US616318A - Fire-escape - Google Patents

Description

Patented Dec. 20, I898.

0. R. HANSKEY.

FIRE ESCAPE.

(Application filed Jan. 29, 1898.)

(N0 Model.)

wanna THE NORRIS PETEHS co. PHoTaLlmu. WASHWGTGN. n. c

UNITED STATES PATENT Enron.

OLE R. I-IANSKEY, OF LAKE PRESTON, SOUTH DAKOTA FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,318, dated December 20. 1898.

Application filed January 29, 1898. Serial No. 668,449. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OLE R. HANSKEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lake Preston, in the county of Kin gsbury and State of South Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to fire-escapes; and the object in view is to provide a combined article of furniture, such as a washstand and fire-escape, the said article being equipped with means whereby it is adapted to be suspended from a window-sill or other opening in the wall of a buildingand also having means whereby a person may lower himself from the window to the ground. 7

The detailed objects and ad vantages of the invention will be pointed out in the course of the subjoined description.

The invention consists in an improved fireescape embodying certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and incorporated in the claims hereto appended. I

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the combined article of furniture and fire-escape, showing the same for use as an article of furniture. Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the apparatus, showing the same adapted for use as a fire-escape and suspended from a Window-sill. Fig. 3 is a section through the article in the condition shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail perspective View showing the upper portion of the device and the lowering apparatus. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the suspending arm or bracket.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Referring to the drawings,1 designates what may constitute the stand or casing of a table or washstand, the same being provided with a removable top, lid, or cover 2, which when the device is used as a fire-escape is removed, so as to give access to the parts contained therein. The casing 1 is left open at top and bottom and forms a portion of the cage in which the operator descends.

Arranged removably within the casing l is a vertically-sliding box 3, forming the lower portion of the cage, and this inner box is closed at its bottom, as indicated at 4:, to provide a floor upon which the operator may stand. The inner box 3 is provided along its top edge and upon its outer side with cleats or flanges 5, and the outer casing 1 is provided at its bottom and along itsinner surface with cooperating cleats or flanges 6, and when these flanges or cleats 5 and 6 come in contact with each other they limit the further downward movement of the box 4 with relation to the outer casing 1, thus forming a cage of sufficient height to enable a person to stand therein while lowering himself to the ground Without danger of being injured by the flames from the building.

The casin g 1 is provided at one side with an opening '7, and outside of said opening with a shallow housing 8, and in said opening and housing is journaled a drum 9, upon which is wound a hoisting and lowering cable 10. At one side this drum is provided with a beveled gear 11, and meshing with said gear is a second beveled gear 12,provided with a crankhandle 13, arranged in convenient position in the casing 1, so as to be operated by the person standing therein. The cable 10 is fast at its opposite end to the opposite side of the casing 1, as shown at 14, and'at an intermediate point said cable runs over a groovepulley 15, arranged in an opening 16 in the outer end of an armor bracket 17, the inner end of which is bifurcated, as shown at 18. In said bifurcation is arranged a cross bar or pin 19, embraced by the loop end 20 of a metal stay or rod 21, having at its opposite or free end a hook 22, adapted to be engaged with a second hook or projection 23, arranged beneath a Window-sill and upon the inside of a room.

In operation the lid 2 is removed from the casing 1. The arm or bracket 17 is then taken from the upper portion of the casing and ar= ranged across the window-sill, while the stay or rod 21 is booked in the manner described. The casing 1 is now put through the window, and the inner box 3 is allowed to drop downward until it reaches its limit. The operator now enters the casing or cage and stands upon I the floor 4, at the same time grasping the crank-handle 13. By turning said handle in a particular direction he is enabled to lower himself to the ground. In order to prevent the too rapid descent of the cage, a suitable friction-brake may be applied either to the drum 7 or to the beveled gear-wheel 12. Each room in a hotel or apartment-house or private dwelling may be thus equipped with a complete and reliable fire escape without the presence of such an article being noticeable. The casing may be hoisted again to the window or opening by means of a second cable 24, wound upon a drum 25, arranged under the drum 0 and geared thereto by spur gearwheels 26. In first lowering the casing the drum 25 is revolved, but the cable 24 does not unwind therefrom. Vhen the operator wishes to elevate the casing, the end of the cable 24 is passed through an opening 27 in the bottom of the casing, and the operator standing upon the ground, by pulling on the cable 24, can revolve both drums and rewind cable 10 upon drum 9, thus elevating the fireescape and permitting a second person to use the same. A hook or latch 28 may be employed to engage and hold the operating crank while a person is getting into the basket or casing.

It will of course be understood that the fireescape hereinabove described is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction, which may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. it

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. A combined article of furniture and fireescape, embodying a casing forming a cage in which the operator may descend, a supporting-bracket removably contained within said casing, means on said bracket providing for its attachment to the frame of a window or other opening, a lowering-cable secured to said casing and passing over a pulley on said arm or bracket, a drum journaled in the easing, operating means therefor, and a hook for engaging and holding the operating means substantially as described.

2. In a fire-escape, a combined article of furniture and descending cage, embodying a casing, a telescoping box contained wholly therein and extensible through one end of the casing and provided with a floor upon which the operator may stand, a supporting-bracket removably fitting within the casing, a hooked stay on the bracket providing for the attachment of the bracket to the frame of awindow or other opening, a drum in said casing, a cable passing around said drum and over a pulley on the bracket, an operating-crank for winding or unwinding said drum, and a hook in the casing for holding said crank from movin g substantially as described.

A combined article of furniture and fireescape comprising a casing, a supportingbracket therefor designed to be supported on a window-sill and removably fitted within the casing, a pulley carried by said bracket, a drum and actuating means therefor arranged in the casing, a hoisting-cable wound thereon and passing over the bracket-pulley, and a second drum geared to and parallel with the first drum and having wound thereon a driving-cable extending downward through the bottom of an extensible part of the casing, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OLE R. IIANSKEY.

Vitnesses:

KNUTE LEWIS, M. M. LARK.

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