Improvements in and relating to Portable Washing Boards.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd June, 1891-Accented, 4th July, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Portable Washing Boards.
I, JAMES TAYLOR SARGENT, of 20 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement in writing, that is to say :-
This invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved construction
and arrangement and combination of the parts of a portable hand washing board or
appliance and its fittings which will be more simple and efficient than those
heretofore in use.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, in which
Figure 1 represents an elevation of one side of the improved construction of
washing board A to A3 with duplex rubbing plate surfaces a b; and
Figure 2. is a sectional edge view at right angles to Figure 1. While
Figures 3 and 4 represent front and edge sections respectively of a part of the
opposite metal rubbing surfaces ab of the board A to a large scale, to show the
construction more clearly.
Referring to these drawings, the improved washing board is formed of two side
wooden frames A, A, bound together by the upper and lower end frames A, A";
and an intermediate bar A². The corrugated metal rubbing plates a, b, are secured
by their ends in and between the bars A, A, with longitudinal bars or a board at B,
either plain or corrugated between them to support and strengthen these plates,
with their outer rubbing surfaces nearly level with or a little below the outer
surfaces of the frame part A, A', A². These rubbing plates are embossed to an
improved shape by being passed through embossing rollers or between embossing
dies, the one a with a more roughened surface, with zigzag indentations at a², of
the projecting rubbing ridges of the plate a as seen particularly in front and
edge view in Figure 3, to give a greater frictional action or effect on the clothes,
than is given by the back plate shown in Figure 4. This corrugated plate
has only slightly flattened rubbing ridges on the outer ridge surfaces, with
narrow indentations 2 in these to give a less frictional rubbing action than is given
by the other plate a. In some cases both surfaces of these plates a, b, may be
embossed similarly as a single plate and be inserted in the centre between the two
bars A, A, in which case the corrugations would be made strong enough for the
rubbing action on either side and require no strengthening board B as shown in
Figure 2.
At the upper part of the board A, between the pressing down bar A', and the
bar A², a central flat bar A³ is secured, leaving a recess on opposite sides at A
for retaining and returning the soapy water which passes up above the bar A², and
rubbing plates a, b, as the clothes are brought up in the rubbing action and
returning this water through openings at c, c'.
A further improvement consists in hinging a transverse portable board protector d
by pivots at its ends, entering journal holes d in the upper ends of the said
frames A, or in metal ferrules or bushes in said frame, close under the top bar. A',
so that when this board d is turned up it rests against this bar A' as a stop in its
vertical position and protects or prevents the soapy water and clothes from wetting
the person holding down the washing board A. while rubbing the clothes, as shown
in this position in Figures 1 and 2. The upper edge of the board d. is rounded,
with a slight projection and lower towards the sides at d³ to throw down the water,
and give, freedom of action for the person's arms and hands in rubbing. This
board d'is mounted with a spiral spring , on its one journal end, which keeps the

page_text: board in its vertical position and gives it resilient power to yield to the action of
the person and return to its vertical acting position, but also gives it a lateral
motion in the direction of its length which allows it to be fixed when folded down
into the recess A, as dotted in on the left side in Figures 1 and 2. A check a¹¹
is provided close to the spring to enable the board d to be removed, by pressing
both spring and board to the right, and removing the left hand journal dout of-its
recess d, and mounting it in the recess d, A, on the other side of the centre
bar A3, when using this rubbing side of the board. The check d in the board d,
and groove in the side frame A. on the left hand side allows of the lateral action of
the board for retaining it in its folded down position, when the board is not
required for use. Instead of this check d for retaining the board d in its folded
down position, as described, a swivelling pin may be used as dotted in at d at onc
side of the frame A. Figure 1A shows the new protector board d in front view
as detached from the washing board A to A³ to show the spiral retaining spring d
more clearly, and which performs both the vertical or resilient action and locking
lateral action in the direction of its length; and also shows the check d" for
removing and inserting the protecting board d from and into its frame. Figure 1B
shows an arrangement in which a blade spring do is mounted in a groove in the
outer edge of one of the side frames A, for giving the lateral action (in addition to
the spiral spring d, which in this case only gives the vertical resilient action to
the board d) for retaining the board in its place by a pin in the upper free end of
spring pressing in the journal of the board d. It will be understood that other
equivalent arrangements of springs may be used for removing and retaining this
protector board d in position as described. Such as a single blade spring fitted on
the inside of one of the side frames A, which would press the one journal of the
protector board d up into a segmental journal recess or bush in the side frame when
inserted, by having its journal at the opposite end first inserted, and this end
pushed up over the spring into its recess journal. This blade spring might be made
of a twisted form to have a spring action also in the direction of the length of the
protector to keep it into its journal bearings at the opposite end which in this case
would preferably have a vertical check in it to retain the protector rigidly in the
vertical operative position, or allow it to be folded down and retained as already
described, or be removed and inserted on the opposite side of the board; or a small
spiral spring might be inserted in the inner end of the recess or bush bearing for
giving the lateral motion in the direction of its length, and only use the blade
spring for retaining the last inserted journal in its segmental or recessed bearing.
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
First. The construction or arrangement and combination of the parts of a hand
washing board with corrugated metal roughened and indented rubbing surfaces and
portable transverse protecting board at top, substantially as herein described, in
reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Second. In a hand washing board, tlie method of forming and fitting a portable
or detachable protector, substantially as set forth.
Third. In a hand washing board, the combination and use of a portable or
detachable transverse projecting board or protector with a spring or springs, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein described, in reference to and by way of
application shown at d to in the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. In a hand washing board, the combination and use of the herein described
corrugated metal plates with the improved embossed and indented surfaces,
substantially as set forth.
Dated the 2nd Tune 1901
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.