US2449813A - Safety lowering device for use as a fire escape - Google Patents

Description

A. LAWSON Sept. 21, 1948.

SAFETY LOWERING DEVICE FOR USE AS A FIRE ESCAPE Filed March 12, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1- IN VENTOR.

ANNA LAWSON ATLI'I'JRN EYS Sept, 21, 1948.. A. LAWSON 1 2,449,813

SAFETY LOWERING DEVICE FOR USE AS A FIRE ESCAPE Filed March 12, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR. I

ANNA LAWSON Patented Sept. 21, 1948 SAFETY LOWERING DEVICE FOR USE AS A FIRE ESCAPE.

Anna Lawson, Detroit, Mich.

Application March 12, 1947, Serial No. 734,129

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a device for escaping from high buildings in case of fire.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which can be attached to the person and which will release an inflated balloon when a trip device is actuated to open the valve of a helium tank whereby a person can jump from a window with safety.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a fire escape device which can be attached to the person, of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture and efiicient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the device after the bag has been inflated and showing the device attached to the person and as the person would appear dangling from the balloon and suspended in air,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the device which is in a locked condition and before the same has been placed on the back of the prospective user and before the bag has been inflated,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the valve levers in their released condition and. the locked parts separated from the retaining part of the lock.

Referring now to the figures, l represents a tank filled with helium or other light gas under pressure. On the top of the tank is a valve fitting l l adapted to be operated by valve levers l2 and I3. When these valve levers are extended upwardly in the position shown in Fig. 2 the valve II is closed. These levers are retained in their raised position by locked parts l4 engaging with a fixed member I 5 on a bag It. A trip cord l'l extends through a bracket 18 on one end of tank H) and has a ring I!) thereon through which the finger can be extended to pull the cord. The cord is attached to a trigger 2| and as the cord is pulled this trigger is released from lock l5. Thereafter the levers I2 are forced down and helium will be delivered through a tube 22 to the bag It to inflate the same. The upper ends of the levers l2 and I3 are provided with a ring formation 23 to which fireproof nylon cords or shroud lines '24 are attached. The cord I1 is pulled after the person's arms have been extended through arm straps 25 and belt 26 has been adjusted about the waist of the person. The person will sit on the window ledge and pull the cord and after the bag I6 has been inflated he may jump from the window. on doing so the weight will cause the valve levers 12 to be drawn upwardly whereby to close the valve II and stop the flow of helium gas to the bag.

Thus the device could again be put into use without a refill of the helium in tank 10.

Adjustable straps 21 are connected between the arm straps 25 and the belt 26. These straps having hook 28 adapted to be connected to a ring 29 in the arm strap. The straps are adjustable in length through a buckle 3|. Thelower ends of the straps have loops 33 by which they can be attached to a transverse member 34 for connecting them together whereby to form the belt portion 26.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction it shall be understood thatsuch changes shall be in the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claim.

I claim:

A device of the character described comprising a tank filled with light gas under pressure, a. valve fitting on the top of the tank, two operating levers pivoted to the valve fitting to open and close the same, a bag connected by a tube with the valve fitting and adapted to be filled with the light gas as the same is delivered through the tube to the bag, lock means for connecting the valve levers together to maintain the valve closed, trip means for releasing the lock means and the levers whereby the levers may assume a, position to open the valves, shroud lines connected between the valve levers and the bag whereby the valve levers will be pulled upwardly to their closed positions when the bag has been inflated and weight is transmitted to the bag, and a harness for attaching the tank to the body of the person who is to effect an escape.

ANNA LAWSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,322,806 Marshall Nov. 25, 1919 1,572,889 Degen Feb. 16, 1936

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