US652645A

US652645A - Life-saving net.

Info

Publication number: US652645A
Application number: US1230300A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gustave Scheel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1900-04-10
Filing date: 1900-04-10
Publication date: 1900-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 1917-06-26

Description

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(No Modell) Patented .lune 2B, |900.

G. SCHEEL. LIFE SVING NET.

(Application led Apr. 10, 1900.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT' OFFICE.

GUSTAVE SOHEEL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LIFE-SAVING NET.

sPEcI'FIcA'rIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 652,645, dated rane 2e, ieoo.

Application filed llpril 10,1900.

from windows or other high points of the burning or adjacent buildings.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a collapsible frame in which the bodycatching net is suspended and which may be instantly distended or opened for operation. The frame in which the net is suspended consists of circularly-arranged lazy-tongs,where by the frame as a whole may be collapsed into a comparatively small cylindrical bundle, adapting the entire device to be compactly carried upon or suspended beneath a hookand-ladder truck or other wheeled apparatus used lby fire-companies.

The device as a whole is also equipped with an air-cushion for breaking the fall of a person landing in the net. Means are provided for locking the lazytongs, so as to prevent accidental collapsing of the frame when a person lands therein, and flexible hand-grips are attached to the outside of the frame for enabling firemen or bystanders to lift and vary the position of the net according to requirements and to effectively hold the frame open and in condition for use with or without the aid of the means for locking the frame in its open or operative position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the .ensuing description. j

The invention consists in a life-saving net embodying certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement 'of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and incorporated in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a life-saving net con-` structed in accordance with the present invention, showing the device opened, ready to receive a descending body. Fig. 2 is a verti- .cal diametrical section through the same.

Serial No. 12,303. (No model.)

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of several of the lazy-tongs members, showing the elastic rim, one of the flexible hand-grips, and the locking device for preventing the collapse of the frame. Fig. Il is a detail perspective view of adjacent lazy-,tongs members, showing the formation of the upper ends thereof and the manner of attaching the elastic rim and net thereto. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view showing the manner in which the lock-pin is associated with the lazy-tongs members.

Similar numerals of reference are'employed to indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

The frame in which the net proper is suspended consists of a plurality of lazy-tongs members l and 2, pivotally connected at or near their ends',as -shownat 3, and also pivotally connected at 4, where theyv cross each other. The frame composed of these lazytongs members is endless and circular in form, as clearly shown in Fig. Land when distended, as shown in said Fig. l, the frame assumes the shape of a large cylinder, while when it is collapsed or closed it takes the shape of a comparatively-small cylinder, relatively of the size of the air-cushion shown in Fig. 2. When collapsed, one or more straps (not shown) may be passed around the device, so

as to enable it to be suspended from and carried by any of the ordinary fire-trucks nowin use. The lazy-tongs members 1 are eX- tended vat their upper ends above the members 2 and are defiected outward, as shown at 5, and further perforated, as shown at 6, to receive iiexible loops 7. The upper end of each of the members 1 is provided with one or more such flexible loops, and an elastic rim 8. is strung through all of the loopsI in the manner illustrated in Figs. l, 2, and Il.

The net proper (shown at 9) may be of any suitable construction and is of circular form and of slightly-larger diameter than the lazy tongs frame when distended, so that it will have the requisite amount of sag, as shown in Figs. l and 2. The net 9 is connected with the elastic rim S by means of .flexible connections lO. (Shown, preferably, in the form of endless bands passing around the rim 8 and engaging the meshes of the net.) The net is also attached to the longer lazy-tongs members 1 by means of elastic connections 11,

ICO

lwhich are engaged with the flexible loops 7 ported at intervals from the top of the co1- ,.lapsible frame by means of elastic connections, so that when a heavy body lands'in the net it will not bring a sudden breaking vstrain upon the lazy-tongs-members, but serve to cushion the fall ,of the body. In order to still further cushion the fally of a body, an inflated air-cushion 12 is suspended within the frame and'below the net and attached to the bottom of the net, as shown in-Fig. 2. This cushion will prevent the body from coming in contact with the ground or pavement or other surface upon :which the life-saving net as a whole is placed, and thus a person may jump from a very high point intothe net with comparatively little danger.

Flexible hand-grips 13 arearranged upon the outerside of the frame and connected at their ends, as at 14, to the adjacently-located lazy-tongs members, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. These hand-grips are illustrated, preferi ably,in the form of chains; but it will be understood that ropes or wire cables may be employed in lieu of the chains, or, if desired, the

chains may be covered with fabric, leather,

or other material, according to the desire of as a person alights therein.

'35 able the 'frame to be held distended without the manufacturer.

The hand-grips are located at intervals around the frame, so that several firemen or bystanders may grasp the same and hold the frame of the net distended They also enthe necessity of employing locking devices for the samel purpose.

In order to provide for locking the frame and preventing 'its' accidental collapse, I form openings 15 in its adjoining members and arrange these openings so that they will register when the frame is opened -for use. A lock-pin 16 is removablyinserted through the registering openings 15', and thiswill effectually guard against accidentalcollapse of the frame as a whole. In order that the pin 16 may always be ready for use, it is attached by a chain or other flexible connection 17 to one of the lazy-tongs members,as shown best in Fig. 3.

From the foregoing description it'will be seen that I have provided a simple, efficient, and reliable life-saving net which will safely catch persons who may becompelled toj ump from windows or high places about a burning building or structures adjacent thereto. rThe device as a whole may be openedfor operative position by firemen or bystanders and requires no special knowledge on their part of the construction of the same. Bynmeans -of the hand-grips the frame maybe held distended and, further, be lifted and: moved from place to place as occasion may require. If

there is sufficient time, the lock-pins may be,V

brought into use to insure against the collapse of the frame. It will also be seen that the net proper is flexibly and yielclingly supported by reason of the particular connection bctween it'and the frame, thus relieving the frame from sudden and undue strains and4 also cushioning the fall of a person alighting thlerein. It will also be seen that, in addition to the cushioning feature last mentioned, a pneumatic cushion isatt'ached to the bottom of the net and suspended beneath the same,

thus preventing the falling object from coming in injurious Contact' with fthe ground. When not 'in use, the device as a whole may be compactly folded into a cylindrical bundle the net proper and the cushion being housed and closed within the lazy-tongs members in a manner that Will be readily ,understood without further description. y

I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction hereinabove set forth,

but reserve' the right ,to change, modify, or

ction within the scope of this A lar lazy-tongs frame, and a bodycatchin g net' having an elastic connection with the frame,

- substantially as specified.4

4. A life-saving net comprising a lazyetongs iframe, an elastic rim.therefor,an'd a net proper attached to the rim, substantially as specified.

5. A life-saving net comprisingalazy-tongs frame,an elastic rim therefor, and anet proper suspended within the frame and connected alternately with the elastic rim and lazy-tongs members, substantially as specified.

G. A-life-savin'g net comprisinga lazy-tongs frame having members'thereof deflected outward at their ends, anda net proper attached to such deflected ends, substantially as 'speci-v fied.

7. Alifesavingnet co'mprisingalazy-tongs frame having members thereof deflected out# ward at their ends, anet proper suspended within the frame, and-elastic connect-ions between the net and said deflected ends, substantially as specified. 4 Y

8. A lifc-savingnet comprisin ga lazy-tongs frame, an elastic rim therefor, a net proper s'uspended'within the frame, flexi-ble connections between the net and rim, and elastic connections between thenet'and frame, substantiallyV as specified.'4

9. A life-,saving net comprising a lazy-tongs frame, an elastic' rimjthcrefor, flexible loops on the frame, through which the elasticrim is strung, yand a net proper suspended from said rim, substantially as Specified.

"16; `Mitesaving net comprising a collapsible circular lazy-tongs frame, a net proper IOt suspended therein, and iheans for locking the frame distended.

11. Alife-saving net comprising a collapsi- 'ble' circular lazy-tongs frame, a net proper suspended therein, andv a locking-pin for engaging the lazy-tongsmembers and prevent-` ing collapse of the frame.

12; A life-saving net comprising a/collapsible lazy-tongs frame,"adjoining members of which are provided with openin gs which register when the frame is open, a net proper suspended in the frame, and a locking-pin for engagement with'said openings, substantially `as specified. v, f

13. A life^savin g net comprisinga collapsible lazy-ton gs frame, .a net proper suspended therein, and hand-grips arranged upon the outer side 'of the frame, substantially as specitied.

l 14;'. A life-'saving net comprising a collapsi! ble lazy-tongs frame, a net proper suspended therein, and iiexible hand-grips connected to the lazy-tongsmembers upon the outer side of the frame, substantially as specified in presence of two Witnesses.

therein, .and a cushion suspended belenr the A y net, substantially asspeciied. i l

17. A life-saving not comprising-a collapsi ble lazy-tongs frame, anet proper suspended therein, and a cushion attached to the lower side of the net, substantially as specified.

g 18; Alifelsaving net-oomprisinga collapsit ble lazytong s f1'arne`,anet proper suspendedA therein, and aninflated air-cushion suspend.y

'ed belowthe net and arranged Within 'che frame, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof v I affix my signature GUSTAVE SCHEEL. Witnesses:

GEORGE LAUTEnrniorr, MAX -L. AWAIJPERS.