US465446A

US465446A - Safety-line

Info

Publication number: US465446A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1891-12-22
Anticipated expiration: 1908-12-22

Description

(N ooooooo v Q 7 I. BERNAUER.

SAFETY LINE No.'465,446. PatentedDemZZ, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVO BERNAUER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SAFETY-LINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,446, dated December. 22, 1891.

Application filed March 20. 1891. Serial No. 385,761. (No model.)

fixed to the base-board or floor on the inside of the wall beneath the window-sill. v

The invention affords a sense of security to the person using it, and in case of the accidental loss of balance would prevent the user from falling.

The device may be. easily constructed and readily applied, and does not mar or deface the wood-work nor present unsightly-objects from the exterior of the windows, such as the rods, brackets, &c., now generally used.

The drawing shows the invention applied to use, the wall, window-sill, and the floor showing in sectional elevation.

In the drawing, A represents the safetyline, the end of which is preferably bifurcated. The safety-line may be of cord-age, leather, or stout webbing, and at one end it is divided into straps a, which are sewed or otherwise secured to an attaching-band B, having broad straps O D passed over the instep and ankle, respectively, and provided with buckles c, or other fastening means. The line may be made detachable from the band B in any convenient way, so that in moving about from one window to'another, or from one room to another, the line may be detached Without removing the band B from the foot. One end of the line is made fast to an I-bolt E, affixed by a corner-bracket F to the base-board G and floor H below the window-sill I.

In washing the windows ofupperstories the usual position of the person performing the work is to sit upon the Window-sill with the feet inside the room and with the face toward the window, the upper and lower sashes being moved up or down in order to bring the glass within reach. In this position there is little real'danger of falling; but there is always a sense of insecurity, which is removed by the use of this safety-line. The line may be readily detached from the wall without removing it from the foot, and so occupies but a short time in adjustment to the different windows where the work is being performed.

It will be observed that the line is secured at two points to the attaching-band D, and that these points are on opposite sides of the heel, 'so that in case of an accident the pull would be both upon the instep and upon the ankle from opposite sides of the heel, so that i if a person should be suspended by the line there would be no danger of breaking the limb. The line, however, is usually only of such length as to permit a very limited movement of the foot, and therefore it will be wellnigh impossible for the person using it, even in falling, to withdraw the feet through the window far enough to prevent recovery of balance. The line also serves as a fulcrum or brace against which the force is exerted in maintaining or recovering the balance and permits the user to lean back with both hands disengaged.

I claim A safety device for use in cleaning-Windows, comprising a line having an end thereof secured with an attachin g-band, having straps to secure it about the ankle and instep, re-

spectively, and its opposite end adapted to be made fast, substantially as described.

' IVO BERNAUER.

\Vitnesses:

N. M. BOND, E. L. HUBER.