Improvements in Flexible Ladders, suitable for Fire Escapes and like purposes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 11th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 17th Apr.. 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Flexible Ladders, suitable for Fire Escapes and
like purposes.
I, WILLIAM BECKETT of Tapton House, Sheffield in the County of York,
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a simple construction of flexible metallic ladder, and its
adaptation to the purpose of a fire escape more particularly.
In carrying out my invention I propose to construct a ladder consisting of side
links made preferably from sheet steel so as to combine strength and lightness, and
the rungs or treads of tubular steel for the same reason. The side links are pin
jointed one to the other after the manner of machine chain, and at suitable
distances apart between the two lengths of such chain, I place the rungs to form a
ladder.
If desired the links may be made of such length that the ends of the rungs may
form the connecting pins between each link.
I secure one end of this flexible chain ladder to a bracket or like support, and
when not required for use the ladder may be coiled or folded up from its free end and
supported either upon or under the bracket, in such a manner that it can be instantly
released.
I propose to fix such bracket or support outside the windows of buildings, and in
the case of buildings of several stories, I would fix the brackets in a vertical line,
so that when released the several lengths would practically form a continuous
ladder.
The catch on each bracket, I propose to construct so that a person descending from
a storey above could readily release the ladder below by the action of his foot while
upon the upper ladder.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.
Improvements in Flexible Ladders, suitable for Fire Escapes and
like purposes.
I, WILLIAM BECKETT of Tapton House, Sheffield in the County of York,
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same has to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
My invention relates to the construction of a flexible metallic ladder, suitable for
many purposes, and particularly for use as a fire escape.

page_text: Toyou mucin HG CACH SHOOD OF
drawings in which;
Fig. 1, represents a few links of the ladder.
Fig. 2, side view of one of the links.
Fig. 3, an axial stud, or link pin.
In carrying out my invention, I construct the ladder of any required number of
side links B, and C. Those marked B, I call the inside links, and those marked C,
the outside links.
The links B, and C, are made tubular and preferably of steel so as to combine
strength with lightness, the rungs A, are also made of tubular steel for the same
reason.
All the side links are flattened at each end, such flat being carried a little beyond
the line of the tubular body of the link on one side as shown in the drawings, and
they are arranged in pairs, alternately turned inwards and outwards, so that the inside
links B, will fold inside the outer links C, when it is desired to roll up the ladder to
stow it away.
The rungs A, which are all of one length are secured to the links by means of a
stud or link pin D, shown in Fig. 3, it is provided with a head, and with a pinhole as
shown; it passes through the flattened ends of the side links and into the end of the
rung being finally secured by a small cross pin E.
If preferred the ends of the rungs may be made longer and be passed through the
side links, and be secured by expanding or by other equivalent means.
When a ladder so constructed is intended for a fire escape, I propose to secure one
end of it to a bracket or other support placed under the window inside the room in
such a way that it can be coiled up and inclosed in a small ottoman, box or window-
seat so that it shall always be ready at a moments notice to be thrown out of the
window in case of alarm.
I am aware that folding metallic ladders have been constructed from flat bars, and
I therefore do not claim broadly a metallic folding ladder with inside and outside
side links, but:-
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim, is :-
1. A metallic ladder constructed with tubular side links B and C, flattened at each
end and pinjointed to the ends of tubular rungs A, to enable them to fold up as
hereinbefore described and illustrated.
2. In a flexible or folding metallic ladder, the combination of tubular side links,
flattened at each end to one and the same side, with tubular rungs pivotally connected
to the said flattened ends as herein before described and shown.
3. A metallic folding ladder having tubular side links closed and flattened at each
end, the face of the flat being set out beyond the line of the tubular part, each
alternate link being reversed in position to enable them to clear one another in folding
together, with tubular rungs pivotally connected with the flattened ends of the links,
substantially as hereinbefore described and set forth.
Dated the 29th day of January 1897.
ROBT. F. DRURY,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.