Patent Publication Number: US-6988587-B1

Title: Fire escape device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to fire escape and rescue devices and more particularly pertains to a new fire escape and rescue device for suspending a person outside of a window dwelling. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The use of fire escape and rescue devices is known in the prior art. While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that suspends a person outside of a dwelling so that they may escape a fire. Such a device should ensure that the person&#39;s hands are secured in such a manner that they will not slip away from the device. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a housing having a top wall, a first end wall, a second end wall, a front wall and a rear wall. The top wall has an aperture extending therethrough. A spindle is rotatably mounted to and extends between the first and second end walls. A pair of gripping members is attached to spindle. The gripping members are spaced from each other. Each of the gripping members has a bottom side, an upper side, a pair of lateral sides, a forward side and a back side. The spindle extends through each of the lateral sides such that the bottom sides are positioned nearer the spindle than the upper sides and the gripping members are aligned with each other. A spool is rotatably mounted on the spindle and is positioned between the gripping members. A tether is attached to and wound about the spool. The tether has a free end extending through the aperture. A fastening assembly is attached to the free end for selectively attaching the free end to a dwelling. Each of a pair of hands may be positioned on the gripping members and the gripping members rotated such that the hands are secured within the housing by a compressing action between the gripping member and the front wall. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
   The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic front environmental view of a fire escape device according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  of  FIG. 2  of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  of  FIG. 2  of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 5  thereof, a new fire escape and rescue device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
   As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the fire escape device  10  generally comprises a housing  12  having a top wall  14 , a first end wall  16 , a second end wall  18 , a front wall  20  and a rear wall  22 . The top wall  14  has an aperture  24  extending therethrough. The top wall  14  is arcuate such that a cross-section of the housing  12  taken transversely to a longitudinal axis of the housing  12  has an upside down U-shape as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Each of the front  20  and rear  22  walls has a flared bottom edge  26 . A spindle  28  is rotatably mounted to and extends between the first  16  and second  18  end walls. 
   Each of a pair of gripping members  30  is attached to spindle  28 . The gripping members  30  are spaced from each other and each has a bottom side  32 , an upper side  34 , a pair of lateral sides  36 , a forward side  38  and a back side  40 . Each of the forward  38  and back  40  sides of the gripping members  30  is substantially planar and is parallel orientated with respect to each other. The spindle  28  extends through each of the lateral sides  36  such that the bottom sides  32  are positioned nearer the spindle  26  than the upper sides  34  and the gripping members  30  are aligned with each other. By aligned, what is meant is that the upper  34  and bottom  32  sides of each gripping member  30  continually face in the same direction. A first distance is defined between the top walls  14  and the upper surfaces  34  when the upper surfaces  34  are directed toward the top walls  14  and a second distance is defined between the front walls  20  and the upper surfaces  34  when the upper surfaces  34  are directed toward the front walls  20 . The second distance is preferably less than ½ inch and more preferably less than ¼ inch. The first distance is greater than the second distance and is preferably at least 1 inch. The top sides  34  are convexly arcuate from the forward sides  38  to the rear sides  40 . Each of the upper sides  34  has a plurality of aligned finger receiving indentations  42  therein extending between the lateral sides  36 . 
   A spool  44  is rotatably mounted on the spindle  28  and is positioned between the gripping members  30 . A tether  46  is attached to and wound about the spool  44 . The tether  46  may be attached to the spool  44  by mechanical means or by tying the tether  46  to the spool  44 . The tether  46  has a free end  48  extending through the aperture  24 . A guide bar  50  retains the tether  46  in alignment with the aperture  24 . The tether  46  preferably extends between 8 feet and 12 feet away from the housing  12 . It is preferred that the tether  46  has a test weight of at least 800 lbs. A fastening assembly  52  is attached to the free end  48  for selectively attaching the free end  48  to a dwelling  8 . The depicted fastening assembly  52  includes a conventional clamp which may be attached to a wall fixture or even to furniture within the dwelling  8 . Alternate fastening assemblies may include a bolt driven into a wall of the dwelling  8  and a fastener for securing the free end to the bolt. However, any conventional fastening assembly may be used. 
   In use, a person climbs through a window of a dwelling  8  which is on fire. The person places their hands  9  on the gripping members  30  and then the gripping members  30  are rotated such that the hands  9  are secured within the housing  12  by a compressing action between the gripping members  30  and the front wall  20 . Also, a pair of loop members  54 , shown only in  FIG. 2 , may be attached to the front wall  20  such that they hang downwardly therefrom. If the loop members  54  are used, the person extends their arms through the loop members  54  before gripping the gripping members  30 . The person jumps out of the window and is suspended by the device  10 . Because the gravitational force of the person&#39;s body rotates the upper side  34  toward the front wall  20 , the hands  9  cannot be removed until person is lifted upwardly, presumably by a firefighter on a ladder. 
   With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 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 present invention. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.