An Improved Washing Machine.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 29th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 29th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1896
I, CHARLES KREUTZIGER, Manufacturer, of Waterloo, Province of Ontario,
Canada, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The washing machine of this invention comprises a semicircular wash tub or box,
a cover hinged to the tub or box, a semicircular upper wash board fixed to the
underside of the cover and capable of being lifted up therewith out of the tub
and a lower wash board pivotted to oscillate within the tub and moveable up
and down towards or away from the upper fixed wash board and caused to
oscillate by means of lever mechanism so as to rub, squeeze, and swing the
articles to be washed. The dirt removed from the clothes falls through openings
in the lower wash board and accumulates in the lower portion of the tub from
which it may be removed through an aperture.
Dated this 29th day of May 1895.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
An Improved Washing Machine.
I, CHARLES KREUTZIGER, Manufacturer, of Waterloo Province of Ontario,
Canada, 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 washing machines wherein a semicircular upper rub
board is suspended within the wash tub and a similar shaped lower wash board of
somewhat larger radius is also suspended within the wash tub and adapted to be
oscillated beneath the upper board to rub the clothes between them, the upper
board being removable to allow the clothes to be placed in the tub or to be
removed therefrom when desired.
The invention consists primarily in a wash tub having a cover fastened to it by
hinges, and to its underside attached the upper rub board, by which means the
latter may be thrown back to allow articles to be put in and taken out of the
lower wash board but which will also keep the water from splashing out when in
use will keep the water in a warmer state for a greater length of time than
without a cover and also keep the steam and vapors from the face of the operator.
The invention also consists in means for suspending the lower wash board within
the tub for oscillating the same and for raising and lowering the lower rub board
to any required extent for squeezing the clothes and rubbing them with a graduated
pressure, and with the same movement to effect both of said operations. This is
accomplished by suspending an oscillating lower rub board, by arms having guide
slots to receive fixed pivots upon the wash tub, from rocking handle bars supported
upon oscillating bars pirotted to the wash tub and to the said rocking handle, to
be substantially parallel to the suspension arms of the lower rub board.
In the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1 is a side sectional elevation of a machine embodying my invention.

page_text: Fig. 2 is a sectional end elevation thereof in line 2-2 of Fig. 1.
The wash tub A of the machine comprises side pieces A¹ supported on legs A³,
horizontal end ledges A, end cross pieces A* and semicircular sheet metal
bottom A. A discharge aperture a and spout a¹ at the bottom of the tub and in
the central line thereof provides means for emptying the water from the tub.
A lower swinging washboard B having semicircular sides D connected by
parallel bars C arranged to provide open spaces S between them, is suspended
by metal arms E having upright slots e therein which receive pivot bolts F secured
to and projecting inwardly from the tub A and allow the said lower wash board to
be oscillated and also raised and lowered by means of rocking handle armis J
connected by cross bar H and pivotted to the upper ends of said wash board
arms E at K.
The rocking handle arms J are pivotally supported upon the upper oscillating
ends of bracket bars L pivotted at M to the cover N of the wash tub uprightly
and substantially parallel to the wash board arms E.
The cover N is hinged to the top end ledge A* of the tub at O and is securely
connected to semicircular sides P having triangular cross bars Q suspended from
the under side of the said cover N to project into the tub between the sides D of
the lower oscillating wash board B thus allowing the latter to swing or oscillate
freely beneath and around the upper wash board P, to hold the clothes between
them, and rub, squeeze, and pound the clothes, while allowing a circulation or vent
for the steam, air, water, and suds at all sides.
The method of suspending the wash boards and manipulating the handles
constitute the essential features of the invention. By bearing down upon the
handle cross bar H the lower movable wash board B is raised to bring the clothes
with any required pressure to bear against the under side of the upper fixed wash
board and by oscillating the handles at the same time, the rubbing action or move-
ment of the arms closely resembles that exerted upon the ordinary wash board in
hand work and a variable action may thus be exerted upon the clothes with the
greatest ease and freedom of movement. When the dirt has been removed from
the clothes it will fall through the openings between the bars of the lower wash
board and accumulate in the lower portion of the tub whence it may be removed
through the aperture a in the side of the tub. As the articles to be washed are
raised from the bottom and fully surrounded by water, it both rubs, squeezes and
swings the articles in the water at one and the same time and allows the dirt to
settle below the articles.
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:
1. A washing machine comprising a tub or box, a cover hinged to the tub or
box, a semicircular upper wash board fixed to the underside of the cover to be
lifted up therewith, and a lower wash board pivotted to oscillate within the tub and
be lifted therefrom upon its pivots when the cover is raised, substantially as
described and shewn.
2. A washing machine comprising a tub or box, a semicircular upper wash board
suspended thereon, and a semicircular oscillating wash board supported by handle
arms J, bracket bars L pivotted to the tub and to the handle arms to allow the
said lower wash board to be raised by bearing upon the handle bar, and oscillated
by reciprocating the same, substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 29th day of February 1006
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.