US2499880A - Window washing device - Google Patents

Description

March 7, 19% A. c. RUGGIERO 2,499,88.

WINDOW WASHING DEVICE Filed Dec. 21, 1946 Fig.1.

MTJ'NVETOR he Quin 525;

. ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDOW WASHING DEVICE Anthony C. Ruggiero, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application December 21, 1946, Serial No. 717,704

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to window washing devices in general.

Among the objects of the present invention it is aimed to provide an improved window washing device, particularly suited for washing the outer rear faces of slidable window sashes, with which device the window cleaner is not required to face the window when cleaning the outer side thereof.

Particularly with vertically slidable window sashes, as extensively used in the tall buildings of New York city, it has been the convention for window cleaners employed to clean such windows, when required to clean the outer faces of the windows, to step on the window sill and either before or after starting the cleaning operation to fasten themselves to the outer sides of the building by safety belts and the like. While this con vention may be practicable for so-called professional window cleaners, the average housemaid who is required to clean the outer faces of windows in tall buildings, hotels, apartment houses and the like, gains access to the outer faces by devious awkward ways so hazardous that many,

if not most housemaids, refuse to take positions which require such duties. With this hazard in mind, the present invention aims to provide an apparatus which can with facility be manipulated either by a man or woman while the operator is standing, or in some cases even sitting, within the building, that is, while he or she is located on the inside of the window being cleaned.

More specifically, the invention contemplates the use of an apparatus having a pivotally mounted head to which may be expeditiously secured either wet or dry cleaning cloths, chamois sheets or the like, and an arrangement of levers which can be quickly secured in different configurations according to the portion of the window to be cleaned.

These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the present invention will appear from the subjoined detail description of specific embodiments thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective of a slidable window and of the apparatus constituting the present invention in position for use.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a section still further enlarged on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

In the embodiment shown, there is illustrated a conventional window frame I having two vertically slidable window sashes 2 and 3. The apparatus consists essentially of the detachable handle bars 4 and 5 forming a J-shape or quasi J- shape as shown secured to one another and to the bent arm or rod 6 which has hingedly connected thereto the outer arm or rod 1, which in turn is pivotally connected to the bifurcated bracket 3 secured to the rod or arm 9 which is pivotally connected to the block or bracket l0 slidably mounted on the arm or rod portion l l of the bent arm 6. The block I0 is yieldable relative to the arm H and is provided with a tie-screw or set screw l2 and nut l3 for deflecting the walls of the block Ill to frictionally engage the arm ll against movement when desired.

The free end of the rod 1 is pivotally connected to a head IS. The head I9 is provided with any suitable fastening means for attaching thereto cleaning material such as a wet or dry cloth, chamois sheet, or the like.

When the upper part of the window, such as the inner window 2 in the upper position is to be cleaned, then, as shown in Fig. 1, the bracket [0 is so fastened on the arm II that a decidedly large obtuse angle is formed between the arms I and 6. When the lower part of the inner window 2, moved into the lower position, is to be cleaned, then the bracket I0 is so fastened on the arm II that a decidedly small acute angle is formed be-. tween the arms 6 and l, and at least the handle portion 4 removed, if not both handle portions 4 and 5 removed, and either the handle portion 5 alone engaged or the handle portion 5 and the arm 6 engaged or the arm 6 alone engaged by the operator when manipulating the apparatus.

The block Ill preferably has slots 32 out therein at opposite ends of the opening 34 provided for receiving the arm portion II, and consequently when the arm portion II is positioned in the opening 34, and the nut I3 is tightened on the screw I2, the opposite walls of the block I!) will then be deflected frictionally to grip the arm portion ll. Preferably as shown, the arm 9 is provided with an enlarged portion 35, which is jourrlialled on the smooth shank portion of the screw The arms 6 and I are movable relative to one another being connected at their ends to the hinge 36.

Any suitable anchoring means for connecting the cloth to the head l9 may be provided so long as this anchoring means will firmly anchor the cloth in place while being used and so long as this anchoring means can be quickly and expeditiously operated both for anchoring a cloth, for removing a cloth and again anchoring a second cloth.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made to the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claim.

I claim:

The combination of a support for a window cleaning material parallel to and engaging the outer face of the window to be cleaned, a first straight 'ssupporting arm pivotally connected to said support and extending at an oblique angle to the face of the window to be cleaned, a second supporting arm pivotally connected to said first supporting arm and having a bend therein, a bracing arm pivotally connected at one end to said first supporting arm intermediate the ends thereof, a block slidably andpermanently mounted on said second supporting arm between said bend and the outer free end thereof and pivotally connected to the other end of said bracing arm, the bendforming a stop to determine :the outer- .most position ofthe block,and a set screw foririctionallly anchoring said block against movement .atapredeterminedangle of said supporting arms to one another, the free end of said second .arm extending to and beyond .the inner face of the to be cleaned.

ANTHONY C. RUGGIERO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 322,070 Rutan July 14, 1885 1,234,441 Boyden July 24, 1917 1,235,447 Di Giovanni July 31, 1917 1,4161817 aGreelish May 23, 1922 1,841,835 McHugh Jan. 19, 1932 2,002,633 Greene May 28, 1935 2,032,498 Pearson Mar. 3, 1936 2,168,121 French Aug. 1, 1939 ..2,18.7 ,670 .Suddarth, .Jan. 16, 1940 2,313,367 Simor ,Mar. ,9, 1943 "FOREIGN EPATENIS .TNumber Country Date 5,837 .Denmark J.uly.27, 1903

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