Improvements in and relating to Ladders and Fire Escapes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 11th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 11th May, 1897
Improvements in and relating to Ladders and Fire Escapes.
We CHARLES WILLIAM GEORGE ALDRIDGE, High Street Feltham,
Middlesex, Manufacturing Chemist, and WILLIAM CHARLES CLARK 4, Church
Road Teddington Furniture Dealer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
A revolving ladder, composed of boiler plate links, with iron gas pipe rungs with
a sheath of loose pipe over them to role easily, hooks at end of ladder to fasten to
staples in the curb stone to hold the ladder firm when dropped from window,
revolving canvas bed with safety pockets, to carry women and children, to be
wound up when not in use and covered with cabinet box.
Dated this 1st day of June 1896.
CHARLES W. G. ALDRIDGE,
High Street, Feltham, Middlesex.
Improvements in and relating to Ladders and Fire Escapes.
We, CHARLES WILLIAM GEORGE ALDRIDGE High Street, Feltham
Middlesex Manufacturing Chemist and WILLIAM CHARLES CLARK 4 Church
Road Teddington, Furniture Dealer, 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 :-
A revolving ladder composed of boiler plate links with iron gas pipe rungs with
a sheath of loose pipe over them to roll easily. Hooks at end of ladder to fasten
to staples in the curb stone to hold the ladder firm when dropped from window,
revolving canvas bed with safety pockets to carry women and children to be wound
up when not in use and covered with cabinet box.
In order that our invention may be fully understood we will now refer to the
annexed drawings in which :-
Figure 1. side clevation of the fire escape in position.
Figure 2. front elevation of lower part of fire escape showing a pocket.
a, a, are link chains or the like which are connected together by the rods 6 which
may be solid or hollow as is found most convenient. c are two rollers or loose
sleeves mounted in suitable bearings at or about the position shown and around
which the flexible band d travels. This band may be of any suitable material such
as canvas or asbestos cloth which is non-inflamable. e are pockets or receptacles
formed upon the band d and in which an individual may be lowered from a window
to the ground. The band is provided at the required intervals with sliding bolts f
which engage upon the projections g carried by the chains a, a, so as to arrest the
descent of the pockets e. The sliding bolts may be carried in a suitable socket h

page_text: secured to the travelling band d or pockets e in any convenient manner and the
bolts may be controlled or operated by means of springs if desired.
In Figure 1. one end of the escape is shown hooked to links i in the edge of
the pavement or curb and the other end is secured to a spindle or the like which
is operated by means of a crank or handle; being secured in position by means of
the pawl k and pinion so that by this means the whole may be wound up when
required. m are guide ropes secured at n to the bottom of the fire escape and also
to the spindle or the like so that the individual can regulate his descent by grasping
same. The escape is shown fixed in position from a window to the edge of the
pavement o being the wall of the house and p the window sill. The winch is
secured to the floor q by means of screws or the like.
When the apparatus is not in use and wound upon the winch it may be covered
up by a cabinet or such like which may be used as a dressing table or the like.
When it is required to employ the fire escape the same is unwound from the
spindle or winch and passed out of the window to the ground and is then hooked
to the edge of the pavement or curb and the descents made.
Rollers or loose sleeves are provided at intervals to facilitate the passage of the
band d over the bars b. and although I have shown two pockets upon the band d
I may employed a required number, the length of the band being varied according
to the height at which it is to be used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The combined construction and arrangement of the various parts substan-
tially as described and shown.
2. In fire escapes a flexible chain or support which carries a movable continuous
band having pockets thereon for the reception of individuals, safety bolts or catches
for arresting the movement of the band; guide ropes or cords for enabling an
individual to control his or descent; hooks or the like for enabling one end of the
fire escape to be attached to the curb or edge of a pavement or such suitable
support; a winch for rolling up and holding the fire escape when not in use; a
cabinent or covering for said winch.
3. In fire escapes a continuous movable band having pockets for the reception of
individuals and carried upon a support through the medium of rollers or the like.
Dated this 11th day of March 1897.
E. EATON,
Agent for Applicants.