An Improved Tool for Use in Domestic Washing.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 25th July, 1894-Accepted, 25th Aug., 1894
TTIVATION.
An Improved Tool for Use in Domestic Washing.
I BERNHARD GREVE of the Firm of Rhenanian Association for Metal Industry,
Greve, Herzberg and Co., of 55 Pfälzerstrasse, Cologne in the Empire of Germany,
Manufacturer, 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 consists in a hand tool or device sometimes termed a "dolly" for
use in domestic washing.
The characteristic feature of this device substantially consists in the means
whereby air existing in the funnel shaped bottom part of the device is utilized,
which air together with the water or washing lye, on the lowering as well as on the
lifting of the device is forced or sucked through the clothing or the like that is
being washed, whereby the dirt adhering to the latter is more easily dissolved or
removed. The device therefore, since the cleaning process goes on both during
the lifting and lowering movements, is of a double acting nature.
In order to increase the useful effect of the apparatus, the funnel is provided on
its inner wall with small likewise funnel shaped projections serving to support and
add to the effect of the large funnel.
By use of this device the clothes are not subject to injury, and furthermore
cleansing takes place in a short time and without undue exertion on the part of the
person actuating the device.
This device is illustrated in the annexed drawing in which Fig. 1 is a vertical
section and Fig. 2 a plan view from below.
The funnel shaped bottom part a which is open beneath and closed above, has its
lower rim bent around a strong wire so that damaging of the clothes to be cleaned
will not occur from any sharpness of edge.
The top of the funnel runs out into a cylindrical prolongation 6 by means of
which the funnel fixed to a handle d usually provided at its upper end with a
cross handle c.
Within the funnel a a plurality of projections a' are provided which are likewise
of a substantially conical form and which are fixed either all at the same height
or at different heights above the lower rim of the main funnel a. On pressing the
apparatus down upon the clothes in the wash tub the air existing in the funnel
becomes compressed and tends to force its way out under pressure. Outlet
can however only be obtained by the air penetrating the fabric of the clothes,
thus carrying with it the water or lye and necessarily dissolving or carrying
with it the adhering particles of dirt and causing a cleansing of the clothes without
the least damage thereto.
The device is subsequently drawn up gently thus producing a suction which
likewise acts so as to produce a further cleansing effect.
With this device the washing may be suitably conducted as follows
The dry clothes are in the usual manner smeared with soap and then soaked in
cold water for one day. They are thereupon wrung and spread out and loosely
piled up in a washing tub so that the latter is about one half filled. The
contents are then sprinkled with a hot soap-lye until the lather completely covers
the clothes and rises to an inch or two above the level of the clothes.
The device above described is then placed vertically in the tub and at a
moderate pressure and at a convenient unfatiguing rate of speed gently lowered
nto and raised out of the lye. In this manner the clothes are uniformly treated
for about 10 to 15 minutes all over the surface of the tub. During this time

page_text: the clothes are turned over by hand 3 to 4 times, so that the lower pieces may
equally be exposed to the action of the device. Where it is customary to boil
the clothes, this should now be done. Very favourable results will be obtained
where the device is again used for a little while during the boiling.
The device provides a most suitable and efficient means of treating woollen
clothing; all other kinds of washing clothes may likewise be cleansed in a very
convenient and economical manner and in the shortest possible time.
Instead of being actuated by hand the apparatus may also be moved up and
down by mechanical means, in which case a suitable arrangement would have to
be provided so that the apparatus may not stop at one place but be passed
about in the tub. The device may also be arranged so as to be actuated like
a hammer.
The bottom part a may have other forms in place of the conical shape
illustrated, but in any case it must be closed at its top and open below.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An improved device for use in cleansing washing clothes, consisting of a
hollow body a open below and closed above, which is provided with a suitable
handle so that it may be, either by hand or mechanically, operated in reciprocating
up and down motion, over the washing clothes placed with lye in a suitable tub,
for the purpose of forcing and drawing the air existing in the hollow space at the
foot of said device together with the lye through the fabric of the clothes for
cleansing the same substantially as described.
2. The device herein described having a hollow foot open below and closed above
and small substantially conical projections open below and closed above and
arranged inside of the said foot for the purpose of increasing the operative effect
of the device substantially as described.
Deted this 25th day of July 1894
R. HADDAN,
Of the Firm of Herbert Haddan & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.