Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6244380
-
Patent Number
6,244,380
-
Date Filed
Friday, January 21, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, June 12, 200123 years ago
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Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 182 70
- 182 73
- 182 74
- 182 76
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A simple and relatively lightweight personal fire escape assembly device attaches to the non-ground floor of a patio of a high rise building and provides an easy escape route to the patio of the floor below in the event of emergency. Device includes three stackable annular ring elements, namely, a cover, a hollow center ring and a bottom disc. The center ring and bottom disc attach to the top and bottom, respectively, of a ladder and a series of chain elements. The hollow center ring also attaches to a hinge bracket which connects to the transverse piping part of U-shaped piping made of two vertical pipes and a transverse horizontal pipe where the vertical pipes are fastened to the floor of the patio. In stored position the device other than the piping hangs down from the piping by means of the hinge bracket. In an emergency the user rotates the device 270 degrees so that the hinge bracket of the device rests on the railing of the patio and the rings extend beyond the railing. User removes the cover ring. The bottom ring, ladder and chain elements fall out to the patio below. User then climbs through center ring and holding onto chain elements navigates the ladder down to the patio below. Device is made from 16 to 18 gauge noncorrosive aluminum. Includes various optional features including removable mallet, automatic alarm signal to doorman and step ladder to facilitate climbing onto device in active position.
Description
The present invention relates generally to fire escapes and more particularly to personal fire escapes of high rise buildings that can be purchased and installed on one's patio or near a bedroom window to be used in the event of an emergency.
Modern high rise buildings often have patios. While modern buildings are always constructed with fire escapes, it is not the case that such buildings commonly have means to escape from the patio of the apartment. In the event of a fire, the traditional means of escape may be blocked or unavailable. Furthermore it is always preferable to have an additional means of escaping a fire. Many such buildings do not have means to escape from the patio.
The present invention addresses these concerns. The following important objects and advantages of the present invention are:
(A) to provide a simple to manufacture and easy to operate fire escape device that is readily attachable to a floor of an above ground patio of an existing high rise building,
(B) to provide a fire escape assembly device that contains three stackable ring elements including a cover, a hollow center ring and a bottom disk that together contain a ladder and circumferentially spaced chain elements attached from the center ring and the bottom disc so that an individual escaping a fire can when the device hangs over an outer railing of a patio climb through the center ring and climb down the ladder to an escape floor,
(C) to provide a fire escape device that includes ring elements, including a cover, that contain and store a ladder and chain elements whereby in stored position the ring elements hang on piping by means of a hinge bracket, which piping is attached to a patio, and whereby the device is activated when the hinge bracket and ring elements are rotated on the piping approximately 270 degrees so that the hinge bracket rests on the outer railing of the patio and the ring elements extend over the outer railing of the patio and the cover is removed thereby allowing the stored ladder and chain elements to fall and provide means of escape,
(D) to provide a fire escape device that includes a ladder whereby the individual using the ladder would be surrounded on all sides by chain elements to which can be added include horizontal connective chains so that if the individual climbing down the ladder loses balance the individual can grab any part of the chain elements to restore balance,
(E) to provide a fire escape device that is made of noncorrosible 16 to 18 gauge aluminum,
(F) to provide a fire escape device that can include a mallet for braking into a window on an escape floor if necessary,
(G) to provide a fire escape device that can include an alarm that electrically and automatically signals a remote station such as a doorman in the building through wires when the fire escape device is separated from a circuitbreaking jack element extending from the railing of the patio as the device is rotated into active position;
(H) to provide a fire escape device that has added stability in active position by means of a small bracket with a central aperture extending from the center ring that can be fastened to an overhead canopy such as with a bar having a hook;
(I) to provide a fire escape device whose transverse piping can be bent so as to allow placement of a convenience step ladder under the piping safe from tampering by children in order to make it easier to climb onto the hinge bracket and into the center ring when the device is placed in active position; and
(J) to provide a fire escape device that can be used on patios or in bedrooms.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,842,539 to Hough, 5,311,965 to Wu, 4,705,141 to Splaine, 4,595,075 to Rodrigue, 4,383,592 to Hoffa, 4,164,991 to Marra and 1,753,798 to Martin disclose various kinds of fire escape devices and ladders that can be used in various ways but each suffers from various disadvantages. The wooden storage box of U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,539 used to store and anchor the ladder could itself catch fire and burn. The extensible ladder of U.S. Pat. No. 3,344,886 to Boscarino does not provide a series of chain elements or other structure surrounding the person using the ladder that can be used to hold on to if the person climbing down the ladder loses balance. No known prior art fire escape assembly device discloses a structure as described in the present invention that affords all the advantages of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a front elevational view of the fire escape device of the present invention in stored position.
FIG. 2
is side elevational view of the fire escape device of the present invention in stored position with broken lines depicting a portion of the device in active mode.
FIG. 3
is a top plan view of the fire escape device of the present invention in stored position.
FIG. 4
is a side elevational view of the fire escape device of the present invention in active mode.
FIG. 5
is a bottom plan view of the cover of the fire escape device of the present invention.
FIG. 6
is a top plan view of the center ring of the fire escape device of the present invention.
FIG. 7
is a top plan view of the bottom disc of the fire escape device of the present invention.
FIG. 8
is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the center ring and the bottom disc attaching to links of the chain elements and shows the chain element attaching to the steps of the ladder.
FIG. 9
depicts a top plan view of the device of the present invention showing an alternative embodiment of the piping and including a convenience step ladder.
FIG. 10
is a front elevational view of the fire escape device of the present invention in active mode including an alternative embodiment of a convenience step ladder.
FIG. 11
is a front elevational view of the fire escape device of the present invention in stored position including the alternative piping shown in FIG.
9
and the convenience step ladder.
FIG. 12
is a front elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the piping of the fire escape device of the present invention shown in stored position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In order to better understand the present invention in conjunction with the drawings of
FIGS. 1-11
, the fire escape assembly of the present invention is assigned reference numeral
10
and its elements are described and assigned the reference numerals identified below.
As seen from
FIGS. 1-11
, the device
10
includes piping
20
. Piping
20
includes at least two vertical upright pipes
22
,
24
and a transverse pipe
23
running approximately parallel to a floor
16
of the patio
15
. Transverse pipe
23
connects vertical upright pipes
22
,
24
. Each vertical upright pipe
22
,
24
is fastened to the floor of the patio by any well known means such as drilling a hole in the floor and inserting a screw that penetrates a flange on the end of the vertical piping.
Device
10
also includes three annular ring elements
30
,
33
,
36
that are stackable on one another including cover
30
, a hollow center ring
33
and a bottom disc
36
. Device
10
further includes a hinge bracket
40
connecting center ring
33
to the transverse pipe
23
. Hinge bracket
40
is rotatable on transverse pipe
23
.
A plurality of chain elements
50
, namely
50
a
,
50
b
,
50
c
,
50
d
,
50
e
(not shown),
50
f
(not shown),
50
g
(not shown),
50
h
(not shown), are circumferentially spaced along center ring
33
. There are approximately eight chain elements
50
although that number can vary and the present invention contemplates fewer or a greater number of chain elements
50
. The chain elements
50
are either chains or they are aviation-type cables, which have better strength. The aviation cables would be one quarter inch or larger and would have a plastic or rubber coating around the cable. In a preferred embodiment chain elements
50
are spaced roughly ten inches apart or slightly less so that the diameter of center ring
33
is approximately two feet. That diameter is the outer diameter. This allows most people to comfortably fit through the center ring
33
and escape to the escape floor
100
using the device
10
, as will be further explained below. However, the center ring
33
can come in sizes of not just 24 inch diameter but 36 inch diameter in order to accommodate the largest width person.
As best seen in
FIG. 3
(dotted lines) and
FIG. 8
, the rings
30
,
33
,
36
are stackable because the inside diameter of center ring
33
is slightly greater than the outer diameters of the bottom disc
36
and of the cover
30
, for example by one thirty second or one sixty fourth of an inch. Inside diameter of center ring
33
exceeds outside diameter of cover
30
and bottom disc by just enough to allow the walls of cover
30
and bottom disc
36
to slide just inside of center ring
33
. Accordingly when the rings
30
,
33
,
36
are stacked together, walls
30
a
of cover
30
slides just inside of center ring
33
and is blocked by and rests on the straight edge
80
a
of “S” bracket
80
. “S” bracket assembly includes “S” bracket
80
and bolt
81
. Also, wall
36
a
of bottom disc
36
slides just inside of center ring
33
is blocked by and rests on bolt
81
going through “S” bracket
80
in center ring
33
.
Preferably, for the greatest stability and durability, “S” bracket
80
forms a continuous lip or flange around inner circumference of center ring
33
and around bottom disc
36
. Alternatively, discrete “S” brackets
80
for each chain element could be used.
Ladder
60
has as its vertical sides two adjacent chain elements, for example chain elements
50
b
,
50
c
of the plurality of chain elements
50
and ladder
60
includes a series of steps
61
,
62
,
63
,
64
, . . .
67
,
68
, etc. such that the vertical sides of ladder
60
formed from two chain elements of the plurality of chain elements
50
(preferably adjacent chain elements such as
50
b
,
50
c
) attach to a first and second end of each step, e.g. for step
64
ends
64
a
and
64
b
. Obviously, the number of steps in ladder
60
is not limited to six and would be approximately ten or in general any number suitable to allow ladder
60
to traverse the distance from railing
90
of patio
99
to a suitable escape location which is usually the floor below patio
99
. As best seen in
FIG. 8
, the series of links that make up chain elements
50
b
,
50
c
that form vertical sides of ladder
60
are interrupted by each of the steps
61
,
62
etc of ladder
60
. As such, it is preferable that a separate series of links runs from a step to an adjacent step, for example from step
63
to step
64
and from step
63
to step
62
.
In the event that chain elements
50
are aviation cables rather than chains, there would still be “S” bracket
80
and the aviation cable would then be connected to center ring
33
and bottom disc
36
in any suitable well known manner such as having the cable wrapped around bolt
81
and sealed with a press coupling. The cable would connect to the steps
61
,
62
,
63
,
64
, . . .
67
,
68
, etc. of ladder
60
the same way as a chain would or else through other known methods such as being wrapped around each step
61
,
62
, etc. of ladder
60
and pressed with a cable coupling bracket.
The distance from the top of ladder
60
to step
61
should be approximately eighteen inches in order to give ample room for a person escaping to climb through center ring
33
securely to step
61
of ladder
60
. Furthermore, it is preferable that the steps
61
,
62
, etc. of ladder
60
have a nonskid top surface.
In escape mode position, the plurality of chain elements
50
and the ladder
60
hang down from the center ring
33
and terminate at bottom disc
36
.
FIG. 8
is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the center ring and the bottom disc attaching to the links of chain element
50
and showing chain element
50
attached to ladder
60
.
Although the present invention contemplates any secure means of connection between the chain elements
50
and the bottom disc
36
and between chain elements
50
and center ring
33
, a particular means of connection is depicted in
FIG. 8
, namely “S” bracket
80
welded or screwed to bottom disc
36
whereby bolt
81
runs through the aperture formed by link
53
of chain element
50
and bolt
81
penetrates bottom disc
36
securely. A similar means of connection is employed between center ring
33
and chain elements
50
. For example, “S” bracket
80
is welded or screwed to cover
30
and bolt
81
runs through aperture formed by link
51
of chain elements
50
and center ring
33
.
It should be noted that plurality of chain elements
50
forms a safety feature in device
10
. If during the stress of the emergency the individual who climbs down ladder
60
were to lose balance and start to fall that individual is provided by device
10
with the ability to grab hold of any of the hanging chain elements
50
which form a circle all around him—and this is not limited to the two chain elements that form the vertical sides of the ladder
60
—and thereby save himself.
As best seen in
FIG. 4
, a further safety feature of device
10
is the existence, in the preferred embodiment, of a plurality of horizontal connective chains
150
that attach to and connect adjacent chain elements
50
to one another. Horizontal connective chains
150
are attached to but do not connect, chain elements
50
b
,
50
c
that form vertical sides of ladder
60
to one another since that might interfere with walking down the ladder
60
. The reason horizontal connective chains
150
attach to chain elements
50
b
,
50
c
that form vertical sides of ladder
60
is that they attach vertical sides of ladder
60
to other chain elements
50
—for example chain element
50
b
is connected to chain element
50
a
via horizontal connective chain
150
.
As a result of horizontal connective chains
150
, if an individual climbing down ladder
60
were to lose balance and start to fall by extending his hand he could brace himself with the horizontal connective chains
150
with even less effort than that needed to brace himself by grabbing chain element
50
. Horizontal connective chain
150
are lightweight and need not be as thick as chain element
50
. When the plurality of chain elements
50
and the ladder
60
hang from the center ring
33
in active mode the plurality of horizontal connective chains
150
hangs with them.
When device
10
is in stored position, such as in
FIG. 1
, the ladder
60
and chain elements
50
—and in the preferred embodiment also the horizontal connective chains
150
—are stored in the stacked annular ring elements
30
,
33
,
36
, namely cover
30
, center ring
33
and bottom disc
36
. When device
10
is hanging in stored position and the annular ring elements
30
,
33
,
36
are stacked, hinge bracket
40
is then perpendicular to the floor of the patio
99
and the device
10
hangs on the transverse pipe
23
.
As best seen in
FIG. 2
, which depicts a side elevational view of the device in stored position and shows broken lines to illustrate a portion of device
10
in active position or escape mode, the active or escape position of the device is reached by rotating the hinge bracket
40
from its rest position pointing to the floor of patio
99
approximately 270 degrees so that the hinge bracket
40
comes to rests on outer railing
90
of the patio
99
. The distance from piping
20
to outermost part of outer railing
90
is roughly equal to or smaller than the length of hinge bracket
40
. Device
10
will be made with various lengths hinge bracket
40
to accommodate different widths of railing
90
. As a result, ring elements
30
,
33
,
36
extend just beyond outer patio railing
90
thereby allowing plurality of chain elements
50
, ladder
60
and bottom disc
36
unimpeded freedom to fall and hang from center ring
33
. Cover
30
is also removed by its handle (not shown) just after ring elements
30
,
33
,
36
are swung over railing
90
into escape mode position.
In the active position or escape mode of the device, the plurality of chain elements
50
, the ladder
60
and the bottom disc
36
reach an escape floor
100
below patio
99
. Although it may appear from
FIG. 4
that the ladder reaches only railing
101
on escape floor
100
, it is preferable that ladder
60
be sufficiently long so that it reach the actual level of escape floor
100
.
Entire device
10
is made of
16
or
18
gauge noncorrosible aluminum so that device
10
can be lightweight for convenient storage while at the same time be able to resist fire and be sturdy and strong enough to comfortably hold at least one heavy individual walking down the ladder
60
, and preferably such an individual carrying a child. Therefore each step
61
,
62
etc. of ladder
60
as well as bottom disc
36
, being made of noncorrosible aluminum of 16 to 18 gauge should be able to hold at least 350 and preferably approximately 400 to 500 pounds or more.
The device
10
of the present invention is also designed to permits several optional features that function with and as part of the basic elements of device
10
either individually or combined together in order to enhance the value of device
10
at the critical emergency moment, such as a fire. These optional features are as follows. First, device
10
can include an alarm so that when device
10
is flipped 270 degrees from its storage position to its escape position, the alarm signals the doorman that there is a fire in the building.
As seen best in
FIG. 2
, toward the bottom of outer railing
90
is protruding a pronged electric conduit jack
120
that makes contact with and connects by well known means to handle element
123
of cover
30
. Jack
120
forms part of a circuitbreaking element that normally suppresses or deactivates the alarm and is capable of transmitting an alarm signal by wire to a remotely located station when the cover is separated from the jack and the circuit is broken. The connection between cover
30
and jack
120
completes an electric circuit. This connection is broken and the alarm goes off when the cover is separated from the jack, as happens when device
10
is rotated into active position. This alarm system is well known and is akin to the alarms commonly found on home windows to prevent burglary which feature a taped wire element going around the window. The jack
120
is connected by wiring all the way to the doorman station in the lobby of the building—or any other suitable place—to signal a fire. Handle element
123
(only shown in
FIG. 2
) on cover
30
can also function as a handle to grab when removing cover
30
after hinge bracket
40
is rotated to activate device
10
.
Second, one escaping a fire climbs down ladder
60
to escape floor
100
may find that no one is home in the apartment adjacent escape floor
100
and that the resident of such apartment lacks his own device
10
of the present invention. Accordingly, as best appreciated from
FIG. 8
, device
10
features an approximately 12 inch long mallet or hammer
39
a
that is removably attached to clip element
39
built into bottom disc
36
of device
10
thereby allowing the individual escaping to break through the window on escape floor
100
below.
Third, canopy means (not shown) may be used to increase the stability of center ring
33
in active position when an individual is about to climb through it. For example, a metal bar (not shown) connects an overhanging canopy to a small bracket
338
protruding from center ring
33
(see
FIG. 6
) and the small bracket
338
has an aperture in its center to receive a hook sticking out of the bar provides extra stability to center ring
33
. Another advantage of small bracket
338
is it gives an individual escaping something to hold onto when climbing through center ring
33
.
Furthermore, the present invention also facilitates the process of climbing onto the hinge bracket to go into the center ring
33
to escape. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention best seen in
FIG. 9
, transverse piping
23
is bent in a middle section
23
a
thereof so that when device
10
is in stored position there is room for a step ladder
200
to be clipped to the piping because the bent transverse piping
23
allows hanging rings
30
,
33
,
36
and hinge bracket
40
to be set back a few inches toward railing
90
when device
10
is in stored position. Step ladder
200
facilitates climbing through center ring
33
This allows room for a convenience step ladder
200
to be horizontally stored and clipped by clipping elements
201
in order to eliminate easy release of step ladder
200
by children when no emergency exists. The convenience step ladder
200
is stored horizontally as best seen in FIG.
11
. The step ladder
200
is removed, the device
10
is rotated 270 degrees into active position and then the step ladder
200
is placed vertically against device
10
to make it easy to ascend to hinge bracket
40
and climb through center ring
33
.
FIG. 10
shows an alternative form of the convenience step ladder
200
and transverse piping
23
with the device
10
in active position.
The device
10
can be used also to escape from a large bedroom window rather than from a patio or from any large window in the living area of a high rise building. In such a case, the structure of device
10
is identical except that hinge bracket
40
would be somewhat longer in order to be able to swing out of the window. Moreover, in active position of the device
10
, instead of hinge bracket
40
resting on outer railing
90
of patio
99
, hinge bracket
40
would simply rest on the window ledge facing outdoor air. Also, jack
120
would extend from living area wall housing the window instead of protruding from outer railing
90
. Also, if center ring
33
were connected to a canopy for added stability the canopy would likely be outside the window such as an awning attached to an outer facade of the building. Device
10
would be installed in the bedroom or other room in the living area next to a large window with the piping connected to the floor of that room rather than to the floor of the patio.
It should be noted that although in the preferable embodiment piping
20
includes at least two vertical pipes
22
,
24
that combine with transverse pipe
23
to from roughly an upside down “U”, theoretically alternatives (not shown) within the spirit of the present invention can be imagined wherein only one very sturdy vertical upright pipe
22
would be sufficient if it connected to transverse pipe
23
such that piping
20
formed a “T” formation. This is provided vertical pipe
22
allowed enough room on at least one side of the “T” for hinge bracket
40
to hang.
It is to be understood that while the apparatus of this invention have been described and illustrated in detail, the above-described embodiments are simply illustrative of the principles of the invention. It is to be understood also that various other modifications and changes may be devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof. It is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. The spirit and scope of this invention are limited only by the spirit and scope of the following claims.
Claims
- 1. A fire escape assembly device for high rise buildings having a patio including an outer railing on an above-ground building floor, comprising:piping, wherein each of two vertical upright pipes are securable to a floor of the patio and a transverse pipe runs approximately perpendicular to and connects the vertical upright pipes, to be approximately parallel to a floor of the patio. three annular ring elements stackable on one another including a cover, a hollow center ring and a bottom disc, a hinge bracket connecting the center ring to the transverse pipe, said hinge bracket rotatable on the transverse pipe and being of a length to cover a distance between the piping and the outer railing, a plurality of chain elements circumferentially spaced around the center ring, a ladder including vertical sides formed from two adjacent chain elements of the plurality of chain elements and including a series of steps, the vertical sides of the ladder attaching to a first and second end of each step, the plurality of chain elements and the ladder hanging from the center ring and terminating at the bottom disc, wherein when the device is in stored position the ladder and chain elements are stored in the annular ring elements, the annular ring elements are stacked, the hinge bracket is perpendicular to the transverse pipe and the device hangs on the transverse piping and wherein an active position of the device is reached by rotating the hinge bracket approximately 270 degrees for the hinge bracket to rest on the outer railing of the patio thereby allowing the plurality of chain elements, the ladder and the bottom disc to fall and hang from the center ring and wherein the cover is removed, and wherein in the active position of the device, the plurality of chain elements, the ladder and the bottom disc are positionable adjacent to an escape floor below the floor of the patio.
- 2. The fire escape assembly device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of horizontal connective chains are attached to and connect adjacent chain elements to one another and wherein said plurality of horizontal connective chains are attached to but do not connect adjacent chain elements that form the vertical sides of the ladder to one another.
- 3. The fire escape assembly device of claim 1, including a jack forming part of a circuitbreaking element and attachable to and extendable from the outer railing and connecting to the cover, the connection between the cover and the jack completing an electric circuit, wherein the circuitbreaking element transmits an alarm signal by electric wire to a remotely located station when the cover is separated from the jack and the circuit is broken.
- 4. The fire escape assembly device of claim 1, wherein transverse piping is bent in a middle section thereof so that when the device is in stored position there is room for a step ladder to be clipped to the piping to facilitate climbing through the center ring.
- 5. The fire escape assembly device of claim 1, wherein a small bracket having an aperture protrudes from the center ring and allows the center ring to be attached to an overhead canopy for increased stability when the device is in active position.
- 6. The fire escape assembly of claim 1, wherein a mallet is removably attached to the bottom disc and wherein the device includes a jack forming part of a circuitbreaking element and attachable to and extendable from the outer railing and connecting to the cover, wherein the connection between the cover and the jack completes an electric circuit, and wherein the circuitbreaking element transmits an alarm signal by electric wire to a remotely located station when the cover is separated from the jack and the circuit is broken.
- 7. The fire escape assembly of claim 1, wherein a mallet is removably attached to the bottom disc and wherein the device includes a jack forming part of a circuitbreaking element and attachable to and extendable from the outer railing and connecting to the cover, wherein the connection between the cover and the jack completes an electric circuit, wherein the circuitbreaking element transmits an alarm signal by electric wire to a remotely located station when the cover is separated from the jack and the circuit is broken and wherein transverse piping is bent in a middle section thereof so that when the device is in stored position there is room for a step ladder to be clipped to the piping to facilitate climbing through the center ring.
- 8. The fire escape assembly device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of horizontal connective chains are attached to and connect adjacent chain elements to one another and wherein said plurality of horizontal connective chains are attached to but do not connect adjacent chain elements that form the vertical sides of the ladder to one another, wherein a mallet is removably attached to the bottom disc and wherein the device includes a jack forming part of a circuitbreaking element and attachable to and extendable from the outer railing and connecting to the cover, wherein the connection between the cover and the jack completes an electric circuit, wherein the circuitbreaking element transmits an alarm signal by electric wire to a remotely located station when the cover is separated from the jack and the circuit is broken.
- 9. A fire escape assembly device for high rise buildings having a patio including an outer railing on an above-ground building floor, comprising:piping, wherein each of two vertical upright pipes are securable to a floor of the patio and a transverse pipe runs approximately perpendicular to and connects the vertical upright pipes, to be approximately parallel to a floor of the patio. three annular ring elements stackable on one another including a cover, a hollow center ring and a bottom disc, a hinge bracket connecting the center ring to the transverse pipe, said hinge bracket rotatable on the transverse pipe and being of a length to cover a distance between the piping and the outer railing, a plurality of chain elements circumferentially spaced around the center ring, a ladder including vertical sides formed from two adjacent chain elements of the plurality of chain elements and including a series of steps, the vertical sides of the ladder attaching to a first and second end of each step, the plurality of chain elements and the ladder hanging from the center ring and terminating at the bottom disc, wherein when the device is in stored position the ladder and chain elements are stored in the annular ring elements, the annular ring elements are stacked, the binge bracket is perpendicular to the transverse pipe and the device hangs on the transverse piping and wherein an active position of the device is reached by rotating the hinge bracket approximately 270 degrees for the hinge bracket to rest on the outer railing of the patio thereby allowing the plurality of chain elements, the ladder and the bottom disc to fall and hang from the center ring and wherein the cover is removed, and wherein in the active position of the device, the plurality of chain elements, the ladder and the bottom disc are positionable adjacent to an escape floor below the floor of the patio, and wherein an inside diameter of the center ring exceeds an outside diameter of the cover and exceeds an outside diameter of the bottom disc just enough to allow a wall of the bottom disc and a wall of the cover to slide just inside of the center ring and wherein the wall of the bottom disc and the wall of the cover rest on an “S” bracket assembly which includes an “S” bracket welded to the center ring.
- 10. The fire escape assembly device of claim 9, wherein a plurality of horizontal connective chains are attached to and connect adjacent chain elements to one another and wherein said plurality of horizontal connective chains are attached to but do not connect adjacent chain elements that form the vertical sides of the ladder to one another.
- 11. The fire escape assembly device of claim 9, including a jack forming part of a circuitbreaking element and attachable to and extendable from the outer railing and connecting to the cover, the connection between the cover and the jack completing an electric circuit, wherein the circuitbreaking element transmits an alarm signal by electric wire to a remotely located station when the cover is separated from the jack and the circuit is broken.
- 12. The fire escape assembly device of claim 9, including a jack forming part of a circuitbreaking element and attachable to and extendable from the outer railing and connecting to the cover, the connection between the cover and the jack completing an electric circuit, wherein the circuitbreaking element transmits an alarm signal by electric wire to a remotely located station when the cover is separated from the jack and the circuit is broken, wherein a plurality of horizontal connective chains are attached to and connect adjacent chain elements to one another and wherein said plurality of horizontal connective chains are attached to but do not connect adjacent chain elements that form the vertical sides of the ladder to one another, and wherein a mallet is removably attached to the bottom disc.
- 13. A fire escape assembly device for use in a high rise buildings having a large window next to a window ledge in a living area extending to the outside on an above-ground building floor, comprising:piping, wherein each of two vertical upright pipes are securable to a floor of the patio and a transverse pipe runs approximately perpendicular to and connects the vertical upright pipes, to be approximately parallel to a floor of the living area. three annular ring elements stackable on one another including a cover, a hollow center ring and a bottom disc, a hinge bracket connecting the center ring to the transverse pipe, said hinge bracket rotatable on the transverse pipe and being of a length to cover a distance between the piping and the window ledge, a plurality of chain elements circumferentially spaced around the center ring, a ladder including vertical sides formed from two adjacent chain elements of the plurality of chain elements and including a series of steps, the vertical sides of the ladder attaching to a first and second end of each step, the plurality of chain elements and the ladder hanging from the center ring and terminating at the bottom disc, wherein when the device is in stored position the ladder and chain elements are stored in the annular ring elements, the annular ring elements are stacked, the hinge bracket is perpendicular to the transverse pipe and the device hangs on the transverse piping and wherein an active position of the device is reached by rotating the hinge bracket approximately 270 degrees for the hinge bracket to rest on the window ledge thereby allowing the plurality of chain elements, the ladder and the bottom disc to fall and hang from the center ring and wherein the cover is removed, and wherein in the active position of the device, the plural of chain elements, the ladder and the bottom disc are positionable adjacent to an escape floor below the building floor of the living area.
- 14. The fire escape assembly device of claim 13, wherein a plurality of horizontal connective chains are attached to and connect adjacent chain elements to one another and wherein said plurality of horizontal connective chains are attached to but do not connect adjacent chain elements that form the vertical sides of the ladder to one another.
- 15. The fire escape assembly device of claim 13, including a jack forming part of a circuitbreaking element and attachable to and extendable from a living area wall under the window ledge and connecting to the cover, the connection between the cover and the jack completing an electric circuit, wherein the circuitbreaking element transmits an alarm signal by electric wire to a remotely located station when the cover is separated from the jack and the circuit is broken.
- 16. The fire escape assembly device of claim 13, wherein transverse piping is bent in a middle section thereof so that when the device is in stored position there is room for a step ladder to be clipped to the piping to facilitate climbing through the center ring.
- 17. The fire escape assembly device of claim 13, wherein a small bracket having an aperture protrudes from the center ring and allows the center ring to be attached to an overhead canopy for increased stability when the device is in active position.
- 18. The fire escape assembly of claim 13, wherein a mallet is removably attached to the bottom disc and wherein the device includes a jack forming part of a circuitbreaking element and attachable to and extendable from a living area wall under the window ledge and connecting to the cover, wherein the connection between the cover and the jack completes an electric circuit, and wherein the circuitbreaking element transmits an alarm signal by electric wire to a remotely located station when the cover is separated from the jack and the circuit is broken.
- 19. The fire escape assembly of claim 13, wherein a plurality of horizontal connective chains are attached to and connect adjacent chain elements to one another and wherein said plurality of horizontal connective chains are attached to but do not connect adjacent chain elements that form the vertical sides of the ladder to one another, wherein a mallet is removably attached to the bottom disc, wherein the device includes a jack forming part of a circuitbreaking element and attachable to and extendable from a living area wall under the window ledge and connecting to the cover, wherein the connection between the cover and the jack completes an electric circuit, and wherein the circuitbreaking element transmits an alarm signal by electric wire to a remotely located station when the cover is separated from the jack and the circuit is broken.
- 20. A fire escape assembly device for use in a high rise buildings having a large window next to a window ledge in a living area extending to the outside on an above-ground building floor, comprising:piping, wherein each of two vertical upright pipes are securable to a floor of the patio and a transverse pipe runs approximately perpendicular to and connects the vertical upright pipes, to be approximately parallel to a floor of the living are, three annular ring elements stackable on one another including a cover, a hollow center ring and a bottom disc, a hinge bracket connecting the center ring to the transverse pipe, said hinge bracket rotatable on the transverse pipe and being of a length to cover a distance between the piping and the window ledge, a plurality of chain elements circumferentially spaced around the center ring, a ladder including vertical sides formed from two adjacent chain elements of the plurality of chain elements and including a series of steps, the vertical sides of the ladder attaching to a first and second end of each step, the plurality of chain elements and the ladder hanging from the center ring and terminating at the bottom disc, wherein when the device is in stored position the ladder and chain elements are stored in the annular ring elements, the annular ring elements are stacked, the hinge bracket is perpendicular to the transverse pipe and the device hangs on the transverse piping and wherein an active position of the device is reached by rotating the hinge bracket approximately 270 degrees for the hinge bracket to rest on the window ledge thereby allowing the plurality of chain elements, the ladder and the bottom disc to fall and hang from the center ring and wherein the cover is removed, and wherein in the active position of the device, the plurality of chain elements, the ladder and the bottom disc are positionable adjacent to an escape floor below the building floor of the living area, and wherein an inside diameter of the center ring exceeds an outside diameter of the cover and exceeds an outside diameter of the bottom disc just enough to allow a wall of the bottom disc and a wall of the cover to slide just inside of the center ring and wherein the wall of the bottom disc and the wall of the cover rest on an “S” bracket assembly which includes an “S” bracket welded to the center ring.
- 21. The fire escape assembly device of claim 20, wherein the device includes a jack forming part of a circuitbreaking element and extending from a living area wall under the window ledge and connecting to the cover, the connection between the cover and the jack completing an electric circuit, wherein the circuitbreaking element transmits an alarm signal by electric wire to a remotely located station when the cover is separated from the jack and the circuit is broken.
- 22. The fire escape assembly of claim 20, wherein a mallet is removably attached to the bottom disc and wherein the device includes a jack forming part of a circuitbreaking element and attachable to and extendable from a living area wall under the window ledge and connecting to the cover, wherein the connection between the cover and the jack completes an electric circuit, wherein the circuitbreaking element transmits an alarm signal by electric wire to a remotely located station when the cover is separated from the jack and the circuit is broken and wherein a plurality of horizontal connective chains are attached to and connect adjacent chain elements to one another and wherein said plurality of horizontal connective chains are attached to but do not connect adjacent chain elements that form the vertical sides of the ladder to one another.
- 23. The fire escape assembly of claim 20, wherein a mallet is removably attached to the bottom disc and wherein the device includes a jack forming part of a circuitbreaking element and attachable to and extendable from a living area wall under the window ledge and connecting to the cover, wherein the connection between the cover and the jack completes an electric circuit, wherein the circuitbreaking element transmits an alarm signal by electric wire to a remotely located station when the cover is separated from the jack and the circuit is broken and wherein transverse piping is bent in a middle section thereof so that when the device is in stored position there is room for a step ladder to be clipped to the piping to facilitate climbing through the center ring.
- 24. A fire escape assembly device for high rise buildings having a patio including an outer railing on an above-ground building floor, comprising:piping, including a vertical upright pipe securable to a floor of the patio and including a transverse pipe running approximately parallel to a floor of the patio such that the vertical and transverse pipes to be approximately parallel to a floor of the patio connect in a “T” formation to be approximately parallel to a floor of the patio, three annular ring elements stackable on one another including a cover, a hollow center ring and a bottom disc, a hinge bracket connecting the center ring to the transverse pipe, said hinge bracket rotatable on the transverse pipe and being of a length to cover a distance between the piping and the outer railing, a plurality of chain elements circumferentially spaced around the center ring, a ladder including vertical sides formed from two chain elements of the plurality of chain elements and including a series of steps, the vertical sides of the ladder attaching to a first and second end of each step, the plurality of chain elements and the ladder hanging from the center ring and terminating at the bottom disc, wherein when the device is in stored position the ladder and chain elements are stored in the annular ring elements, the annular ring elements are stacked, the hinge bracket is perpendicular to the transverse pipe and the device hangs on the transverse piping and wherein an active position of the device is reached by rotating the hinge bracket approximately 270 degrees for the hinge bracket to rest on the outer railing of the patio thereby allowing the plurality of chain elements, the ladder and the bottom disc to fall and hang from the center ring and wherein the cover is removed, and wherein in the active position of the device, the plurality of chain elements, the ladder and the bottom disc are positionable adjacent to an escape floor below the floor of the patio.
- 25. The fire escape assembly device of claim 24, wherein a plurality of horizontal connective chains are attached to and connect adjacent chain elements to one another and wherein said plurality of horizontal connective chains are attached to but do not connect adjacent chain elements that form the vertical sides of the ladder to one another.
- 26. The fire escape assembly device of claim 24, wherein a mallet is removably attached to the bottom disc, wherein the device includes a jack forming part of a circuitbreaking element and attachable to and extendable from the outer railing and connecting to the cover, the connection between the cover and the jack completing an electric circuit, and wherein the circuitbreaking element transmits an alarm signal by electric wire to a remotely located station when the cover is separated from the jack and the circuit is broken.
- 27. The fire escape assembly device of claim 24, wherein a small bracket having an aperture protrudes from the center ring and allows the center ring to be attached to an overhead canopy for increased stability when the device is in active position.
- 28. The fire escape assembly device of claim 24, wherein an inside diameter of the center ring exceeds an outside diameter of the cover and exceeds an outside diameter of the bottom disc just enough to allow a wall of the bottom disc and a wall of the cover to slide just inside of the center ring wherein the wall of the bottom disc and the wall of the cover rest on an “S” bracket assembly which includes an “S” bracket welded to the center ring.
US Referenced Citations (12)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1118610 |
Jun 1958 |
DE |
218764 |
Apr 1987 |
EP |