Patent Publication Number: US-9901756-B1

Title: Fire escape device for a baby harness

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of firefighting and lifesaving devices, more specifically, a descending apparatus for lowering a baby in a baby harness from a building. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The fire escape device for a baby harness is a safety device that is adapted for use with an infant or toddler. The fire escape device for a baby harness is used to evacuate an infant or toddler from a building in an emergency. Specifically, the fire escape device for a baby harness is a dual line descending device that is used to lower an infant or toddler from an upper floor of a building to the ground. 
     These together with additional objects, features and advantages of the fire escape device will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the fire escape device in detail, it is to be understood that the fire escape device is not limited in its applications to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the fire escape device. 
     It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the fire escape device. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. They are meant to be exemplary illustrations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is an in use view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is an in use view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments of 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 practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended 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. 
     Detailed reference will now be made to a plurality of potential embodiments of the disclosure, which are illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 5 . 
     The fire escape device for a baby harness  100  (hereinafter invention) comprises an anchor apparatus  101 , a full body baby harness  102 , a plurality of attachment devices  103 , and a plurality of descending devices  104 . The invention  100  is a lifesaving device that is adapted for use with an infant or toddler  161 . The invention  100  is used to evacuate an infant or toddler  161  from a building  162  in an emergency. Specifically, the invention  100  is a dual line descending device that is used to lower an infant or toddler  161  from an upper floor of a building  162  to the ground  163 . 
     The full body baby harness  102  is an apparel item that is designed to hold the infant or toddler  161  during the emergency rescue. The full body baby harness  102  comprises a garment  121  and a plurality of attachment loops  122 . The garment  121  is designed to secure the infant or toddler  161  to the invention  100 . As shown most clearly in  FIGS. 2, 3, and 5 , the garment  121  is essentially designed to be a bag that further comprises a plurality of leg holes  125  and a plurality of arm holes  126 . During the emergency, the infant or toddler  161  is placed in the garment  121  such that the each leg  164  and arm  165  of the infant or toddler  161  goes through a leg hole selected from the plurality of leg holes  125  and an arm hole selected from the plurality of arm holes  126  respectively. In a second potential embodiment of the disclosure, a first shoulder strap  127  and a second shoulder strap  128  are incorporated into the garment  121  to insure that the infant or toddler  161  remains in the garment  121  should a failure in the lowering process result in the infant or toddler  161  become inverted. 
     In the first potential embodiment of the disclosure and the second potential embodiment of the disclosure, the garment  121  is formed from a fabric made of material selected from the group consisting of ballistic nylon or ballistic polyester. Methods to form garments as described in this paragraph are well known and documented in the textile arts. As shown most clearly in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , each of the plurality of attachment loops  122  is a looped webbing that is sewn to the garment  121 . In the first potential embodiment of the disclosure and the second potential embodiment of the disclosure, each of the plurality of attachment loops  122  is attached to the garment  121  using sewn seam. Methods to attach loops of webbing to a garment using sewn seams are well known and documented in the textile arts. 
     The anchor apparatus  101  comprises a base  131 , a plurality of anchor bolts  132 , a first surface anchor  133  and a second surface anchor  134 . The base  131  attaches the invention  100  to the frame  168  of a building  162  and to the bear the weight of the person or object being lowered with the invention  100 . The base  131  is attached to the frame  168  of the building  162  by a window  166  and is attached through the window sill  167 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the base  131  is attached to the window sill  167  using a plurality of anchor bolts  132 . The base  131  is formed in the shape of a rectangular block and is made of a cast or forged metal. Suitable metals include, but are not limited to, iron or steel. Methods to make a base and anchor the base to an object are well known and documented in the mechanical arts. 
     The first surface anchor  133  and the second surface anchor  134  are attached to the base  131 . The first surface anchor  133  is a commercially available anchor in the form of a ring that is attached to the base  131 . The second surface anchor  134  is a commercially available anchor in the form of a ring that is attached to the base  131 . The surface of the base  131  from which the second surface anchor  134  projects is the surface of the base  131  that is distal to the surface of the base  131  from which the first surface anchor  133  projects. The purpose of the first surface anchor  133  and the second surface anchor  134  is to secure one or more ropes  115  to the base  131 . Methods to attach surface anchors to metal blocks are well known and documented in the mechanical arts and would include techniques such as welding. Alternatively, the first surface anchor  133  and the second surface anchor  134  may be incorporated into the casting or forging of the base  131 . The use of the first surface anchor  133  and the second surface anchor  134  are discussed elsewhere in this disclosure. 
     Each of the plurality of descending devices  104  is a commercially available device that is used in high angle climbing and rescue situations that is designed to place friction on a climbing rope or line such that the friction can be used to control the rate of descent of a person or object attached to the descending device. The selection and use of descending devices is well known among those skilled in high angle climbing and rescue. 
     Each of the plurality of attachment devices  103  is a commercially available device that used to attach a descending device selected from the plurality of descending devices  104  to an attachment loop selected from the plurality of attachment loops  122 . 
     In the first potential embodiment of the disclosure and the second potential embodiment of the disclosure: 1) the plurality of attachment devices  103  comprises a first carabiner  111  and a second carabiner  112 ; 2) the plurality of descending devices  104  comprises a first  FIG. 8  descender  113  and a second  FIG. 8  descender  114  and, 3) the plurality of attachment loops  122  further comprises a first attachment loop  123  and a second attachment loop  124 . 
     To use first potential embodiment of the disclosure or the second potential embodiment of the disclosure after the invention  100  has been anchored to the frame  168  or window sill  167 , one or more ropes  115  have to be threaded through the invention  100 . Each of the one or more ropes  115  is a commercially available climbing rope or line. In the first potential embodiment of the disclosure and the second potential embodiment of the disclosure, the one or more ropes  115  further comprises a first climbing line  117  and a second climbing line  118 . The first climbing line  117  is further defined with a first working end  141  and a first standing end  142 . The second climbing line  118  is further defined with a second working end  143  and a second standing end  144 . 
     To set up the descending apparatus, the first working end  141  of the first climbing line  117  is secured to the first surface anchor  133 . The second working end  143  of the second climbing line  118  is secured to the second surface anchor  134 . The first working end  141  of the first climbing line  117  and the second working end  143  of the second climbing line  118  can be secured using a variety of methods including, but not limited to: 1) belaying with a knot; 2) threading the working end of the line through the surface anchor and terminating the working end of the line with a stopper knot; or 3) terminating the working end of the line with a readily and commercially available line stopper (also known as a winch stopper). 
     The bight of first climbing line  117  is inserted and threaded through the first  FIG. 8  descender  113  as normal. The bight of second climbing line  118  is inserted and threaded through the second  FIG. 8  descender  114  as normal. Methods to insert climbing ropes or lines through  FIG. 8  descenders are well known and documented in the high angle climbing and rescue art. The first  FIG. 8  descender  113  is attached to the first attachment loop  123  using the first carabiner  111 . The second  FIG. 8  descender  114  is attached to the second attachment loop  124  using the second carabiner  112 . The infant or toddler  161  is then placed in the full body baby harness  102 . The first standing end  142  and the second standing end  144  are then dropped to the ground  163 . Rescue personnel  169  located on the ground  163  then place tension on the first climbing line  117  and the second climbing line  118  as the infant or toddler  161  is lowered out of the window  166 . By controlling the tension on the first climbing line  117  and the second climbing line  118  rescue personnel  169  can control the rate of descent of the infant or toddler  161  until the infant or toddler  161  reaches the ground  163 . 
     A third potential embodiment of the disclosure is identical to the first potential embodiment of the disclosure with the modification that the second climbing line  118  is eliminated from this scenario. In the third potential embodiment of the disclosure, the first climbing line  117  is further defined with a third standing end  145  (which was the first working end  141  of the first potential embodiment of the disclosure) and a fourth standing end  146  (which was the first standing end  142  of the first potential embodiment of the disclosure). In this scenario, the third standing end  145  is threaded through the first surface anchor  133  and the fourth standing end  146  is threaded through the second surface anchor  134 . This configuration eliminates the need to physically secure the first climbing line  117  to the anchor apparatus  101  with a knot or other device. 
     A fourth potential embodiment of the disclosure replaces the garment  121  used in the third potential embodiment of the disclosure with the garment  121  used in the second potential embodiment of the disclosure. 
     The following definitions were used in this disclosure: 
     Belay: As used in this disclosure, to belay means to secure a person or object to a rope or line. 
     Bight: As used in this disclosure, a bight refers to any central location on a rope or line. 
     Carabiner: As used in this disclosure, a carabiner is coupling link that is usually formed as an oblong metal ring with one spring hinged side that is used to open and close the ring. Synonyms for carabiner include D-link. 
       FIG. 8  Descender: As used in this disclosure, a  FIG. 8  descender is a commercially available device used for high angle climbing and rescue purposes. The  FIG. 8  descender is used to put friction on a climbing rope or line to control the rate of speed of a descent. 
     Knot: As used in this disclosure, a knot is an interlacement of cord, ribbon, rope, or similar materials that is used to: 1) secure the cord, ribbon, rope, or other similar material to an object which may include, but is not limited to, a second cord, ribbon, rope, or other similar material; or, 2) prevent the cord, ribbon, rope, or other similar material from being pulled through a hole or out of a retaining device. In this disclosure, the second type of knot is referred to as a stopper knot. 
     Sewn Seam: As used in this disclosure, a sewn seam a method of attaching two or more layers of textile, leather, or other material through the use of a thread, a yarn, or a cord that repeatedly inserted and looped through the two or more layers of textile, leather, or other material. 
     Standing End: As used in this disclosure, the standing end refers to the end of a rope or line that is not involved with a knot. The standing end is usually the end opposite the working end of a rope or line. 
     Strip: As used in this disclosure, the term describes a long thin object of uniform width. Strips are often rectangular in shape. 
     Textile: As used in this disclosure, a textile is a material that is woven, knitted, braided or felted. Synonyms in common usage for this definition include fabric and cloth. 
     Toddler: As used in this disclosure, a toddler is a human child between the ages of one and three who has learned to walk. 
     Webbing: As used in this disclosure, a webbing is strong, close woven or knitted fabric that is used for straps or belting. As used in this disclosure, webbing is a fully formed material that is only cut to length for use. Webbing is not formed by cutting broader materials into strips. 
     Working End: As used in this disclosure, the working end refers to the end of a rope or line that forms a knot. The working end is usually the end opposite the standing end of a rope or line. 
     With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationship for the various components of the invention described above and in  FIGS. 1  through  5 , include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the invention. 
     It shall be noted that those skilled in the art will readily recognize numerous adaptations and modifications which can be made to the various embodiments of the present invention which will result in an improved invention, yet all of which will fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.