Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 21st Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 31st Dec.. 1888
I, JOHN LANE of 77 Shaw Street Liverpool in the County of Lancaster Brewer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object a method of preventing the congestion at the doors
of theatres and other narrow places through which a crowd has to pass in the case of
a panic or moment of excitement.
In front of the door and at some distance from it all round I place a series of strong
bars at distances apart sufficient for one person to go through frontways, or two edge-
ways at the same time, or in other ways provide a series of openings considerably in
excess of the main opening or door through which the crowd has eventually to pass.
The consequence is any crushing, crowding, or struggling which takes place occurs at
the barrier, and there are a number of openings to go through instead of the one.
The persons who escape through the barrier at once rush through the doorway, and
there is no chance of congestion at that point.
There is much less chance, too, of congestion at the barrier than there would have
been at the door,-first, because there are three or four more exits instead of one;
secondly, one cause of the congestion is the people behind tugging at the people in
front so as to pull themselves forward and get out, a person behind seeing a rigid pair
of bars in front of him at arm's length, would seize hold of them instead of the
person in front of him and would try and pull himself forward by means of the
the bars, thus pushing the person in front of him out instead of back. The conse-
quence would be that each in succession as he got to the bars would be liberated by
those behind all of whom would be eager to catch hold of an unyielding piece like the
bar, and thus the theatre or other place of amusement, would be very quickly emptied,

page_text: as it is not the time that it takes for people to go through the doorway that regulates
the speed at which they can leave the theatre in a panic, but the time that it takes to
disengage themselves from the mob behind, often in such cases a minute or two
lapsing at the door without one person being able to squeeze through.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co., .
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Constructions for Preventing
Crushing and Blocking up at Doorways and the like by Excited
or Panic Stricken Crowds at Theatres and other Places.
I, JOHN LANE of 77 Shaw Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,. Brewer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention has for its object the prevention of blocks at doorways of exits
theatres and public halls, through the people crowding together and becoming jammed
in case of panic from fire or any other cause, which invariably results in loss of
life and serious injury. It is well known that when a panic occurs in a theatre or
other like place the people immediately rush wildly to the exits which at once
become choked, and death and serious injury are the result.
In front of the door or exit and at some distance from it all round, I place a
series of strong columns, vertical bars, or posts at distances apart sufficient for a
stout adult person to go through comfortably, or in other ways I provide a series
of openings considerably in excess of the main opening or door through which the
crowd has eventually to pass.
The accompanying drawings set forth the apparatus now performing its work with
great satisfaction to all concerned at the Liverpool Adelphi Theatre. In these,
Figure 1 is an elevation.
Figure 2 a plan of apparatus drawn to the scale and shown below.
A is a doorway, B B a series of columns. These in this particular instance, are
arranged in an approximate segment of a circle. It is obvious, however, that they
could be arranged otherwise without material disadvantage. Where, however, the
space allows of it a semi-circle or somewhat similar curve is the best arrangement for

page_text: these pillars. A scale is added to the drawing so as to show the exact distance apart
of the pillars etcetera in this particular instance.
The columns or posts are fixed, they are each screwed into or formed with a six inch
flange or larger if necessary, which is firmly screwed to the floor by a number of
Couch Screws. A similar flange is fitted to the ceiling and fixed by screws in like
manner, thus making them perfectly firm and rigid.
In theatres, I prefer that the pillars or posts should be permanently fixed, but in
some cases where they would at times be in the way and not required, it is
desirable that these pillars should be removable at short notice or altered in arrange-
ment. I have therefore designed a simple method of fastening the pillars so that
they can be put up and taken down without materially disfiguring either floor or
ceiling. This is set forth in section in Figure 3. The capital E of the pillar, instead
of being fixed to the hollow iron shaft F is supplied with a pintle G fitting into the
hollow of the pillar, and having a thread turned thereon. On the top of the shaft or
column 1 place a nut so as to resemble a ring moulding but having capstan holes I,
into which marline spikes or other levers can be inserted in order to turn the nut.
By turning the nut the capital is thus either forced up against the ceiling or drawn
down free from it without its being required to be turned round.
In order to still further hold the pillar in place, I prefer to make the top of the
capital and bottom of the base of the pillar rough or provided with sharp points, spurs
or edges upward and downward respectively, so that when the nut is screwed tightly
it shall force these sharp edges or points into the ceiling and floor respectively, thus
holding all tight.
Although I have spoken only in my specification of.columns dividing the entrance,
it will be obvious that other forms of barrier with a considerable number of openings
much larger in area than the door, would perform 'the duty to some extent, but I
prefer pillars as being less liable to form an obstruction than anything else and
taking up practically the least room.
The invention is applicable not merely for theatres for which this special design was
made. but also for churches, and indeed all other places, in which there is any
possibility of a sudden stampede of the audience or inmates taking place.
Some of the advantages of the invention are set forth as follows:
The invention enables those of the audience that are fleet and active to be away
through the apertures in a moment as there is no impediment in the way. This leaves
more room for those that are not so active such as females or children and especially
the old. By this means also the theatre or public hall can be cleared in an incredibly
short time in comparison to that required under existing circumstances. In addition
to this, should any person fall at doorway of exit which is frequently the case even
in an ordinary crush they can quickly recover themselves by laying hold of the
posts which are at hand, or again, the audience could turn with ease to next
aperture and thus avoid trampling over person or persons that had fallen, conse-
quently saving them from death or serious injury. The invention is also a causé
of great saving of clothing as it is a well known fact, when our theatres or public
halls are crowded the people's clothes are frequently torn or spoiled through their
jostling and crushing either to get in or out of the place. This is obviated by my
invention as the posts already alluded to separate the people in such a way as to
prevent their coming into contact sufficiently to damage their clothing.
The invention is now in working order in the Adelphi Theatre, Christian Street, Liver-
pool, and gives every satisfaction. It has been thoroughly examined and tested by some
of the principal military and civil engineers, surveyors, etcetera in the country, also
theatrical managers who with one accord pronounce it a complete success for the purpose
intended. I would recommend that large posters be put up in conspicuous parts of the
auditorium of theatres and public halls fully explaining the use and advantages to be
derived by the public from the invention, and I would add a further caution that people
should endeavour to leave in as orderly manner as possible, as there could be no
danger, however great the panic, from fire or other cause with the doorways protected
in the manner already described. I may here mention, the public become immediately

page_text: initiated into the use of the invention by having to pass through the apertures when
entering the theatre or public hall. I may also call attention to a public test of the
invention which took place on 26th January, 1888 (see Liverpool Mercury of that
date) in presence of numerous influential theatrical managers and other gentlenen
interested in such matters. The test was a complete success.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The method of preventing the blocking up of doorways and the like by excited
or panic stricken crowds, which consists in placing before the doorway a barrier having
a considerable number of apertures with considerably greater united frontage and area
of exit than the door itself, whereby the crowd is divided up at the barrier and rushes
through the doorway without there being a sufficient collection at the door to form a
block unless this be done wilfully.
2. The apparatus for preventing the blocking up of doorways or the like by excited
or panic stricken crowds at theatres and other places, substantially as described.
Dah: 00
Ր
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.