Improvements in Fire Escapes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 10th May, 1897-Accepted, 12th June, 1897
Improvements in Fire Escapes.
1, Godfrey JOHNSON, Fisherman, of the Town of Knappton, in the County of
Pacific, in the State of Washington, one of the United States of America, do
thereby 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 relates to fire escapes and is in the nature of a flexible ladder
adapted to be thrown from a window and to be detachably connected to the sill of
the window, whereby, when not in use, it may be folded up compactly and supported
at a convenient point just inside of the window, where it will be ready for immediate
use whenever necessary.
The invention consists in a fire escape embodying certain novel features and
details of construction as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawing and
pointed out in the claim hereto appended.
In the drawing:
Figure 1 is a side elevation showing an elevated window and a portion of the
improved ladder applied thereto.
Figure 2 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the upper portion of the ladder,
showing the manner of constructing said ladder and also securing the same detachably
to the window sill.
Figure 3 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the rope clamp employed in
assembling the several parts of the ladder.
Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken through the rope clamp and one of
the side cables of the ladder showing the looped end of one of the rungs in
elevation.
Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the drawings.
The improved fire escape is in the nature of a flexible ladder and comprises
spaced parallel longitudinal cables 1, which may either be of hemp-rope or wire,
but which, in order to withstand the flames are preferably constructed of steel
cables. These longitudinal cables are connected at spaced intervals by means of
cross rungs 2 which may be composed of the same material as the longitudinal
cables and which are connected to the ladder by having their opposite ends looped
around the said longitudinal cables and folded upon themselves, the extremities of
the rungs being secured to the main body thereof by means of clamps which will
now be described.
Each of the rope clamps comprises a pair of twin jaws or sections 3, the same
being provided, upon their inner adjacent surfaces with grooves 4, substantially
semi-circular in cross section and adapted to receive in them the main body of the
rung as well as one of the looped extremities thereof in the manner illustrated in
the drawing. These jaws or sections are each provided with oppositely projecting
ears 5 which are provided with aligning openings 6 through which pass bolts or
other fasteners 7 by means of which the two sections of the clamp may be drawn
tightly together for binding the looped end of the rung between them in a manner
that will be readily understood.
By means of this clamp the looped ends of the rungs are confined so closely
about the longitudinal cables that it will be impossible for said rungs to slide
longitudinall on the cuid cables

page_text: The upper ends of the longitudinal cables are also looped or folded in a manner
similar to the cross rungs 2, and the extremities thereof are secured by means of
clamps 8, similar to those bereinbefore described, it being preferable, for the sake
of safety to use a pair of such clamps at the upper end of each longitudinal cable.
Within the loops at the upper ends of the longitudinal cables are arranged the
eyes 9 of a pair of snap hooks 10, and these snap hooks are adapted to be detachably
connected to and passed over a horizontal supporting bar 11, passing through
spaced screw eyes or eye bolts 12 entering and passing through or partially through,
the sill 13 of a window, as clearly shown in Figure 1.
A ladder constructed in accordance with the description above given, may when
not in use, be rolled up or folded compactly and stored at a convenient point within
the window. When it is desired for use, the ladder may be thrown out of the
window, one end being held by the operator and that end having the snap
hooks 10, may be quickly engaged with the horizontal bar 11, thereby suspending
the ladder from the sill 13 aud allowing the inmates of the building to descend or
the firemen to ascend.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A ladder comprising spaced longitudinal cables, and a series of rungs
connecting said cables at intervals and composed of short sections of cable having
their opposite ends looped around the longitudinal cables and secured by means of
clamps in such manner as to prevent the rungs from slipping longitudinally on the
said cables, substantially as described.
2. A flexible ladder comprising spaced longitudinal cables, and cross rungs
connecting said cables at intervals, the said rungs being composed each of a short
section of cable, the opposite ends of which are looped around the longitudinal
cables, and a clamp for the looped end of each rung, said clamp comprising
opposing sections or jaws grooved upon their inner adjacent surfaces and each
provided with oppositely projecting ears having aligning openings for the passage a
of bolts or other fasteners, whereby the sections of the clamp may be caused to
firmly bind the extremities of the rungs in the manner described.
3. A flexible ladder comprising spaced longitudinal cables, and cross rungs
composed of short sections of cable having their opposite ends connected to the
longitudinal cables as described, the longitudinal cables being looped at their
adjacent ends to receive a pair of snap hooks, the said hooks adapted to be
detachably connected to a horizontal bar secured to a window sill or other support,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. The herein described clamp, comprising opposing jaws or sections grooved
upon their inner surfaces and each provided with oppositely projecting ears, the 4
said ears having aligned openings, and spaced bolts or fasteners passing through'
said ears, whereby the said jaws or sections may be drawn together, substantially
as and for the purpose described.
....
μας
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.