US438575A

US438575A - Fire-escape

Info

Publication number: US438575A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1890-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 1907-10-14

Description

(No Model.)

- W. L. DOUGHER TY.

EIEE ESCAPE, v No. 438,575. 4 Patented 001;. 14, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

XVILLIAM L. DOUGHERTY, OF DARLINGTON, WISCONSIN.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 438,537 5, dated October 14, 1890.

Application filed May 12, 1888. Serial No. 273,909. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LWILLIAM LOGUE DOUGH- ERTY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Darlington, in the county of La Fayette and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do 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, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to fire-escapes; and its object is to provide a means of escaping from burning buildings that, shall be portable, capable of being stowed away in a small space, always ready for use, proof against burning off or breaking, readily understood, suitable for use by ladies and children, and available by firemen or other persons for mounting to the assistance of those in danger.

The accompanying drawing illustrates my invention.

It consists of a metallic chain composed of alternate short links A and long links B. The links are made, preferably, from round quarter-inch iron rod, the long ones being about fifteen inches in length, whichisa convenient size for transportation. At each end of the links B is an eye 17, by which it is flexibly united to the adjacent links A, or, in case of the upper link, to a hook, staple, or other fastening secured to the floor, window-frame, or other suitable object. The links A are each composed of a single piece of metal doubled on itself twice at cg a to form along narrow or closed loop, the ends of the rod lying near the middle of theloop. One of these ends is considerably the longer, so that it can be bent at right angles to the length of the loop and carried up in front of the loop, turned into an eye a, then carried down behind the loop and formed into anothereye a, and then brought up and terminated at the middle of the loop near the other end of the rod. The eyes a a are thus arranged in a vertical plane, while the arms of the loop project laterally three or four inches on each side of the same.

WVhen the chain is suspended ready for use, the loops stand out like cross-bars, serving as handles and foot-rests, upon which one can descend or mount, as on a ladder. The weight of the chain coming on the eyes a a tends to keep them in a vertical plane and serves to steady the ladder.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. A fire-escape consisting of a chain composed of alternate long and short links, the latter having arms projecting on each side of the central line of the chain, substantially as described.

2. A fire-escape consisting of a chain composed of alternate long and short links, each consisting of a single piece of material, the short links comprising a transverse loop forming arms on each side of the chain, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the straight links B, having an eye I) at each end, of the links A, each comprising two eyes a a, arranged in a vertical plane, and a long narrow loop extending transversely to said plane, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM L. DOUGI-IERTY.

Witnesses:

EDWARD H. OoNLEY, J. F. MOGINLEY.