Abstract:
A fire escape system includes at least one guide post and an escape platform slidably carried by the at least one guide post and comprising a platform plate; a pair of handlebars pivotally carried by the platform plate; a pair of guide rollers carried by the pair of handlebars, respectively, and adapted to detachably engage the at least one guide post; and a pair of brake assemblies carried by the escape platform and adapted to engage the at least one guide post.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates to fire escapes for buildings. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a fire escape system which enables rapid escape from a building during a fire or other emergency. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     High-rise office buildings, apartment buildings and the like are typically equipped with a fire escape which includes interior or exterior stairs that span the entire height of the building. In emergency situations, the stairs provide a means of egress for persons to escape the building unharmed. However, fire escape stairs may not enable persons to escape a building in emergency conditions in a sufficiently rapid manner to avoid harm. This may be particularly the case for the infirm and others who are physically unable to successfully and safely negotiate the stairs to the ground. 
     Accordingly, a fire escape system which enables rapid escape from a building during a fire or other emergency is needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure is generally directed to a fire escape system. An illustrative embodiment of the fire escape system includes at least one guide post and an escape platform slidably carried by the at least one guide post and comprising a platform plate; a pair of handlebars pivotally carried by the platform plate; a pair of guide rollers carried by the pair of handlebars, respectively, and adapted to detachably engage the at least one guide post; and a pair of brake assemblies carried by the escape platform and adapted to engage the at least one guide post. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will now be made, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view, partially in section, of an illustrative embodiment of the fire escape system; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view, partially in section, of an illustrative embodiment of the fire escape system, with a pair of guide rollers (in phantom) and a pair of brake pads (in phantom) engaging a guide post of the system; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view, partially in section, of an illustrative embodiment of the fire escape system, with a pair of guide rollers (in phantom) and a pair of brake pads (in phantom) disengaging a guide post of the system; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view, partially in section, of an illustrative embodiment of the fire escape system; 
         FIG. 5  is a rear view of an illustrative embodiment of the fire escape system, with the guide rollers and brake pads engaging the guide post; 
         FIG. 6  is a top view in section of a building (in phantom), with a set of three fire escape systems provided in a central fire escape space of the building in an exemplary application of the fire escape system; 
         FIG. 7  is a front perspective view, partially in section, of an alternative illustrative embodiment of the fire escape system; 
         FIG. 8  is a rear view, partially in section, of the illustrative embodiment of the fire escape system illustrated in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the illustrative embodiment of the fire escape system which is illustrated in  FIG. 7 ; and 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view, partially in section, of an illustrative embodiment of the fire escape system, with a detachable platform spacer connecting a pair of escape platforms of the system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure which is defined by the claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-6  and  10 , an illustrative embodiment of the fire escape system is generally indicated by reference numeral  1 . The fire escape system  1  may include a guide post structure  2  having a guide post support  3 . At least one guide post  4  may be attached to the guide post support  3  via guide post reinforcing members  5 . In some embodiments, multiple guide posts  4  may be attached to the guide post support  3  in spaced-apart relationship with respect to each other. 
     An escape platform  8  is provided on each guide post  4  of the guide post structure  2 . The escape platform  8  may include a platform plate  9  which may have a generally rectangular shape. A pair of handlebars  10  may be pivotally attached to the platform plate  9  via respective pivot bolts  14 . Handlebar brackets  11  may extend from the respective handlebars  10 . A brake lever  13  may be provided on each handlebar  10 . A harness attachment hook  18  may be provided on the platform plate  9  of the escape platform  8  for purposes which will be hereinafter described. The harness attachment hook  18  may be swivelly attached to the platform plate  9 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a guide roller  20  may be rotatably attached to the handlebar bracket  11  of each handlebar  10  via a bracket bolt  12  which extends through a bolt slot (not shown) provided in the platform plate  9 . By pivoting of the handlebars  10  with respect to the respective pivot bolts  14 , the guide rollers  20  may be adapted to detachably engage respective sides of the guide post  4 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the brake levers  13  provided on the respective handlebars  10  may each engage a corresponding brake assembly  24 . Each brake assembly  24  may include a hydraulic reservoir  25  which is provided on the platform plate  9 . A solenoid brake  27  provided on the platform plate  9  may be connected to the hydraulic reservoir  25  via a hydraulic fluid line  26 . The solenoid brake  27  may engage a brake pad  28  which is adapted to engage the guide post  4 . Each brake lever  13  may be connected to the corresponding hydraulic reservoir  25  via a brake cable  29 . Accordingly, actuation of each brake lever  13  facilitates flow of hydraulic fluid (not shown) from each hydraulic reservoir  25  to the corresponding solenoid brake  27  through the hydraulic fluid line  26 . Consequently, each solenoid brake  27  presses the corresponding brake pad  28  against the guide post  24 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , in typical use multiple fire escape systems  1  may be provided on respective guide posts  4  of a guide post structure  2  which extends vertically through a central fire escape exit space  35  provided in a building  32  such as an apartment building or an office building, for example and without limitation. A stairwell  33  having one or multiple exterior exits  34  may surround the fire escape exit space  35 . The fire escape space  35  may be accessible from the stairwell  33  at multiple locations via access openings (not shown). One or more escape platforms  8  may be positioned at each floor of the building  32 . 
     A harness (not shown) may be attached to the platform plate  9  of each escape platform  8  such as via the harness attachment hook  18 . In emergency situations, a user (not shown) may access the fire escape space  35  from the stairwell  33  and fasten himself or herself in the harness (not shown). The user may grasp the handlebars  10  as the escape platform  8  travels downwardly on the guide post  4 . The user may control the rate of descent of the escape platform  8  on the guide post  4  by causing engagement of the guide rollers  20  against the guide post  4 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , via pivoting of the handlebars  10  with respect to the pivot bolts  14 . The user may selectively stop descent of the escape platform  8  on the guide post  4  by engagement of the brake pads  28  of the respective brake assemblies  24  via application of the respective brake levers  13 . When the user reaches the ground floor (not shown) of the building  32  inside the fire escape exit space  35 , he or she may detach himself or herself from the harness and exit the building  32  through an exterior exit  34  in the stairwell  33  of the building  32 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , in some applications a platform spacer  54  may connect adjacent escape platforms  8  on a common guide post  4  to each other to prevent collision of the escape platforms  8  with each other during descent of the escape platforms  8 . 
     Referring next to  FIGS. 7-9  of the drawings, an alternative illustrative embodiment of the fire escape system is generally indicated by reference numeral  1   a . In the fire escape system  1   a , a pair of platform drive motors  38  may be provided on the platform plate  9  of each escape platform  8 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , each platform drive motor  38  may drivingly engage a corresponding motor drive sprocket  39 . A guide roller sprocket  21  may drivingly engage each guide roller  20 . A drive chain  40  may engage the motor drive sprocket  39  and the guide roller sprocket  21 . A control box  45  may be electrically connected to the corresponding solenoid brake  27  and to the corresponding platform drive motor  38 . A user control interface  47  may be provided on each handlebar  10  and electrically connected to the corresponding control box  45  via control wiring  46 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , a pair of motor power channels  50  may extend along each guide post structure  2 . Each platform drive motor  38  may be electrically connected to the corresponding motor power channel  50  via a suitable power connection  51 . Each motor power channel  50  and power connector  51  may be adapted to supply electrical power to each corresponding platform drive motor  38 . Accordingly, each user control interface  47  may be operated to control rotation of each guide roller  20  via the corresponding platform drive motor  38  to facilitate selective upward travel of the escape platform  8  on the guide post support  3 . 
     The brake assembly  44  of the fire escape system la may include the solenoid brake  27  which is connected to the control box  45  and the user control interface  47  which is connected to the control box  45 . Accordingly, the user control interface  47  may be operated to control operation of the solenoid brakes  27  via the control box  45  to selectively terminate descent of the escape platform  8  on the guide post  4 . 
     While the embodiments of the disclosure have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.