Gertrude E. Downing and William P. Desjardin were granted U.S. Patent No. 3,715,772 on February 13, 1973, for a “Reciprocating Corner and Baseboard Cleaning Auxiliary Attachment for Rotary Floor Treatment Machines.” This innovative device was designed to enhance standard rotary floor treatment machines by enabling them to clean corners and baseboards more effectively.?107 JAMZ

Traditional rotary floor machines often struggled with cleaning tight corners and baseboards due to their circular design. The attachment developed by Downing and Desjardin addressed this limitation by converting the machine’s rotary motion into a reciprocating action. This allowed a specially designed rubbing element to move back and forth, effectively reaching into corners and along baseboards. The rubbing element featured a wedge-shaped front end to fit into right-angle corners and included side surfaces equipped with bristles or pads to clean adjacent wall areas. ?Google Patents

The attachment was designed for versatility, incorporating spacer rings and coupling members that allowed it to be adapted for use with various models of rotary floor machines. This adaptability ensured that the attachment could be easily integrated with existing equipment, providing an economical solution for enhanced cleaning capabilities without the need for entirely new machines. ?Google Patents

The invention by Downing and Desjardin exemplifies the significant contributions of African American inventors in addressing practical challenges and improving everyday equipment. Their work not only advanced cleaning technology but also highlighted the importance of innovation in enhancing the functionality of existing tools.