GB2301138A

GB2301138A - Fire escape device

Info

Publication number: GB2301138A
Application number: GB9510271A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tony Waithe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-05-22
Filing date: 1995-05-22
Publication date: 1996-11-27
Also published as: GB9510271D0

Abstract

A fire escape device which comprises of two parts; a platform and a connecting bar. The platform has attached to it supporting rails, a hinged, rigid ladder section to which is fixed a "Rope ladder" section. Fixing clips are attached to the platform which engage to the connecting bar which is permanently mounted to the structure of the building from which an escape may be made.

Description

FIRE ESCAPE DEVICE This invention relates to a fire escape device.

Fire escape devices are well known for use in the home or at work as a means of escaping through a window or opening which is at a reasonable distance from ground level to avoid the need of a purpose made Fire Escape Staircase. Such devices may be installed in the dwelling or place of work by the occupant at any time and are usually available to buy and fit without expert help.

However, these devices only serve to provide an escape but they may not be very convenient to use by persons not trained or used to such methods, (for example; the use of a Rope Ladder without secondary means of support, or the use of a tensioned line and looped cradle to lower the user down the exterior face of a building. The devices are also required to be permanently installed adjacent to the opening from which an escape will be made in time of emergency, and this may be unacceptable from a visual point of view,especially in a domestic setting.

According to the present invention there is provided a fire escape device, all made out of incombustible materials, which consists of a platform which bridges a window cill or the coping of a wall or lower part of an opening. The platform has attached to it a hinged ladder section with three, stable rungs. A "Rope" ladder, is attached to the end of the hinged ladder section and is stowed, or rolledup, between two fixed, supporting rails which are attached to the platform and provide support for the user whilst on the platform. The stowed "Rope" ladder is secured in position, when the device is not in use, by means of a cover

strip that is fixed to the platform by means of Velcro;pads in order that this strip may be entirely removed and discarded instantly when the device is needed in emergency.

The hinged ladder section is provided with a handle piece that allows the whole device to be carried and becomes a "toe" to the external wall when the device is in use. There are secondary grip rails fixed to the main rails and the platform to provide the user with support while lowering the weight of the body onto the "Rope" ladder section. The whole device is clipped onto a bar by means of two shackles which are fixed to the device and engage onto a steel bar that is bolted permanently to the structure of the building concerned by means of a steel wall plate (to which the bar is welded). The wall plate is positioned to the underside of the opening selected for emergency exit.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Drawing 1/8, Figure 1 shows an end'view of the device which will be outside the building when in use. The platform [11], the rails [1], the hinged ladder section [2] which is hinged at the lower end, coinciding with the bottom of the three ,rigid rungs, the folding handle [5] which acts as a supporting "toe" to the external face of the exterior wall of the building concerned when the ladder is in use [Fig 2/5]. To the rigid lader section is fixed the rope ladder [3] shown stowed and secured by means of the strip [4].

Figure 2 shows a side view of the device with the platform [11], the supporting rails [1], the stowed "Rope" ladder [3] and the secondary grip rail [6] which acts as support while the user lowers the body weight down onto the "Rope" ladder section. l9] shows the shackle clips which engage onto the bar [Figures 5 & 6/13] and [10] shows the end of the bar to which life lines are clipped when the device is in use. [8] shows the main "toe" support which keeps the device at a certain distance from the face of the external wall of the building concerned to allow the "Rope ladder" hang away from the wall face enough to give a measured foot hold on the rungs of the "Rope" ladder. [7] shows a pad which acts as a stabilizing supporting cushion on the cill or lower part of the emergency opening when the. device is in use.

Figure 3 shows an end view of the device which will be inside the building when in use. [1] shows the main supporting rails from the. platform, [3] the stowed "Rope" ladder, [4] the securing strip, [10] the bar to which life lines are clipped when the device is in use. [9] shows the shackle clips end-on.

Figure 4 shows a top view of the device with the supporting rails [1] in plan only, the "Rope" ladder, stowed and secured by means of the strip [4]. The "Rope" ladder is fastened permanently to the rigid, hinged ladder section by means of chain or steel wire [12]. [5] shows the carrying handle/"toe" piece, extended, as fixed permanently to the top rung of the rigid ladder section.

Figure 5 shows a front view of the bar to which the device engages when in use [13] and the steel wall plate [15] to which the bar is permanently welded or fixed. The bolt fixings which secure the whole bar assembly permanently to the structural fabric of the building concerned are indicated at 115].

Figure 6 shows a side view of the bar and plate assembly as fixed to the structural fabric of the building concerned (shown in section). [13] is the end of the bar and [14] is the supporting shaft which can be supplied in various dimensions to suit any particular building opening in order to allow that the platform of the device is absolutely horizontal and properly seated on the cill or the lower part of the opening of the building concerned.

Drawings 1/2 to 1/8 inclusive show the stages required to put the device into full operation during and emergency.

Drawing 1/2-: at the alarm the device is taken out of its place of stowage, situated near to the selected emergency exit point. The handle is pulled up from the hinged ladder section and the device is orientated so that the clip shackles are pointed towards the wall-mounted fixing bar.

Drawing 1/3: The clip shackles are located to the bar and the device is engaged onto the bar with one push forward.

The device is now permanently locked to the bar.

Drawing 1/4: The device is pushed out of the opening and hinges on the bar to seat securely onto the cill of the opening. Simultaneously, the strip securing the stowed "Rope" ladder is rernoved and discarded.

Drawing 1/5: With one push forward the stowed "Rope" ladder is ejected outwards while the hinged rigid ladder section falls out and downwards so that the handle/"toe" piece comes to rest on the exterior wall face of the building in question.

.

Drawing 1/6: The user clips a life-line onto the bar on the device for this purpose and mounts onto the platform of the device.

Drawing 1/7: The user steps back on the platform.nd finds the first rung of the rigid ladder section. Holding onto the main supporting rails the user lowers the weight of the body down onto the rigid ladder section.

Drawing 1/8: The user lowers the body to the bottom rung of the rigid ladder section where is possible to wait while a child is put onto the user's back in a special harness by a second adult inside the building concerned. Holding onto the secondary grip handles the user lowers the weight of the body down onto the "Rope" ladder and so on until the user reaches the ground below safely. The next user follows the same steps described above until all the occupants are safely escaped from the building concerned.

Claims

1. A fire escape device comprising of a platform to which is attached a hinged ladder section to which is attached a "Rope" ladder section. The device has the means of being locked onto a bar which is fixed to the structure of the building from which an emergency escape may have to be made. The platform has fixed to it handles to enable the user to balance securely when on the platform and lower the weight of the body safely onto the ladder sections in an emergency situation.

2. A fire escape device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the device need not be permanently fixed in position at the selected point of emergency exit.

3. A fire escape device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the permanent fixing point, the bar and plate, is supplied in various sizes to allow the device to be used in as many different situation as possible.

4. A fire escape device as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the platform provides the means of a firm and fixed support for the user.

5. A fire escape device as claimed in Claim.4, wherein the rigid ladder section provided further firm and secure support for the user before lowering the body onto the "Rope" ladder section.

6. A fire escape device as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the platform and main rails provide a permanent frame within which the moveable parts of the device are stowed when the device is not in use.

7. A fire escape device as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the user is able to affix a life-line to the device before making an emergency exit using the device.

8. A fire escape device substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying Drawings 1 to' 8.