US1140281A - Fire-escape. - Google Patents

Description

I. F. OTTO.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20. m2.

Lwwgm Patented May 18,1915.

ii 13E ea FIRE-ESCAPE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1915.

Application filed August 20, 1912. Serial No. 716,057.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Isaac FoRREsT OTTO, a citizen of the United States, residing at Taneytown, in the county of Carroll and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire- Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to fire escapes of the folding ladder type and it consists of the provision in fire escapes of this class of means for securing the folding member of the fire escape in inoperative position, said holding means serving also the purpose of a circuit closer of an electric alarm circuit, automatically operated when the ladder is unfolded or brought to operative position.

With this object in View, the invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement and combination of the parts of a device of the character specified, which will be hereinafter fully described,- and afterward specifically claimed.

In order that the construction and operation thereof may be readily comprehended, I will now proceed to fully describe my invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an approved embodiment thereof, and in which drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention complete in position for use, Fig. 2 is a similar View showing my fire escape folded in compact and attractive form, Fig. 3 is a detail view showing my folding fire escape disposed in a compact and folded position and illustrating means for anchoring the same to the wall or other support, Fig. 1 shows a similar view to that illustrated in Fig. 3 and showing my fire escape as in an unfolded condition, Fig. 5 is a detail view showing a section of my improved fire escape in a folded condition and illustrating portion of an electric circuit, Fig. 6 shows my ladder proper provided with clamping means which will hold it in an extended or unfolded condition, as will be desirable when used as a ladder, and, Fig. 7 shows simple, though efficient, means for connecting two sections of my fire escape or ladder in permanent union with each other.

Like reference characters mark the same parts wherever they appear in a plurality of the figures of the drawings.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 1 and 2 indicate two ladder uprights, each of which is in form substantially one-half of a tube longitudinally divided and said uprights 1 and 2 are pivotally connected together by a plurality of tread members or ladder rounds 3, shown in detail in Fig. 4, and formed of tubing of proper length engaged at each end on a suitable bolt or pintle 4t passing therethrough whereby the said sections may be readily brought together, the result being that the folded ladder will present a tube-like appearance against the wall of the building. Suitable washers 5 may be interposed between the edges of the uprights 1 and 2 and said rounds, whereby the said rounds will be held centrally disposed relative to said uprights 1 and 2.

The upright 1 is secured to the wall, preferably by hooks 6 anchored in the wall in any desired manner, as by means of heads or nuts 7. I prefer to form recesses in the edge of the upright 1, whereby the hooks will be accommodated so as to present no obstruction to the contiguous edge of the upright 2, when the latter is folded against the upright 1.

To the upright 1, I secure at any preferred point thereon a plug or post 8 of non-conducting material as of fiber or the like, and to said post I secure a pair of spring fingers 9, normally in contact with each other, but adapted to be separated by a post 10 of fiber, glass or other non-conducting material, carried by the upright 2 at a point thereon which will insure that the said post 10 will readily enter between the outwardly curved ends of the spring fingers .9, and it is obvious therefore that, when the uprights 1 and 2 are in contact with each other, as when the fire escape is folded, the said non-conducting post 10, will have entered between the spring fingers 9 so that said fingers will be held apart. When my improved fire escape is in an unfolded or operative condition, the said fingers 9 will be withdrawn off the plug 10, thereby permitting said spring fingers to move into contact with each other, thus completing an electric circuit through wires 11 attached to said fingers. Any number of bells or other alarms may be connected up in the electric circuit of the wires 11, and said wires may extend to different points throughout the building.

Obviously, when my improved fire escape is folded whereby the uprights '1 andQ'will be in contact with each other, the electric circuit will be broken, through-the interposition of the non-conducting plug 10 between the spring members 9, but when the uprights 1 and 2 are separated, the plug 10 will have passed from between the fingers 9, thereby folded or inoperative position, wherein as before described, the circuit is broken by the interposition of said plug between the fingers.

At a point opposite each window is a handle 12, andanyperson'desiring to place the fire escape in condition foruse may'push lightly outwardly upon said handle, with the hand or foot, causing the upright 2 to swing by gravity into its'operative position, parallel with the upright 1, leaving the rounds 3 in a horizontal position ready for instant use.

In Fig. 2 my improved foldingfire escape presents the appearance, when folded, of an ordinary line ofpiping, whiohmaybep'ainted 'or otherwi'seprotected or decorated.

In Fig. 6 I have shown my improved'fire 'not'in use. The sections 13 may be pivoted "on the pintle 4, which passes through the ladder rounds, the said brace 18 being extended through a suitable slot 15 in said 7 round, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. In like manner the brace 14 is provided with a suitable hooked end to reach into a slot 16 in the lower side of the contiguous ladder round, into engagement with the pintleor bolt upon which said round is; pivoted.

I-Iavingthu's fully describedmy invention, what I claim as new is: i

Incombination, a fire escape of the folding ladder type compri'sing, parallel 'upright-members, a; plurality oftread members pivotedat each end to, and connecting said upright members, adaptedto permit ofthe collapsing of the ladder, and aplurality of brace members pivoted within one of said tread members each having a folding hook section hooked within the neighboring tread member-to brace said device in open position. i

In testimony whereof I havesigned my name to'this specificationin the presence of two'subscribing witnesses.

' ISAAC FORREST or ro.

Witnesses:

FRANKLIN I-LSEIss, GEORGE H. BIRNIE.

O'opies'of thispatent may be obtaineddor flve nts eachjby addressing-the Commissioner of Patents, Washingtonfl). 0'.

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