An Improved Window Cleaner.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 7th Jan., 1893
An Improved Window Cleaner.
We, FÜRCHTEGOTT NAEF of 35 Johannvorstadt and ROBERT SCHILLING of
47 Dornacherstrasse, Basle, in the Republic of Switzerland, 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 :-
Our invention relates to an improved window cleaner.
According to our invention we secure two strips of india rubber at different
angles to a plate of wood or cross piece connected with a stick or handle, so that
the pieces of india rubber project dis-similarly from the cross piece in such a way,
that one of them (the one which projects most) may be pressed against the window
pane which is to be cleaned and which has been previously moistened with a wet
sponge and the pane be then thoroughly cleaned by a downward movement of the
cleaner since whilst this movement is being executed the strip of india rubber
which projects most from the wood plate or cross piece is supported by the strip of
india rubber which projects least.
The angular position of the strip of india rubber which projects most from the
wood plate or cross piece may further be ensured by a narrow metal plate secured
to the wood plate or cross piece of the cleaner, which plate extends over the groove
of the wooden cross piece in which this strip of india rubber is inserted.
-
To enable our invention to be fully understood we will describe how it can be
carried into effect by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which :-
Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a window cleaner constructed according to our
invention.
Figure 2 is a front elevation, and
Figure 3 is a cross section of the same.
Figure 4 is an elevation illustrating the use of the cleaner.
In the head piece a which consists of a plate or cross piece of wood are two
grooves cut in directions of different obliquity and into these grooves the two
strips b and c of india rubber are glued. Of the two strips of india rubber c is
narrower than 6 and projects less than the latter from the front surface of the head
piece. The broader and more obliquely directed strip 6 overlaps the strip c so that
it can be supported by the inner free edge of the latter strip.
A suitable stick or handle is connected with the head piece a.
In the drawing a
metal ferrule e is shewn screwed onto the head piece a and a wooden stick & secured
in it.
To the front side of the head piece a is nailed or screwed a metal plate h, and the
upper edge of this plate, at a short distance from the front-surface of the head
piece a extends over the groove of the head piece in which the india rubber strip b
is fastened, so that the angular position of the india rubber strip b is thereby
ensured.
To make use of our window cleaner the pane f to be cleaned is first moistened
with a wet sponge, the window cleaner is then held against the wetted surface of
the pane in such a way that the india rubber strip b presses against this surface,
and the cleaner is then drawn downwards along the pane as indicated by the arrow
in Figure 4. By this motion all dirt is removed from the pane since the dirt
adheres to the india rubber strip and the pane is rendered brilliantly clean. The
dirt which adheres to the india rubber strip 6 can be removed by means of a towel
or rag. Our improved window cleaner is especially suitable for cleaning shop
windows.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
A-
1. A window cleaner consisting essentially of two strips of india rubber secured
at different angles to a head piece provided with a stick or handle, one of the two
strips of india rubber projecting more than the other from the head piece so that
when cleaning a window pane the india rubber strip which projects the most is
pressed against the surface of the pane and is supported by the upper edge of the
other strip, the angular position of the first strip of india rubber being ensured by a
metal plate secured to the head piece substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The improved window cleaner herein before described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawing.
Dated this 4th dow of Novembar 1802
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants.