Patent Publication Number: US-2004045769-A1

Title: Emergency escape system

Description:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to an emergency escape system and, in particular, it concerns the storage of an automatic escape apparatus within a door.  
       [0002] By way of introduction, escape devices for allowing an individual to descend from a building generally require that the escape device is securely installed into an exterior or interior wall of the building. The escape device is typically installed above or near a window or balcony. There are several problems with this method of installation. First, not all walls are suitable for this installation, thereby restricting the positioning of the device. Second, this type of installation is expensive. Third, the escape device housing is visible. Fourth, if the device is installed on an interior wall, the device occupies valuable wall space. Fifth, the device is installed locally and is not typically usable from another window in the building.  
       [0003] There is therefore a need for an escape system that is easily and cheaply installed in a variety of locations, provides compact and concealed storage for the automatic escape apparatus, is available for use from all the emergency exits of a building.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004] The present invention is an emergency escape system and method of operation thereof.  
       [0005] According to the teachings of the present invention there is provided, an emergency escape system comprising: (a) an escape apparatus; and (b) a hollow door, the door having an internal volume, wherein: (i) a majority of the escape apparatus is storable within the internal volume; and (ii) a part of the door is removable in order to access the escape apparatus.  
       [0006] According to a further feature of the present invention, the escape apparatus is configured to be wholly storable within the internal volume.  
       [0007] According to a further feature of the present invention, the escape apparatus is concealed within the door.  
       [0008] According to a further feature of the present invention, the door has a first major panel and a second major panel, the first panel and the second panel being substantially planar.  
       [0009] According to a further feature of the present invention, the first panel and the second panel are substantially parallel.  
       [0010] According to a further feature of the present invention, the door has a first major panel and a second major panel, the first major panel being configured to be removable from a remainder of the door in order to allow access to the escape apparatus.  
       [0011] According to a further feature of the present invention, the door is configured for fitting in a building using at least one hinge such that, when fitted in the building, the door is able to swing horizontally.  
       [0012] According to a further feature of the present invention, the door includes a securing arrangement which is configured to allow removal of the part from a remainder of the door.  
       [0013] According to a further feature of the present invention, the door is reinforced.  
       [0014] According to a further feature of the present invention, the escape apparatus includes a cord.  
       [0015] According to a further feature of the present invention, the escape apparatus includes a storage arrangement configured to store the cord within the door.  
       [0016] According to a further feature of the present invention, the storage arrangement includes a spool.  
       [0017] According to a further feature of the present invention, the storage arrangement includes at least one holder configured to connect the cord to the door, the at least one holder being sufficiently strong that the cord is maintained connected to the door when the cord is not in use and when the cord is needed, the cord is easily released from the door.  
       [0018] According to a further feature of the present invention, the cord is inflammable.  
       [0019] According to a further feature of the present invention, the escape apparatus includes a release mechanism which is configured to provide a controlled lowering of a person being lowered on the cord.  
       [0020] According to a further feature of the present invention, the escape apparatus includes at least one harness, the harness being configured for connection to the cord.  
       [0021] According to a further feature of the present invention, the escape apparatus is configured for a substantially continuous multiple use during a single evacuation. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0022] The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
     [0023]FIG. 1 is schematic plan view of an apartment which has an emergency escape system installed therein that is constructed and operable in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;  
     [0024]FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic orthogonal view of the emergency escape system of FIG. 1;  
     [0025]FIG. 3 is an exploded schematic orthogonal view of an emergency escape system that is constructed and operable in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention; and  
     [0026]FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an evacuation of a building using the emergency escape system of FIG. 1.  
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0027] The present invention is an emergency escape system and method of operation thereof.  
     [0028] The principles and operation of the emergency escape system according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.  
     [0029] Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is schematic plan view of a apartment  10  which has an emergency escape system  12  installed therein that is constructed and operable in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. By way of introduction, most offices, houses, or apartments have at least one door  14 , which is installed in a reinforced doorway  16 . In a most preferred embodiment of the present invention, door  14  is also reinforced. Typically, when door  14  is fitted in reinforced doorway  16 , door  14  is designed to resist very high forces, which are impacting on door  14 . Reinforced doorway  16  is typically formed by a reinforced concrete frame, a metal frame, or a combination thereof. Therefore, installing an automatic escape apparatus  18  within door  14  is advantageous for several reasons. First, automatic escape apparatus  18  is capable of being easily and securely fitted in to door  14 , as will be explained below. Moreover, door  14  can be sold with automatic escape apparatus  18  already installed therein, thereby reducing on site installation, as automatic escape apparatus  18  can be installed by any one who can install a normal door in reinforced doorway  16 . Second, door  14  is securely fitted into reinforced doorway  16  via at least two hinges  20  at the side of door  14 . Therefore, door  14  acts as a central anchoring point for installing automatic escape apparatus  18  therein. Nevertheless, door  14  operates like a conventional secure door and is able to swing horizontally. Third, automatic escape apparatus  18  which is installed in door  14 , is quickly available for use at a plurality of openings or windows  22 , by passing a cord  44  of automatic escape apparatus  18  to any one of openings or windows  22 . Automatic escape apparatus  18  is configured so that automatic escape apparatus  18  is long enough to reach all openings or windows  22 . Moreover, escape apparatus  18  is very reliable as it is easily released from door  14  and escape apparatus  18  allows for quick escape from a building, as will be described below with respect to FIG. 4. Fourth, automatic escape apparatus  18  is concealed by door  14  when automatic escape apparatus  18  is not in use. Fifth, automatic escape apparatus  18  is stored within door  14 , thereby automatic escape apparatus  18  does not take away from usable space within a building. It should also be noted that door  14  has the same depth as a standard secure door, the depth being approximately 4 cm or more.  
     [0030] Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which is an exploded schematic orthogonal view of emergency escape system  12 . Emergency escape system  12  includes automatic escape apparatus  18  and door  14 , which is hollow. Door  14  has an internal volume  24 . Automatic escape apparatus  18  is wholly storable within internal volume  24 . Therefore, automatic escape apparatus  18  is concealed within door  14 . Door  14  has a major panel  28  and a major panel  30  and a plurality of side panels  32 . Major panel  28  and major panel  30  are typically formed from metal sheet. Side panels  32  are mechanically connected to the edges of major panel  28  such that side panels  32  are substantially perpendicular to major panel  28 . Side panels  32  are typically welded to major panel  28 . Alternatively, side panels  32  and major panel  28  are formed as a unitary member. Major panel  28  and major panel  30  are substantially planar. It should be noted that major panel  28  and major panel  30  have been described as substantially planar in that a majority of major panel  28  and a majority of major panel  30  are planar. Major panel  28  and major panel  30  are substantially parallel when door  14  is assembled. Major panel  30  or at least part of major panel  30  is configured to be removable from a remainder of door  14  in order to allow access to automatic escape apparatus  18 . Door  14  includes a securing arrangement  34 , which is configured to allow removal of major panel  30 , or at least part of major panel  30  from the remainder of door  14  with a simple and fast action. Securing arrangement  34  is typically includes a bolt  38  and a securing member  40 . One end of bolt  38  is welded to the interior of door  14  so that the direction of elongation of bolt  38  is perpendicular to major panel  28 . Major panel  30  is secured to the remainder of door  14  by passing the other non-welded end of bolt  38  through a hole  36  in door  14  and then fastening securing member  40  on bolt  38 . Therefore, major panel  30  is released from the remainder of door  14  removing securing member  40  from bolt  38 . It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that securing arrangement  34  can be constructed in various forms. By way of example, securing arrangement  34  can be implemented as a lever operated mechanism whereby turning a lever releases major panel  30  from the remainder of door  14 . Door  14  is typically reinforced by a plurality of reinforcing bars  42 . Reinforcing bars  42  are typically formed from steel. Reinforcing bars  42  are mechanically connected, typically by welding or bolting, to major panel  28  and side panels  32 . It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that door  14  can be constructed in various ways to provide a hollow door with an internal volume for storing automatic escape apparatus  18  therein. Automatic escape apparatus  18  includes cord  44 , a release mechanism  46  and two harnesses  50 ,  52 . The diameter of cord  44  is typically within the range of 8 mm to 12 mm. Cord  44  is typically formed from a woven cable which includes metal strands. Cord  44  is generally inflammable. Release mechanism  46  is configured to provide a controlled lowering of a person who is being lowered on cord  44 . The rate of lowering by release mechanism  46  is typically in the range of 1 meter per second and 5 meters per second. The optimal rate of lowering by release mechanism  46  is typically in the range of 2 meters per second to 2.5 meters per second. The rate of lowering does not depend upon the weight of the person being lowered by release mechanism  46 . Release mechanism includes a friction device (not shown) which includes a plurality of disks (not shown) and a lever system (not shown). The disks are held in position relative to each other by the lever system. Cord  44  is wound around the outside edges of the disks. The friction device maintains a constant preset rate of lowering of a person who is being lowered on cord  44 , by the lever system adjusting the distance between the disks and thereby tightening or loosening the length of cord  44  which is between the disks. The tightening of cord  44  which is between the disks is increased when the weight acting upon cord  44  is increased, and vice-versa. Release mechanism  46  is automatically reversible. In other words, release mechanism  46  is configured to automatically control the rate of lowering in whichever direction cord  44  is pulled. Release mechanism  46  is typically cylindrically shaped with a diameter of 20 cm and a depth which is small enough to allow release mechanism  46  to fit within internal volume  24  of door  14 . It will be apparent to those skilled in the art how to construct release mechanism  46 . Release mechanism  46  is typically bolted or welded to a metal bar  48  which is secured in door  14 . The ends of bar  48  are typically welded to side panels  32 . Cord  44  is fed through release mechanism  46 . Harness  50  is connected to one end of cord  44  and harness  52  is connected to the other end of cord  44 . Emergency escape system  12  includes a storage arrangement  54  which is configured to store cord  44  within internal volume  24  of door  14 . Storage arrangement  54  is configured to store cord  44  compactly when not in use. In accordance with a most preferred embodiment of the present invention, cord  44  is arranged in a single layer  58  against major panel  28  of door  14  by running cord  44  up and down major panel  28 . Cord  44  is then mechanically connected to major panel  28  by one or more holders  56  which are applied at points where cord  44  is bent at the top and bottom of single layer  58 . It should be noted that holders  56  may or may not be mechanically connected to cord  44 . In other words, holders  56  can be configured to form a loop which is connected to major panel  28  in which cord  44  is held. Holders  56  are sufficiently strong that cord  44  is maintained connected to major panel  28  of door  14  when cord  44  is not in use, however, when cord  44  is needed, cord  44  is easily released from major panel  28  of door  14 . Holders  56  are typically formed from soft plastic, rubber or silicon or any elastic plastic material. It should be noted that if necessary, for example when emergency escape system  12  is used in a very large and/or high building, cord  44  is arranged in multiple layers to accommodate a longer cord inside door  14 . It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that door  14  can be configured to store various types of escape apparatus that are known in the art, for example, door  14  can be configured to store abseiling equipment or a rope ladder.  
     [0031] Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which is an exploded schematic orthogonal view of an emergency escape system  60  that is constructed and operable in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the invention. Emergency escape system  60  is the same as emergency escape system  12 , except that the storage arrangement of emergency escape system includes a spool  62  instead of holders  56 . Cord  44  is wound on spool  62  when not in use. Spool  62  has an axis of rotation  64 . Spool  62  is typically connected to bar  48  by welding so that spool  62  can rotate about axis of rotation  64 .  
     [0032] Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which is a schematic view of an evacuation of a building  70  using emergency escape system  12 . The following description describes how three people escape from building  70  using emergency escape system  12 . A first person to escape, a person  66  wears harness  50 . Any slack in cord  44  between person  66  and release mechanism  46  is removed by pulling on the side of the cord having harness  52 . Person  66  then exits from a window  68  of building  70  at a position  72 . Person  66  is lowered in harness  50  by release mechanism  46  slowly releasing cord  44 . Person  66  is lowered in a controlled manner, via a position  76  to the ground at a position  78 . A second person (not shown) to escape from building  70 , wears harness  52  and evacuates from building  70  in the same way as person  66 . When this second person who is wearing harness  52  is lowered from building  70 , harness  50  moves towards release mechanism  46 . Therefore, a third person (not shown) to escape from building  70  wears harness  50  and evacuates from building  70  in the same way as the previous two people. Therefore, emergency escape system  12  is configured for a substantially continuous multiple use during a single evacuation.  
     [0033] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather, the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and sub-combinations of the various features described hereinabove, as well as variations and modifications thereof that are not in the prior art which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description.