US1370306A - Fire-escape - Google Patents

Description

H. J. GRIEST.

FIRE ESCAPE.

U APPLICATKON FILED JUNE 17, I920. 1,370,306, Patented Mar. 1, 1921 3 SHEETS-SHEET W1 TNESSES: IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

Application filed June 17, 1920. Serial No. 389,594.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY J. Gnms'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chester, in the county of Delaware and the State of Pennsylvania, have invented ceris particularly serviceable for use in hotels' or other buildings.

Another object is to so make my improved fire escape that it can be readily controlled to prevent injury to the person while being lowered and which can be manipulated quickly so that a large number of persons can be lowered in a short time through the medium of one of the devices.

Another object is to make my improved fire escape of a simple and durable construction and so that it can be stored in a comparatively small space.

A still further object is to provide means which is operative, after the last person has reached the ground, to permit the apparatus to be recovered.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a sectional elevation taken centrally through my improved fire escape showing the same ready for use and illustrating how the device is supported on a window sill to permit a person in the room to actuate the device to lower another person from the window,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the controlling portion of my invention showing the same in a. position to permit the lowering of a person,

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 shows the position of my improved fire escape as it appears when in use to permit the last person to be lowered from the window, the controlling means descending with the person and under the control of said person, and

. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation, partly 1n section, showing how the device can be recovered after the last person reaches the ground.

Referring to the drawings, 7 represents a window sill upon which is mounted the controlling device 8 of my improved fire escape; said controlling device including a substantially U-shaped frame 9. The base 10 of which is initially placed upon the window sill when the device is to be used, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. An eyelet 11 is pivotally connected to the sides 12 of the frame 9 and a snap hook 13 engages the eyelet 11. A hook arm 14 is adapted to embrace the inner edge'15 of the window sill; said hook arm having a loop end 15 pivotally connected to the eye 16 of the snap hook 13.

Two rods 17 and 18 have their opposite ends riveted to the sides 12 of the frame 9; the rod 17 being spaced above the rod 18. Anti-friction rollers 19 and 20 are pivotally mounted respectively on the rods 17 and 18. Other rods 21 and 22 have their opposite ends secured within the sides 12 of the frame 9 to the rear of the rods 17 and 18 and these rods 21 and 22 have rollers 23 and 24 rotatably mounted thereon. A rod 25 also has its opposite ends secured to the sides 12 of the frame 9 and is provided with a roller 26. A yoked handle 27 has the bottom ends of its leg portions 28 secured to a pivot rod 29; said pivot rod extending through the sides of the frame 9 and between said sides is provided with a roller 30 which is positioned below the roller 20 and slightly forward thereof. It will thus be noted that the yoked handle 27 is free to swing on the rod 29 as a pivot. A controlling rod 31 has its opposite ends secured to the leg portions 28 of the yoked handle 27 and passes through slots 32 in the sides 12 of the frame 9. These slots 32 are preferably made concentric with the pivot rod 29 and the controlling rod 31 between the sides 12 of the frame 9 is provided with a roller 33 which is adapted to swing due to movement of the yoked handle 27 toward and from the space between the rollers 19 and 20. A flexible device 34 which is preferably made in the form of a strong tape or strap, which may be either woven or otherwise produced, is laced between its lower run of the flexible device. It will thus be seen that there is a loop of the strap 34 which surrounds the forward portion of the roller 33 and extends respectively under and over the rollers 19 and 20. The arrangement is such that there is not enough space between the rollers 19 and 20 to permit the roller 33 with the tape thereon to pass entirely between the rollers 19 and 20 and if tension is placed upon either of the runs of the strap, the strap will be wedged between the roller 33 and rollers 19 and 20 since said tension on the belt will tend to move the yoked handle and consequently the roller 33 so that the'latter will jam between the rollers 19 and 20 and it will be impossible to move either run of the strap 34. If however the yoked handle 27 is pushed and held forwardly, such for example as shown in Fig. 3, either of the runs of the strap 34 can be freely pulled and the various rollers will rotate to permit either of the runs of the strap to be moved. The opposite ends of the strap 34 are preferably provided with rings 35 to which securing devices 36 can be attached and said securing devices may consist, as illustrated, of looped straps which may be placed around the body of a person who is to be lowered from the window.

In the use of the device one person is supposed to act as operator where a number of persons are to be lowered, and the securing device 36 is placed about the body of a person or otherwise suitably secured to said person, after which the person climbs out of the window and hangs suspended from one of the runs of the strap 34; it being noted that the other run of the belt is sufiiciently long to extend to the ground after having been thrown out of the window. The operator then moves the yoked handle 27 forwardly or in other words into the position shown in Fig. 3. This frees the portion of the strap between the rollers 19, 33 and 20and the person will be lowered from the window under the control of the operator who can, if desired, prevent too rapid descent by releasing the yoked handle and the weight of the person on the the strap 34 will cause the handle to move into locking position as shown in Fig. 1. Thus a person can be lowered to the ground without injury and during the lowering movement the opposite end of the strap will be raised and another person can be secured to said latter mentioned end by another securing device similar to 36 and in this manner any number of persons can be lowered.

When it becomes necessary for the operator to leave the building he can attach one of the ecuring devices to himself, then release the snap hook from the eyelet 11, then attach one of the end rings 35 of thestrap to the snap hook and finally attach the securing device to the eyelet and crawl out of the window and lower himself by the manipulation of-the yoked handle27; the parts being in the position as illustrated in Fig. 5.. Forthe purpose of recovering or saving the fire escape I pivot a lever 37 between the side portion 14 of the hook arm 14; the pivotal connection as shown at 38 being located under the edge 15 of the window sill. A rope or cord 39 is attached to the outer free end of the lever 37 and before taking a particular form, it'will be understood that the various parts of my invention may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise construction set forth, but consider that I am at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the-appended claims. 7

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim as new and-desire to secure by Letters Patent is V 1. A fire escape including two. guiding members spaced apart; a guiding member movable relatively to said first mentioned members; and a flexible device having a portion extending around said second mentioned member and between said other members, the space between said first mentioned members being such that when tension is applied tosaid flexible device, sa1d members will be moved relatively to each other to cause the jamming, of'said flexible device therebetween and thereby stop relative movement between said guiding. members of said flexible device; substantially as described... 2. A fire escape including a frame; a handle pivoted to the frame; two'members connected to said frame and spaced apart; a member connected to said handle; and a flexible device extending around said latter member and between said first members,'said member on the handle being adapted when moved in one direction by tension exerted on the flexible device, to cause said flexible device to be jammed between it and the other members, and when moved in the opposite direction by operation of the handle to permit the flexible device to move freely in the direction of its length.

8. A fire escape including a frame; members spaced apart and secured between the sides of said frame; a handle pivotally connected to said frame; a member on said handle; and a flexible device having a portion extending around said handle member and between said first members, the space between said first members being such that when tension is applied lengthwise to said flexible device, the handle member will be moved to jam said portion of the flexible device in contact with said first members, said handle being movable to move said second mentioned member in an opposite direction to release said portion of the flexible device to permit movement thereof in the direction of its length; substantially as described.

4. A fire escape including a frame; members spaced apart and secured between the sides of said frame; -a handle pivotally connected to said frame; a member on said handle; a flexible device having a portion extending around said handle member and between said first members, the space between said first members being such that when tension is applied lengthwise to said flexible device, the handle member will be moved to jam said portion of the flexible device in contact with said first members, said handle being movable to move said second mentioned member in an opposite direction to release said portion of the flexible device to permit movement thereof in the direction of its length; and a hook for detachable connection to said frame and to a supporting structure, said flexible device having portions adapted to be attached to said hook; substantially as described.

5. A fire escape including a frame; guiding members spaced apart and secured between the sides of said frame; a yoked handle pivotally connected to said frame; a member on said handle extending between the sides of said frame, said frame having slots through which said member extends; and a flexible device having a portion located between the sides of said frame and extending around said handle member and between said first members, the space between said first members being such that when tension is applied lengthwise to said flexible device, the handle member will be moved to jam said portion of the flexible device in contact with said first members, said handle being movable to move said second mentioned member in an opposite direction to release said portion of the flexible device to permit movement thereof in the direction of its length; substantially as described.

6. A fire escape having a hook arm for attachment to the inner edge of a window sill;

osi-

the

a lever connected to said hook arm at a tion to be located under said edge 0 window sill; and means connected to said lever for moving the lever into a fulcruming position with respect to said edge of the window sill to move said hook arm out of embracing position with said edge of the window s1ll; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY J. GRIEST'.

Witnesses:

ELIZABETH GARBE, Cms. E. Porrs.

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