GB2140857A

GB2140857A - Emergency escape device

Info

Publication number: GB2140857A
Application number: GB08413949A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Miller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-05-31
Filing date: 1984-05-31
Publication date: 1984-12-05
Also published as: GB2140857B; GB8413949D0

Abstract

The present invention provides an emergency escape device 1 comprising an elongate descent aid 2 and a telescopic anchor means 3. The anchor means comprises first and second members 7,8 telescopically inter-connected at inboard ends 9 for movement between contracted and extended positions and provided with resilient biasing means 12 for urging said members 7,8 apart into their extended position. The said members 7,8 have outboard ends 10 provided with angular engagement means 11 for securely engaging a wall or window frame 5 under pressure so as to resist lateral displacement of the anchor means 3 in use of said device during a descent, said descent aid 2 being secured to said anchor means 3 between said outboard ends 10. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Emergency escape device This invention relates to an emergency escape device suitable for use in self-rescue by people trapped at an elevated level above the ground as for example in the upper storey of a burning house.

Substantial numbers of needless deaths continue to occur due to people being unable to escape to safety when trapped above ground level in a burning building and being either burnt or suffering injury by jumping down from a height. Various attempts have previously been made to provide suitable escape devices. In general though these are relatively complex to operate, rather cumbersome occupying a considerable space and/or quite expensive being beyond the reach of those on a limited budget. So that in practice they are in effect unavailable to the great majority of people.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid or minimise one or more of the above mentioned disadvantages.

The present invention provides an emergency escape device comprising an elongate descent aid and a telescopic anchor means, said anchor means comprising first and second members telescopically inter-connected at inboard ends for movement between contracted and extended positions and provided with resilient biasing means formed and arranged for urging said members apart into their extended position, said member having outboard ends provided with angular engagement means formed and arranged for securely engaging a wall or window frame under pressure so as to resist lateral displacement of said anchor means in use of said device during a descent, said descent aid being secured to said anchor means between said outboard ends.

Any suitable form of descent aid may be used with a safety device of the present invention including for example a rope ladder, a knotted rope or a simple rope with a mechanical braking device such as a descendeur.

The relatively simple form of construction of the anchor means of the present invention enables it to be stored in a relatively compact form and be easily deployed when required.

At the same time the device is economic to manufacture and provides a safe and secure anchoring in use.

Further preferred features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed discription given by way of example of a preferred embodiment illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a general arrangement view of an escape device of the invention in use; and Figure. 2 is a detail view on an enlarged scale of the anchor means.

Fig. 1 shows an escape device 1 comprising an elongate descent aid in the form of a knotted rope 2 extending downwardly from a telescopic anchor means 3 in its extended position with its outboard ends 4 engaging the wall or window frame 5 to either side of a window opening 6.

As may be seen in Fig. 2, the anchor means is in the form of elongate first and second tubular members 7, 8 of respectively smaller and larger diameter telescopically interconnected at their inboard ends 9. At their outboard ends 10 the members 7, 8 are provided with a plurality of radially extending and slightly inwardly inclined spikes or teeth 11 constituting angular engagement means which tend to bite into materials such as timber and plaster around a window opening when the anchor means is pressed thereagainst.

Inside the hollow interior of the second member 8 between the outboard end 10 and inboard end 9 of the first member is disposed an axially extending compression spring 1 2 constituting a resilient biasing means urging said ends 9, 10 apart and said members into their extended position. When the device is to be stored away the members are telescoped together against the biasing force of the spring 12 into a contracted position in which they are retained by a retaining pin 1 3 provided at the inboard end of the second member 8 for engagement with a suitable sling 14 on the first member 7 or a hook and eye or some other such system could be used instead.

Suitable collars 18 and/or bearing means 19 are provided radially between the inner and outer members 7, 8 to permit free relative axial displacement whilst preventing relative lateral displacement and/or bending.

The knotted rope 2 is conveniently secured to the anchor means 3 by a wire sling which extends around the latter and is slideable therealong whilst being readily detachable when required. At the free end 1 5 of the rope 1 6 is conveniently provided a flame proof or resistant bag 1 7 into which a child may be placed to facilitate safer descent by lowering of the rope from the above. One end of the anchor means is provided with a heavy spike which can be used to break through a window if this is otherwise difficult to open.

In use of the device the anchor means is held just inside the window opening and the latching device opened to allow the members to extend axially relative to eachother. In the case of a relatively deep wall the members may be less than fully extended, abutting the window frame transversely at each end as well as axially abutting the recess sides. The anchor means is pushed against the wall or frame in the direction of the opening so that the teeth bite into said wall or frame, whereu pon the rope may be passed out of the opening. As the rope is then loaded with the weight of the escapee the force on the anchor means in the direction of the opening increases so that the teeth tend to bite even deeper thereby firmly resisting any lateral displacement of the anchor means which could result in loss of anchoring.

Figure. 3 is an end view showing further details of the engagement means 4 construction.

Claims

1. An emergency escape device comprising an elongate descent aid and a telescopic anchor means, said anchor means comprising first and second members telescopically interconnected at inboard ends for movement between contracted and extended positions and provided with resilient biasing means formed and arranged for securely engaging a wall or window frame under pressure so as to resist lateral displacement of said anchor means in use of said device during a descent, said descent aid being secured to said anchor means between said outboard ends.

2. An escape device according to claim 1 wherein said descent aid comprises a flexible member provided with step means.

3. An escape device according to claim 2 wherein said descent aid comprises a rope ladder or a knotted rope.

4. An escape device according to claim 1 wherein said descent aid comprises a cable or rope means with a mechanical braking device.

5. An escape device according to claim 4 wherein the mechanical braking device comprises a descendeur means in the form of a rigid member having at least one aperture and formed and arranged for engagement with the rope or cable means with said rope or cable means extending along a tortuous path therethrough and therealong with extended frictional contact therebetween.

6. An escape device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said angular engagement means is in the form of a plurality of radially extending spikes.

7. An escape device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein said descent aid is detachably connected to a ring means slidably mounted on the telescopically interconnected members for movement between said outboard ends thereof.

8. An emergency escape device substantially as described hereinbefore with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.