US1683138A - Fire escape - Google Patents

Description

Y Sept. 14, 11928'.y

w. KAUTZ ms ESCAPE Filed Nov. v29, i926 Patented Sept. 4, 19h28.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM KUTZ, OF WILLARD, OHIO.

FIRE ESCAPE.

Application led November 29, 1926. Serial No. 151,480.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in lire escapes of the collapsible chain type, and has for its primary object to provide such a device that may be readily wrapped or wound within a cabinet preferably of the type shown and described in my copending application Serial No. 151,47 9 filed on even date herewith so that the saine will be out lof the way when not in use.

A fuithei and important object is to provide a fire escape of this character that may be readily dropped from one of the upper stories of the building and rigidly secured to the sill of a window so that persons may Adescend from the building without great liability of the ladder becoming disconnected from said sill.

A still further object is to provide a ladder of this character that is relatively simple of construction, inexpensive of manufacture, and one that is highly well adapted for all 'z the purposes intended.

With the foregoing and other objects which will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same comprising the novel form, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front side elevation of a building vupon which is disposed a fire escape constructedv in accordance with the present invention. Y

Figure 2 is a detail vertical section thereof for disclosing the fire escape in side elevation.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the window sill engaging unit for the purpose of securing the escape to the building.

Figure 4l is an enlarged perspective of one of the side arms of said unit.

Figure 5 is a perspective of one of the plate links that facilitate the interconnection of certain chain sections as well as the pivotal connection of the ladder steps thereto.

Figure 6 is a perspective of one of said ladder steps, and

Figure 7 is a perspective of a cross bar at the lower end of the fire escape to facilitate the anchoring of said end to the building.

Now having particular reference to the drawings wherein there is disclosed the most practical embodiment of the invention with which l am at this time familiar, the device consists of a pair of inner, and a pair of outer chains designated respectively 5 5 and 6 6. The outer chains 6 6 are of a single length,

Lwhile the inner chains 5 5 are composed of chain lengths interconnected by plate links 7 that have openings in the opposite ends as clearly indicated in Figure 5 so that the ends of the chain sections may be secured thereto. These link plates 7 are each further formed centrally with an opening 8, the openings of transversely aligned plates receiving the laterally bent and threaded ends 9 9 of U-bar steps or rungs 10. Said ends being secured in the opening bynuts as clearly indicated in Figures 1 and 2. The central bar memberof each step or rung 10 is provided at its inner side and in spaced relation to its opposite ends with loops 11 with which engage the outer chain lengths, whereby inward sliding movement 4of said chain lengths is prevented. The lower ends of the chains 5 5 and 6 6 are connected to the opposite ends-of a cross bar 12 that is formed centrally and at its upper edge with a V-no-tch 13, for a purpose hereinafter more fully described.

' Permanently secured to the upper ends of the `inner chains 5 5 is a window sill attaching unit designated generally bv the reference character lll. This unit consists of. a pair of side arms 15 15 of flat metal formation, the inner ends of which are hooked as at 16- for engagement beneath the inner' sill beard of the window B at the uppermost floor of the building A. These hooked ends 16 of the arms 15 15 of said unit 14 are interconnecterl by a cross bar 17 while the arms are further interconnected at their centers and at their outer ends by other bars 1S and 19. The outer ends of said arms 1 5 15 are formed .with dependingplates 20. see Figure 2, the lower edges of which will rest upon the outer edge of the sill of said window B as clearly indicated in Figure 2. From these plates are outwardly projecting depending tongues 21, while disposed upon the inner sides of the tonguesy and plates are similarly shaped reinforcing plates 22, the tongue portions thereof as wellL as the tongues of the arms being'provided with registering openings so as to facilitate the attachiment of the upper ends of the innermost chain 5 5 thereto.

Connected to the center bar 18 of the unit Vso lon

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` ing movement. V'Vhen it is desired to removev neath the center4 ofthe Window to which the upper end of the lire escape is to be attached is Yan outwardly extending flat-like .hariQ-tothe outer end of which is pivoted a lever 26. Qbviously. after the reescape has been dro p'ed from the windowfit will benece'ssary ora person standing upon the ground to pass the connecting bar 1 2 for the lower ends of the inner and outerchains 5&5 and ti-f beneath the lever 26 after which al downward swinging of the same will force said rbar inwardly beneath the bar 25 for securing the fire escape against swingthe device from the building it is only necessary that the lower end thereof be disconnected from the bar25 after which the unit 14 at the upper end 'of ltheldevice may be arranged upon the vsupport or the stand shown and described inmy copending application. `The outer chains 6-6 are then detached from the chainsections 23-23 after which the steps or rungs l() will swing downy wardl upon the link plates 7 so as to permit ety the winding of the device within the stand.

The bar 25 isa fixed bar, and the lever 26 is'designed to normally depend from the outer end of the bar 25. The upward pull on the bar 12 is against the under `side of the bar 25, and consequently when the lever 26 ris made sufficiently heavy, saidflever 2G may be depended upon to prevent casual disengagement or release of the bar l2 from the bar 25. f t

Itl will thus be seen that I have provided a highly novel, simcple, and Vefficient fire escape thatis well a apted for'all the pur-- poses heretofore designated, even though I haveherein shown and describedthe invention as consisting of certain detail structural elements, it isV nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without affecting the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by'Letters Patent is 4 1.1In a re escape of the class descrabed,

a plurality of chain, lengths adapted for vertical disposition on the outside of a building, ladder steps arranged at predetermined spaced ture. Initervals Y,throughout the chain i u lengths, a windowlsill attaching unit vat the.,

upper ends of the chain lengths, a cross bar i' secured at its ends to the lower ends ofthe chain lengths, and means `upon the outside of the; building adjacent the foundation thereoffor `engagement with the cross bar fervlpeking the fire escape against swinging Y movement, said means comprising a fixed member extending laterally from the buildi ing, and a vertically swinging normally pendent lever pivotedat its upper endQon the outer end of said member, said lever when pendent preventing the disengagement,

of the cross bar `from beneath thelaterally extending member. i i

2. In alfire escape of the `class described,

a pair n of inner and outerkspaced'fchain lengths adapted for' disposition ontheA out-V side of a building, the inner chain lengths comprising a series of chains, linkV plates interconnecting the series of chains in the Vimiermost chain lengths, a series of substan tially U-.shaped step members arranged in vertical spaced `relation and having lateral lso terminalathe crownportion fof each Us shaped step being connected with the outer' chain lengths, the said lateral terminals of the arms `of each U-shaped step being dis-V posed through and `journaled and secured in theintermediate portion of each pair of link plates, a window sill. engaging unit, the;

inner chain lengths being secured at their? upper ends to said unit, and `detachable con.A nections between the outer chain lengths at Y their upper ends andthe window sill attaching unit, whereby the outer. chain lengt-hs `maybe moved inwardly with respect tothe inner chain lengths to facilitatethe rolling` ofthe ladder when th'eaforementioned Veennections are disengaged. Y

3. In a firees'cape of the class described, a pair of inner iand outer spacedmhain lengths adapted for dispositionon the out! side/of the building, the inner ychain lengths Vas comprising aseries of connecting links, aV V series of substantially Ushaperl step. members arranged -in vertical'spaced relation' and having arms pivotally connected with the inner chain lengths,l the crown Vportion Vof each U-shapedstep member being connected with the outer chain lengths, window sill engaging means connected totheupperends` n of the inner chain lengths,andfdetachable connections between `the outer chain lengths at their upper liends, andV said window sill engaging` meansv wherebyuthe outer `chain lengt to the` inner chain lengths `to: acilitate Trolling of the ladder orrsfire escape when the beforementi'oned eonnections are disengaged.

is may bemoved inwardl with respect`=

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