Improvements in Means and Appliances for Enabling Persons to Escape from Buildings on Fire.
Year: 1892

page_text: QUAN LETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means and Appliances for Enabling Persons to
Escape from Buildings on Fire.
ARTHUR JAMES WILSON, of Heathfield, Mortimer, Berks, Clerk in Holy
Orders, 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 :-
The fire escape consists of a clothes basket, made of extra strong wicker, with a
wrought iron rod in one piece passing down through the opposite sides and across
the bottom, having two loops, or eyes near the rim. A hoop of the same kind of
iron may be worked into the rim. The basket is preferably about thirty inches in
height about sixteen or seventeen inches in diameter at top, and about fifteen or
sixteen inches at bottom. A particularly strong rope of medium size-which may
be of any length to suit circumstances-is spliced, at say, from four to eight feet,-
according to the window-from one end, and the two ends thus formed are securely
and permanently fastened at opposite sides of the basket, passing through the
loops or eyes of the iron rod in the frame. This rope is kept coiled at the bottom
of the basket, and a false bottom having a finger hole in the centre is dropped over
and upon it. The basket is fitted also with a flat loose cover of wicker, or wicker
and rush, with falling ornamental edge. A volute form of hook of wrought iron
in one piece, is designed to fasten with three or four powerful screws into the
wainscot beneath the window. A bar is applied to high windows in case of pro-
jecting ledges beneath. It is of wrought iron. The ends are let into the stone,
brick work or frame at each side of the window, next the ledge. It is arranged to
fall or rise with the lowering or the rising of the basket. By its means the basket
is projected sufficiently far from the wall of the house to keep clear of projections
in its descent. This bar is about twenty inches in height and of width according
to window. In use the rope is passed over the bar, and as the basket is lowered
the bar falls to the level of the sill, rising with the basket as the latter is
pulled up.
In case of emergency this fire escape clothes basket is emptied of its contents in
an instant. It is placed outside the window, a turn of the rope is taken round the
post of a bedstead or other convenient article and the basket is lowered easily to
the ground; or more simply still if the hook is attached to the wainscot. In such
case the part of the rope below the splice is passed into the hook, at the junction,
which holds the basket securely until the child, or other person is in the basket.
A slight pull of the rope will now release it, and the weight is sustained by the
hook; the basket then descends gradually as the rope is slackened by the person
holding it.
In lowering oneself, a turn of the rope is simply taken round the post of a
bedstead or the hook, the basket is then entered, the coil of rope dropped at the
feet, and played out gradually by the hands until the ground is reached.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascer-
tained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a clothes basket, fitted for use as a fire escape, according
to my invention.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the coil of rope and wicker work cover placed
thereon, when used as a clothes basket.
Fig. 3 is a perspective elevation, showing the method of using the apparatus as a
fire escape.

page_text: Fig. 4 is a plan view of the window bar f, and ·
Fig. 5 is a side view of the hook g, for use in lowering the basket.
The basket a is formed of strong wicker, strengthened with an iron bar or rod
on opposite sides of the basket and across the bottom. The upper ends of the bars
are formed into eyes, of which one is shown at b, to receive the ends of the rope.
The rim may be similarly strengthened. The rope d is kept coiled at the bottom
of the basket, as shown in Fig. 2, when in ordinary use. e is wicker disc or
cover, having a central hole e' for admitting the hand in order to raise it. f is a
window bar, suitably formed to guide the rope, and keep the basket at a distance
from the building so as to clear projections of any kind. The window bar fis
pivoted to the window frame or its equivalent, so as to be capable of revolving
upon the ends ff. g (Fig. 5) is a hook of volute form for attachment to the
wainscot or wall in the room, just below the window.
The two ends d¹² of the rope are kept constantly attached to the eyes of the
basket, so as to be always ready for use at a moment's notice.
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. In a fire escape, the combination of a basket adapted for use as a clothes
basket, suitably strengthened with iron or other bars or rods, and provided with a
coil of rope so secured to the basket as to be always ready for use, substantially as
herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
2. In a fire escape, the combination with a basket and rope as aforesaid, of a
pivoted window bar, for the purpose of keeping the basket at a suitable distance
from the building, when in use as a fire escape, substantially as herein before
described and illustrated by the drawings.
3. In combination with appliances as aforesaid, the application and use of the
hook 9, for the purpose of sustaining the basket while preparing to lower a person,
and for use in veering away the rope while lowering, substantially as herein before
described and illustrated by the drawings.
4. The general construction, combination, and arrangement of the several and
respective parts, together forming my invention of improvements in means and
appliances for enabling persons to escape from buildings on fire, substantially as
herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated 7th June 1892.
GEO. DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.