IMPROVEMENTS IN HOUSEHOLD FIRE ESCAPES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, WILLIAM HENRY GAZE of 49 Aspenlea Road, Fulham Palace Road, Fulham
in the County of Middlesex Builders Foreman do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN HOUSEHOLD FIRE ESCAPES to be as follows:-
•
To consist of an Escape ladder which may form a ready and effectual means of
escape in case of fire it being a continuous iron ladder from ground to roof when
in use.
First it always being in position, fixed outside window openings, where they
come immediately one over the other; so that it can be readily used from any floor
level but protected from being opened from the ground by simple locking arrange-
ment (as shewn on drawings where marked G and H).
Secondly when not in use is closed up against wall of house, so that the Escape
Ladder does not project or cover more than three inches the whole height of house
The sides being constructed. of angle iron so that when the two sides close up.
together they will form a square boxing; the steps rising (as the machine closes)
from an horizontal to a vertical position; in the box formed by the two sides
coming together.
The steps to be of Iron tube of sufficient strength and having solid ends tapped
and screwed in, so as to make it as light as possible, and to be fixed to angle iron,
which form the sides (as shewn on drawings, marked B. C. A.) and to work in brass
or other metal collars or bearings of sufficient length to prevent the nuts being too
tight on sides of ladder, and to enable it to work easily. One side of the Escape
ladder to be fixed against wall of house by means of bolts, through brick or Stone
Work, between the joists on the several floor levels (as shewn on drawings in
sectional elevation of front of house); it will be fixed as near window openings as
possible to enable anyone to readily grasp Ladder and escape from window in case
of fire About the level of each window sill, there will be an iron segment stay,
so constructed, that it will stiffen the ladder when in use; the stay to have loose
joints to work as an arm as the Escape is opened or closed.
To lock the Escape Ladder when closed, will be effected by means of a long
spring bolt constructed in two pieces, (as shewn on drawings) so that it may be
readily opened from any upstairs Window, by means of a knob fixed on bolt,
which on being lifted (as in an ordinary bolt) will disengage Escape ladder; but
not to be opened from ground floor as a protection from Burglars or others making
a wrong use of same. For lofty buildings where the height of ladder will increase
the weight of side, which has to be lifted when closed; there will be a lever arm
attached to the bottom part to lift same.
Dated this nineteenth day of January Eighteen hundred and eighty four.

page_text: I WILLIAM HENRY GAZE of 49 Aspenlea Road Fulham Palace Road Fulham
in the County of Middlesex Builders Foreman, do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN HOUSE-HOLD FIRE ESCAPES and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
To consist of an Escape Ladder, which may form a ready, and effectual, means of
Escape in case of Fire, It being a continous Iron Ladder from Ground to Roof
when in use,. It always being in position fixed outside Window openings, where
they occur as near as possible, one over the other, so that it can be readily used
from any Floor Level.
It is described in connection with the drawings filed with my provisional
specification.
When not in use it is closed up against wall of House, so that the Escape Ladder
does not occupy so much space as an ordinary stack pipe.
The sides being constructed of Angle Iron, so that when the two sides close up
together, they will form a square' Boxing; The steps rising (as the apparatus
closes) from an Horizontal to a Vertical position, in box formed by the two sides
closing together as shewn on Drawings.
The steps to be of Iron Tube of sufficient strength and having solid ends tapped
and screwed in, so as to make it as light as possible, and to be fixed to Angle Iron,
which form the sides, by Bolts or Rivetts (as shewn on Drawings marked B. C. A.
to work in Brass or other metal collars or bearings of sufficient length to prevent
the nuts being too tight on sides of Ladder, and to enable it to work easily One
side of the Escape Ladder to be fixed against Wall of House, by means of Bolts
through Wall of Building, between the Joists on the several Floor levels (as
shewn on Drawings of Sectional Elevation of Front of House). The Escape will
be fixed as near window openings as possible, to enable anyone to readily grasp
Ladder and escape from window in case of Fire. About the level of each Window
sill there will be an Iron Segment Stay so constructed that it will stiffen the
Ladder when in use (as shewn on Drawings). The Stay to have loose Joints, to
work as an arm, as the Escape is opened or closed.
To Lock Escape Ladder when closed will be effected by means of a long spring
Bolt constructed in two pieces (as shewn on drawings where marked G) so that it
may be readily opened from any upstairs Window, by means of knobs. fixed on
Bolt, which upon being lifted (as in an ordinary Bolt) will release Ladder, and
allow it to fall into position at once. But as a protection from any one making
a wrong use of same, from the outside, the lower part of Bolt marked G cannot
release the upper part, although the upper part can release the lower, which is
effected by means of a step connection, in the ends of top and Bottom Bolts where
they meet together.
For lofty Buildings where the height of Ladder will increase the weight of side
which has to be lifted when closed, there will be a lever arrangement attached to
close same.
Having now particulary described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
(1) A continuous iron ladder reaching from the ground to the roof, and
constructed, so as to be capable of folding up close to the wall, when not in use, in
the manner substantially as herein before described.

page_text: (2) A continous bolt or fastening device, arranged so that it can easily be opened
from any window, and including a step connection or its equivalent to prevent
opening from the ground.
(3) The hinged quadrant stays for holding the ladder when open, substantially
in the manner and for the purpose described.
Dated this 13th day of September 1884.