US1994408A - Fire escape ladder - Google Patents

Description

March 12, 1935. PIERRE I 1,994,408

FIRE ESCAPE LADDER Filed July 2, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l if 9 t Law...

March 12, 1935. H. ST. PIERRE FIRE ESCAPE LADDER Filed July 2, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z a/72y dfpcezre Q abuzz 2711f:

Patented Mar. 12, 1935 1&94,

. ETED STATES ATET OFFICE FIRE ESCAPE'LADDER Henry St. Pierre, Worcester, Mass.

Application-luly 2, 1934, Serial No. 733,352

' 6 Claims. (Cl. 228-42) This invention relates to a flexible ladder for sembling the same. All this involves consideruse in hotels, schools and other buildings to able expense. One of the principal objects of facilitate the escape of persons caught in the this invention is to avoid this expense and it building i e of fi involves additional features asset forth above.

'5 Th principal objects of t invention are In its preferred construction the ladder is held.

to provide a construction of a rung for a ladder in a 100K p y of metal, Wh c i which will eliminate the necessity of using pipes screwed to the floor of the room and located for that purpose and also eliminate the nuts under the sill of the window inside. The lag and bolts ordinarily employed, thus reducing the screws 11, which hold it in place, also pass 10 expense and danger of their becoming loosened; throug a p at Which thereby is fixed torthe 10 to provide a construction which can be placed bottom of the box. This plate is held. therefore in a box conveniently and in such a way that firmly in fi d Position and is Capable of ste11dthe lowest rung of the ladder will be distinguishng the W t of t ladder a t p o able so that the whole ladder can be removed See di g it. It is p v With a P of hollow.

5" without tangling; to provide an improved means elevations 13 which are pe f d at 14 to 15 for securely holding the upper end of the ladder admit the lower end of the bottom link of the in the box, and to provide'a device at the lower a e e projections u sh each Case end of the ladder for use in lowering a person a hollow sp between the plate d t fiOOI' who is somewhat incapacitated, of the box. In fixing the end of the ladder in Other objects and advantages or" the invention position, the end link of the Chain is p 20 will appear hereinafter. through the opening 14 vertically, as shown in,

Reference is to be had to the accompanying and key locking p is e d drawings, in which in the hollow space and over the lower portion Fig. 1 is a sectional view through a window of the link- ,This y is provided With 2 sill showing the box and ladder in extended r d t o having notches 18 at ts Sides position; to receive the link and fit it so that it consti- Fig. 2 is a side view of the same, looking tutes a perfect anchor for the chain. The box toward the wall of the building from the inside; is p d With a Cover 19 which ca he sw Fig. 3 is a plan of aplate in the bottom of up against the wall of the building. The top the box-for holding the end of the ladder; of the box is slanted so as to shed any water 90 Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of that may come in through the window. Fig. 3; The first feature on the chain after it is Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the extended out the window is a rung 21 formed line 5--5 of Fig. 3; r of pipe or the like and notched at 22 at both Fig. 6 is a plan of the holding or locking pin ends to receive a link of the chain 15. It is 35- for the end of the ladder; also flattened at this point to some extent. Fig. 7 is an elevation, partly in section, show- The whole-structure 21 is hollow and it receives ing the means for holding one of the wheels for a single link of the chain at each end, the sides keeping the ladder away from the building; of the link being located in the notches 22. Fig. 8' is a side elevation of the same, looking Through this ring passes a headed rod 23 onl o in the direction of the arrow 8 in Fig. 7; which are a pair of discs or wheels 24, each Fig. 9 is an end view of the same as indicated formed of a flat plate of thin metal. Outside by the arrow 9 in Fig. 8; these discs are caps 25 of thinner sheet metal Fig. 10 is a bottom view of one of the rungs perforated at the center to receive the rod, that of the ladder as indicated by the arrow 10 in perforation being provided with a depressed 4.5 Fig. 7, and edge 26 to engage the rod. One end of the rod Fig. 11 is an elevation of the bottom of the is threaded and provided with a nut 27 adapted ladder extended. to be screwed up to hold the rod in proper posi- As fire escape ladders are ordinarily contion and especially to hold the discs correctly.

structed they consist usually of two chains con- These ap 5 a of t ner metal than the 50 nected by ladder rungs which consist of iron rest of the structure and the nut is intended to pipes secured to the chains at both ends by be w d p d enough to f rce the flat bolts and nuts. This construction involves the end walls of the nut and head inwardly so that expense of threading the pipes and the use of they are practically embedded in the recesses nuts and-bolts as well as the necessity for as- 7 thus 'formed. This holds these parts very 55 strongly and firmly in position. These parts are all spaced properly by the fact that each disc engages the fiat end of the tube 21 and is in turn engaged on the other side by the cap 25 against which the nut 27 or head of the rod engages with the necessary pressure. These wheels 24 are intended to rest on the window sill, either in the position shown or farther out, and a pair of Wheels or discs 29 are shown mounted on the chain in .the sameway and adapted to engage the vertical Wall of the building or the vertical side of the projecting member 30. The disc 24 holds the chains away from the window sill inside to permit getting the fingers between the rod and the sill while the wheels or discs 29 space the chain from the outer wall 7 of the building to provide space to receive'the' feet of the user. In certain cases either the discs 24 or 29 are not necessary.

From this part on to the end of the chain" several rungs 31 are provided spaced equally apart. They are made of thin metal bent up to atrough shaped form having a horizontal top and vertical downwardly extending parallel side walls. At each end the top is bent down-in the form of a downwardly extending hook 32 and two tongues 33' on the opposite side walls are bent inwardly over, and outside the hook 32. This bending of the side tongues 33 is done after a link of the chain is inserted on opposite sides of the hook 32. The bending inwardly of the tongues 33 to the position shown, especially in Fig. 10, anchors this chain link permanently in position with respect to the rung of the ladder and permanently holds the two chains at the proper distance apart so that they will hold in the notches 22.

It will be noticed that the bottom rung 34 has an appearance contrasting with that of the other rungs. It is intended that the other rungs shall be of a metallic appearance or they may be painted a particular color but this rung 84 is painted with a contrasting color, as for example, dark red. When the chain is placed in the box it will be readily discernible and the operator can grasp it first andpull the whole chain out by the bottom rung. This avoids kinking of the chain and the catching of the different rungs. For this reason the chain will not get tangled up.

Another feature shown is the extension 35 of one of, the chains 15 beyond the bottom rung to provide a support for a person partially disabled. This is covered with a rubber tube, 36 to protect the person from the irregularity of the The idea of this is that in case the person is disabled or partially so, he can have this extension 35 passed around him and the hook 3'7 caught in the loop 38 and be lowered without climbing down the ladder. He is free to hang to the chain or the rungs of the ladder above. This furnishes an additional safety feature.

It is thought that the method of operation for lowering the chain will be obvious. When the chain is to be placed in the box 10, it is, of course, lowered into it in substantially the proper order so that the bottom of the chain when extended will be at the top of the box. Therefore, the rung 34 will be easily within the sight of any person wishing to use the fire escape. The two sets of wheels or discs 24 or will, of course, be located at the bottom of the box and, as the wheels of each pair are the same distance apart, one pair can be placed a little to the right or left of the other and they will go into the box substantially as indicated in Fig. 1. The rungs 31 and 34 are shorter than the distance between the two discs 24 or 29 so that they will be received between them when in the box. lowered down into the box on top of them. 7

Having thus describedmy invention and the 1 advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:.

1. As an article of manufacture, a fire escape ladder comprising a pair of chains and rungs; 1 each comprising a thin metal member having a top and two downwardly extending sides with the bottom open, the top being provided with ,408 Y 1 "Ti 7 The rest of the chain is an integral hook at each end extending through a chain link and then downwardly adjacent thereto and the sides extending beyond the hook and constituting-tongues projecting I wardly and engaging the "outsiderof the. hook to hold it permanently in connection with the chain links. v

2. As an article of manufacture, aifire escape ladder comprising a pair of chains, rungs for connecting them, a rod extending throughtwo. opposite links of the chains, a tube surrounding the rod having its ends flattened and having notches vertically in alignment for receiving the opposite sides of a chain link, afiat disc mount-' ed on the rod and engaging the end of; the. tube, outside the chains, caps on the rod for engag ing the discs, and a nut on the rod for the pure pose of forcing the discs firmly against theends of the tube, said discs being adapted for contact with the building to space the ladder there,- from. r

3. In a fire escape, the combination, of a, pair. of chains, rungs connecting them, two rods connecting the chains above the top rung andspaced apart, and two discs on each rod for spacing, the I chains at two longitudinally separated points from. the sill of; the window in which the fire escape is used, said discs being of substantially" larger diameter than thatof the rods.

4. In a chain fire escape, the combination of. a pair'of chains having rungsfor separating them and permanently connected thereto andiia box adapted to be placedinside the building for containing the ladder, said box having a; plate on. the bottom with two. perforations there through for receiving the end links of the two. chains therein, keys adapted to be inserted through the said chain links. under the plate, said; plate being provided with elevations in which, said perforations are located to provide as'pace under themfor the ends of-thelchain links and the keys each having a narrowed portionat the center which, when the key is passed halfway through the chain link, willufurnish an anchor therefor and constitute the sole means for holding the chain to the plate.

5. In a chain fire escape, the combination of a pair of chains having rungs for separatingji them, a box adapted to be placed inside, the

building for containing theladder, said boxihay ing a plate on the bottom with the perforations therethrough for receiving the end links ofethe two chains therein, said, plate being provided: with elevations in which said perforations are, located to provide a space underathemforthe. ends of the chain links, and keys belowsaicl:v periorationswhiqh will furnish an anchQr2-there.-...

for and constitute the sole means for holding the chain to the plate.

6. As an article of manufacture, a fire escape ladder comprising a pair of chains, rungs for 5 connecting them, a rod extending through two opposite links of the chains, a tube surrounding the rod having its ends flattened and having notches vertically in alignment for receiving the opposite sides of a chain link, a fiat disc mounted on the rod and engaging the end of the tube outside the chains, and a nut on the rod for the purpose of forcing the discs firmly against the ends of the tube.

HENRY ST. PIERRE.

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