Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6715584
-
Patent Number
6,715,584
-
Date Filed
Monday, August 5, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, April 6, 200421 years ago
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Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 182 96
- 182 98
- 182 95
- 182 159
- 182 93
- 182 160
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
An escape ladder includes a first leg that is attached to a support surface, such as an outside wall of a building, and a second leg that is movable with respect to the first leg. Rungs are movably attached to the first leg and to the second leg and move between a deployed orientation extending outwardly from the first leg to a stored orientation extending along the long axis of the first leg. The legs and the rungs are rigid.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the general art of ladders, and to the particular field of escape ladders.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Many buildings and homes are more than one story tall. If a building is more than one story tall, it may be difficult to exit that building in the event of an emergency, such as a fire or the like. This problem is exacerbated as the height of the building increases. In some instances, people trapped on an upper floor of a burning building are unable to escape because rescue equipment cannot reach them and they are not able to reach escape routes.
Some escape routes require a person to pass through a hallway or the like which may be blocked by smoke or fire. Sometimes, people panic and lose their way to such escape routes.
Therefore, there is a need for an escape ladder that is located for easy access.
The ladder art contains many examples of escape ladders that can be located adjacent to windows and outside doors. However, many of these known escape ladders are difficult to deploy. For example, some ladders must be taken out of storage, moved to a window or outside access port, and then deployed. A rope ladder stored in a container near a window is an example of such prior art escape ladders. If a person is fleeing for their life, it would be reasonable to believe that they will not be thinking clearly enough to accomplish any but the most simple tasks. Thus, requiring a person to open a container, move a ladder to an escape port and then deploy that ladder may be expecting too much. Even if the ladder is located closely adjacent to the escape portal, it may be asking too much to require a person who is in fear for their life to manipulate such an escape ladder unit. Furthermore, if there is a fire in the room, a person may be extremely reluctant to re-enter the room, even to obtain an escape ladder.
Therefore, there is a need for an escape ladder that is easily deployed.
Many escape ladders, especially rope ladders, are very unstable once deployed. This makes it difficult for a person, especially an elderly or infirm person who may be in a panic, to stay on such a ladder. For this reason, some people may avoid using a ladder even after it is deployed. This is especially true if the escape is being attempted from a great height. Fear of heights may prevent such a person from using a ladder, and such fear will be exacerbated if the ladder appears to be unsteady.
Therefore, there is a need for an escape ladder that is stable and easy to use once deployed.
Many building designers take aesthetics into account and may even subordinate some functions to the form of the building. An escape ladder that interferes with building aesthetics may be changed or even deleted if possible. A building designer may even seek another form of escape to maintain desired building aesthetics.
Therefore, there is a need for an escape ladder that is unobtrusive when it is in a stored condition.
PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is a main object of the present invention to provide an escape ladder that is located for easy access.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an escape ladder that is easily deployed.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an escape ladder that is stable once deployed.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an escape ladder that is easy to use.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an escape ladder that is unobtrusive when in a stored condition.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These, and other, objects are achieved by an escape ladder which comprises a first rigid leg fixedly secured to a support member when in use and having an axial extent; a plurality of rigid rungs movably attached to the first leg to move between a first orientation extending in the direction of the axial extent of the first leg and a second orientation that extends outwardly from the first leg; a second rigid leg fixedly secured to the rungs to move therewith between a first position closely adjacent to the first leg when the rungs are in the first orientation and a second position spaced apart from the first leg when the rungs are in the second orientation. The rungs are interposed between the first leg and the second leg.
The escape ladder embodying the present invention can be fixed to the outside wall of a building just beneath a window or other easily accessed building element and can reach to the ground or to a safety platform. The second leg of the ladder can be locked to the first leg so the closed ladder is unobtrusive and may even be worked into the aesthetic appearance of some buildings, yet can be easily reached and, once reached, easily deployed, and once deployed, easily and safely used. The rungs are rigid and the legs of the ladder are also rigid whereby the deployed ladder is secure so a person will feel secure while using the ladder. Both the rungs and the legs of the ladder can be made of sturdy material, such as metal or the like.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of an escape ladder embodying the present invention in a deployed condition.
FIG. 2
is a view taken along line
2
—
2
of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 3
is a perspective view of an escape ladder embodying the present invention in a stored condition.
FIG. 4
is a front elevational view of an escape ladder embodying the present invention in a stored condition.
FIG. 5
is a front elevational view of an escape ladder embodying the present invention in a deployed condition.
FIG. 6
is a side elevational view of a hinge unit used in the escape ladder embodying the present invention.
FIG. 7
is a side elevational view of a hinge that connects one end of a rung of the ladder of the present invention to one of the legs of the ladder.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
The escape ladder embodying the present invention is usually located on the outside of a building just beneath an exit portal of the building, such as a window. The escape ladder is unobtrusive when it is in the stored condition, yet is easily accessed and easily deployed into a stable escape route once access is gained to the escape portal. Since most people will naturally seek an exit port in an emergency situation, the location of the escape ladder of the present invention next to such location will enhance the ability of the ladder to achieve its main objective of providing an easily reached escape path and an easily deployed escape path from a building. The ladder can be locked so it cannot be used by an intruder to gain access to the building via the exit port.
Referring to the Figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in an emergency escape ladder
10
which comprises a first leg
12
having a first end
14
that will be situated beneath an exit port of a building, such as beneath a window or the like when ladder
10
is in the deployed condition, a second end
16
which will be located near the ground or near a platform when ladder
10
is in the deployed condition, a longitudinal dimension
18
extending between the first end
14
of first leg
12
and the second end
16
of first leg
12
. A length dimension L
1
is measured along the longitudinal dimension
18
of the first leg
12
from the first end
14
of the first leg
12
to the second end
16
of the first leg
12
. First leg
12
also includes a first side
20
, a second side
22
, a transverse dimension T
1
extending from the first side
20
to the second side
22
of the first leg
12
.
The first leg
12
is formed of rigid material, such as fireproof metal or the like and is colored to fit into the aesthetics of a building. First leg
12
of ladder
10
is fixedly mounted on the outside surface of a support, such as a wall W, or the like, and is U-shaped in transverse cross section. First leg
12
further includes a first arm
26
adjacent to the first side
20
of first leg
12
, a second arm
28
adjacent to the second side
22
of first leg
12
and a bight section
30
connecting first arm
26
of the first leg
12
to second arm
28
of first leg
12
. An inner surface
32
is located on first arm
26
and on second arm
28
and on bight section
30
of first leg
12
, and an outer surface
34
is located on first arm
26
and on second arm
28
and on bight section
30
of first leg
12
. A width dimension W
1
is measured from the inner surface
32
of the first arm
26
of first leg
12
to the inner surface
32
of the second arm
28
of first leg
12
along the transverse dimension of first leg
12
. A channel
38
is defined by the inner surface
32
. A first rim
40
is located on the first arm
26
of first leg
12
and a second rim
42
is located on the second arm
28
of first leg
12
. A thickness dimension TH
1
is measured between the first rim
40
of the first arm
26
of first leg
12
to the bight section
30
of the first leg
12
.
The portion of outer surface
34
that is on the bight section
30
of first leg
12
is fixedly attached to the support surface so the first leg
12
is oriented with the thickness dimension extending outwardly away from the support surface.
A plurality of identical rungs, such as rung
50
, are attached to first leg
12
at locations that are spaced apart from each other in the direction of the longitudinal axis
18
of first leg
12
. Each rung
50
includes a first end
52
, a second end
54
, and a longitudinal axis
56
extending between the first end
52
of each rung
50
and the second end
54
of each rung
50
. A length dimension LR is measured along the longitudinal axis
56
of each rung
50
from the first end
52
of each rung
50
to the second end
54
of each rung
50
. Each rung
50
further includes an outer surface
58
and an outer dimension
60
. In the case of a cylindrical rung, outer dimension
60
is an outer diameter. The outer dimension
60
of each rung
50
is smaller than the width dimension of first leg
12
so the rungs
50
can be accommodated in the channel
38
defined in the first leg
12
as will be understood from the teaching of the present disclosure.
A hinge unit
61
hingeably connects each rung
50
to the inner surface
32
of first leg
12
adjacent to the bight section
30
of first leg
12
. All of the hinge units
61
are identical and each hinge unit
61
includes an L-shaped plate
62
having a first leg section
64
, a second leg section
66
and a corner
68
which connects first leg section
64
to second leg section
66
at a right angle. A first surface
70
and a second surface
72
are located on first leg section
64
of L-shaped plate
62
, and first leg section
64
includes a first end
74
and a second end
76
. First surface
70
on the first leg section
64
of L-shaped plate
62
of each hinge unit
61
is fixedly mounted on inner surface
32
of first leg
12
adjacent to the bight section
30
of first leg
12
and second leg section
66
extends outwardly from the inner surface
32
of first leg
12
adjacent to the bight section
30
of first leg
12
. Second leg section
66
includes a first end
78
and a second end
80
. Second end
80
of second leg section
66
is spaced apart from the inner surface
32
of first leg
12
adjacent to the bight section
30
of the first leg
12
. A second plate
82
has a first surface
84
, a second surface
86
, a first end
88
and a second end
90
.
A hinge coupling
92
hingeably connects second end
80
of second leg section
66
of the L-shaped plate
62
of each hinge unit
61
to first end
88
of second plate
82
of each hinge unit
61
. It is noted that second end
80
and first end
88
may be in abutting contact with each other and first surface
94
of second leg section
66
is co-planar with first surface
84
of second plate
82
in the position shown in FIG.
6
.
Each hinge unit
61
is movable between a first orientation shown in solid lines in
FIG. 6
in which first surface
84
of second plate
82
is co-planar with first surface
94
of second leg section
66
of L-shaped plate
62
and extends outwardly therefrom and a second orientation indicated in
FIG. 6
in dotted lines, in which second plate
82
of each hinge unit
61
is oriented at a right angle with respect to second leg section
66
of L-shaped plate
62
.
Escape ladder
10
further includes a second leg
100
which includes a first end
102
, a second end
104
, a longitudinal dimension
106
of second leg
100
extending between first end
102
of second leg
100
and second end
104
of second leg
100
and a length dimension L
2
measured along the longitudinal dimension
106
of second leg
100
from first end
102
to the second end
104
. Second leg
100
further includes a first side
110
, a second side
112
, a transverse dimension T
2
which extends from first side
110
of second leg
100
to second side
112
of second leg
100
.
Second leg
100
is U-shaped in transverse cross section and further includes a first arm
114
located adjacent to first side
110
of second leg
100
and a second arm
116
which is located adjacent to second side
112
of second leg
100
. A bight section
120
connects first arm
114
of second leg
100
to second arm
116
of second leg
100
. Second leg
100
further includes an inner surface
130
on first arm
114
and on second arm
116
and on bight section
120
of second leg
100
. An outer surface
132
is on first arm
114
and on second leg
100
and on second arm
116
of second leg
100
and on bight section
130
of second leg
100
.
A width dimension
133
is measured from the inner surface
130
of first arm
114
to the inner surface of second arm
116
of second leg
100
along the transverse dimension of the,second leg. A channel
134
is defined by the inner surface of the second leg. A first rim
136
is positioned on first arm
114
of second leg
100
and a second rim
138
is positioned on the second arm
116
of second leg
100
. A thickness dimension TH
2
is measured between first rim of first leg to bight section
120
of second leg
100
.
First leg
12
is interposed between second leg
100
and support surface W.
The second end of each rung
50
is attached to the inner surface
130
of second leg
100
adjacent to the bight section
120
of the second leg
100
and the rungs
50
are interposed between the first leg
12
and the second leg
100
. The outer dimension
60
of each rung
50
is less than the width dimension of the first leg
12
so the rungs
50
can be accommodated in the channel
38
defined in the first leg when the ladder
10
is in a stored condition. The width dimension of the first leg
12
is equal to the width dimension of the second leg
100
so the ladder
10
will be neatly stored and aesthetically pleasing when it is in the stored condition. A joint
150
is shown in FIG.
7
and connects the end of a rung
50
to leg
100
so the leg and the rung can move as described herein. There is a joint
150
associated with each rung
50
. Each joint
150
includes a first leg
152
fixedly connected to the second leg
100
and an arcuate body
156
having a channel
158
defined therein. A pin
160
extends from second end
54
of the rung
50
associated with the joint
150
and slides in the channel
158
. The channel
158
is sized and shaped so the rung
50
can slide therein between the first and second positions thereof as discussed herein. It is also noted that an arcuate joint identical to the just-described joint
150
can be substituted for the above-described hinge units
61
in some circumstances. Such a joint unit
150
will be sized and shaped to permit the rungs
50
and ladder legs
12
,
100
to move as described herein. It is further noted that joint elements
150
can be substituted for the hinge units
61
as well and will be sized and shaped to permit the legs
12
,
100
and rungs
50
to move as described herein.
Second leg
100
is movable with the rungs
50
between a first position shown in
FIGS. 1 and 5
which corresponds to the first orientation of each hinge unit
61
as shown in full lines in
FIG. 6
in which first end
102
of second leg
100
is congruent with first end
14
of first leg
12
and second end
104
of second leg
100
is congruent with second end
16
of first leg
12
and in which first rim
136
of second leg
100
is in abutting contact with first rim
40
of first leg
12
and second rim
138
of second leg
100
is in abutting contact with second rim
42
of first leg
12
and rungs
50
are located in the channels on the first and second legs, and a second position shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4
, corresponding to the second orientation of each hinge unit
61
as indicated in
FIG. 6
in dotted lines and which is shown in
FIG. 3
, in which first end
102
of second leg
100
is spaced apart from first end
14
of first leg
12
in the direction of the longitudinal axis of first leg
12
and second end
104
of second leg
100
is spaced apart from second end
16
of first leg
12
in the direction of the longitudinal axis of first leg
12
and first rim
136
of second leg
100
is spaced apart from first rim
40
of first leg
12
in the direction of the thickness dimension of first leg
100
.
A lock
170
is located on the first ends of each of the legs to lock the first leg to the second leg when the ladder is in the stored condition. This prevents a would-be intruder from deploying the ladder from below to gain access to the inside of a building through an exit port, such as a window, or the like. The lock
170
can be an over-the-center type lock that is easily opened when necessary, even by someone who is in a panic, yet is securely closed when desired.
One form of the ladder has the channel in second leg
100
wider than the channel in first leg
12
whereby the second leg will cover the first leg when the ladder is in the stored condition. This will make the ladder even less obtrusive when it is stored. This form of the ladder is shown in
FIG. 4
as ladder
10
′ having leg
100
′ covering leg
12
′. Such a ladder will have a dimension of only three to four inches away from the wall when the ladder is being stored. Thus a ladder that can be eight to ten feet long will be stored in a configuration that is very narrow with respect to the structure on which it is attached.
It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.
Claims
- 1. An emergency escape ladder comprising:a) a first leg having (1) a first end, (2) a second end, (3) a longitudinal dimension extending between the first end of said first leg and the second end of said first leg, (4) a length dimension measured along the longitudinal dimension of said first leg from the first end of said first leg to the second end of said first leg, (5) a first side, (6) a second side, (7) a transverse dimension extending from the first side of said first leg to the second side of said first leg, b) said first leg being U-shaped in transverse cross section and further including (1) a first arm adjacent to the first side of said first leg, (2) a second arm adjacent to the second side of said first leg, (3) a bight section connecting the first arm of said first leg to the second arm of said first leg, (4) an inner surface on the first arm and on the second arm and on the bight section of said first leg, (5) an outer surface on the first arm and on the second arm and on the bight section of said first leg, (6) a width dimension measured from the inner surface on the first arm of said first leg to the inner surface on the second arm of said first leg along the transverse dimension of said first leg, (7) a channel being defined by the inner surface, and (8) a first rim on the first arm of said first leg, (9) a second rim on the second arm of said first leg, and (10) a thickness dimension measured between the first rim on the first arm of said first leg to the bight section of said first leg; c) the outer surface on the bight section of said first leg being fixedly attached to a support surface; d) a plurality of rungs attached to said first leg at locations that are spaced apart from each other in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said first leg, each rung including (1) a first end, (2) a second end, (3) a longitudinal axis extending between the first end of each rung and the second end of each rung, (4) a length dimension measured along the longitudinal axis of each rung from the first end of each rung to the second end of each rung, (5) an outer surface on each rung, and (6) an outer dimension; d) the outer dimension of each rung being smaller than the width dimension of said first leg; e) a hinge unit hingeably connecting each rung to the inner surface of said first leg adjacent to the bight section of said first leg, each hinge unit including (1) an L-shaped plate having a first leg section, a second leg section, a corner connecting the first leg section to the second leg section at a right angle, the first leg section including a first surface, a second surface, a first end and a second end, with the first surface on the first leg section of the L-shaped plate of each hinge unit being fixedly mounted on the inner surface of said first leg adjacent to the bight section of said first leg and the second leg section of the L-shaped plate extending outwardly from the inner surface of said first leg adjacent to the bight section of said first leg, the second leg section of the L-shaped plate including a first surface, a second surface, a first end and a second end, with the second end of the second leg section of the L-shaped plate being spaced apart from the inner surface of said first leg adjacent to the bight section of said first leg, (2) a second plate having a first surface, a second surface, a first end and a second end, (3) a hinge coupling hingeably connecting the second end of the second leg section of the L-shaped plate of each hinge unit to the first end of the second plate of each hinge unit; f) each hinge unit being movable from a first orientation in which the first surface of the second plate is co-planar with the first surface of the second leg of the L-shaped plate and extends outwardly therefrom and a second orientation in which the second plate of each hinge unit is oriented at a right angle with respect to the second leg section of the L-shaped plate; g) a second leg (1) a first end, (2) a second end, (3) a longitudinal dimension of said second leg extending between the first end of said second leg and the second end of said second leg, (4) a length dimension measured along the longitudinal dimension of said second leg from the first end of said second leg to the second end of said second leg, (5) a first side, (6) a second side, (7) a transverse dimension extending from the first side of said second leg to the second side of said second leg, h) said second leg being U-shaped in transverse cross section and further including (1) a first arm adjacent to the first side of said second leg, (2) a second arm adjacent to the second side of said second leg, (3) a bight section connecting said first arm of said second leg to the second arm of said second leg, (4) an inner surface on the first arm of said second leg and on the second arm and on the bight section of said second leg, (5) an outer surface on the first arm of said second leg and on the second arm of said second leg and on the bight section of said second leg, (6) a width dimension measured from the inner surface on the first arm of said second leg to the inner surface on the second arm of said second leg along the transverse dimension of said second leg, (7) a channel being defined by the inner surface of said second leg, and (8) a first rim on the first arm of said second leg, (9) a second rim on the second arm of said second leg, and (10) a thickness dimension measured between the first rim on the first leg of said second leg to the bight section of said second leg; i) said first leg being interposed between said second leg and said support surface; j) a plurality of joints mounted on the inner surface of said second leg, each joint being associated with a rung; k) the second end of each rung being attached to one joint of said plurality of joints to be attached via the one joint to the inner surface of said second leg adjacent to the bight section of said second leg; l) said plurality of rungs being interposed between said first leg and said second leg; m) the outer dimension of each rung being less than the width dimension of said first leg, n) the width dimension of said first leg being equal to the width dimension of said second leg; and o) said second leg being movable with said rungs between a first position corresponding to the first orientation of each hinge unit in which the first end of said second leg is congruent with the first end of said first leg and the second end of said second leg is congruent with the second end of said first leg and in which the first rim of said second leg is in abutting contact with the first rim of said first leg and the second rim of said second leg is in abutting contact with the second rim of said first leg and said rungs are located in the channels on said first and second legs, and a second position corresponding to the second orientation of each hinge unit in which the first end of said second leg is spaced apart from the first end of said first leg in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said first leg and the second end of said second leg is spaced apart from the second end of said first leg in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said first leg and the first rim of said second leg is spaced apart from the first rim of said first leg in the direction of the direction of the thickness dimension of said first leg.
US Referenced Citations (11)
