Improvements in and relating to Flexible Ladders and Fire Escapes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 21st Jan., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Feb., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Flexible Ladders and Fire
Escapes.
I, EMILIE BAUER, of 48 Hochstrasse Frankfurt-on-Main, in the Empire of
Germany, Gentlewoman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object, the arrangement of a rope, belt or the like, so
as to afford facilities, by which a person may readily ascend or descend the same
with greater safety than hitherto, and to so construct the steps or loops that a
person may be suspended against the side of a building or the like, and retain the
use of the hands for changing position, or assisting in the rescuing persons or goods
from buildings, and to construct a brake of such form as will enable a person to
descend in safety.
I accomplish my object by constructing a rope, belt or the like, of any required
length, to which loops may be attached at suitable intervals on one side, or to each
side alternately, and so arranged as to form steps for the hands and feet.
The safety ladder may be formed by attaching two ropes, belts or the like,
together at intervals, and forming the loops alternately on each side, by securing
the two ropes or the like together, in a manner so as to form loops; the ropes or
the like being secured or attached together between the loops.
By forming loops in the manner described, the advantage derived, is that they
are always open and ready for the reception of the arms or feet of the person
suspended by the rope or the like, so that, the position of the user may be readily
changed, or for the reception of the hook attachment of the body belt.
In order to enable a person to descend in safety, and retain the use of the hands
and feet, I construct a brake of suitable material, consisting of a frame having bars
across, secured in position, so as to leave a space between same, somewhat after the
manner of a comb. The rope or the like is passed alternately in and out over the
bars or teeth of the comb brake, and retained there by a suitable cover or cap.
On attaching the body belt hook to the brake, the person may then descend
the rope steadily, without making use of the loops, the friction of the rope or
the like on the before mentioned bars preventing the quick descent when the
feet or hands are disengaged from the loops.
Dad thin nath J SA 1004
JOHN WAUGH,
Agent.
Improvements in and relating to Flexible Ladders and Fire
Escapes.
I, EMILIE BAUER, of 48, Hochstrasse, Frankfurt-on-Main, in the Empire of
Germany, Gentlewoman, 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 arrangement of a rope, belt or the like,

page_text: In a manner so as to anora facilities by which a person may readily ascend or
descend the same with greater safety than hitherto, and to so construct the
steps or loops of the flexible ladder, that a person may be suspended against
the side of a building or the like and retain the use of his hands for changing
his position or assisting in rescuing persons from buildings in case of fire or the
like, and to construct a brake of such form, that when used in conjunction
with a rope, will enable a person to descend from an elevation in safety.
Hitherto attempts have been made to render assistance by a light, portable
and safe apparatus, to persons working in dangerous places, as for example,
doing repairs to the side of a structure, or firemen giving assistance in the rescue
of persons or goods from the upper floors of a burning building, such assistance
or rescue having been accomplished by securing a belt around the body and
suspending same with a rope supported by a pulley or bar attached to the top
of a rigid ladder or the like.
In describing my invention in detail, reference is made to the accompanying
sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 represents an elevation of a brake constructed according to my
invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.
Fig. 3 a section through irregular line X. X.
Fig. 4 a section through line Y. Y. and
Fig. 5 an elevation of a flexible ladder constructed according to my invention.
In carrying out my invention I form with ropes, belts or like material, a
flexible ladder R. of any required length, by securing the ropes or the like
together so as to form loops or steps L. on each side, the ropes or the like
being secured together between the said loops, which may also be formed by
sewing or riveting pieces to a strong centre belt, in any case the loops L. are
of such size as to form steps for the hands and feet.
By forming loops or steps in the manner described, the advantage derived is,
when in use, they are always open and ready for the reception of the arms or
feet of the person supported by the ladder, so that he may readily change his
position, or when a body belt is utilized for safety, the hook attachment can
readily be changed from one loop to another.
In order to enable a person to descend in safety and retain the use of his
hands, I construct a brake of suitable material, consisting of a frame composed
of bars A. and B. jointed together at one end by a pin b. passing through holes
in the end of said bars. To the bar A. are secured a number of cross bars or
round teeth c. in such position as to leave open spaces C. between them, through
which is passed a rope or belt ladder R. in and out alternatively over the said
bars or teeth of the comb like brake, and there retained on the cross bars by
the hinged or jointed cap or cover bar B. entering the slots formed in the ends
of said cross bars, or the ends of the latter may be reduced in diameter and
made to enter corresponding holes formed in bar B. the latter being finally
secured to the bar A. by a suitable pin, hook or rope passing through holes «.
at top of same.
On threading the rope or belt ladder R. over the bars C. in a suspended
frame. A. B. in the manner described, a person may descend from an elevation
without making use of the loops L. as a ladder, the friction of the rope or the
like on the before mentioned bars preventing a quick descent, which may be
stopped at any portion of the descent, by taking hold or securing the portion
or end of ladder hanging on the opposite side of the bars C. and A. B.
It will be understood that the width of space between the bars A. and B.
of the brake frame may be such, that two rope ladders R. may be passed over
the cross-bars C. or plain ropes may be used, but by preference one should be
of the description before mentioned, by the use of which a person has the use
of his hands to assist in rescuing persons or goods from a building, to be lowered
by the other plain rope or flexible ladder.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
An apparatus for supporting or lowering from an elevation consisting of a
flexible ladder R. having loops L. formed on one or both sides, combined with a
brake having cross bars c. between the side bars A. and B. all arranged substantially
in the manner and for the purpose as hereinbefore set forth.
Dated this 19th day of January 1895.
JOHN WAUGH,
Agent.