IMPROVEMENTS IN CHAIRS OR FIRE ESCAPES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Phillips Thompson of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors of 6 Lord Street Liverpool in the county of Lancaster and of
323 High Holborn in the county of Middlesex Civil Engineer for an invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CHAIRS OR FIRE ESCAPES " A communication from abroad by Anna Dormitzer
of the City County and State of New York United States of America
APPARATUS APPLICABLE FOR WINDOW CLEANING
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Phillips Thompson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th April 1882.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON of the Agency for Foreign Patent Solicitors of 6
Lord Street Liverpool in the county of Lancaster and of 323 High Holborn in the
county of Middlesex Civil Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS APPLICABLE
FOR WINDOW CLEANING CHAIRS OR FIRE-ESCAPES A communication from
abroad by Anna Dormitzer of the City County and State of New York United
States of America.
"3
The object of this invention is to further simplify the window cleaning chair for
which Letters Patent have been previously granted for the inventions of Anna
Dormitzer, to make it less expensive and to provide a more convenient and safe
device by which to escape from a burning building
The invention consists of an improved clamping device for securing the chair and
fire-escape to a window sill, and of a simple safe and readily manipulated fire-escape
combined with and secured to the chair
The platform of the chair is provided with a raised strip fastened along its rear
edge to serve as a partial support to the back guard, which is hinged on the face of
the platform and two side guards which are hinged on the upper edges of two strips
securely fastened on the edges of the platform.
On the under side of the platform near its front end is a cross brace which serves
to strengthen the chair and to afford support for a swinging rectangular step frame
which is hinged thereto

page_text: The stepframe consists of two vertical parallel side bars securely held together at
top and bottom by cross bars while from the front of tho side bars at their lower
ends are projecting brackets which support a fixed step.
On the rear faces of the side bars are secured wedge-shaped blocks faced with
leather or other suitable soft inaterial that are designed to take against the innor
face of the window sill or wainscot when the chair is in position the leather
preventing the sill or wainscot from becoming defaced.
On the rear faces of the side bars are secured springs that have on their lower
ends wedge-shaped leather covered blocks to provent the defacement of the
wainscot and to afford a better hold thereon, and these blocks may be pressed
against the wainscot with any desired force by set screws that pass through tho
side bars. Near to the top of the side bars are fixed flat curved iron supports that
carry an auxiliary step which swivels between their lower ends and is held flat on
the top of the fixed step when desired by a stud secured on the under side of the
fixed step and which projects up through the centre of said step into a corresponding
-socket theroin.
This auxiliary step is also provided with two pivoted legs that may be folded in
slots in said step and may be unfolded and adjusted when said step is elevated for
the operator to stand on to reach the top of the window frame,
On the side strips of the platform near the rear thereof are firmly secured racks
in such a manner that throughout their lengths, spaces are left between them and
the platform side strips.
The inner faces of these racks are fashioned into alternate projections and
depressions and said racks are held in place by end bolts or screws and by pins
or equivalent devices which latter pass through the projections on the face of the
racks and thereby form sockets for the reception of the end plates of the clamping
dovico
The clamping device consists of a flat bar or plate extending across the platform
on the underside thereof and having secured on its ends projecting metal plates
that are designed to extend upward through and be adjusted in sockets formed in
the before mentioned racks
This flat bar or plate has fixed on its front vertical blocks that terininate a little
below its medium horizontal line so that their lower ends may rest on the top of
the outer window sill when the chair is in position, while that portion of the plate
below the ends of the blocka has anti-friction pieces fixed on its face that will tako
against the outer face of the sill when the chair is secured in position in a window
The said projecting metal plates have serrated front edges and aro provided near
their extremities with buttons. The clamping devico is thus held in place by the
engagement of the projecting metal plates in the racks
A stout thumb scrow is passed from the front of the chair rearward, and has its
extremity journaled in a suitable hanger depending from the platforin and on this
screw is a travelling nut from which there are two projections connecting the nut
with a cross bar.
These projections or bars are pivoted on the nut so as to move in vertical
planes, and they incline downward as well as rearward to enter through the
bar where they are secured so that when the scrow is turned in one direction the
clamping bar is inclined with its lower edgo forward with all necessary forco
against the outside of the window sill whereby said sill is clasped firmly between
the step frame and the clamping bar.
By turning the screw in the opposite direction the lower edge of the clamping
bar is carried rearward so that the chair may be removed from its position in the
window And the bars or projections buing pivoted to the nut facilitate the
swinging movement of the bar Whon it is desired to withdraw the plate from
certain of the rack sockets in order to adjust then in others to change the angle
of inclination of the bar or its distance from the frame, or if it be desired the
plates be entirely withdrawn from the racks the clamping device will swing down
in a reversed position depending from the nut.

page_text: The chair may be adapted to window sills of any width by adjusting the
distance between the step frame and the bar and this adjustment is made
by turning the angle plate buttons passing through the projecting metal plates
vertical and introducing the ends of said plates up through any two opposito
sockets in the racks.
The butto when in this position readily pass up through the depressions in
the rack left for the purpose the buttons are then turned horizontal to prevent the
camping device becoming displaced. At the same time the serrated edges of
The projecting metal plate bear against pins in front while the rear edges of tho
said plates bear against other pins at the back and thus hold the clamping device
in desired position. The lower ends of the blocks attached to the clamping bar
nt the time rest on the top of the outer window sill so that the chair is supported
in a horizontal or nearly horizontal position and may be secured thorein by
operating the screw.
A rope ladder with rigid rungs is suspended from a windlass that revolves in
hangers secured to the rear corners of the chair.
On one end of the windlass is a ratchet wheel and pawl. The elongated arm
of the pawl serves by its weight to keep the finger of said pawl engaged in the
teeth of the ratchet also to afford a convenient handle to control the descent of the
rope ladder.
As a further security against too rapid descent at any time an eccentric lover
pivoted on a hanger is provided.
Downward pressure upon the arm of this lever brings the outer curve of the
cccentric against the windlass shaft and according to the force exerted the descent
of the rope ladder may be made more gradual or entirely checked
The cord leading from the arm of this lever will if held by a person on the
ladder enable the operator to regulato at will the downward movement of said
ladder.
At the lower end of the ladder a box or basket is suspended which may be used
for the reception of persons or goods to be saved from the building to which the
device is attached, or may be lowered to rest upon the ground and serve to steady
the ladder. When one is descending the latter, and weights may be placed in said
box or basket to give the ladder greater stability.
When using this device simply as a fire-escape the back and side guards of the
chair may be dispensed with.

page_text: '
SPECIFICATION in pursuanco of the conditions of the Letters Patent filea
by the said William Phillips Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office on th
13th October 1882.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, of the Agency for Foreign Patent Solicitors, of 6,
Lord Street, Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, and of 323, High Holborn,
in the county of Middlesex, Civil Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
APPLICABLE FOR WINDOW-CLEANING CHAIRS OR FIRE-ESCAPES."-A communication
from abroad by Anna Dormitzer, of the city, county, and state of New York
United States of America.
The object of this invention is to further simplify the window cleaning chair for
which Letters Patent have been previously granted for the invention of Anna
Dormitzer to make it less expensive and to provide a more convenient and safe
device by which to escape from a burning building,
The invention consists of an improved clamping device for securing the chair and
fire escape to a window sill, and of a simple safe and readily manipulated fire-escape
combined with and secured to the chair.
Fig: 1, is a side view of the improved device partly in section, in position in a
window frame,
Fig: 2, is a cross section of the device on line X, X, Fig: 1.
Fig: 3, is a rear elevation of a portion of the device.
Fig: 4, is an enlarged plan view of a rack plate in position.
Fig: 5, is an enlarged end elevation of a portion of the clamping device.
Fig: 6, is a perspective view from the outside showing the chair containing an
operator fixed in n window.
Fig: 7, is a perspective view from the inside showing the chair fixed in a
window.
Fig: 8, is a perspectivew of the chair when folded up.
Fig 9, is a perspective
w of the chair with step raised and supporting an
operator viewed from the in, le.
In the drawings A represe_'s the chair platform provided with a raised strip B
fastened along its rear edge to serve as a partial support to the back guard B that
is hinged on the face of the platform A between the side guards C, C, which are
hinged on the upper edges of the said strips, C. C. that are securely fastened on
the edges of the said platforma A.
On the under side of the platform A near its front ond, is a cross brace D', which
serves to strengthen the chair and to afford support for the swinging rectangular
step-frame D which is hinged thereto.
Said frame D consists of two vertical parallel side bars c, c, securely held together
at top and bottom by cross bars c', c', while from the front of said bars c, c, at their
lower ends are the projecting brackets of, c², supporting the fixed step E.
On the rear faces of these bars c, c, aro secured wedge shaped blocks d, d, faced
with leather or other suitable soft material that are designed to take ngainst the
inner face of tho window sill or wainscot when the chair is in position the leather
preventing the sill or wainscot from becoming defacod.
On the rear faces of the bars c, c, are secured springs E, that havo on their lower
ends wedge-shaped leather covered blocks d³, to prevent the defacement of the
wainscot and to afford a better hold thereon, and theso blocks d may be pressed
against the wainscot with any desired forco by set screws d', that pass through the
bars c c near their tops are flat curved iron supports El, that carry the auxiliary
step F, which swivels between their lower ends and is held flat on the top of the
fixed step E, when desired, by a stud f¹, secured on the under side of the step E

page_text: and which projects up through the centre of said step E into a corresponding
socket f therein.
This step F is also provided with two pivoted legs g. g, that may be folded in
slots in said step and may be unfolded and adjusted when said step is olevated for
the operator to stand on to reach the top of the window frame.
On the side strips of the platform, near the rear thereof are firmly secured racks I
in such a manner that throughout their lengths, spaces h, aro left between them and
the platform side strips.
The inner faces of theso racks I are fashioned into alternate projections i and
depressions and said racks I are held in place by end bolts or screws & and by
pins or equivalent devices k', which latter pass through the projections i and
thereby form sockets for the reception of the end plates of the clamping device G
which consists of a flat bar or plate G extending across the platform A on the
underside thereof and having secured on its ends upward projecting metal plates L
that are designed to extend upward through and be adjusted in sockets formed in
the racks I
Said plate G has fixed on its front vertical blocks G² that terminate a little
below its medium horizontal line so that their lower ends may rest on the top of
the outer window sill when the chair is in position while that portion of the plate G
below the ends of the blocks G' has anti-friction pieces fixed on its face as indicated
in Fig. 2. that will take against the outer face of the sill when the chair is secured
in position in a window. The said plates L have serrated front edges as shewn
It will be seen then
at m and are provided near their extremities with buttons m¹.
that the clamping device G is held in place by the engagement of its plates L in the
racks I.
A stout thumb screw H is passed from the front of the chair, rearward, and has
its extremity journalled in a suitable hanger depending from the platform A and on
this screw H is a travelling nut H' from which there projects rearward through the
bar G' two bars n, n, to connect said bar G¹, and nut H¹.
These bars n, n, are pivoted on the nut H' so as to move in vertical planes, and
they incline downward as well as rearward to enter through the bar G where they
are secured so that when the screw His turned in one direction the clamping bar Ġ
is inclined with its lower edge forward, with all necessary force against the outside
of the window sill M whereby said sill M is clasped firmly between the frame D,
and the clamping bar G¹.
By turning the screw H in the opposite direction the lower edge of the clamping
bar G is carried rearward, so that the chair may be removed from its position in
the window. And the bars n, n, being pivoted to the nut H' facilitate the forward
swinging of the har G', when it is desired to withdraw the plates L from certain of
the rack sockets in order to adjust them in other of the rack sockets to change the
angle of inclination of the bar G' or its distance from the frame D, and if desired
the plates L may be entirely withdrawn from the racks I, in which case the
clamping device G will swing down in a reversed position depending from
the nut H¹.
The chair may be adapted to window-sills of any width by adjusting the distance
between the step frame D, and the bar G' and this adjustment is made by turning
the angle plate buttous m' vertically and the introducing the ends of said plates L
up through any two opposite sockets in the racks I, the buttons m¹ in this position
readily passing up through the depressions then the buttons m' are turned
horizontally to prevent the clamping device from becoming displaced and at the
same time the serrated edges of the plate L bear against the pins that are
immediately opposed to them while the rear edges of the said plates L take against
the pins opposite them and thereby hold the clamping device G up in desired
position. The lower ends of the blocks G2 at the time rest on the top of the
outer window sill as hercinbefore set forth so that the chair is supported in a
horizontal or nearly horizontal position and may be secured therein by operating
the screw H.

page_text: The fire escape O, which is combined with the chair, consists of a rope Indder P
with rigid runga suspended from the windlass Q that revolves in hangers R, secured
to the rear corners of the chair.
On one end of the windlass Q is a ratchet S, in whoso teeth the pawl T which is
pivoted on a hanger R engages, and the elongated arm of said pawl T serves by
its weight to keep the finger of said pawl ongagod in the teeth of the ratchet S
as well as to afford a convenient handle wheroby any one may control the descent
of the fire-escape.
As a further security against the too rapid descent at any time of the fire oscape,
the eccentric lever U pivoted on a hanger R is provided.
Downward pressure upon the arm of this lever U brings the outer curve of the
eccentric against the windlass shaft and according to the force exerted, the descent
of the fire-escape may be inade more gradual or entirely chocked.
The cord V leading from the arm of this lover U will if held by a person on
the fire-escape enable the operator to regulate at will the downward movement of
said escape.
At the lower end of the ladder P, a box or basket W is suspended which may be
used for the reception of persons or goods to be saved from the building to which
the devico is attached, or may be lowered to rest upon the ground and serve to
teady the ladder P when one is descending the latter, and weights may be placed
in said box or basket W to give the latter greater stability.
When using this devico simply as a fire-escape tho back and side guards of the
chair may be dispensed with.
Having thus described the invention as communicated to me I wish it to bo
understood that what I desire to protect under the heroinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent is :-
1st. The combination with the platform A and step frame D, of the clamping
device G, consisting of clamping bar G', blocks G², end plates L, racks I, screw H,
travelling nut and pivoted bars n, n, constructed, arranged, and operated
substantially as herein shown and described.
2nd. As a means for supporting the combined chair and fire-escape in position
on a window-sill, the combination with tho screw adjusted bar G' of the blocks G³
serrated end plates L, and racks I substantially as heroin shown and described.
3rd. The combination with the window-cleaning chair provided with plat-
form A, step frame D, and suitable clamping devices and hangers, all constructed
substantially as herein shown and described, of the rope ladder P windlass Q
ratchet S pawl T, connected eccentric, regulating lever and cord U V and basket W
all arranged and operated as set forth.
In witness whereof I the said William Phillips Thompson have hereunto set
my hand and seal this twelfth day of October in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and eighty two.