AU2004100645A4 - A Safety Method and Apparatus for use with Multi-Storey Buildings - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 INNOVATION PATENT SPECIFICATION Name of Applicant Address for Service: Invention Title: Ezekiel Choong CULLEN CO Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 239 George Street Brisbane Qld 4000 Australia A Safety Method and Apparatus for use with Multi-Storey Buildings This invention is described in the following statement: The present invention relates generally to safety methods and apparatus for buildings and, in particular, to safety methods and apparatus which enable persons who are trapped in an upper storey of a multi-storey building to escape from the building in the event of an emergency.

Although the invention will be described with particular reference to multistorey buildings it will be appreciated that the invention may be used with other structures such as houses, bridges, and elevated railways such as mono-rails, and other high places such as cliffs and the like.

Modem multi-storey buildings, particularly high-rise buildings, usually have elevators and/or escalators which provide people with a ready means of travelling to and from the upper storeys of such structures. The buildings are also usually provided with one or more staircases which extend from the lowermost levels of the buildings to the uppermost levels. Although staircases are not as convenient to use as elevators or escalators, they do provide people with a reliable means of escaping from the upper storeys of a multi-storey building in the event of a fire or other emergency in the building and are not as susceptible to failure as elevators and escalators.

However, a problem with staircases of the aforementioned type is that the rate at which they enable people inside a multi-storey building to escape from the building during a fire or other emergency is relatively slow. It would therefore be desirable to provide multi-storey buildings with a means that enables the upper storey occupants of such buildings to escape quickly, safely, and in large numbers therefrom.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more of the deficiencies of the prior art mentioned above, or to provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a safety method for use with a building, the method comprising attaching a flexible sheet member relative to the building, the sheet member being operable between a non-use position where the sheet member is substantially folded, and a use position where the sheet member is at least partially extended from the building, the sheet member being configured to enable a person to jump from the building and onto the sheet member.

The flexible sheet member is preferably constructed from a non-tearable material and may be in the form of a net. The flexible member is also preferably fireproof or fire resistant. The flexible member is preferably rectangular in shape although other shapes may be used. Wheels may be secured to a free end of the flexible member. The wheels may be coupled to motors which are operable to rotate the wheels. The flexible member may have a climbing net which is able to hang therefrom so that people are able to climb off the flexible member. The flexible sheet member is preferably attached to cables which extend between the building and a support so that the sheet member is able to be drawn along the cables into an open position. A weight may be secured to the sheet member such that the weight is able to draw the sheet member along the cables. The support which the cables extend to may be another building or a support bar extending between a pair of upstanding posts.

Preferably, the flexible sheet member is wound around a rotatable spool which is attached relative to the building at an elevated position. The sheet member may be extended or retracted relative to the building by winding or unwinding the sheet member onto or from the spool. The spool is preferably housed within a housing such that the sheet member may be extended from or retracted into the housing. In one preferred form, the sheet member is wound onto and unwound from the spool manually. In another form, the spool is coupled to a motor which is able to rotate the spool to thereby automatically wind or unwind the sheet member onto or from the spool. The housing may have loudspeakers mounted thereon.

In a preferred embodiment, the sheet member, in the extended use position, extends from the building at an angle of approximately 450, although other angles may be used. The inclination of the sheet member enables people who jump onto the net from the building to be quickly cleared from the net by rolling off the net so that other people are then able to jump onto the net to escape the building without landing on people who jumped previously.

The method preferably utilises attachment means to attach the sheet member, in the use position, relative to a ground surface. The attachment means may include a chain secured to a free end of the flexible member and a securing a member which is secured relative to the ground surface, wherein the chain is able to engage with the securing member to thereby attach the sheet member, in the use position, relative to the ground surface. The securing member preferably includes a plurality of hooks which are adapted to engage with the chain of the sheet member.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood and put into practice, an embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective of a safety apparatus for use with the safety method according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates a plurality of buildings that each have a respective safety apparatus of the type illustrated in figure t attached thereto; Figure 3 is a side elevation of a building that has a safety apparatus of the type illustrated in figure 1 attached thereto; Figure 4 is a perspective of a securing member of the safety apparatus illustrated in figure 1; Figure 5 is an end elevation of the securing member illustrated in figure 4 while a net of the safety apparatus illustrated in figure 1 is secured thereto; Figure 6 is an end elevation of the securing member illustrated in figures 4 and 5 secured inside a shallow trench and supported by one of a plurality of support pins; and Figure 7 is a side elevation of a building that has a modified version of the safety apparatus illustrated in figure 1 attached thereto.

Figure 1 illustrates a safety apparatus 10 for use with a safety method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Apparatus 10 includes an elongate cylindrical spool 1 I which is secured to a rectangular flexible sheet member or net 12.

Spool 11 is mounted inside an elongate housing 13 which includes a pair of opposing end panels 14, a pair of opposing side panels 15, a top panel 16, and an open bottom 17. Spool 11, which is depicted in phantom in figure 1, is able to be rotated about its longitudinal axis within the housing 13 by an electric motor 18 which is housed inside the housing 13 adjacent an end of the spool 11. The electric motor 18, which is depicted in phantom in figure 1, is able to rotate the spool 11 in either a clockwise or an anti-clockwise direction such that the net 12 is thereby wound onto or unwound from the spool 11. When unwound from the spool 11, the net 12 extends from the housing 13 through the open bottom 17 thereof. When wound onto the spool 11, the net 12 is effectively retracted into and stored inside the housing 13.

Housing 13 also houses a pair of loudspeakers 19 such that each loudspeaker 19 is positioned adjacent to a respective end of one of the side panels 15. Housing 13 is adapted to be secured to the outside of a building or other structure.

One end of the net 12 is secured to the spool 11, and an opposite end of the net 12 has a chain 20 and a pair of wheels 21 secured thereto. Net 12 is preferably constructed from a tear resistant material which includes a plurality of cross members which are attached to each other at every one of the junctions thereof so that a tear is inhibited from spreading through the net 12. It is also preferred that the material from which the net 12 is constructed is either fireproof or at least fire resistant. The material from which the net 12 is constructed is strong enough to withstand people jumping onto the net 12 from a considerable height, such as from the upper storeys of a multi-storey building, without breaking or tearing.

Each wheel 21 is driven by a respective electric motor (not shown) which is located adjacent to the wheel 21.

The safety net apparatus 10 also includes a securing member 22 which is separate from the rest of the apparatus 10. The securing member 22 includes an elongate member 23 which is slightly wider than the net 12 and which has a plurality of sides. One elongate side 24 of member 23 includes a plurality of hooks 25 which extend therefrom and which are spaced along the side 24 at regular intervals. The hooks 25 are adapted to engage with the chain 20 of the net 12 to thereby secure the net 12 to the securing member 22.

Referring to figures 2 to 5, each one of a plurality of multi-storey buildings 30 has a plurality of upper-storey windows 31 and a respective safety net apparatus The safety net apparatus 10 of each building 30 is positioned below the windows 31 thereof. In particular, for each safety net apparatus 10, the housing 13 thereof is secured to the outside of a respective building 30 below the lowermost upper-storey windows 31 thereof such that the housing 13 is horizontal and such that the open bottom 17 of the housing 13 face a ground surface 32.

With particular reference to figure 3, for each safety net apparatus 10, the securing member 22 thereof is secured relative to the ground surface 32 and is laterally spaced from both the building 30 and the housing 13 which are associated with the particular apparatus 10. Also, the securing member 22 is parallel to the housing 13 and is recessed below the surface 32 so that the securing member 22 is not obstructive when the apparatus 10 is not in use. The orientation of the securing member 22 relative to the housing 13 is such that the hooks 25 of the securing member 22 face away from the building 30 and project downwardly as shown in figure 4. The distance that the securing member 22 is spaced from the building 30 is such that, when the net 12 of the apparatus 10 is extended from the housing 13 and the chain 20 of the net 12 is retained relative to the securing member 22 by the hooks thereof as illustrated in figure 5, the net 12 is stretched tautly between the housing 13 and the securing member 22 and is inclined by approximately 450 (see figure 3) with respect to the side of the building 30 from which the net 12 extends. The chain 20 is retained relative to the securing member 22 by engaging with the hooks 25 as shown in figure Figure 6 illustrates how the securing member 22 is situated inside a shallow trench 50 so that the securing member 22 is located below the ground surface 32. The securing member 22 is supported by a plurality of support pins 51 which extend into the ground.

The safety apparatus 10 illustrated in figure 2 provide a means for people to escape from the upper-storeys of the buildings 30 in an emergency, particularly when no other means of escape is available. In the event of an emergency where the apparatus 10 of a building 30 is the only means for people in the upper storeys of the building 30 to escape therefrom, the net 12 of the apparatus 10 is extended from the housing 13 of the apparatus 10 by operating the motor 18 which is housed within the housing 13 so that the motor 18 rotates the spool 11 which is coupled thereto such that the net 12 is unwound from the spool 11. Once the net 12 has been sufficiently unwound from the spool 11 such that the wheels 21 contact the ground surface 32, the motors, which drive the wheels 21 and which are preferably battery powered, activate and rotate the wheels 21 so that the wheels 21 roll towards the securing member 22 of the apparatus 10. As the wheels 21 roll towards the securing member 22, the net 12 is dragged along the surface 32 behind the wheels 21 into an open position. Once the wheels 21 reach the securing member 22 of the apparatus 10, the net 12 is stretched over the hooks 25 as shown in figure 5 and the chain 20 is engage with the hooks This engagement of the chain 20 with the hooks 25 may occur automatically as the wheels 21 move past the securing member, or it may be done manually by persons on the ground surface 32. The resulting arrangement is such that the net 12 is stretched tautly between the housing 13 and the securing member 22. Persons who are trapped in the upper storeys of the building 30 are then able to escape the building 30 by jumping out of the windows 31 such that they land on the inclined net 12 which cushions their fall to such an extent they are inhibited from sustaining serious injuries or dying. The inclination of the net 12 enables people to readily roll off the net 12 and onto the ground surface 32 so that the net 12 can be cleared relatively quickly for succeeding people to jump onto.

In other embodiments of the safety net apparatus 10, the wheels 21 are not coupled to a motor so that they are able to free wheel, or are omitted so that the net 12 must be manually moved to the securing member 22.

It should also be noted that any form of flexible sheet member could be used instead of the net 12. In practice however, a net is better as it allows objects such as building debris, or burning embers to pass through the net and therefore not burn the net.

In the case where the net 12 must be manually dragged to the securing member 22 and/or secured relative thereto, the loudspeakers 19 may emit audio calling for people who are not trapped in the building 30 to drag the net 12 to the securing member 22 and/or to secure the net 12 relative to the securing member 22.

Moreover, a luminous sign positioned where people are able to see it may display the same or a similar message to that which is broadcast from the loudspeakers 19.

A modified version of the safety apparatus 10 is illustrated in figure 7 and is designated generally by the reference number 40. For convenience, features of the apparatus 40 which are similar to features of the apparatus 10 have been referenced with the same reference numbers. The safety apparatus 40 which is shown secured to the side of a building 30 having a plurality of windows 31 differs from the apparatus in that it does not have an electric motor 18, a chain 20, wheels 21, or a securing member 22 having an elongate member 23 and hooks In contrast to the apparatus 10, apparatus 40 includes a horizontal support bar 41 which extends between a pair of support posts 42 which are secured relative to and to are upstanding from the ground surface 32. Similarly to the securing member 22 of the apparatus 10, the support bar 41 is laterally spaced from and is parallel to a housing 13. However, the support bar 41 is elevated above the surface 32 by the support posts 42.

A respective metal cable 43 extends from each end of the housing 13 to an adjacent end of the support bar 41 such that the cables 43 are laterally separated from each other. The height of the housing 13 with respect to the support bar 41 is such that the cables 43 slope downwardly towards the support bar 41 and are inclined by approximately 450 with respect to the side of the building 30 from which they extend.

A flexible sheet member or net 12 is secured to the housing 13 in the same manner as previously described in relation to the apparatus 10. In addition, the net 12 of the apparatus 40 is attached to each of the cables 43 such that the net 12 extends between the cables 43 and such that the net is able to be drawn along the cables 43 from the housing in much the same way that a curtain for a window which is attached to a curtain rod by curtain rings is able to be drawn across the window. A heavy weight such as a heavy metal ball 44 is secured to the end of the net 12 which is closest to the support bar 41 when the net 12 is drawn along the cables 43 away from the housing 13. A climbing net 45 is secured to or integrally formed with the net 12 such that the climbing net hangs from the free end of the net 12 to enable a person to climb off the net 12 and onto the ground surface 32.

When not in use, the net 12 and the climbing net 45 are stowed inside the housing 13 in a similar manner to that described in connection with the apparatus Also the metal ball 44 is retained relative to the housing 13 by a locking mechanism (not shown) so that it is unable to move relative to the housing 13 and cause the net 12 to be drawn over the cables 43.

To deploy the nets 12 and 45 so that persons trapped in the upper levels of the building are able to escape from the building 30, the locking mechanism which retains the ball 44 relative to the housing 13 is released. The ball 44, under the influence of gravity, moves towards the support bar 41 and drags the net 12 along behind it so that the net 12 is drawn over the cables 43 and the climbing net 45 hangs from the net 12 as shown in figure 7.

If the building 30 depicted in figure 7 is opposite another building, the apparatus 40 may be modified by dispensing with the support bar 41 and support posts 42, and attaching the cables 43 to the adjacent building at a location thereon which is elevated with respect to the ground surface 32.

A plurality of safety apparatus 10 or 40 may be secured to a building such that the building is effectively encircled by them.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications to the invention described herein will be apparent without departing from the spirit and scope thereof The variations and modifications as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth.

Claims (3)

1. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sheet member comprises a net.
2. 3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the sheet member, in the extended use position, extends from the building at an angle of approximately 45'
3. 4. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including attachment means to attach the sheet member, in the use position, relative to a ground surface. A safety method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. DATED this 9 t h day of August 2004 EZEKIEL CHOONG By his Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO.