US656732A - Portable fire-escape. - Google Patents

Description

No. 656,732. Patented Aug. 28,1900. J. C. SCUTT.

PORTABLE FIRE ESCAPE. (Application filed Mar. 6, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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Patented Aug. 28, 1900. J. C. SCOTT.

PORTABLE FIRE ESCAPE.

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'IATES JOHN G. sc'o'r'r," or oIIIcAeo, ILLINOIS.

PORTABLE FIRE- -ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 656,732, dated August 28, 1900. Application filed March 5, 1900. Serial No. 7,426- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. SCOTT, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Fire- Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

The main object of my invention is to provide a form of fire-escape in which a cabinet is suspended from a ladder and connected thereto in such manner that the ladder may be conveniently stowed in said cabinet when not in use. To this end I provide a cabinet of suitable form to serve as a useful and ornamental article of furniture, such as a settee or'other similar vdevice, having an open top with a removable or hinged cover and having aladder secured near or at the top in such manner that same may be readily lowered into the cabinet. In. connection with said device I provide suitable means for read ily connecting the upper end of the ladder to a window-sill.

Further objects of different features of the device with which I put my invention into practice will be understood from the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- 4 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device constructed according to my invention and secured to a window-sill in proper position for use as a fire-escape. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the wall of the building having my device suspended therefrom in similar manner as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan of the rod whereby the upper part of the ladder is secured to a window-sill. Fig. 4: is a perspective view of the same rod.

The cabinet 1 is provided with aremovable or hinged lid 2, having thereon a handle 3. The recesses 4 have hooks 5, projecting through same and engaging the lower links of the chains 6. Said chains have the caps or end pieces 7, secured thereto by the eyes or staples 8. The steps 9 are seated in said caps .7 and secured thereto by bolts or screws 10. The upper step 11 is made in the form of a block, providing considerable surface at its rear for abutting against the front of the window-sill. This is secured in the caps 12,

which are made considerably larger than the caps '7 and which have the handles 13 se cured thereto. The chains 14 are secured at one end to the caps 12 and at the other end to the eyes 15 in the members 16 and 17. Said members are pivoted together at 18 and have the rear shoulders 19 and 20, which abut each other, for holding the members 16 and 17 in the position shown. Said members together form the rod whereby the device is attached to a window-sill. Each of said members is provided with a hook 21, which engages the inner edge of the sill 22, as shown in Fig. 2.

The whole device will be made of suitable weight and form so that same may be readily taken from place to place and conveniently used in dwelling-houses, hotels, schools, ((50. The cabinet 1 is preferably made of such size that a small child may be readily seated therein and lowered from a window. The cabinet 1 will preferably be made of metal or other fireproof material lined with asbestos.

The operation of my device is as follows: When the device is not in use as a fire-escape, the cabinet will be placed in a convenient position near the window from which same is to be suspended. The ladder will be lowered into same in such manner that the steps 9 will lie flat upon each other, While the chains will lie at the sides of said steps. The members 16 and 17 are folded upon each other at the pivot 18. Said members are preferably of suitable size to be inserted in the upper part of the cabinet when thus folded. The lid 2 will be placed in the position shown in Fig. 1 after the ladder has been stowed in said cabinet. Any suitable drapery or other covering may be placed over the lid 2. In case of fire or other emergency requiring the use of the fire-escape the operator will merely remove or throw back the lid 2 and take out the ladder or hold the cabinet in an inverted position, so as to permit the ladder to drop out. He will then place in said cabinet any small articles thathe may desire to lower from the window and will then lower the cabi not by means of the ladder. The upper part of the ladder may be first attached, as before described. The ladder will then be left in the positions shown in-Figs. 1 and 2 for persons to descend by means of the steps 9. The handles 13 are intended for convenience in removing the ladder from the cabinet and also to assist in again raising the device through the window from Which same has been suspended.

It will be understood that rungs of ordinary form may be substituted for the steps 9 and that other details of the device shown may be altered in numerous Ways without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore do not confine myself to such details except as hereinafter limited in the claim.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- A device of the class described, comprising a cabinet open at the top; a flexible ladder secured to said cabinet in suitable manner for suspending same in an upright position and adapted to be folded into the cabinet;

JOHN C. SCOTT.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM P. SHooKEY, TIMOTHY C. LYNCH.

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