US3485322A - Extensible escape ladder - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 23, O. F. TREFZ EXTENSIBLE ESCAPE LADDER Original Filed DC. 25, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J II I as 84 as as 94 V as f 86 88 INVENTOR.

92 OTTO F. TREFZ" ATTORN EY Dec; 23, 1969 o. F.1'REFZ 3,485,322

EXTENSIBLE ESCAPE LADDER Original Filed Dec. 23, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. OTTO E TREFZ ATTORNEY.

nited States Patent 3,485,322 EXTENSIBLE ESCAPE LADDER Otto F. Trefz, 4422 N. 6th St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19140 Continuation of application Ser. No. 610,207, Dec. 23, 1966. This application June 3, 1968, Ser. No. 733,973 Int. Cl. A62b 1/20; A62c 31/24 US. Cl. 182-189 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A ladder which collapses to occupy a relatively small space and which is so constructed that when hurled from a window during an emergency will automatically extend to permit descent, which ladder is also capable of being adjustably fixed in its extended position when one desires to use it for purposes of ascent.

This is a continuation of my copending application Ser. No. 610,207, filed Dec. 23, 1966 now abandoned and relates to extensible escape ladders for use in emergencies, such as fires.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a ladder made of pipe sections slidable one within the other so that in its collapsed form it approximates the length of only one section but when hurled through a window will automatically extend by gravity and serve as a means for safe descent.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ex tensible ladder of the character described including a hook member at its upper end to engage the window sill and hold the ladder in place when it has been lowered, a pedestal member at the lower end of the ladder to engage the ground and a cross-member to serve as a hold by which to initiate descent.

Another object of the invention is to provide an extensible ladder of the character described in which the lower end of each pipe section includes an externally threaded collar and the upper end of the next pipe section includes an internally threaded reducer, the interengagement of the collars and reducers serving as stops to limit relative extensible movement between the pipe sections and when the collars and reducers are actually threadedly engaged the pipe sections are fixedly attached to each other, an operation required to erect the ladder when it is to be used for ascent purposes.

Another object is to provide an extensible ladder of the character described including rung members slidably mounted on the pipe sections and including means to adjustably fix the position of the rungs along the length of the ladder, the rungs also serving as stops to limit the collapsible length of the ladder when they are fixed in place and abut the reducer at the top of the next lower pipe section.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an extensible ladder which can function not only as an emergency escape ladder but also for normal use when erected and positioned against the wall of a building or a tree, a bridge over impassable ground water, a flagpole, a light pole and an antenna. It can also serve as means to descend through a narrow manhole when each half rung is removed and since the ladder is made of pipe sections, a water hose can be attached to he bottom section to establish a water line or tower.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the ladder shown in its collapsed position;

FIG. 2 is a broken away elevation of the ladder shown in its extended position;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1;

3,485,322 Patented Dec. 23, 1969 FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the upper end of the ladder; and

FIG. 5 is a group discerpted view, parts shown in section, of several features of the invention, namely the adjustable rungs and the means to removably fix the lower end of one section to the upper end of the next lower section.

Specific reference is now made to the drawings in which similar reference characters are used for corresponding elements throughout.

The ladder is generally indicated at 8 and comprises a plurality of pipe sections such as upper section 10, intermediate section 12 and lower section 14. The upper section is of lesser diameter than the intermediate section and the latter is of lesser diameter than the lower section so that the sections interfit slidably and when collapsed approximate the length of the lower section 14 as seen in FIG. 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the upper pipe section slides into the intermediate section 12. The lower end of section 10 has threadedly affixed thereon as at 18 a collar 20 whose upper end includes an externally threaded portion 22. Threadedly afiixed to the upper end of the pipe section 12 as at 24 is a reducer 26 whose upper end includes an internally threaded reduced portion 28 of diameter approximating that of the threaded portion 22. Thus when the pipe sections 10 and 12 are fully extended, the free edge or shoulder 30 of the collar 20 engages the reduced shoulder portion 32 of the reducer 26 to serve as a stop; and when the external threads 22 are made to engage the internal threads 28, as by relative rotation of the sections, the sections will then be fixedly attached to each other at full length.

Since there is an additional lower pipe section 14, the lower end of the intermediate section 12 carries a collar similar to collar 20 and the reducer 34 at the upper end of lower section 12 is similar to reducer 26 and functions in the same manner.

At the upper end of upper pipe section 10 is atiixed a hook member 36 which is shown in greater detail in FIG. 4. While any hook member may be used, the preferred one consists of a T coupling 38 which is threaded upon the upper end of the upper pipe section 10. Another T coupling 40 is fixed on the pipe section 10 beneath coupling 38. Threaded into and extending laterally from the two couplings are a pair of pipe members 42 and 44 upon the ends of which is secured a vertical member 46 which with the members 42 and 44 form a hook, the portion 48 of the vertical member 46 below the member 44 serving as a hand grip for a purpose soon to appear.

Threaded through the opposed faces of the second T coupling 40 which are at right angles to the face into which the member 44 is threaded are pipe sections 50 and 52 which carry hand knobs 54 at their ends. The members 50, 52 and 54 constitute a rung member which is fixed to the upper end of the pipe section 10.

Several additional rung members 56, 58, and 62 are slidably associated with each of the pipe sections 10, 12 and 14. Since each rung member is substantially identical, a single description will suflice with reference to FIG. 5. A coupling 64 is provided having a through vertical bore 66 of diameter slightly larger than the pipe section which it receives. The coupling also contains opposed radially extending tapered bores 68 and 70, the end portions of which are internally threaded as at.72. Each lung is a pipe section 74 upon the end of which is secured a hand knob 76. A pin or plug is provided having a shank 78 and shoulder or head 80, the shank extending into the member 74 whose free end is externally threaded as at 82 and whose edge abuts the shoulder 80. Thus when the threaded end 82 engages the threaded portion 72 of 3 the coupling, the rungs are held in place as are the pins, but the unit is slidable on the pipe section. When the rung 74 is tightened or screwed home the shoulder 80 of the pin frictionally engages the pipe section and holds the rung in place.

Threaded on the lower end of the lower pipe section 14 is another T coupling 84 and threaded into the ends thereof which are perpendicular to the end receiving the pipe section 14 are rungs 86 carrying ground-engaging hand knobs 88 at their ends. Above the coupling 84 is another coupling 90 which is slidable on the pipe section 14 and which carries rungs 92 that can be tightened in the manner previously set forth with reference to FIG. 5 to adjustably fix the rungs in place on the pipe section. This rung member differs from those slidable units previously described only in that ground-engaging feet 94 are fixed to the ends of the rungs 92.

When using the ladder as an escape unit, it can be retained in any suitable manner in a room in collapsed condition as shown in FIG. 1. When a fire or other emergency occurs, one grasps the pipe section 14 with one hand and the hand grip 48 with the other and hurls the unit out of the window while retaining his grasp on the grip. Since the unit can be made of light weight material, such as aluminum, it can be readily handled. By gravity, the pipe sections extend until the rung units 86 and 92 reach the ground, that is the feet 94 and knobs 88 engage the ground as seen in FIG. 1. Then the hook member 42, 44, 46 is hooked over the sill and the person scales down the pipe sections grasping the upper fixed run unit 50, 52 to initiate the descent. In this operation since all rung units but the upper and lower ones are slidable, in the final extended position, the rung units 56 and 58 will rest against the reducer 26 and the rung units 60 and 62 will rest against the reducer 34. Even if the lower end of the ladder doesnt actually engage the ground, the ladder can be hooked onto the sill and one can descend it and then jump oflf the lower end of the ladder.

To use the ladder for ascent purposes, one can extend it on the ground, cause engagement of the collars and the reducers 26 and thus fixedly attach one pipe section to the next. The rung units including unit 90, 92 can be spaced along the pipe sections and tightened. Then the ladder is ready to be placed against a building, tree, etc. and ascended. To assist in lifting the erected ladder, one can grasp the rungs 86 of the lowermost unit. If one wanted to use a lesser overall length of pipe he could fix a rung unit in place and when it engaged the reducer of the next lower pipe section, it would serve as a stop.

If one wanted to descend through a manhole of narrow diameter, he could remove all of the rungs on one side only. If he wished to supply water to rooms which were enveloped in flames or smoke he could attach a water hose to the lower pipe section.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been here shown and described, it will be understood that skilled artisans may make minor variations without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An extensible ladder comprising telescoping pipe sections, a hook member fixed to the upper end of the upper pipe section, a unit fixed to the upper pipe section beneath the hook member including diametrically extending rungs, rung units slidably mounted on the pipe sections, means to fix the rung units adjustably along the length of the pipesections and means to removably couple the ipe sections together in their extended positions.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said coupling means includes a collar fixed upon the lower end of one pipe section and having an externally threaded portion. a reducer fixed upon the upper end of the next lower wider pipe section and including an internally threaded portion adapted to engage the externally threaded portion of the collar.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said hook member includes at least one member coupled to the upper end of the upper pipe section and extending laterally therefrom and a vertical member carried by and adjacent the free end of the lateralmember.

4. An extensible ladder comprising telescoping pipe sections, a hook member fixed to the upper end of the upper pipe section, a unit fixed to the upper pipe section beneath the hook member including diametrically extending rungs, rung units slidably mounted on the pipe sections, means to fix the rung units adjustably along the length of the pipe sections, each rung unit including a couple with a vertical bore slidably receiving the pipe section and rungs threaded into diametrically opposed openings in the couple so that when the rungs are screwed home their inner ends will grip the pipe section and a plug extending into each rung having a shoulder adapted to grip the pipe section when the inner end of the rung presses against the shoulder as it is screwed home.

5. An extensible ladder comprising telescoping pipe Sections, a hook member fixed to the upper end of the upper pipe section, a unit fixed to the upper pipe section beneath the hook member including diametrically extending rungs, rung units slidably mounted on the pipe sections and means to fix the rung units adjustably along the length of the pipe sections, the lowermost slidable rung unit on the lower pipe section being fixed thereto adjacent its lower end and including feet adapted to engage the ground and a rung unit fixed to the lower end of the lower pipe sectionbeneath the lowermost slidable rung unit and including ground-engaging end portions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 144,690 11/1873 Miller 182-52 188,234 3/1877 Copeland 182-52 2,658,702 11/1953 Osborne 182189 3,026,962 3/1962 Kramer 182-189 3,134,567 5/1964 Shoemaker 182-150 REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 18252

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