Year: 1888

page_text: Late of Application, 28th Dec., 1888
Specification Accepted, 23rd Feb., 1889
I CHARLES JOHN REYNOLDS of 4 King Street, Tower Hill, in the City of London,.
Accountant, 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 object of this invention is to produce a fire escape which is intended to remain
permanently attached to the exterior of a house or other building, and which can be
readily and easily brought into position when required.
And in order that my invention may be well understood I will now proceed to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which similar
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a side view of a fire escape constructed according to my invention,
attached to ibe exterior of a house or other building and shewn ready for use.
Figure 2 is a similar view shewing the apparatus closed or folded up.
Figure 3 is a part plan of Figure 1, and Figure 4 is a plan of Figure 2.
According to this invention I construct the fire escape of metal, preferably of iron
or steel, and affis one of the uprights A to the outside of the wall or other part B of
the house.
On to each of the uprights A and C I fix metal oyes or staples D, and to these eyes
or staples I secure the ends of the rungs or steps E, or the ends of the rungs, or steps
may, if desired, he turned round and welded, so as to form corresponding eyes F
taking into the eyes or staples D; if desired however, the staples D on the uprights
may be horizontal, and the rounded ends F on the steps vertical, but their positions.
may of course be reversed, .e. the staples D may be vertical, and the eyes
horizontal.
The eyes or staples are constructed of such a size that they form a loose joint so as
to allow the apparatus to be folded up and let down quite easily. When folded up
the apparatus is secured in position by means of a catch G taking into an eye or
staple H affixed to the further end of the movable upright C. (see Figures 2 and 4).
This catch consists of a horizontal bent arm G, one end of which passes through suit-
able bearings in the wall and terminates in'a ring or handle K on the inside of the house
or building by means of which the catch can be turned to the right or to the left.

page_text: The bandle K may of course be embedded in a recess in the wall, or may be contained
within a locked receptacle to prevent tampering, and may be connected by wires and
bell cranks to any other room or part of the house. The outer end of the catch
terminates in a vertical piece J which is slightly curved or hook-shaped so as to pass
easily into and out of the horizontal staple Ĥ.
A strong metal spiral, or other simped spring L is affixed to the upright A and is
compressed horizontally by the upright when the apparatus is folded up.
I prefer
to use one spring, although more may be used if required and they may be placed in
any suitable position on the uprights A. and C. When the catch is released, this
spring extends and pushes out the upright C, and the apparatus then falls by its
own weight and by the pressure of the spring into the position shewn in Figure 1,
in which position it is secured by a bracket M loosely jointed by staples O to the
exterior of the building, and provided with a vertical tongue piece P taking into
a horizontal staple N fixed upon the same side of the upright C, (see Figure 3).
When the apparatus is folded up, the bracket M can be folded up close against the
wall, and secured there by a button or catch.
To let down the apparatus, actuate the handle K so as to release the hook J from
the staple El, when the apparatus falls into the position shewn in Figure 1, now
release the catch on the bracket M and bring the same horizontal and pass the
tongue P into the staple N.
To fold up the apparatus, release the tongue P from the staple N and secure the
bracket M close against the wall by the catch, now push or pull up the upright C, and
pass the hook into the staple H.
It will be seen that either operation is quickly performed.
To prevent housebreakers and others from using the apparatus, and to preserve the
same from the effects of exposure to the weather, suitable side pieces are affixed to
the wall, or to the upright A, or are formed in one with the said upright which in this
case would be made in the shape of three sides of a rectangle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said i ven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. An improved fire escape, consisting of a folding ladder attached to the exterior
of a building with a catch G operated from inside the building by the handlo K,
and wires and bell cranks, and with a bracket M. for firmly holding the said ladder
in position, all constructed substantially as hereinbefore set forth and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
2nd. An improved fire escape consisting of a folding ladder which is assisted when
let down by the pressure of a spring or springs, substantially as hereinbefore set
forth.
3. An improved fire escape constructed and operating substantially as described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.