AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF FOLDING LADDERS, MORE PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE AS FIRE ESCAPES
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Simon at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 25th June 1879. A communication from
abroad by Jobann Felix Unsoeld, of Kempten, Bavaria, in the German Empire.
HENRY SIMON, of No. 7, St. Peter's Square, Manchester, in the County of Lan-
caster. "AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF FOLDING LADDERS, MORE PARTICULARLY
APPLICABLE AS FIRE ESCAPES." [A communication from abroad by Johann
Felix Unsoeld, of Kempten, Bavaria, in the German Empire.]
According to the present Invention a folding ladder is constructed of a number
of separate sections or short lengths, which are so formed as to slide telescopically
one within the other, so that a ladder of considerable length occupies when folded
comparatively small space. Furthermore, the sections are constructed of thin sheet
metal of such form as to afford considerable strength with comparatively little
weight, so that the ladder can be readily carried about.
For this purpose each section consists of two cheeks or uprights, each of which is
formed of two trougà shaped irons, the sides of which are at an obtuse angle to the
bottom, and which are secured together a certain distance apart, such distance being
equal to the thickness of bands or plates constituting the staves of the ladder.
These staves are formed as loops with flattened ends, which are secured between
the two trough shaped irons of each upright, so that there are double staves
extending from the one upright across to the other, with a certain space inter-
vening between the two parts of each stave. A number of these sections are so
proportioned relatively to each other that they slide one within the other, the
uprights of the one section fitting with external packing pieces closely against the
inner faces of the uprights of the next outer section, while the double staves of
the former fit within the spaces between the double staves of the latter. At the end
of each section stops or guides are fixed on the inner faces of the uprights, such
stops having longitudinal grooves, into which fit corresponding tongues on the
packing pieces of the inner section when this is drawn out, and thus the sections
are secured together in a very rigid manner when extended, the grooves and tongues
being by preference dovetailed or tapered to increase the hold. The staves of the
innermost section are constructed of single bars, to one of which is attached a looped
piece projecting laterally so as to keep the lower end of the ladder away from the
wall of a building when it is supsended from above. To this loop a cord may bo
attached for raising and lowering the ladder. As the ladder when folded together
Damion O31

page_text: occupies but little height it can when applied as a fire escape be permanently fitted
against the wall of a room below the sill of a window, for which purpose hooks
may be fixed in the wall on which the ladder is hung. For the purpose of sus-
pending the ladder from the window sill two lengths of wire rope attached to the
top stave have eyes at their other end fitting over strong iron staples driven into
the wall under the window sill, and extending by preference some distance down-
wards, so as to distribute the strain over as great a mass of brick work as
possible.