US448101A - Fire-escape - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

B. R. WHITTIER.

FIRE ESCAPE.

Patented Mar -10, 1891.

WI T E55 E5 In: news rams cm. mo'ro-umm, msmnurqu, a. c.

I "UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDVIN R. IVHITTIER, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

Fl RE- E'SCAP E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,101, dated March 10, 1891.

Application filed April 11, 1890. Serial No. 347,506. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN R. \VHITTIER, of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for saving life in cases of fire in high buildings where the occupants are obliged to jump from windows or roof, and my improvement supplies a strong but yielding net or web serving to break the fall and prevent maiming. By my improvementl provide a portable frame-work and a net-work of flexible material supported. thereon, into which those in danger may jump, and from which they may be rapidly removed to give place to others. The frame holds the net spread for use, but may be collapsed or folded, and the net or web is supported thereon by springs interposed. An

'opening is provided through the center, which may be quickly closed or coveredby canvas, which may be removed to release those rescued.

The drawings represent one form of such frame-work and net-work, and illustrate the construction in which my invention may be best embodied, Figure 1 being a perspective view of the apparatus spread for use, and Fig.2 a top plan. In Fig. l a netted fabric is shown, while Fig. 2 shows one of canvas substituted for or used over the net to re-enforce it.

A represents a broad net or web, suspended by its corners or edges from posts or poles B, forming part of a frame and held in an upright position and at a proper distance from each other bycross-bars O C. These posts or poles rest at their lower ends upon the ground, leaving the whole apparatus portable, so that it may be carried from place to place and handled by two or four men, and the net or'web held at such height from the ground that persons jumping into it are received upon the yielding flexible fabric, and thereby kept from serious injury.

Suitable springs are interposed between the poles B and net or web A, so as to give elasticity to the device in addition to the flexibility of the fabric. I prefer to employ compressible spiral springs D, arranged on the outer faces of the upper ends of the poles, each within a frame E, connected to the pole at the top and provided with a rod running through the spring and having a hook F at its lower end engaging the rope G, which forms the margin of the web. The poles should stand somewhat obliquely, thus bringing the downward thrust in the direction of the length of the poles when a person jumps into the net. The springs may, however, be otherwise arranged and connected so as to secure the desired result. The cross-bars O are pivoted at their ends to the poles B and are jointed centrally, so as to fold and bring the poles nearly into lateral contact, the web being raised with the braces in folding and lowered when the device is spread for use. The net or web being entirely disconnected from the folding braces exerts no sidewise or downward strain upon them, and hence the braces are not broken at the joint or collapsed and prematurely folded by the shock of a person jumping into the. net from a burning building.

I provide a central opening through the net or web, which may be collapsed by pursing it with a stout cord or furnished with a flexible cover H, having fastenings which may be quickly detached when required. The object of this feature is to enable those rescued to be removed from the net without taking them over the supporting marginal rope G. Whena canvas web is used over the netting, it may be left detachable and one edge or corner turned back when removing a person.

I claim as my invention-- 1. The combination of a portable folding frame and a spring-supported flexible fabric mounted thereon with a central opening through such fabric and means for collapsing or covering said opening, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of web or net A, poles B B, cross-bars O C, and springs D D, the web or net being disconnected from the cross-bars and the springs connected to the upper ends of said poles and engaging the margins of said web, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of poles B B and hori zontal crossbars O C,-j0inted centrally and pivoted at their ends to said poles, forming a two subscribing witnesses, on this 24th day of collapsible frame, with the net or web A and March, A. D. 1890. the springs'D D, arranged on the outer faces of said poles at their upper ends, substan- EDVIN VHITTIER' 5 tially as and for the purpose set forth. Witnesses:

In testimony whereof I have signed my A. H. SPENCER,

name to this specification, in the presence of JAMES P.. PRINCE.

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