Patent Publication Number: US-2007102240-A1

Title: Bail out device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      This invention relates to bail out devices and, more specifically, to a bail out device for use by a firefighter to permit repelling from a dangerous situation.  
      2. Prior Art  
      It is well known that fire fighters, upon entering a burning structure, face the possibility of their situation turning increasingly unsafe. A rope can be carried to repel from the structure should the situation warrant bailing out. However, securing the rope takes time and time is often not available. A firefighter needs a device for bailing out which is worn on the firefighter&#39;s protective gear and that can be quickly implemented with dependability.  
      3. Objects  
      The objects of the device are to provide a bail out device as follows:  
      1. That can be readily used by a fire fighter in an emergency.  
      2. That can be worn by the firefighter on the protective gear of the fire fighter.  
      3. That can be very quickly deployed by a fire fighter.  
      4. That is comparatively safe and dependable.  
      5. That is economical.  
      Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.  
      To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the attached claims.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      A bail out device is provided for rapidly escaping from an unsafe structure. A rope which has an attachment section is and a repelling section is utilized. The attachment section is connected to the repelling section. The repelling section is substantially longer than the attachment section. Attachment means are connected to the attachment section for securing the attachment section to the structure. A descending device, which is a plate with five openings in it is located on the repelling section of the rope. The repelling section extends in and out of four of the five openings of the descending device. An intermediate clip is attached to the descending device and a leash is connected to the intermediate clip. An inner clip attached to the leash. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       FIG. 1  is a pictorial view showing the bail out device mounted on a harness on the torso of a firefighter with the attachment section in the front of the firefighter.  
       FIG. 2  plan view of the bail out device with the bag for holding the repelling section broken open to show the knot in th end of the repelling section.  
       FIG. 3  is a pictorial view of a firefighter with the bail out device on the protective gear of the firefighter and with the attachment section extending from the firefighter for attachment to any suitable point in a structure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE NUMERALS  
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 NUMERAL 
                 DESCRIPTION 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 11 
                 Harness 
               
               
                 13 
                 Large D Clip 
               
               
                 15 
                 Bag 
               
               
                 17 
                 Side Pocket 
               
               
                 19 
                 Repelling Section 
               
               
                 21 
                 Rope 
               
               
                 23 
                 Outer End 
               
               
                 25 
                 Inner End 
               
               
                 27 
                 Knot 
               
               
                 29 
                 Descending Device 
               
               
                 31 
                 Openings 
               
               
                 33 
                 Attachment Section 
               
               
                 35 
                 Intermediate Clip 
               
               
                 37 
                 Outer End 
               
               
                 39 
                 Retainer Clip 
               
               
                 43 
                 Double Figure Eight Knot 
               
               
                 47 
                 Sheath 
               
               
                 51 
                 Leash 
               
               
                 53 
                 Outer Clip 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a torso of a firefighter is shown. The firefighter is wearing a harness  11  which includes a large D clip  13 . The bailout device is secured to the harness  11 . A bag  15  is located in a side pocket  17  of the firefighter and a repelling section  19  of the rope  21  is coiled within the bag  15 . The length of the repelling section  19  of the bail out device is generally about thirty six feet to provide an adequate length of rope  21  to reach or approach the ground from a dwelling and, even in a high rise situation, at least to provide sufficient rope to repel to a lower level of a building to safety. The repelling section  19  would have a length of at least thirty feet and usually no more than forty feet to provide an adequate distance to reach safety and still not have an excessive amount of rope  21  to carry.  
      The repelling section  19  has an outer end  23  and an inner end  25 . The outer end  23  of the rope  21  is the end which Is farthest from the point of bail out. A knot  27  is tied at the outer end  23  of the repelling section  19  to provide a warning to a firefighter descending the rope  21  that there is no more rope  21  available. This is intended to prevent a firefighter from falling unexpectedly from the rope  21 .  
      A descending device 1    29  is located on the repelling section  19  of the rope  21 . The descending device  29  provides a controlled descent down the rope  21 . The descending device  29  is a plate with five openings  31  through it. The repelling section  19  of the rope  21  passes through four of the openings  31  in the descending device  29  to control descent without stopping descent.    1 The descending device is a product of Pigeon Mountain Industries.    
      The repelling section  19  of the rope  21  is one of two sections for the bail out device. The other section of the rope  21  is the attachment section  23  which extends from an intermediate clip  35  which is secured to the descending device  29  by use of the one remaining opening  31  in the descending device  29  not occupied by the repelling section  19  of the bail out device. At the outer end  37  of the attachment section  33  of the bail out device is a retainer clip or attachment means  39 , which is preferably an extra large D clip. A double figure eight knot  43  is placed in the rope  21  adjacent to the retainer clip  39 . The retainer clip  39  is designed to be secured to anything available near the escape point such as a radiator or even an axe forced into a wooden structural member. The double figure eight knot  43  serves as a hand grip to hold the firefighter during the initial departure from the structure. The rope  21  in the attachment section  33  is entirely covered by a sheath  47  which is also fire resistant. The double figure eight knot is tied after the rope  21  is covered by the sheath  47  The sheath  47  also provides additional gripping ability for the firefighter while the firefighter moves toward the repelling section  19  of the rope  21 . The repelling section  19  is substantially longer than the attachment section  33 .  
      The opening  31  in the descending device  29  which is not occupied by the rope  21  is connected to the intermediate clip  35  which is preferably a locking carabineer. A leash  51 , which is a sewn quick draw string, connects the intermediate clip  35  to an outer clip  53  which is also an outer locking carabineer. The outer clip  53  is connected to the harness  11  worn by the firefighter.  
      The leash  51  and the outer clip  53  retain the bail out device on the firefighter prior to use by the firefighter and during use of the bail out device. When the firefighter reaches the descending device  29  at the end of the sheath  47 , the firefighter descends down the repelling section  19  of the rope  21  on the descending device  29 .  
      It is to be understood that the drawings and description matter are in all cases to be interpreted as merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, rather than as limiting the same in any way, since it is contemplated that various elements exist to achieve like results without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.