US450796A - Fire-escape - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

G. W. OLMSTED.

FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 450,796. Patented Apr. 21, 1891.

lUir STATES PATENT Orricn.

GEORGE XVELOH OLMSTED, OF DAGUSCAHONDA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 450,796, dated April 21, 1891. Application filed August 7,1890. Serial No. 361,282. (No model.)

To all wi'tmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE XVELOH OLM- STED, a citizen of the United States, residing at Daguscahonda, in the county of Elk and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Fire-Escape, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to fire-escapes; and the objects in view are to provide a cheap and simple device adapted to be carried in the pocket or grip-sack, or located in rooms of a building and to be used upon a rope connected to the bed-post, window-sill, or other fixed object, whereby the occupant may safely lower himself to the ground in the event of fire.

\Vith the above objects in view the invention consists in certain features of construction hereinafter specified, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of a fire-escape constructed in accordance with my invention, the same being connected with an escape-rope. Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken to one side of the rope.

Like numerals indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In constructing my device I form a horizontal or base bar 1, from which there rises at one side of the center thereof a vertical standard 2, to the upper end of which is secured or integrally formed a horizontal arm 3, which extends over and parallel with the longer portion of the base-bar. The base being thus divided, constitutes at opposite side of the standard hand-holds. The arm 3 is provided with a pair of transverse guide-pins el, and is preferably rounded at the point between the pins. The base-bar 1 below the point between the pins is provided with a shallow curved recess 5, and opposite the base of the standard is provided with an opening .in which is swiveled a pair of bearing-ears 6, having pivoted therein one end of a brakelever 7, the inner face of which, opposite the shallow curved recess of the base-bar, is like- 'WlSG provided with a shallow curved recess 9. The opposite ends of the base-bar have openings 10, and in each is loosely suspended a loop 11, the two connected by a sling 12, formed of rope or a leather strap, as may be desired.

13 designates the escape-rope usually found in all rooms of hotels, or the same may be carried with the herein-described device, as found most convenient.

In practice one end of the rope is fastened to the window-sill or bed-post or to a heavy object and the other end passes through the window and dropped to the ground, after which the rope is coiled once around the arm 3 between the guide-pins, and is inclosed 0r clamped at opposite sides by the base-barand the brake-lever opposite their points of recess. The person then gets into the sling, at the same time gripping the end of the brakelever and the base-bar with one hand, and the base-bar alone at the opposite side of the standard, and tightly clamping the rope. After having been firmly seated, by slightly relaxing the grip upon the brake-lever and thus releasing the rope, the person may descend, the rapidity of the descent being governed by the strength of the grip or pressure of the brake-lever upon the rope. While descending the person may employ his feetto prevent contact with the wall of the build ing or any projecting objects, such as cornices, window-sills, die. It will be obvious that the same rope may be utilized for the descent of any number of persons, and that where but one escape device is employed a person after descending may tie the same to the rope and a person in the building may draw up the device, disconnect the same, drop the rope, and then lower himself, the operation being repeated as often as necessary.

By reason of the fact that the sling is connected to opposite ends of the horizontal base the weight is disposed directly in a vertical line and in line with the rope 13, so that no kinking or binding of the rope can take place at any point except around the arm 3 and between the clamping-lever and base 1.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The herein-described fireescape, the same consisting of a horizontal base-bar havinga standard rising vertically therefrom and provided with an arm extending from the upper end of the standard parallel to the basebar, which latter constitutes opposite hand holes, a sling supported by the base-bar, and a brake-lever pivoted to the side of the basebase-bar and lever at points below the arm being provided with shallow curved recesses, and an escape-rope coiled about the arm between the pins and passing between the lever and base-bar, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEO. WELOH OLMSTED. Witnesses:

CLYDE KIME, WALTER E. HORTON.

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