Ladder for Communicating with the Upper Rooms of a Building on Fire, and for General Purposes, also for use as Scaling Ladders and Flying Bridges.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Feb., 1892-Accepted, 26th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
Ladder for Communicating with the Upper Rooms of a Building
on Fire, and for General Purposes, also for use as Scaling
Ladders and Flying Bridges.
I, THOMAS JENNER of Mill Lane, Taunton in the County of Somerset
Brewery Proprietor do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
The object of my invention is to construct a ladder which shall be light, strong,
and fire resisting and which shall be capable of being quickly connected through
an upper window of a burning house and also convenient for being folded up in
a small compass.
With this view I make the rungs by preference tubular of iron
or steel galvanized or enamelled covered or not with hard wood pulp tubes between
the sides. The latter are of steel wire, cord or of rope rendered fireproof or non-
inflammable or other suitable material. To the top of the ladder is connected a
wire, cord chain or fireproof line carrying at the end a weight which may be in the
form of or provided with a spring shackle for easy connection to a bedpost, fireplace;
or other part, or the weight may be some distance from the shackle, or the latter may
be omitted and a line end provided for tying on to some convenient object. The
weight being thrown in through a window of the building on fire the inmates may
by pulling on the line or wire cord bring the top of the latter to the window sill
and having made fast the ladder by the means named make use of the ladder for
descending.
The rungs are preferably pierced near each end and a piece of wire passed
through provided with hook or eye and ring link at each end to which the side
parts of the ladder are connected by eyes or looks. Or the wire for the hooks or
eyes may be threaded through the tubular rungs instead of passing transversely
through holes at each end. "I may substitute chain partially or entirely for the
sides.
Ladders made as described are suitable for being kept at fire and police stations,
and other public and official places, as for instance under the glass of existing fire-
call posts, the stations of the Boy Messengers Electric Call Company and in
villages as well as in towns. But they are also generally applicable for the use of
builders, well sinkers, steeple jacks, farmers and many others. Two or more such
ladders may be shackled together for use as scaling ladders and flying bridges.
Dated this 23rd day of May 1891.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
5 Ladder for Communicating with the Upper Rooms of a Building
on Fire, and for General Purposes, also for use as Scaling
Ladders and Flying Bridges.
1, THOMAS JENNER of Mill Lane Taunton in the County of Somerset
Brewery Proprietor do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
O manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:
The object of my invention is to construct a ladder which shall be light strong
and fire resisting and which shall be capable of being used as a scaling ladder for

page_text: military purposes for being quickly connected through an upper window of a burning
house and also convenient for being folded up in a small compass. With this view
I make the rungs of iron or steel by preference tubular galvanized or enamelled,
covered or not with hard wood pulp tubes or tubes made of other suitable material
between the sides. The latter are of steel wire, cord or chain or of fireproof line
and carry at one end a wire cord or chain provided with a weight which may be
in the form of or provided with a spring shackle for easy connection to a bedpost,
fire place or other part, or I provide a weight some distance from the shackle; or
instead of the shackle I provide in the latter case a line for tying to some con-
venient object. The weight being thrown in through a window of the building on
fire the inmates may by pulling on the line or wire cord bring the top of the ladder
to the window sill and having made it fast by the means named make use of the
ladder for descending. The same construction of ladder may be used in the form
of a flying bridge.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings shews a ladder constructed according
to my invention.
Figure 2 is enlarged section through a rung and
Figure 3 a corresponding end view.
The rounds or rungs A are pieces of galvanized steel or iron tube pierced near
each end for connection to the side pieces of steel wire B by means of rings B'
and short pieces of steel wire 12 the parts being hooked together as shown. In
this manner the ladder is rendered flexible so that it can be readily folded to take
up little space and also strong, light and fireproof. The rounds may between the
sides B be covered with pieces of tubes of hard pressed wood pulp or the like if
desired for the purpose of giving a better hold for feet and hands. The sides of
the ladder are at one end by wires, wire cords or chains C connected to a fireproof
cord or chain D which at the outer end is provided with a weight or tolerably
heavy spring shackle E to which I prefer to connect a throw line E with weight
on the end for the purpose of conveniently throwing that end of the ladder in
through a window and fastening it to some object in the building. The throw line
may be made of copper sash line or other suitable flexible fireproof material.
The spring shackle with one or more rings D₁ serves for making fast to some
object in the building.
Figure 4 shews the ladder made for use as a flying bridge,
Figure 5 being an enlarged part sectional view of one end of a tubular rung and
Figure 6 a sectional end of same.
The rungs A are connected to the sides B as before described or for heavier
strain by welded chain work. To the rungs A the stanchions Fare fixed by
hooked ends F* and cotters F with washers Flet into short planks G resting on
the rungs the upper ends of the stanchions are eyeshaped to take rope hand rails H.
Or as shown in Figure 7 the stanchions F consist of two parts F and F which
are screwed into nut sockets F¹. Or as shown in Figure 8 the lower tubular hook
ended part Fx of the stanchion is fixed to the planking G and ladder by means of
a nut and united to the upper part F by means of a nut F¹. In Figure 9 the
upper tubular part I of the stanchion is united to the lower tubular (or solid)
part by a nut part F¹ on the lower end of the former whereby also the
stanchion is secured to the planking G and ladder. The ladder portion of such a
flying bridge may conveniently be made in sections to be distributed amongst
mounted infantry or cavalry pickets, such sections being made to be shackled
together by means of spring hooks, false links or the like.
Ladders made as described with reference to Figures 1. 2 and 3 are suitable as
military scaling. ladders, for being kept at fire and police stations and other public
or official places (as for instance under the glass of existing firecall posts, the
stations of the Boy Messengers Electric Call Company) and in villages as well as
in towns. But they are also generally applicable for the use of builders, telegraph
constructors, steeple jacks, farmers and many others.

page_text: 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 :-
First. A folding ladder having tubular steel or iron rounds and sides made of
wire, chain or fireproof cord united to the rounds substantially as described and
shewn.
Second. A folding ladder as firstly claimed provided at one end with means for
attachment substantially as described and shown.
Third. A folding ladder as firstly claimed in combination with stanchions.
planking and rope rails for use as a flying bridge substantially as described and
shewn.
Dated this 23rd day of Wolmary 1802
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.