GB2123887A - Fire escape ladder - Google Patents

Abstract

The safety ladder consists of one part fixed to a wall by means of rawlplugs etc. and the lower part pivoting on the first, to effectively double the length of the ladder when extended. The lower portion also has a heat shield fitted to protect users from smoke or fire escaping from windows or doors on the lower floor. This shield is made up of heat resistant material. Connected between the two portions of ladder is a control spring to regulate the speed of the descent of the ladder to prevent damage. At the top of the first portion of the ladders safety hoop is fitted to further assist the user in escaping to safety. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Safety ladder This invention relates to a safety ladder.

In industrial and commercial environments it is required by law to have adequate fire escape facilities to allow safe evacuation of premises. Howeverthere are no corresponding requirementsfordomestic premises, and fires breaking out in the home often result in the occupants being trapped on an upper floor and having to make an escape by jumping from windowswhich may be a considerable heightabove the ground. Injury at least can result.

According to the present invention there is provided a safety ladder movable between an extended position and a retracted position, a lower portion of the ladder in its extended position having a heat-resistant shield extending across it, and meansforsecuring an upper portion of the ladder in its extended position to awall.

The ladder may be in two portions which are hinged or slidably conected so that in the retracted position the upper and lower portions lie against one another.

The length ofthe ladder can thus be approximately doubled when the ladder is extended.

Further according to the invention there is provided a safety ladder having an upper portion, a lower portion hinged to the upper portion so as to be pivotal between a retracted position in which is held against the upper portion and an extended position in which it continues downwardlyfrom the upper portion, and means for securing the upper portion to a wall. The lower portion may have a heat-resistant shield across it.

The upper and lower portions ofthe ladder may have a control spring between them to cushion the force with which the lower portion moves into its extended position. This is especially useful when, as is recommended,the upper and lower portions are held in their retracted position by a quick-release catch mechanism, asthe laddercould otherwise be damaged on moving rapidly into its extended position.

Such quick-release mechanism may be for example a latch which may be lifted, pressed or pushed to release it.

The heat-resistant shield should preferably also be flame-proofand is effective by extending over a window or other opening which may be below the upper portion ofthe ladder and through which heat, flames and smoke may be escaping. The shield would then protect a user ofthe ladder.

One or more cage members may be provided on the ladder as an additional safety feature, to prevent a userfromfallingoffandtoallowa usertolean against in assisting others onto the ladder.

The ladder may be secured to a wall of a building by any suitable means, for example by bolts, screws or hooks.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described byway of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. lisa front view of a ladder of this invention in its retracted position; Fig. 2 is a side view corresponding to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side view of a detail ofthe ladder of Fig. 1 showing the connection between portions of the ladder; and Fig. 4 is a section on X-X of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the ladder of this embodiment of the invention has a first portion 1 and a second portion 2which are pivotally interconnected at 3. Each ofthe portions 1,2 has a pair of parallel uprights 4 with rungs 5 extending at intervals between them. The ladder is made of aluminium or other heat-resistant and non-inflammable material.

The connection 3 is shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4.

Each upright 4 ofthefirst portion 1 has a plate 6 bolted or rivetted to its bottom end, the plate 6 having a slot 7 through which a pin 8 extends. The pin 8 passes through apertures in the wall ofthe upright 4 so that the upright4 can pivotaboutthe pin 8.

At the top end of each ofthe uprights 4 ofthe second portion 2 is a lock plate 9 which has an extension 10 fitting overthetop end ofthe respective upright4 of the first portion 1, thereby locking the portions 1,2 together. They can be released by lifting the second portion 2 sothatthe pin 8 moves up the slot 7 and the plate's extension 10 disengages from the first portion 1, and then pushing the top end of the second portion 2 away from the first portion so that the weight of the second portion 2 causes itto pivot about the pin 8 until it hangs verticallydownwards from the pin 8,thereby doubling the length ofthe ladder.

A control spring 11 extends between one ofthe uprights 4 of each of the first and second portions 1,2 to cushion the fall of the second portion 2 into its extended position.

A metal support hoop 12 is pivotally secured to the uprights 4 of the first portion 1 so that it can be moved from a stored position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to an in-use position in which it extends outwardly from the ladder.

A heat-resistant shield 13 of asbestos or insulated metal extends from the second portion 2 along its length and across its breadth, being held on the second portion 2through brackets 14.

The ladder is secured to wall of a building adjacent an upper storey window by means of rawlplugs and bolts passing through the first portion 1 and into the wall. The first portion is between the second portion 2 and the wall when the ladder is retracted as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the heat-resistant shield can provide an attractive continuous outerfaceforthe ladder.

In the event of a fire in the building,the upperstorey window can be opened and the ladder moved to its extended position by simply lifting the second portion 2 to reiease the plate 9 and pushing it outwardly so thatitfalls, restrained by the spring 11, into an extended position.

Atthis pointthe shield 13 is adjacent the wall of the building and extends over any lower storeywindow through which flames and heat may be escaping, thus protecting the second portion ofthe ladder. Occu pants ofthe building can then climb down the ladder to safety.

If children or others who require assistance are to escape, an adult can stand on the ladder within the support hoop 12 in its in-use position and can lean againstthe hoop in helping the children and others through the window and onto the ladder.

Modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the scope ofthe invention.

Claims (4)

1. The safety ladder comprises of a two part ladder, the upper part of which is fixed to a wall and the second part being hingedto the bottom part of the first.

2. Affixed to the upper portion ofthe ladder is a safety hoop which can be extended when the ladder is in use.

3. The lower part has a heat shield fitted to repel heat and smoke when the ladder is in use.

4. The ladder is fitted with a control spring which ensuresthatthe lower portion is not damaged when the ladder is extended.