Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 27th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 31st Dec., 1888
RESERVE C
I, CHARLES BRAWN, of 124, King's Road, Chelsea, Tailor & Outfitter, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to a portable domestic fire escape which is of small compass,
of simple construction, and which requires the possession of but little presence of
mind to enable any person of ordinary intelligence to use it, notwithstanding the
alarm created by an outbreak of fire. In addition to these advantages the person.
using the escape can regulate his or her descent without difficulty, and needs no
assistance in escaping.
The apparatus consists of a flat metal plate provided with grooved projections and
with a pivoted shackle; a rope or wire on which the plate is threaded and which is
attached to the building; and a strap which is passed around the body and hooked on
to the shackle. The plate has apertures for the passage of the wire or rope which
may be attached by either of its ends to a hook on the building and is of sufficient
length to reach the ground. The shackle projects from its front side, and upon this
side there are two grooved projections, one at either end of the plate. The rope is
led through holes in the ends of the plate around the projections on the front of the
plate and around a similar projection at the back of the plate, so that the friction
in using the apparatus will be sufficient to prevent its too rapid descent.
The free end of the shackle is preferably hollowed out, and the weight of the person
using the apparatus causes the end of the shackle to bear on the rope so as to act as a
break and enable the rapidity of descent to be better regulated.
C. BRAWN.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.

page_text: An Improved Domestic Fire Escape.
I, CHARLES BRAWN, of 124, King's Road, Chelsea, Tailor and Outfitter, 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:-
My Invention relates to a portable, domestic fire escape of simple construction
which may be easily applied and used and whereby the descent of the person escaping
may be effected under perfect control without assistance. So simple is the construc-
tion and operation of the appliance that but little presence of mind is needed to
enable any person of ordinary intelligence to use notwithstanding the alarm created
by an outbreak of fire.
The appliance consists of a sling to support the person, attached to a runner acting
as a brake and sliding upon a pendent rope made fast at its upper end, the sling being
attached to a pressure piece bearing on the rope in such way that the brake pressure
increases the greater the weight of the person descending and so that the rapidity of
the descent may be regulated at will.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specifica-
tion wherein figure 1 shews the mode of using the escape. Figure 2 is a vertical
section, and Figure 3 a front view, of the sliding brake runner. The same letters of
reference indicate like parts in all the figures.
A is the rope, and B the sling. The latter is attached to the pressure lever of the
runner or brake device, wherein my invention consists and which is illustrated in
figures 2 and 3: This device consists of a bar C having holes c through which the
rope is threaded and whereby it is deflected in a zig-zag direction so as to cause con-
siderable frictional resistance to the slipping of the bar upon the rope. For this
purpose the bar is provided between the holes with grooved half round projections d
upon which the rope, in passing from one hole to the next, is caused to. rub. The
bar terminates at each end in a guide loop e for the rope to pass through. To the
middle of the plate C is jointed a shackle F on which is fixed a pressure block f.
To this shackle the sling is attached as shewn in figure 1. The shackle F is pivoted
mid-way between two of the half round frictional projections d, so that the block f
is adapted to bear against the rope as it passes over the one or other of them, and
the device will therefore work in either direction along the rope A which has an eye
at both ends and may be made fast by either end to a hook on the wall of the
building. Thus, after first descent has been effected it is only necessary to draw
up the rope with the sling attached and to reverse the position of the apparatus
by making fast the rope by its other end in order to effect a second descent.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed. I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with a runner adapted to deflect a rope threaded therethrough
into a zig-zag direction and to slide with frictional resistance on the rope, of a
pressure lever pivoted to the runner and bearing on the rope as it passes through the
runner and of a sling attached to the pressure lever, substantially as, and for the
purpose specified.
2. The herein described running brake device applied to a rope and combined
with a support for the person, substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Dated this 27th day of November 1888.
C. BRAWN.¨
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.