GB2266331A - Emergency escape apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable assembly (20) to assist exit from a structure in an emergency, eg fire, comprises at least one ladder (1, 11) having flexible uprights (2, 3 and 12, 13) and at least one flexible chute 18 adjacent said at least one ladder (1, 11). Means (23, 24 and/or 25 and/or 26) are provided for releasably mounting the ladder (1, 11) and chute (18) to the structure. Additional means (5, 6, 15 and 16 and 21 and 22) are provided for releasably mounting the ladder and chute (1, 11 and 18) to the ground. The assembly (20) is collapsible for storage when not in use and so need only be suspended from the structure as and when required. The assembly may be stored in a box having a releasable panel provided with surface formations for breaking a window. <IMAGE>

Description

EMERGENCY EXIT The present invention relates to an emergency exit, more particularly to an assembly to assist exit from a structure in an emergency. The invention finds particular, although not exclusive, use as a fire exit for an upper floor or storey of a building.

Fire escapes comprising a staircase fixedly mounted externally of a building are known. However, they have disadvantages in that the fixed structure can also assist unauthorised entry to the building. Alternatively, ladders may be used which need not be permanently fixed to the building, but must be stored securely, to avoid the same disadvantages. Other examples of emergency exits include flexible expandible slides, such as used by airlines.

The present invention provides an alternative fire escape.

According to the invention there is provided a portable assembly to assist exit from a structure, typically a building, in an emergency, comprising at least one ladder having flexible uprights and at least one flexible chute adjacent said at least one ladder, respective means for releasably mounting the said ladder and chute to said structure and to the ground, the arrangement being such that the assembly is collapsible for storage when not in use.

Thus the present assembly has the advantage that it need only be mounted to the structure as and when required, and therefore does not assist unauthorised entry to the structure.

The combination of the ladder and chute is significant in a number of respects. The ladder provides an escape route for able bodied persons, whilst the adjacent chute can be used to assist the passage of articles, and particularly if the chute is inclined to the vertical to break the fall of articles allowed to free fall from a building.

Preferably the chute is of channel section, with a base for aligning with or inclining relative to the building wall, and having sides projecting from the base, outwardly from the building. This arrangement is advantageous in that the channel section chute can act as a guide for articles carried by persons using the ladder, to reduce likelihood of the articles swaying whilst being carried.

Suitably the assembly comprises a chute and two ladders arranged in side by side relation, a first ladder being fixedly mounted to one side of the chute and a second ladder being releasably mounted to a second side of the chute.

Alternatively, the assembly may comprise a chute and two ladders all being fixedly secured in side by side relation, with the chute arranged intermediate of the two ladders.

These dual ladder arrangements are particularly useful, as the intermediate chute can be used to assist passage of articles which need to be carried by two persons, each using one of the spaced ladders. For example, a heavy cradle or cot, which is most conveniently carried by two adults, may be carried to safety at ground level by adults walking down the ladders.

The feature of having one ladder releasable improves versatility of the assembly. For example, the combination of two ladders and a single chute may be purchased as a single assembly and stored inside the building for use as a single or dual ladder arrangement, as required. The released single ladder could, of course, be used to provide a fire escape from an alternative location in the building.

In a dual ladder arrangement, suitably the uprights of each ladder provide side walls of the chute.

The assembly may be releasably mounted to the ground in a variety of ways, to provide stability for the assembly, particularly to prevent it swaying and moving relative to the building for example. Suitable mounting means comprise an engager part associated with a ladder and/or chute and a receiver part for association with the ground, and vice versa.

Preferred mounting means comprise spaced rigid rods, hooks or the like, constructed of a hardwearing material, preferably metallic such as steel, which project from the ladder and/or chute, outwardly or preferably inwardly with respect to the structure. Suitably a corresponding receiver part for securing to the ground comprises a hoop having legs spaced apart at a distance corresponding to spacing between the aforementioned rigid rods, or a projection such as an upright plate having such spaced apertures. The engager and/or receiver part for the ground is conveniently fixedly mounted therein, for example by embedding in concrete.

Such releasable mounting means of generally straightforward construction are advantageous, since the respective receiver and engager parts are readily interengageable in use. It could be disadvantageous to have complex mounting means which are difficult to interengage, since they may be too time consuming or intricate to use to be effective in an emergency.

Various alternative mounting means may be used for securing the at least one ladder and chute to the structure.

Preferable mounting means comprise one or more rigid members for resting on a window sill or window-ledge, the members having one or more depending legs for retention inside and preferably also outside the structure to resist withdrawal of the assembly from the structure. Alternative or additional preferred means comprise flexible members such as rope or the like, for overlying the window sill and for securing inside the structure to resist withdrawal of the assembly. A further alternative is provision of a receiver/engager associated with the ladder and/or chute and an engager/receiver for mounting externally of the structure for interengagement as and when required.

Preferably the assembly is provided with one or more of the aforementioned mounting means to thereby improve its versatility and adaptability, although all available mounting means need not be used at the same time.

Typically the flexible ladder and/or chute are constructed from a woven material. Preferably such materials can have sufficient strength to support the weight of several adults, whilst being capable of being folded, concertina fashion or rolled for storage. If desired, the steps of the ladder may be constructed of a different material to that used for the uprights. In such cases, preferably the steps are of a more rigid material, such as wood or metal or a toughened plastic, to provide a sturdy flattened support for user's feet.

As previously discussed, a desirable feature of the present assembly is that it is collapsible for secure storage inside a structure such as a building when not in use.

Accordingly, another aspect of the present invention is the provision of a storage box, suitable for such an aforementioned assembly, the box having a releasable panel provided with surface formations for fracturing window glass.

This releasable panel is particularly useful in the light of the present tendency to use window locks which, whilst securing the windows against unauthorised entry, can be disadvantageous in emergency situations if the keys for such locks are not readily to hand. Also aging windows and/or frames, particularly those made of wood, are susceptible to warping in changing weather conditions, thereby making the windows difficult to open. A particular advantage of this releasable panel is that whilst the formations fracture the window glass, the panel is preferably of such an extent that it will shield a major proportion of the window, thereby protecting the user from the fragments of glass.

In preferred embodiments, the box provides mounting means for securing the at least one ladder and chute to the structure. Conveniently the box comprises a frame including one or more rigid members for resting on a window sill or ledge and one or more projections for retention inside and typically also outside the structure, the ladder and chute, the assembly being provided with apertures to allow passage of projections therethrough to thereby retain the assembly and resist its withdrawal from the structure.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described'in more detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a dual ladder embodiment; Fig. 2 shows a releasable ladder feature; and Fig. 3 shows a storage box.

Turning to Fig. 1, there is shown an assembly 20, suitable for use as a fire escape for a structure, typically a building. In more detail, the assembly 20 comprises ladders 1, 11 and chute 18, arranged intermediate the ladders.

Each ladder 1, 11 has flexible uprights 2, 3 and 12, 13 respectively, constructed of a foldable woven material, preferably a strong canvas. The steps 4, 14 of each ladder are made of wood, or any other suitable relatively rigid material.

The chute 18 is also made of canvas and is of generally channel section having a base 19 and side walls 3 and 12, projecting outwardly and provided by uprights of ladders 1 and 11. At the lower end of the chute 18 there is a projecting wall 29 to act as a trap for any articles passing down the chute when inclined to the vertical.

At the base of each ladder 1, 11 there are provided spaced projecting steel rods 5, 6, 15 and 16. Hoops 21 and 22, also made of a metal such as steel and fixedly mounted to the ground by embedding in concrete, provide apertures to receive the rods 5, 6, 15, 16. Engagement of these rods and hoops provides means for securing the assembly 20 relative to the ground, to prevent the lower part of the assembly 20 swaying relative to the building.

At the upper end of the assembly there are provided means for releasably securing the assembly to the building.

In the illustrated embodiment a first example of these releasable mounting means comprises rigid members 23 for resting on a window-ledge or sill (not illustrated). Each member 23 has a depending leg 24 for abutting against an internal window supporting wall, and a leg 34 for abutting the wall externally of the building. Members 23 are linked by a bar 51. The assembly may be attached to members 23 and or legs 24 in various ways. In the illustration the assembly has apertures 28 which are threaded over legs 24 and members 23 until the assembly abuts bar 51. The assembly is thus secured to the mounting means which serve to resist withdrawal of the assembly from the building.

As an alternative mounting means, the assembly 20 is provided with flexible members 25 comprising strong woven straps for securing inside the building. Preferably these members are secured permanently inside the building, for example by fixedly mounting them to sub flooring beams in'an appropriate room. An alternative is to leave flexible members 25 for securement as and when required, for example to attach to a heavy item of furniture or to some other fixedly mounted engagement means.

Further alternative mounting means comprise spaced apertures 26 for inserting over correspondingly spaced projecting rods (not illustrated) fixedly mounted externally of the building.

The assembly may be employed as follows: The folded/rolled ladder and chute arrangement 20 is suspended from a window in the building. The upper end of the assembly 20 is secured to the building by any of the three types of mounting means previously mentioned (24, 23 or 25 or 26). The mounting means 5, 6, 15 and 16 at the lower end of the assembly 20 are engaged with the matching means 21, 22 associated with the ground, by swaying the assembly 20 and rods 5, 6, 15, 16 until they engage in hoops 21 and 22.

Able bodied adults can walk down the ladder parts 1 and 11 to escape from the building. The chute 18 if inclined, assists passage of articles thrown from the window, for retention in trap 29. An alternative use for the chute is to guide passage of a child in a carrycot, to be carried by two adults using the spaced ladder parts 1 and 11.

Turning to Fig. 2 there is illustrated an assembly 120, substantially as the Fig. 1 embodiment but with ladder part 111 releasably mounted to a ladder and chute combination 101, 118.

Ladder 111 is releasably mounted by way of engager parts comprising metallic hooks 113 mounted on the ladder 111 for engagement in corresponding metallic eyelets 103 on chute 118.

When not in use, either of the aforementioned assemblies may be stored in a storage box 50 as shown in Fig. 3. The box 50 is of appropriate dimensions to accommodate an assembly 20 or 120, carrying a releasable panel 54 having surface formations in the form of sharp rigid metallic projections 56, capable of fracturing window glass. The panel 54 is useful both in that it provides means for breaking a window in an emergency and also it provides a shield for the user against fragments of shattered glass.

In the illustration the storage box 50 is particularly useful as it also provides the releasable mounting means for securing the assembly to the building. Here the box 50 has base struts 23' doubling as rigid members 23 for resting on a window ledge. Box uprights 24", 34' also provide depending legs 24 and 34 for the mounting means. The struts 23' and uprights 23 and 34 are linked by way of bar 51'.

Claims (17)

1. An assembly to assist exit from a structure in an emergency, comprising at least one ladder having flexible uprights and at least one flexible chute adjacent said at least one ladder, respective means for releasably mounting said ladder and chute to said structure and to the ground, the arrangement being such that the assembly is collapsible for storage when not in use.

2. An assembly according to Claim 1 wherein the chute is of channel section.

3. An assembly according to Claim 1 or 2 comprising a chute and two ladders arranged in side by side relation, a first ladder being fixedly mounted to one side of the chute and the second ladder releasably mounted to a second side of the chute.

4. An assembly according to Claim 1 or 2 comprising a chute and two ladders secured in side by side relation, the chute being arranged intermediate the two ladders.

5. An assembly according to Claim 4 in which an upright of each ladder forms a side wall of the chute

6 An assembly according to any preceding claim in which the means for mounting the at least one ladder and chute to the ground comprise an engager part associated with a ladder and/or chute and a receiver part for association with the ground.

7. An assembly according to Claim 6 in which the engager part comprises spaced rods projecting from the ladder or ladders.

8. An assembly according to Claim 6 in which the receiver part comprises a hoop for securing to the ground.

9. An assembly according to any preceding claim in which the means for mounting the at least one ladder and chute to the structure includes one or more rigid members for resting on a window-ledge, the members having one or more depending legs for retention inside the structure to resist withdrawal of the assembly from the structure.

10. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8 in which the means for mounting the at least one ladder or chute to the structure comprises flexible members for overlying a window-ledge and for securing inside the structure to resist withdrawal of the assembly from the structure.

11. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8 in which the means for mounting the at least one ladder and chute to the structure comprises a receiver/engager part associated with the ladder and/or chute and an engager/receiver part for mounting externally of the structure.

12. An assembly according to any preceding claim in which at least one ladder has wooden steps.

13. An assembly according to any preceding claim in which the flexible uprights are constructed of a woven material.

14. An assembly substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying Figs. 1 and 2.

15. A storage box for an assembly according to any preceding claim, the box having a releasable panel provided with surface formations for fracturing window glass.

16. A storage box according to claim 15 having means for engaging the assembly and including one or more rigid members for resting on a window-ledge, the members having one or more projecting legs for retention inside the structure for resisting withdrawal of the assembly from the structure.

17. A storage box substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to Fig. 3.