Patent Application
20130240293
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an emergency descent system, or “EDS”. More particularly, this invention relates to a more universal EDS that can be stored, easily installed and used for affecting safe escape from the higher levels of a building, home or office, in case of fire or an atypical emergency. This invention uses fireproof rope or cable for lowering an individual in a controlled descent from a higher to lower elevation. Unlike many prior art rescue devices, this invention includes an integral brake and rack that will not require the operator/user to contact or otherwise touch the line/rope during descent.
2. Relevant Art
Descent control devices have been developed with the objective of lowering individuals or objects from a higher to lower elevation. These devices have taken many forms and have utilized a variety of elements. Some are capable of providing a mechanical braking mechanism, such as a deadman or panic control feature, when the device would be used for descent, escape, or rescue purposes.
Concerns with occupational safety have led to the development of mechanisms which enable a worker to lower himself from an elevated position such as a scaffold, crane, lift truck or platform in the event of an emergency. That equipment is, in some respects, similar to known fire escape devices, mountain climbing equipment, and military equipment.
One descent control device with a deadman brake, in the form of a vertical cylindrical drum or capstan about which a rope is wound and a tapered slot through the drum for receiving and releasably gripping the rope, is shown in Varner et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,146. That device includes plates on each end of a vertical cylindrical drum or capstan with apertures on each end plate through which the rope is threaded, then wound in two or more turns around the drum.
Tapered slots are well known for releasably fastening ropes, lines and cables. The use of cylindrical capstans for holding and providing a mechanical advantage for tightening ropes is also known. Likewise, a variety of fire escape devices utilize rope wound around a cylinder. See, for example, Budd U.S. Pat. No. 386,237; FitzGerald U.S. Pat. No. 536,866; Howe U.S. Pat. No. 771,251; Thuemer U.S. Pat. No. 946,588; Smith U.S. Pat. No. 1,115,603; Steffen U.S. Pat. No. 4,311,218; and Forrest U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,508,193 and 4,550,801.
In addition, there are known but clearly distinguishable teachings in Hobbs U.S. Pat. No. 3,678,543; Arancio U.S. Pat. No. 3,738,449; Wagner U.S. Pat. No. 4,019,609; Bell et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,714,135; Varner et al. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,038,888 and 5,131,491; Bassett U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,697; Harbers Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 6,585,082; Metz U.S. Pat. No. 6,817,443; Henson U.S. Pat. No. 6,823,966; and Halevy U.S. Pat. No. 7,357,224. See also, Ador Published U.S. App. No. 20020112916; Price Published U.S. App. No. 20020158098; Gelman Published U.S. App. No. 20030159887; Richardson Published U.S. App. No. 20040140152; Fischer et al. Published U.S. App. No. 20060011415; Harris Jr. Published U.S. App. Nos. 20060113147 and 20100122874; Moon et al Published U.S. App. No. 20070158139; and Botti Published U.S. App. No. 200702460298.
It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved controlled descent system that can be used by individuals of various ages and body builds to escape a high elevation emergency. A related object is to provide an EDS which is fail-safe for descent from a burning structure, either home or office building.
Another object is to provide a fire escape EDS which can be quickly and easily attached at one end to a sturdy object in the emergency area, even the opposite end of a door handle or other structural fixture, then rapidly stepped into and used for lowering oneself to safety. The counter-rope for this EDS can be stored until needed and then tossed to a safe descent point, most often the ground below or a lower level rooftop from which further evacuation can be achieved.
A further object is to provide an emergency descent controller with characteristics that will enable its user to don the device and affect a safe, slow descent despite the inherent panic that often ensues in a fire or other life-threatening situation.
In accordance with the foregoing objects, the present invention is embodied in an improved EDS for lowering someone along a rope from an elevated position to a relatively lower, safe position. The system includes fireproof rope or cable, a purposefully designed control descent rack in and through which that rope/cable is wound and a friction braking handle described in more detail below.
The invention contemplates an emergency descent kit or package which may be held in reserve and used when needed. Stored with that kit, stored in a bag or package, is a descent rope harness that would include a loop or hook fastening device at one end for securing to a fixed object at the elevated position. After fixing the rope to a support, the user drops the case and rope supply to the ground. The user then steps a first leg into the harness, then his/her other leg into a second harness leg loop, before connecting the other vest portions/straps about his/her chest and using the EDS to lower him/herself to safety.
The particular components to the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying FIGURES consist of: 2 leg loops (each 38″ long) of 2″ webbing; a leg strap, 40″long of 2″ webbing; a right chest strap, 70″ long of 2″ webbing; a shoulder strap, 51″ long of 2″ webbing; a left chest buckle strap, 12″ long of 2″ webbing; a Kevlar® brake strap, 22″ long of 1″ webbing; a Kevlar® brake support, 6″ long of 1″ webbing; a Kevlar® line shield, 7½″ long of 1″ webbing, a Kevlar® line tube, 7″ long of 2″ Kevlar® tubular webbing; 4 pieces of flame resistant reflective tape, (lime colored), 2″ wide, 5″ long; flame resistant reflective tape, (silver colored), 1″ wide, 5″ long; an Emergency Descent System (EDS) Rack; at least 50 feet of Tech 12 Technora® braided line, 3/16 diameter, 5600 lb. capacity; sections of 138 Kevlar® thread and 207 Kevlar® thread; 2 floating bar buckles.
For the preferred construction of this embodiment (as shown), the following steps were taken:
After assembly of the foregoing EDS per the steps outlined above, the unit can be sold for use in an emergency. For any such use, the wearer/operator/user would first take one end of the unit's fireproof rope and secure same at one end to a fixed anchoring point such as a building fixture or possibly a sturdy attachment to a door or doorway. The rest of that rope/line would then be tossed from the elevated point where the user is at risk to a lower, possibly out a window or open doorway to a more secure region like the ground below or possibly a safer, building region like a lower rooftop. Once anchored and fully strapped in/on, the wearer/user can operate the present invention to safely descend slowly and controllably along the rope from his/her elevated point to the ground below or a lower rescue platform/region then not at risk.
The device provides a mechanical advantage by enabling its wearer to descend slowly along the rope as the rope hangs downwardly from an elevated point without having to selectively grip the rope. In one extreme or “deadman” position, components of this device grip the rope tightly and prevent a rapid, uncontrolled descent. In another position, these same components temporarily engage/grip the rope to prevent or at least substantially retard too rapid of a descent. In the normal descent position, this device engages components to frictionally engage the rope as the wearer controllably slides down and along to safety.
While intending to be a primary fire escape rescue apparatus, for either home or office use, it may also serve as a device for enabling descent from scaffolding, lifts, forklifts, trucks, stock pickers, snorkels, cranes, window washing platforms and the like.
Note that the brake mechanism for this embodiment of EDS works by pulling on the handle and not by letting the handle “go”. In other words, to increase pressure and thereby slow one's descent, the user/wearer must take the “additional” step of actually pulling . . . pulling down on the Kevlar® brake strap. Such pulling causes increased friction by pulling against the rope/cord/line in two different directions.
In operation, the EDS apparatus may be activated for a slow, controlled descent by releasing tension on its brake strap. That causes the rope to frictionally move through its descent rack while the user/wearer gradually slides down the other end of said rope. To stop or slow descent, the user/wearer may simply increase his/her pull on the brake, thereby causing the rope to re-engage or “wedge” in the system for hopefully just a temporary postponement of one's full descent to safety.
In use, a fireproof rope is woven through the fixed crossbars of the device's rack (or ladder) as best seen in the accompanying FIGS. By decreasing the brake/pull, this rope will loosen its selective gripping engagement with other EDS components thereby allowing its user/wearer to descend down and along the free length of said rope slowed by frictional engagement with the ladder/crossbars of the rack integrally included in this EDS harness system.
This invention represents a significant improvement over the harness-type system of Varner U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,962. At one end, the rope of this EDS is provided with a loop and/or other securing device to enable rope securement to a fixture within the confines of the elevated position. A free end of that rope can be housed in its own container (not shown). Ideally, that container, the EDS proper and related materials (including appropriate instructions) can be packaged in a common emergency kit/bag.
In use for descent from a window, door, porch, scaffold, lift truck or other platform, this EDS kit may be opened and the loop (or free) end of its rope secured in/at the elevated location. It may or may not include a hook, carabiner or other securing assist. The rope itself (in or outside of its own storage packet) would then be lowered from the elevated location. The user/wearer would don the harness about his/her chest and through both shoulder straps. He/she would step into both of the two integral leg straps and then utilize the EDS/harness to controllably descend along the free end of that rope to the ground or a lower safety/rescue point.
This invention is much easier to put on than a full body device. One places the device over one's head and places his/her arms into the top vest component before stepping into the two leg straps and tightening all adjustable straps and/or buckles. Even with rapid adjustment, the invention should take less than one minute to put on . . . more likely less than about 30 seconds. And, in an emergency, time is of the essence. Every second saved could prove critical. Once the device is in place on the wearer's body, he/she can deploy the rope/line, connect one end to a fixture in the building and drop the other end to safety.
Because the wearer/user does not have to hold/touch the rope/line to operate, a much thinner diameter line ( 3/16″ as compared to a ⅜″ minimum for contacted line) can be used. The line component weighs less than its thicker predecessors and, with lighter weight materials, the whole unit weighs less AND can accommodate twice the length of ranges. It is not unheard of to imagine doubling descent ranges with 75 or 100 ft. rope/lines.
While certain illustrative embodiments have been shown in the drawings and described above in considerable detail, it should be understood that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed.
This application is a perfection of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/601,078, filed on Feb. 21, 2012, the disclosure of which is fully incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61601078 | Feb 2012 | US |
