An Improved Safety Ladder.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 10th May, 1892-Accepted, 18th June, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Safety Ladder.
We, ADOLF PIETSCH, of 19 Osterthorwall Hameln on the Weser Merchant,
and AUGUST NECKER, of 8 Blumenstrasse Lippstadt, Decorator, both in the
German Empire, 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 object of this invention is the special construction of a ladder which when
not in use may be folded into the smallest possible compass. When the ladder
is to be used it is brought into place and dropped when it will unfold itself
automatically. When it is desired to again fold the ladder this is easily done by a
crank.
In order that our invention may be the better understood, we now proceed to
describe the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the
letters and figures marked thereon. Like letters refer to like parts throughout the
figures.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of our ladder partly folded, either while being
unfolded from a window for use or while being folded again after use.
Figure 2 shows the ladder not in use and folded.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of Figure 1.
A number of parts or links a carrying rings are connected together by means
of hinges c, so that they can only fold in one direction, and when they are being
unfolded they can only move until they form a straight line, while it is impossible
to turn them further.
There are further arranged two upper parts d and e, also carrying rungs 6 which
may be folded or turned in either direction. They are connected by means of
ordinary hinges to the last or top part a.
One end of the part e is provided with a roller f and with an eye g, the latter
being able to turn round a pin and guided by an iron rod rigidly fixed in any
suitable manner.
The proportion of the parts or links are not alike, but arranged so that the
apparatus can be folded into the smallest possible compass as hereinafter described.
Beginning with the lowermost part a the length of the second part is equal to
the double breadth of the first part, the third part or link is of the same length as
the first plus the breadth of same, the length of the fourth part is equal to
treble the breadth of each part, the length of the fifth part is equal to the length
of the first part, plus twice the breadth of the same, and so on.
In this way as the dimensions are continued according to the same system, the
whole ladder may be folded together in the form of a rectangular parallelogram.
The two upper parts d and e are hinged, so that they can fold in both directions.
This is done to allow, for instance, of the ladder being lifted over a window sill,
see Figure 1, in order to be used as a fire escape.
Where the part d is hinged to the part a there is situated an axle k, around
which is led a rope 1. The latter touches every rung of the ladder, when the
same is stretched or unfolded; it goes around the lowest rung b and returns to the
axle k.
When the folded ladder, as shown in Figure 2, is turned around the connection m
between the part e and the part d, and the part d thus placed over the window sill
and the ladder, allowed to drop, it will unfold automatically, the force of the jerks
being reduced by the endless rope l.
The rope
I can also serve as support and guidance for the persons descending the

page_text: ladder, who may attach themselves to the rope 7 in the usual manner by means of
a belt and safety hook.
By turning the crank & the rope is tightened and the ladder folded as shown in
Figure 1.
The ladder has not been designed to be carried by the fire brigades, but its
purpose is to form part of the equipment of dwellings, in which it is conveniently
arranged under the window sill, either open or covered by wainscotting, so that in
the moment of danger, if the stair case cannot be traversed, the ladder may be
simply dropped out of the window, thus allowing of the descent being effected in
safety.
Of course the ladder may also be used for any other purpose, for instance to
rescue persons who have fallen into pits, chasms, etc.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
l
1st. A folding safety ladder, consisting of the hinged parts or links a, surrounded
by a rope folded together into the smallest possible compass when at rest, and
which when dropped from a position can only unfold until the parts form a straight
line, while the two upper parts or links can be bent further, beyond a straight line
to form an anchorage.
2nd. The arrangement and construction of a folding ladder, substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 10th day of May 1892.
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicants.