Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Oct., 1886.
Complete Left, 7th Jan., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 8th Feb., 1887.
We GEORGE WORSLEY junior, and JOSEPH BRELSFORDI both of Audenshaw near
Manchester in the County of Lancaster Hat Manufacturers do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows :-
The object of this invention is to construct and improved portable folding fire escape
or ladder which can be kept always ready inside a bedroom (or other room where it is
likely to be required) and can be at any time instantly made ready for use.
The improved folding fire escape or ladder consists principally of a combination
of metal side links jointed together with transverse rods covered with wooden rundles
and metallic wire struts to hold the same steady and keep it from the wall.
The side links are made of flat metal and they are rivetted together by means of the
transverse rods which pass from side to side through the tubular wooden rundles. The
struts are made of stout metal wire bent in a trough like form and having an eye or
loop at each end which embraces the transverse rods between the side links and the
ends of the wooden rundles, so that each side link is provided with its own strut which
cannot get out of position.
When the ladder is folded to and fro for packing the struts lie just inside the side
links and do not in any way interfere with the folding of the ladder, which will
Occupy a very small space and may
be placed in a box near a window or be covered
over by a case.
To the top link on each side is attached a wire rope, terminating in a hook or
shackle which can at any time be attached to a ring or staple which is permanently
fixed to the window sill or other convenient part. If the ladder is then thrown out of
the window with the struts towards the wall it immediately forms an efficient fire
escane.
GEORGE DAVIES,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: We GEORGE WORSLEY junior and JOSEPH BRELSFORD, both of Audenshaw near
Manchester in the County of Lancaster Hat Manufacturers do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to he
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to construct an improved portable folding fire escape
or ladder which can be kept always ready inside a bedroom (or other room where it is
likely to be required) and can be at any time instantly made ready for use.
The nature of our invention and the manner in which the same is to be carried into
practical effect will be readily understood on reference to the two sheets of drawings
hereunto annexed and the following explanation thereof.
Fig. 1. on the annexed drawings is a side elevation, and, Fig. 2. a front view of a
folding fire escape ladder constructed according to our improvements in its expanded
state ready for use, and Figs. 3. and 4 are similar views of the same folded for stowage
when out of use.
Figs. 5. 6. 7. 8. and 9. are detailed views drawn to a larger scale of detached portions
of the same hereinafter more particularly referred to.
The improved folding fire escape or ladder consists principally of a combination of
metal side links a, a jointed together with transverse rods b,b covered with wooden
rundles e, c and metallic wire struts d, d to hold the same steady and keep it from the
wall.
The side links a, a are made of flat metal and they are rivetted together by means of
transverse rods 6, which pass from side to side through the tubular wooden
rundles c, c.
In order to keep the side links a, a rigid when opened out they are made one with a
notch and the other with a projection as shown at Fig. 5. which when opened out forms
a butt joint as shown at Fig. 6.
The struts d,d are made of stout metal wire bent in a trough-like form and having
an eye or loop at each end which embraces the transverse rods between the side links
and the ends of the wooden rundles so that each alternate pair of side links is provided
with its own strut which cannot get out of position.
To strengthen the rundles c, e and to prevent them from revolving upon the iron
rods b, (which would render the feet liable to slip) we provide them at each end with
a metal ferrule e, e (see Fig. 7.) in the outer edge of which we form a notch through
which passes the wire strut d, d (see Fig. 8) the latter thus acts as a key and prevents
the rundles c, e from revolving.
When the ladder is folded to and fro for packing as shown at Figs. 3. and 4. the
struts d, d lie just inside the side links a, a and do not in any way interfere with the
folding of the ladder, which will occupy a very small space and may be placed in a
box near a window or be covered over by a case.

page_text: To the top link a, a on each side is attached a wire rope f. terminating in a hook
or shackle or an eye which can at any time be attached to a ring or staple which is
permanently fixed to the window sill or other convenient part.
Fig. 9. shows a form of shackle which we prefer to employ for this purpose and also
for attaching the the wire rope to the ladder.
If the ladder is then thrown out of the window with the struts towards the wall it
immediately forms an efficient fire escape.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is :-
First. An improved folding fire escape consisting of a combination of side links,
transverse rods, wooden rundles, and wire struts, constructed substantially as
hereinbefore particularly described and illustrated by the annexed drawings.
Secondly. We claim in folding fire escapes, the butt joints of the side links to give
rigidity to the same when opened out.
Thirdly. In folding fire escapes we claim the peculiar construction and combination of
the wire struts with the side links whereby-they fold inside the latter when packed,
and when opened are quite rigid and cannot collapse in any direction and
Fourthly. We claim securing the wooden rundles to the transverse rods or to the side
links, or to the struts in such a manner that they cannot revolve upon the said rods.
GEORGE DAVIES,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester,
Agent for the Applicants.