Improvements in and relating to Fire Escapes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1899
[Communicated from abroad by JOHAN ULSEN HEUM, OI M088, Norway, Merchant.j
Improvements in and relating to Fire Escapes.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.L.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, 6, Lord Street,
Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster,
and Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Civil
Engineer, 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 improved fire escape is characterized by the steps of the ladder forming
when the same is in the folded state a board not larger than can conveniently
be suspended below the window of a room or the like, so that in the folded state
the ladder will neither occupy much place nor disfigure the apartment; the steps
are connected together by pendant joints consisting preferably of wire rope an
arranged in such a way that on folding up the ladder they are contained in
cavities in the steps but drop down automatically into the proper position when
the ladder is unfolded for use.
In the accompanying drawing:
Fig. 1 shews in the unfolded condition part of a ladder embodying the present
invention, and
Fig. 2 the whole ladder in the folded condition and partly in section.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the steps, and
Fig. 4 a cross section.
The steps a are preferably made of wood of rectangular cross section and pro-
vided on the upper as well as on the underside with longitudinal slots and
mounted at each end and at the middle of these slots on both sides with irons b,
openings of a suitable form being cut through said irons and the intervening
wood to receive the wire ropes forming the suspending members of the ladder.
In order to add to the security of the ladder three such suspending members are.
provided between the steps, the two side pieces c being formed of a single wire
rope ascending on the one side from a lower step to and piercing the one above
it, then passing along the iron and down to the under side of the step and along
the same to the iron fixed in the middle of the step, ascending to the upper side
and piercing the step once more, passing on the under side of the step to the iron
mounted on the other end of the same, ascending to the upper side, and finally
piercing the step to form the suspending member on the other side. At the lower
end the side supports are provided with a head or boss e by which the lower step
is suspended. The upper end of the middle wire d is simply fastened to the
middle iron or connected with the wire c. On folding the ladder the wires are
pulled through the irons of each lower step and put into the slots provided in
the steps as is shewn in Fig. 2. For this purpose the openings in the irons of one
side are formed in the shape of enlarged rounded slots, so that the wires only
need to be moderately bent. The above arrangement is advantageous inasmuch
Price S11

page_text: as it strengthens the steps; even if a step should be broken, yet the ladder will
be held together and not become useless.
In order to fix the steps in the folded condition a bar g pivoted at f is provided
on each side, said bars fitting into recesses at the ends of the steps and being
screw threaded at their upper ends to receive a nut provided with a handle k.
The wires or ropes are provided with loops by means of which the ladder is
suspended on hooks in the window frame and when folded up the upper end of
the apparatus is formed by a loose piece m.
As will be easily understood from the above description the present fire escape
is entirely safe and of easy manipulation by anyone. It is only needful to un-
screw the bars g and suspend the ladder by the ropes after which the steps will
drop automatically and the ladder be ready for use.
Three suspending members
being provided between the steps the ladder will be fully available even though
one of them should be broken. By using wire rope for these suspending mem-
bers a maximum of strength and a minimum of weight is attained at the same
time. The invention may however be carried out by using instead of wire another
material for instance iron bars provided with hinges close to the under side of
each step. It should be understood that although it is stated that the members c
are made of wire rope the invention is not limited to such construction, as the
same may be made of any other material. It is also to be understood that
although the inventor considers three supporting wires to be preferable, two
only may be used without departing from the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. An improved fire escape consisting of a folding ladder the steps of which
when folded form a continuous boarding: connected by suspending members
which, passing from one step through the adjacent one are capable on the ladder
being folded of being pulled through a step and laid in a slot provided on the
under side of the same.
2. The hereinbefore described fire escape substantially as described and shewn
in the accompanying drawing.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.