Patent ID: 6817443
Filing Date: 2004-11-16
Classification: A62B

Abstract:
An apparatus for an emergency descent device for use by an individual and for attachment onto the exterior wall of a multiple story building, comprising:a) a wall of a building wherein said wall is an exterior wall of a multiple story building, said building having a top and a bottom; b) a descent track disposed on said wall of said building wherein said track extends from said top to said bottom of said building, said descent track having a first end oriented toward said top of said building said descent track further has the shape of an I-beam, said descent track I-beam have an inner portion, and an outer face portion, said outer face portion having a front side and a back side, wherein said inner portion is disposed adjacent said wall of the building; c) a suit to be worn by an individual user, said suit being of a size suitable for said user; d) a harness integral to said suit, said harness for safely securing an individual user therein; e) an assembly means for a descent whereby an individual user can be safely attached to the descent track and can safety descend down the descent track; f) a harness cable to permit said assembly means for descent to be securely attached to said harness of said suit, said harness cable having a first end for fixed attachment to said harness and a second end for fixed attachment to said assembly means for descent; and g) said descent assembly means comprises: i) a descent assembly housing for attachment to said outer face portion of said descent track, said housing having a top end, a bottom end, a top side, a bottom side wherein said bottom side comprises a pair of inwardly extending flanges, and a pair of sides perpendicular to said top side and extending away from said top side toward said flanged bottom side wherein a semi-interior cavity is formed therein by said top side, said flanged bottom side and said pair of sides, said semi-interior cavity for receiving said outer face portion of said descent track therein, wherein said top side and said flanged bottom side each have an inner surface contiguous to said semi-interior cavity; ii) an attachment member fixedly attached to said housing for receiving said second end of said harness cable to permit attachment of said descent assembly housing to said harness; iii) frictionous material disposed on parts of said inner surface of said top side of said descent assembly housing and on said inner surface of said flanged bottom side to permit frictionous contact between the I-beam and the frictionous material so as to create a braking effect; iv) a first brake disposed on said descent assembly housing whereby a preselected braking action is provided to said descent assembly housing in correlation to the size of said suit; v) a second brake disposed on said descent assembly housing whereby a user is able to control the braking action provided to said descent assembly housing; and, vi) a handle to permit an individual to grasp onto the descent assembly housing.