GB2167954A - Emergency escape arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

An emergency escape arrangement comprises a plate 10 for mounting on a wall close to a window 15, carrying an eye 11 to which a spring clip or latched hook 12 on an end of a rope 13 can be attached. Rope 13 is knotted at intervals with knots 13a, and may be looped on a hook 14 also carried on plate 10, and the rope may have a further spring clip or latched hook 12 at its free end for attachment thereto of a rescue harness, or a sling for infants. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Emergency Escape Arrangements This invention relates to emergency escape arrangements, for example for effecting escape from buildings in case of fire.

Known fire escape arrangements generally comprise for example external ladders or stairs with limited access points, usually one to a floor opening from communal space such as a corridor, even in the largest hotels. Such fire escapes are usually not provided in private residences, and only in such premises where made necessary by safety regulations or insurance conditions, because of the capital costs of providing such fire escapes. The requirements of security moreover, the prevention of unauthorised access in order to prevent theft and other crimes, often contradict requirements of safety so that fire escape doors may not always be capable of being opened hurriedly as they should.

Further, as fire escape access points are frequently provided at the ends of corridors for example, the access point may not always be accessible from all areas served by it in a real emergency situation because for example of intervening smoke or flame, or structural collapse.

An object of the present invention is to provide a low cost escape arrangement which can be provided in great numbers-one to each room in a hotel for example, thus minimising the risk of people being trapped, and which can be generally afforded for installation in private households, and furthermore with no external fittings to pose a security risk.

According to the invention, an emergency escape arrangement comprises a support for mounting adjacent a window, said support having means for retaining an end of a rope or equivalent line, and means for storing the rope or line.

The support preferably comprises a plate secured to a wall by structural support bolts engaging in load bearing fabric of the wall, the plate carrying integrally at least an eye for connection of said rope or line thereto by a spring clip or latched hook.

The means for storing the rope may comprise a hook from which the rope can be hung in loops, carried on the same or a separate plate to the retaining means; alternatively the rope may be stored in a bag for containing the looped rope.

In an emergency situation, the window may be opened, or if not of a design which allows opening, the glass broken and the rope payed out through the window to the ground and escape effected by climbing down the rope.

Because of the difficulty of climbing down a rope without slipping and incurring friction burns, and possibly falling off due to involuntary release of the hands from the pain of such burns, the rope is preferrably ready knotted at suitable intervals, say 60 cm., along the length of the rope, to provide hand and foot holds.

This arrangememt, whilst suitable for the active and ablebodied, is not satisfactory for the infirm or elderly, orforyoung children, and a harness similar or identical to that used in mountain and air-sea rescue may be provided to fasten onto a second spring clip or latched hook at the free end of the rope.

A preferred embodiment of the invention further includes, as an escape means for infants, a sling made of a flame proof material comprising a bag or hammock like member having lugs at each side provided with attachment means for engagement with the second clip or hook, for connection of both lugs with the clip or hook, and ends of the sling adapted to provide protective head and foot pouches.

In an emergency, the harness or sling can be attached to the free end of the rope, by means of the spring clip or latched hook which is preferably provided thereon. The harness can then be donned or a child placed in the sling, and the sling or person manoeuvred through the window and the rope payed out as the sling or person is lowered to the ground. The child or other person may be released, and the harness or sling hauled back up for reuse, or active persons may then make their escape down the rope.

The sling preferably has a safety belt incorporated, e.g. by being sewn to the fabric of the sling, for fastening about an occupant's body, and a reinforcing strap extending between the attachment means at each extremity of the lugs, through the fabric of the sling.

A preferred embodiment of escape arrangememt according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. lisa sectional side view of an arrangement according to the invention, mounted on a wall; Fig. 2 is a general perspective view of the escape arrangement of Fig. 1, secured adjacent a window; Fig. 3 is a sketch view showing the rope lowered from the window; Fig. 4 is a plan view of a sling for use in a preferred embodiment of the invention, opened out; and Fig. 5 is a side view of the sling of Fig. 4, shown hanging from a hook on the end of a rope used in an escape arrangement according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the emergency escape arrangement according to the invention comprises a plate or bracket 10 firmly mounted on a wall using structural support bolts 10a engaging in loadbearing fabric of the wall. The plate 10 has integrally thereon an eye 11, to which a heavy duty spting clip, or latched hook, 12 secures one end of a rope 13 which is hung in a coil over a hook 14 also carried integrally on plate 10. The rope 13 is preferably of natural fibre such as hemp or sisal, rather than a synthetic fibre as it is less easy to secure a grip on synthetic fibre rope, and synthetic fibres are more likely to cause injury to the hands, as well as fusing below their ignition temperature which may be dangerous in a fire stituation.The rope 13 is knotted with knots 13a at intervals of about 60 cm. to provide hand and foot holds to facilitate climbing down. The rope also preferrably has a heavy duty spring clip or latched hook similar to 12 at its free end.

The plate 10 is mounted directly adjacent a window 15, so that the window may be opened or smashed in order to make an escape, prior to lowering the rope from the window. Fig. 3 shows the rope having been lowered preparatory to effecting escape. The rope 13 may alternatively be housed in a retainer bag, which may be stored in a readily accessible place, e.g. close to a bedside, and carried to any one of a plurality of windows having an adjacent plate like 10 having an eye 11 thereon, for the rope to be connected and used at the site which appears to offer the best chance of escape having regard to the site of the fire, and local topography. The rope has a clip or latched hook 12 at each end.

As infirm and elderly people, or young children would be unable to climb down the rope, an escape harness in the form of a standard rescue harness (not illustrated) may also be provided, and for young infants a sling may be used, as shown in Figs.

4 and 5.

The sling 20 comprises a bag of heavy duty flame proofed canvas shown laid out flat in Fig. 4. The bag 21 has an edge 22,23 at each end to provide pouches 24, 25 for head for head or feet, and side lugs 26, 27 each provided with a buckle or ring connector 28, 29 for engagement on the clip or hook 12 on the free end of rope 13. A reinforcing strap 30 extends between the connectors 28,29 and is stitched to the fabric of the sling 20, extending across the bottom of the sling. A strap 31 is provided, stitched to strap 30 at the mid point of the sling and is provided with a two part snap fastening or buckle fastening 32 on the ends of strap 31. Strap 31 provides a safety belt for fastening about the body of an infant placed in the sling. A small infant may be placed in the sling with its head in one pouch 24, and feet in the other 25, and strap 31 fastened about the child's body.The connectors 28, 29 are then hitched to the hook 12 on the free end of rope 13 and the sling and infant lowered from the window. Fig. 4 shows the sling 20 in use suspended from hook 12 on the free end of rope 13, and occupied by an infant 35.

The emergency escape arrangement according to the invention has the advantage that it is relatively inexpensive, as compared to alternative arrangements such as external ladders or stairways, and having no parts externally of the room or building poses no security problem. Unlike ad hoc arrangements which may be impossible to make in a real emergency, the arrangement is conveniently and visibly available as a means of escape either as an alternative when other routes are blocked, or as a first choice of escape. Because of the low cost, hotels and other premises required by law to provide fire and emergency escapes should be able to provide an arrangement according to the invention for every suite or bedroom, in addition to the required communal escapes. Furthermore, private households should be able to afford to provide at least one such arrangements in one or more upstairs bed room, and new housing could be provided with them as standard fittings.

Claims (10)

1. An emergency escape arrangement comprising a support for mounting adjacent a window, said support having means for retaining an end of a rope or equivalent line, and means for storing the rope or line.

2. An arrangement according to Claim 1, wherein the support comprises a plate securable to the wall by structural support bolts engaging in load bearing fabric of the wall, said plate carrying integrally at least an eye for connection of said rope or line thereto by a spring clip or latched hook.

3. An arrangement according to Claims 1 or 2 wherein the means for storing the rope or line comprises a hook for hanging the rope in coiled loops, carried on the plate, or on a separate plate.

4. An arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the means for storing the rope comprises a bag for containing the coiled rope.

5. An arrangement according to any preceding Claim wherein a heavy duty spring clip or latched hook is provided at each end of the rope, one for attachment of the retaining means, and the other at the free end of the rope to be lowered.

6. An arrangement according to Claim 5, wherein a rescue harness is provided which is attachable to the hook atthe free end of the rope.

7. An arrangement according to Claim 5 or 6 further including a rescue sling for infants, comprising a bag like member of flame proofed material, having lugs at each side provided with connectors for connecting both lugs to the hook at the free end of the rope, and ends adapted to provide protective head and foot pouches.

8. An arrangement according to Claim 7 wherein the sling has a safety strap for fastening about the body of an infant in the sling.

9. An arrangement according to Claim 7 or 8 including a reinforcing strap extending laterally across the sling the one lug to the other and connecting the connectors, said strap being stitched to the fabric of the sling.

10. An emergency escape arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as iliustrated in the accompanying drawings.