Improvements in Safety Appliances for Windows, Applicable for Use in Cleaning, Repairing, and other Purposes in Connection.
Year: 1889

page_text: Improvements in Safety Appliances for Windows, Applicable for
Use in Cleaning, Repairing, and other Purposes in Connection.
therewith.
I, CHARLES BRAWN, of 124 Kings Road, Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex,
Clothier, 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 :-
The object of my invention is to prevent all possibility of persons engaged in
cleaning or repairing windows from falling out or down from the window upon
which they are at work.
It consists essentially in the use of a belt, strap, rope or chain to be secured round
the waist of the person using same, and to each side of which, at points towards the
part which will come at the back of such person, side straps, ropes or chains are
secured, such straps being provided with means for, connecting the outer end, of
each to a suitable fixed point on each side of the window. Any suitable means may
be employed for. effecting such connection, but I prefer to use that hereinafter
described.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a window with a person sented on the sill or ledge,
and in the act of cleaning same, such person wearing the safety appliance consti-
tuting my invention.
Fig. 2 is a view of the safety appliance detached from the person.
_i
Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the means I prefer to employ for effecting, the
connection between the side straps and the sides of the window, and
Fig. 4 is a transverse section of same showing the position it occupies, when let
into the reveal of the window.
The waist belt A is provided with an ordinary buckle to enable same to be adjusted
to and secured round the waist of the wearer, and at each side of same a strap B is
secured. The end of each strap B is provided. with any suitable-means-for enabling
same to be connected to the side of the window, as shown in Fig. 1. For this purpose
the side straps B may be provided with a hook, to take into a ring, secured on each
side of the window; or the ring may be on the straps and the hook on each side of

page_text: the window. I however prefer to employ a plate C (as shown in Figs 3 and 4)
which I let into the reveal D on each side of the window, a space E being formed in
the reveal behind the part which the plate occupies when in position. The plate is
permanently secured in its position in the reveal by screws or other suitable means.
In the plate a longitudinal slot F is formed, and has an enlargement or cross slot F¹
at its upper end. The side straps B are each provided with a plate or part G, the
end of which terminates in a head G¹, of greater width than the shank connecting
same with the part of plate G through which strap B passes, or to which it is
secured. The width of head G¹ is such as to permit it to pass freely through the
cross slot or enlargement F in plate C, when the shank of plate G will engage
and pass down slot F, thus retaining the head G-of such plate within the space E
behind plate C. The side straps B will thus be connected to the sides of the window,
and can only be detached by sliding plate G upwards until its head G¹ arrives in
position opposite the cross slot F in plate C, when it can readily be removed by an
outward movement. I prefer to make the cross slot F" on the slant with regard to
longitudinal slot F, so that it will be practically impossible -for-plate-G-when-
inserted therein to ride such slot with its head G¹ in the position requisite to
withdraw same, whereby all chance of accidental disengagement is avoided. The
lower part of space E in the reveal D preferably slants downwards, and an opening C¹²
formed at the bottom of plate C, so that any wet or snow finding its way through
the slot F, F, in such plate, will run down towards the opening and escape, thus
preventing the rusting of such plate. I may also provide a cover H pivotted to the
plate C and serving to cover the slot F, F, when not in use, so as to prevent the
entrance of wet, snow, or dust through such slot. The cover may further act as an
additional security against the accidental disengagement of head G¹ of plate G, from
slot F, as by turning the cover H after the head G' has been inserted, such cover will
-be brought partly over-slot F1, and so prevent head G- coming-opposite such
slot.
The slot or enlargement F¹ may be of any other form than that shown, the head Gi
of plate G being shaped to suit same.
The straps B are made sufficiently long and their point of attachment to the sides
of the window is arranged-sufficiently high to enable the person using the attachment
to sit on the sill or to stand thereon if requisite, and in either case the straps B
will effectually remove all danger of the person falling down from the window, as in
the case of a slip or a backward fall such straps will suspend or support the person
until they can regain the sill, or are lifted in through the window.
In order to enable the side straps B to be adjusted to suit windows of different
heights, I prefer to make plate G with a loop at its inner end and pass the end of such
strap through the loop, and then secure same to the upper bar of a sliding buckle I,
which has three bars, the strap being threaded through the buckle so that it passes
under the top bar, then over the middle bar, and under the bottom bar again. When
the strap B is connected to the window frame by plate G, the buckle 1 can be pulled
downwards or pushed upwards, according to whether it is desired to shorten or lengthen
same, which it will effect by causing strap B to work through the loop of plate G.
The friction of the strap B upon the bars of buckle I will prevent the strap shifting
accidentally when there is any pull on same.
The same form of buckle for adjusting the length of the side straps B may be
employed with any other means of securing such straps to the window.
The plates C let into the window reveals might in case of necessity also serve as
means for suspending any suitable form of fire escape from the window to which
they are applied.
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 1.
claim is
1. An improved safety appliance for use in cleaning or repairing windows, consisting
in a waist belt, strap, rope or chain to be secured to the person, and from which side

page_text: straps, ropes or chains extend and are provided with means for securing their free
ends to the sides of the window, substantially as specified.
2. The improved means for securing the straps B to the side of a window, consisting
of plate G fitted to the strap, and having a head G' to engage a slot F, F', formed in
plate C, which is secured in a suitable position at the side of the window, substantially
as specified.
3. The general construction and arrangement of plate C, substantially as specified
and shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.
4. The improved safety appliance for use in cleaning or repairing windows, con-
structed and operating substantially as specified.
Dated this 21st day of January 1889.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.