US574698A

US574698A - Window-cleaning platform

Info

Publication number: US574698A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1897-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 1914-01-05

Description

(No Model.) 3 SheetsShe )et 1.

H. G. WILMERLING. WINDOW CLEANING PLATFORM.

Patentd Jan. 5, 1897.

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WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS.

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(No Model.) a SheetsSheet 2. H. Gr. WILMERLING. WINDOW'GLEANING PLATFORML Patented Jan. .5, 1897.

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Patented Jan. 5, 1897.

H. G. WILMERLING. WINDOW CLEANING PLATFORM.

(No Model.)

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WITNESSES.

. the following is a full, clear,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY G. W'ILMERLING, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

WINDOW-CLEANING PLATFORM.

SIEECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 574,698, dated January 5, 1897.

7 Application filed April 4, 1896. Serial No. 586,252. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY G. WILMERLING, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Window-Oleaning Platform, of which and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a window-cleaning platform or chair particularly adapted to facilitate the work and provide a safe means for cleaning the outside of windows in tall buildings, the platform being so constructed that a person'may safely stand thereon, and whereby the platform when not in use may be folded to occupy but a minimum of space and in such manner that it may be readily transported from place to place.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and secure locking device, whereby the platform or chair may be firmly secured to a window-sill in an expeditious and convenient manner.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indi cate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a central section through the improved platform or chair. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view. Fig. 4: is a detail front elevation of a socket-plate used in connection with the plat form or chair. Fig. 5 is a vertical section through a window-sill, illustrating the application thereto of a slightly-modified form of socket-plate in which a bolt is employed, the said View likewise illustrating a portion of the locking-arm of the chair or platform, as secured by the said bolt in the said plate. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the plate illustrated in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a vertical section through the improved platform or chair, illustrating a slight modification in its construction and Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical section through a window-sill and the applied keeper, illustrating the inner end of the locking-bar in position on the sill and in the keeper.

In carrying out the invention a platform A is provided, which is preferably made of sheet metal, and at the front portion of the said platform a yoke 10 is constructed, adapted for engagement with the outer face of a windowsill B. The said yoke is braced near each end by brackets 11, (shown in Fig. 2,) which extend from the aforesaid yoke rearward and are suitably secured to the platform A. At the central portion of the platform a center brace 12 is provided, as shown in Fig. 1, and this 'central brace at its rear end is attached to a strap 14;, which is secured longitudinally to the under face of the platform, as shown in Fig. 3, wherein the central brace 12 is broken away adjacent to the aforesaid strap, and the central brace is preferably supported by an auxiliary yoke-like brace 13, attached to it and to the platform, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

At each side of the center of the yoke 10 a brace 15 is secured to the said yoke and to the platform, and the two braces are made to converge at their upper ends, being connected by a cross-bar 16 near their upper ends, forming a slideway 17 between the cross-bar 16 and the platform A. The platform is provided with a guard or a railing which consists of front vertical bars 18, preferably made of tubing, as, for example, gas-pipe, and a bottom bar 19, connecting the side bars and made of the same material, and ordinarily the connection be tween the bottom or base bar 19 and the upright bars 18 is effected through the medium of elbow-fittings or their equivalents.

At the central portion of the base-bar 19 a socket 201s formed, which is interiorly threaded to receive a set-screw 21 or its equivalent, and an opening is made in the platform A, through which the said set-screw may be passed, as illustrated in Fig. 1. In completin g the guard or railing above referred to upright rear bars 22 are provided, likewise preferably made of tubing, and these rear bars at their lower ends are connected by a similar base-bar 22, as shown in Fig. 1, and the forward brace-bar 19 of the railing or guard is journaled upon the platform through the medium of boxes 23, suitably constructed, while other boxes, 24, are attached to the platform and adapted to journal the rear basebar 22 of the aforesaid railing.

At the upper end of each of the forward uprights 18 an L-fitting 25 is preferably secured, facing outwardly or in direction of the sides of the said guard or railing, and in each of the said elbows a nipple 26 is secured, and an elbow 27 is attached to the outer end of each of the aforesaid nipples, which elbows receive horizontal bars 28, forming the upper sideportions of the railing; and owing to this construction the side portions of the railing extend laterally beyond the front and the rear I uprights 18 and 22.

An upper back bar is connected with the rear ends of the side bars 28 through the medium of suitable elbows or their equivalents, the rear uprights 22 being pivotally connected with the rear upper bar 20 by a T-fitting or the equivalent of the same. \Vhen the uprights 18 and are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, forming a support or guard for the body of the person standing on the platform A, the said guard or railing is maintained in its operative position through the medium of tie-rods 30, which are preferably pivoted upon the base 10 of the front standards 1S, and terminate at their upper ends in hooks 30", adapted to be passed over the upper rear bar 2.) of the aforesaid railing, as shown also in Figs. 1 and 2.

A keeper-plate G is secured to the inner face of the sill B, the said keeper-plate being embedded in the said sill, as shown in Figs. 1 and S, and, as shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 8, the said plate is provided with a longitudinal opening 31, which leads into a chamber 32, formed at the back of the aforesaid plate; but if in practice it is found advisable the form of keeper-plate shown in Figs. 1 and 4 may be dispensed with and the form of keeperplate 0 (illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6) may be substituted, and in this latter form of keeperplate a chamber is formed near its upper end, communicating directly with the front of the said plate, and below the said chamber a spring-controlled bolt 32L is located, which normally extends upward through the said chamber 33, but is provided with a knob or handle 35, whereby the bolt may be carried downward entirely out of the chamber 33, an opening 36 establishing communication with the chamber 33 from the front of the keeper-plate C, as best shown in Fig. 5.

A locking-bar D is used in connection with the keeper-plate C and the platform A. The said locking-bar, when the keeper-plate C is used, is provided at its inner end with a downwardly-extending member 37, an inwardlyextending member 38, and a downwardly-extending in ember 39 at the end of the inwardlyextending member 38, forming an angular bight at the lower end of the upper vertical member of the locking-bar, and the said bight is made to enter the chamber in the keeperplate C, as shown particularlyin Fig. 1, while the body of the locking-bar is passed through the front guide-opening 17 below the platform and then cc through the strap 14. (Shown in Figs. 1 and 3.) The upper face of the strap 14 is provided with teeth 39 ,which are adapted to enter depressions 40, made in the locki ugbar, and at the central rear portion of the platform an opening 41 is made, through which the lower curved portion of an eccentrically-pivoted lever 42 enters, and after the lockingbar has been fastened to the sill and attached to the platform A, as above described, the locking-lever 42 is pressed clownward, depressing the rear or outer end of the locking-bar D and forcing the teeth of the strap 14 into the depressions in the locking-bar, thus preventing the platform from moving outwardly or inwardly, and as an additional security the set-screw 21 is manipulated in a manner to engage with the upper face of the locking-bar D and bind the said locking-bar fast to the crossbar 16, connecting the front braces of the yoke 10, which yoke will be substantially in engagement with the outer face of the window-sill B. \Vhen, however, the keeperplate 0 is employed, the lower vertical member 32 of the lockingba-r D is omitted, and in its horizontal member 38 an opening 43 is formed, adapted to receive the bolt 34c of the said modified form of the keeper-plate. \Vhen the chair or platform is not in use, after the chair or platform has been disconnected from the window-sill, or even before such separation has been accomplished, by releasing the railing or guard from the locking braces or hooks 30 the members of the guard or railing will fold upon themselves substantially parallel with and upon the platform A, enabling the device to be stored in a small compass and readily transported from place to place.

lVhere the building-walls are of the same thickness, as in frame buildings, the locklever 42 and the set-screw 21 may be dispensed with. 111 this event the locking-bar D is rigidly fastened to the platform, as shown in Fig. 7, and the central brace 12 is secured at its outer end to said locking-bar or to other convenient support.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- I 1. In a platform or chair for windows and like openings, a platform, a locking-bar connected with the platform, having its inner end extended beyond said platform and of angular construction, and a keeper in the nature of a socket adapted for attachment to a window-sill, having its interior construetion arranged to receive in looking embrace, the angular terminal of the locking-bar, sub stantially as shown and described.

2. In a platform or chair for windows and like openings, a platform, a collapsible railing connected with said platform, a locking bar removably connected with the platform, locking devices adapted to attach the platform to the locking-bar, and means, substan tially as described, for attaching the lockingbar to a support adjacent to the window or opening at which the chair or plat-form is to be used, as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a window-cleaning chair or platform, a platform, a pivotally-connected railing pivotally and collapsibly connected with the said platform, a yoke attached to the platform, adapted for engagement with the outer face of the window-sill, a locking-bar held to slide between the yoke and the platform, the said locking-bar being provided with a serrated surface, a slideway through which the locking-bar passes, also having a serrated face for engagement with the serrated surface of the locking-bar, the forward end of the lock ing-bar being adapted to enter a socket in a window-sill, and a lock-lever carried by the platform adapted for engagement with the locking-bar and to force the serrations of the said bar into engagement with the serrations of the slideway through which it passes, as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a window-cleaning chair or platform, a platform, a pivotally-connected railing pivotally and collapsibly connected with the said platform, ayoke attached to the platform, adapted for engagement with the outer face of the Window-sill, a locking-bar held to slide between the yoke and the platform, the said locking-bar being provided with a serrated surface, a slideway through which the lock-' ing-bar passes, also having a serrated face for engagement with the serrated surface of the locking-bar, the forward end of the locking-bar being adapted to enter a socket in a window-sill, a lock-lever carried by the platform, adapted for engagement with the lockin g-bar and to force theserrations of the said bar into engagement with the serrations of the slideway through which it passes, and a set-screw passed through the platform and adapted for engagement with the forward or locking portion of the locking-bar, being adapted to hold the said bar in engagement with the said yoke, and adjustable braces for the railing, as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a window-cleaning chair or platform, the combination, with a keeper-plate adapted for attachment to a window-sill, a platform provided with an extension from its under face adapted for engagement with the outer face of the aforesaid sill, a strap attached to th e under central portion of the platform,having a serrated upper face, and a lockin g-bar adapted to enter at its inner end the keeper-plate, the

said locking-bar being passed between the in- HENRY G. WILMERLING. lVitnesses:

J FRED. AOKER, J NO. M. BITTER.