate r
for that purpose.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Henry Hudson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 18th March 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
HENRY HUDSON, of the City, County, and State of New York, United
States of America, Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria; by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of September, in the year
of our Lord Oue thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself. Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Charles Henry Hudson, Her special licence
that I, the said Charles Henry Hudson, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Henry Hudson, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IM-
PROVEMENTS IN WASHING APPARATUS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that. I, the said Charles Henry Hudson, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
do
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Henry Hudson,
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement (that is to say):-
My said Invention consists, first, of a wash tub or wash box, the bottom,
ends, and sides of which are preferably joined by hinges, so that the
parts may be folded compactly together when not in use, and the joints
being formed and made tight by causing the "V-" shaped edge of one
piece to set into or against a packing of rushes, flag, india-rubber, or
other suitable material laid into and slightly projecting from a dove-
tailed, slot at the bottom or inner angle of a corresponding "V-" shaped

page_text: groove in the opposito piece, and the whole when opened out to form
the tub or box, being tightly clamped together by suitable clamps to
render the joints water-tight.
Second. Of a rubber consisting of a rigid frame or box, in which two
or more fluted rollers for rubbing the clothes are hung, the said box
being provided with a handle and being of suitable length and size
to operate conveniently over a common washboard upon the clothes
which are spread out thereon.
Third. Of a frame made up of two swing posts, in the lower ends of
which the said rubber is hung or pivotted, a rock shaft or rock bar
having holes in it, through which the said swing posts pass, and the
necessary horizontal rods or bars. The said rock bar is provided
with a journal at each end, by means of which it may with the
rubber and swing post attached be hung in any suitable bearings in
such a manner that the said rubber may freely move to and fro over
the washboard, the axes of the rollers being transverse to the wash-
board, and rolling and swinging up and down over the clothes in the
manner of the hand in washing.
Fourth. Of a frame composed of two uprights or side pieces, each of
which terminates at the bottom in two prongs or jaws forming a fork,
and at the top in a bearing for the aforesaid rock shaft, the said uprights
being secured together by suitable rods or cross bars, and the whole
device being capable of being fastened to the tub or washbox by
means of the jaws or prongs, one of which in each pair is placed
within and the other without the wash box, and the whole is then
secured by a wedge at each side sliding on a projecting pin on one
of the jaws, which wedge when thrust down bears firmly against the
wash box or tub.
Fifth. Of two posts or standards fixed or hinged to the sides of a
common washboard, in such a manner that when fixed in an upright
position they will be firm and rigid, while they may be readily folded
down upon the washboard for packing or laying away when not in
use, the upper ends of the said posts containing bearings for the afore-
said rock shaft. By means of this last-mentioned device the rubber,
swing frame, and washboard may be used on or in connection with
any tub, box, or vessel of sufficient size and capable of holding water.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 is a top view of the wash
box or tub arranged and adjusted for use; Figure 2 is a side view of

page_text: the same folded up; Figure 3 is a vertical cross section of the same
showing the parts to the right of the line a, x, Figure 1; Figure 4 is
a side view of one of the bearing plates against which the nuts on the
clamping bolts bear; Figure 5 is an enlarged view in detail of the
edge of one of the sides of the tub clearly showing the packing and
the manner of securing it in place; Figure 6 is a top view of a rubber
adapted to be used without a frame; Figure 7 is an edge view of the
game; Figure 8 is an end view of the same; Figure 9 is a vertical
cross section of the same through the centre; Figure 10 is a front
view of the swing frame; Figure 11 is a side or edge view of the same;
Figure 12 is a front view of the frame to be fastened to the tub, in
which frame the swing fiame may be hung; Figure 13 is an edge or
side view of the same; Figure 14 is an edge or side view of a wash-
board having the upright supporting posts attached thereto; Figure
15 is an edge view in detail of a portion of one of the uprights; Figure
16 is a top view of the socket into which the foot of each upright is
inserted when the apparatus is in use; Figure 17 is a side view of
the hinge piece.
In Figures 1, 2, and 3, A represents the bottom of the folding wash
box, B and C the sides, and D and E the ends. The ends are hinged
to the bottom by hinges a, a, having their axes at or near the inner
upper corners of the said bottom A.
The side B is hinged to the bottom
by hinges which have their axes at or near the inner lower corner of the
said side B, cne of which hinges is seen at b. The side C is hinged to
the bottom A by hinges, which have their axes at or near the outer lower
corner of the side C, one of these hinges being shown at c. The tub
may thus be folded up, as seen in Figure 2. The sides and ends of the
bottom A and the ends of the end pieces D and E are made "V"-shaped,
as shown, and "V"-shaped grooves d are provided to receive these "V"-
shaped edges in the sides B and C. In the bottom or inner angle of
these grooves a small dovetailed groove is made, into which is inserted a
packing of flag, rushes, india-rubber, or other suitable material, seen at i,
Figure 5, against which the corner of the "V"-shaped edges press and
thus make a tight joint. When adjusted for use the tub is held firmly
together by bolts F, F, which pass through holes shown in dotted lines
at e, and drop down into slots f, after which the nuts 9 are screwed up
firmly against the plates h. Instead of the hinges and bolts shown, the
tub may be put together with rods or bolts passing through the sides
outside of the ends. The rubber, Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9, consists of

page_text: Small
metallic end pieces G, G, grooved out to receive the edge of the sheet.
metal cover H, and furnished with sockets j for the roller bearings, and
brackets I and sockets k for the handle I'; K, K, are the rollers.
portions 1 of the cover H pass through the ends G, G, and are returned
and "clinched," as seen in Figures 8 and 9. The handle 11 is fastened
into the sockets k, k, by screws, as shown. The rollers have small bands
or rings m, m, of india-rubber or other suitable material let into them
near their ends to deaden the sound when the rubber and board are
brought directly in contact. The rubber thus consists of a rigid metallic
box in which are the bearings for the three fluted rollers K, K, K, fastened
together by the clips or pieces 1, 1, and the screws in the handle. The
handle I consists of a wooden core n, over and around which the metallic
covering o is placed and fastened by forcing its edges into a groove or
saw kerf in the under side of the core n, as seen in Figure 9. In Figures
10 and 11 is shown the swing frame in which is hung a rubber which is
substantially like the rubber just described. The cover H³ is struck up
out of one piece, and perforated to let the tops r of the end pieces G¹
and the rivets p pass through. Brackets L, L, containing sockets for
The rollers K' are hung in the
Between the tops of the end
the handle I" are rivetted to the cover.
end pieces, as in Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9.
pieces G¹ and the brackets L the lower ends of the swing posts M, M,
are received, and the rubber hung thereto by the bolts or screws 8, 8.
The swing posts pass loosely through the rock bar N, and have metallic
heads or caps put on their upper ends to prevent their coming out.
Upon the ends of the rock bar N metallic sleeves t, t, are fitted to form
journals for the said rock bar. Flanges project from these sleeves to
keep the rock bar in its bearings.
A device for attaching the swing frame, shown in Figures 10 and 11, to
a tub or washbox is shown in Figures 12 and 13. This device consists
of two forked side pieces O, O, connected or secured together by the
horizontal bars or rods a¹, a', which are rivetted or otherwise secured in
the said side pieces. One of the branches of the forked lower end of each
side piece is placed within and the other outside of the tub, and the
wedge b¹, which slides up and down on the pin c¹, being forced down
between the said piu and the side of the tub fastens the frame to the
tub. At the upper ends of the side pieces o, o, are the bearings d', d',
for the journals of the rock bar N, Figures 10 and 11.
To attach the rubber and swing frame to an ordinary washboard certain

page_text: devices shown in Figures 14, 15, 16, and 17, are used. In these Figures
P denotes the washboard, to the sides of which a combined socket and
'This
hinge for receiving the lower ends of the posts S is attached.
sucket and hinge piece is made up of two parts, a flat thin piece of
metal S', which has a slot f¹ in it in which slides the pin gl, and a piece
T, which contains a socket or opening in which the foot of the post is
received. These two parts are screwed or rivetted to the sides of the
washboard, the projecting portion of the piece S¹ entering the slot e¹
in the post, and the pin ġ passing through the slot f¹ in the piece S¹.
The shorter leg of the post bears against the top surface of the wash-
board. A thumb piece, shown in dotted lines at U, may be attached to
each post to facilitate their withdrawal from the sockets, and to the top
of the posts are bearings for the journals of the rock bar N. The posts
S with the parts attached to them may be withdrawn from the sockets
and laid down, as shown in dotted lines, Figurel 4, to pack, or when not
in use.
In using my Invention the clothes may be spread upon any ordinary
washboard set in a tub containing sufficient suds, and the rubber,
Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9, rubbed or rolled repeatedly over the till they
are cleaned; or the swing frame and rubber, Figures 10 and 11, may
be attached either to the tub Figures 1, 2, and 3, or any other
convenient tub, by means of the frame, Figures 12 and 13, and a
washboard being inserted in the proper position the clothes may be
washed by swinging the rubber repeatedly over and in contact with
them; or the swing frame and rubber may be attached to a common
washboard by means of the devices shown in Figure 14, the washboard
inserted into a tub containing suds, and the clothes cleansed in the
same manner..

page_text: Fourth. The combination with the said rubber and swing frame of the
suspending or supporting frame, Figures 12 and 13, substantially as
described.
Fifth. The combination with the said rubber and swing frame of the
posts S, secured to the washboard P by means of the combined hinge
and socket S, T, or its equivalent, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Sixth. The combination with the rubbing rollers of the bands m,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Henry Hudson, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of February, in the
year of our Lord 1869.
CHARLES HENRY HUDSON. (L.S.)