US3777846A - Fire escape - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention is a fire escape system in which a window can be swung open; simultaneous with the swinging a descending device is lowered to the ground from the window ledge.

Description

United States Patent 191 Josephson et al.

FIRE ESCAPE Appl. No.: 278,118

US. Cl. 182/78, 182/196 Int. Cl E06c 1/56, E06c 9/10, E06c 9/14 Field of Search 182/20, 21, 77, 78,

1 Dec. 11, 1973 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 269,377 12/1882 Bessier 1. 182/21 1,462,644 7/1923 Lancaster 160/91 Primary ExaminerReinaldo P. Machado -Att0mey-Norman S. Blodgett [5 7] ABSTRACT This invention is a fire escape system in which a window can be swung open; simultaneous with the swinging a descending device is lowered to the ground from the window ledge.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures T" 1' T 1 11 l i l L PATENIEDUEc 1 1 ma 3.777.846

lye. FIG. 2

1; FIRE ESCAPE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The danger of fire is a matter of constant concern to the occupants of buildings constructed -of flameable materials. The natural tendency of fires to travel up and consume stairways, partly explains the fact that people are often trapped in therupper floors of a burning build-; ing. Thereare other dangerous situations that involve smoke or other natural hazards, such. as floods, earth quakes and persons wanting to escape from a building,

who would otherwise have harm done to them for any reason such as by an inoperative air conditioning system, an intruder, a crazed person, and so on..New laws and construction methods, aimed at controlling-the entrapment problem, have done much to improve the situation in new commercial buildings. Even in these new structures, however, the vunsightliness and considerable expense of fireproofstairways have limited their numher to the absolute minimum. Furthermore, the'problern in older or non-commerical buildings remains untouched. Enforcement problems make it unlikely that laws will be much more effective than they are at present, in forcing adequate fire escape equipment.

. It seems, however, that, in view of the obvious dangers, both commercial and non-commercial building owners would be very anxious to provide more than adequate escape systems. The answer is, of course, that both internal and external fireproof stairways are expensive. Externalstairways are oftenunsightly while internal stairways are often impossible to put into older buildings. In addition, the only full-proof escape system is one whicheasily services each room in a building. Such an extensive system of stairways would add to the cost even more.

In order to provide a fire escape system which is low in cost, which is easily accessible, yet which causes no aesthetic problems, several systems have beendeveloped. Most of these, involve a storable ladder or other descending device, placed at one window in each commonly occupied room. In case of fire, the occupants of the room can open the window, lowerthe ladder, and escape to the ground. I

Although such a system has several advantages over the old systems, there are still some problems. A major problem is that standard windows are not made to allow easy egress in panic situations. Relatively small openings require the user to exit using awkward and time consuming positions. If the window sticks and will not open completely, this problem is increased. Furthermore, unpacking the descending device, finding the end, and lowering it can result in tangles and loss of more precious time. If proper operation of such a system is difficult and time consuming for a panicstricken adult, it is impossible for a small child. These and other difficulties experienced with the prior art devices have been obviated in a novel manner by the present invention.

It is, therefore, an outstanding object of the invention to provide a fire escape system which provides easy egress.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a fire escape system which is relatively inexpensive.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a fire escape system in which the exit is opened and the descending means is lowered by one simple initiating action.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a fire escape system in which the descending means is stored in a manner whichmakes unlikely the possibility of tangling- A still further object of the invention is the provision of a fire escape system that is easy to operate over and over again for trainingof occupants and inspection of elements throughout its lifetime on a systematic, economical basis, and without continuous repair or maintenance needs.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This inventionhas to do with a fire escape device in whicha specially designed window can be swung open to allow egress. Furthermore, the action of openingthe window automatically lowers ,-a ladder or other descending means in the case of upper stories. The descending means is stored in such a way that the contact of one part to another is minimized, thus removing the possibility of tangling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The character of theinvention, however, may be best understood by reference to one of its structural forms, as illustrated by the acompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a fire escape system embodying the principles of the present invention, taken on the Il of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the system taken on the line 11- of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIG. 1, wherein are best shown the general features of the invention, the fire escape system, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, is shown as including a peripheral frame 11, a window 12, and a chain ladder 13.

The peripheral freme is permanently attached into the window opening of the building. The peripheral frame 11 is hinged to the window opening along a vertical edge by a hinge 28 and normally rests in the window opening. The window 12 includes a window proper 15 and panes 16. The frame 11 and the window 12 carry all of the elements normally found in a building window including sliding sections, locks, screens and storm windows. The small gap between the peripheral frame 11 and the window frame is sealed by a flexible flap 17 which covers the outside of the gap, and a flexible tubu lar seal l8-which rests in grooves 22 provided in the gap. The window is normally held in it sealed position, but a sharp outward blow would force the window into its open position as shown in dashed lines and indicated by the reference numeral 27. This position allows easy egress.

The ladder 13 is an elongated, flexible chain arrangement well-known in the art. One end of the ladder is firmly and permanently attached by lag bolts 19 to the building proper. The remainder of the chain is loosely held in a box-like receptacle 20.

The receptacle has an open end 21 by which the ladder enters it. The open end is configured so that, if the receptacle is positioned with its open end facing downward, the contents of the receptacle will easily fall out.

The ladder is stored, within the receptacle, in layers. Each layer of the ladder is separated from the adjacent layers by a sheet of aluminum foil 23. These sheets which are uneffected by moisture or heat, allow the ladder to fall easily from the box to an elongated position without tangling.

In their normal storage position (shown in FIG. 1 as solid lines) the receptacle and ladder are stored on but not fixed to a shelf 26. Diametrically opposed to the open end of the receptacle is a back side 24 by which the receptacle is attached to a cord 25. The cord 25 is, in turn, attached to the window at a point separated from the hinged edge.

The use and operation of the invention will now be readily understood in view of the above description. In normal situations, the window 12 is in its closed and sealed position as shown in the drawing in solid lines. As such, the window elements may be opened and closed as standard window systems.

In case of fire, in which an occupant is trapped in a room having the present fire escape system, he simply gives the unhinged edge of the window 12 a hard blow with his hand. This breaks the seals. He then pushes the window 12 outwardly and, as he does so, the cord 25 draws the receptacle out the opening. This allows the receptacle to hang from the window 12, as shown in dashed lines in the figures. The loose length of the ladder falls from the receptacle to the ground. The occupant is then able to climb through the opening and descend the ladder to the ground.

If the window is installed adjacent the ground (as in the first story of a building), it may be possible to omit the use of the ladder. In such an installation, the window can be opened for normal ventilation by sliding the window element 12 up and down. In an emergency, however, the entire frame 11 and window element 12 would be swung open quickly to give a very large egress opening. I

lt is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, however, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

The invention having been thus described, what is claimed as new and desired tosecure by Letters Patent l. A fire escape comprising:

a. an adapter frame adapted to be hingedly mounted in a conventional window opening of a building for emergency opening, said frame being hinged at one edge to swing outwardly,

b. sealing means between the said frame and the. said window opening,

0. a window mounted in the said. frame and independently operable relative thereto for normal ventilation,

d. an elongated flexible device which is normally located in a storage position adjacent said adapter frame but which can be moved to a lowered position where it can be used to descend from the window, and

e. means, activated by the outward swing of the window, for transferring said descending means from said storage position to said lowered position.

2. A fire escape system, comprising a. a window adapted to be mounted for hinged action adjacent a window opening in a building,

b. a receptacle normally mounted in a first position adjacent the said window opening and connected to the said window for movement with the window from the said first position to a second position exterior of the window opening, and

c. a flexible elongated device for descending, which device is fastened at one end to the building adjacent the said window opening, which is nonnally stored within the receptacle when the receptacle is in the said first position, and which falls downwardly from the receptacle when the receptacle is moved into the said second position.

3. A fire escape system as recited in claim 2, wherein the receptacle is a box which is open on at least one side.

4. A fire escape system as recited in claim 2, wherein said receptacle and said window are connected.

5. A fire escape system as recited in claim 2, wherein said flexible device is stored in layers with sheets of material separating the layers.

6. A fire escape system as recited in claim 2, wherein said flexible device is a chain ladder.

7. A fire escape system as recited in claim 2, wherein said window is mounted for hinged action along a vertical side.

Claims (7)

1. A fire escape comprising: a. an adapter frame adapted to be hingedly mounted in a conventional window opening of a building for emergency opening, said frame being hinged at one edge to swing outwardly, b. sealing means between the said frame and the said window opening, c. a window mounted in the said frame and independently operable relative thereto for normal ventilation, d. an elongated flexible device which is normally located in a storage position adjacent said adapter frame but which can be moved to a lowered position where it can be used to descend from the window, and e. means, activated by the outward swing of the window, for transferring said descending means from said storage position to said lowered position.

2. A fire escape system, comprising a. a window adapted to be mounted for hinged action adjacent a window opening in a building, b. a receptacle normally mounted in a first position adjacent the said window opening and connected to the said window for movement with the window from the said first position to a second position exterior of the window opening, and c. a flexible elongated device for descending, which device is fastened at one end to the building adjacent the said window opening, which is normally stored within the receptacle when the receptacle is in the said first position, and which falls downwardly from the receptacle when the receptacle is moved into the said second position.

3. A fire escape system as recited in claim 2, wherein the receptacle is a box which is open on at least one side.

4. A fire escape system as recited in claim 2, wherein said receptacle and said window are connected.

5. A fire escape system as recited in claim 2, wherein said flexible device is stored in layers with sheets of material separating the layers.

6. A fire escape system as recited in claim 2, wherein said flexible device is a chain ladder.

7. A fire escape system as recited in claim 2, wherein said window is mounted for hinged action along a vertical side.

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