AN IMPROVED DOMESTIC FIRE ESCAPE
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Nobes of 27 Dudley Grove Harrow Road
Paddington in the County of Middlesex Plumber for an Invention of AN
IMPROVED DOMESTIC FIRE ESCAPE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Nobes at the Office
☐☐ of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd May 1883.
GEORGE NOBES of 27 [Dudley Grove] Harrow Road. Paddington [in the County
of] Middlesex [Plumber] AN IMPROVED DOMESTIC FIRE ESCAPE
My Invention consists of an Improved Domestic Fire Escape which can also be
used in combination with a table or other suitable piece of furniture.
The Escape consists of a ladder made of rope, asbestos wire or other suitable
material with treads or rounds of iron, brass or other rigid material so as to give
an unyielding support to the foot. These rounds are passed through the strands
of the rope or wire sides and can be kept in position by nuts or otherwise The
rounds or some of them are extended beyond the sides of the ladder and carry
discs or wheels to keep the ladder a convenient distance from the wall
This ladder can be coiled round a drum and can be enclosed in a hollow piece
of furniture the lid or flap of which should be jointed in one or more parts and
hinged at the back so that it would fold outwards over the window sill.. Rollers
attached to the flap will assist the descent of the ladder and also serve as safety
rails for getting in or out of a window
By making the rounds of the ladder which carry the discs or wheels of different
lengths they will pass each other when the ladder is wound or unwound. A heavy
roller attached to the bottom round will aid the fall of the ladder over cornices
or projections My escape could also be used for lowering women or children in a
cradle or cage which could be hooked or fastened to the ladder. The descent could
be regulated by a ratchet connected with the handle.
My ladder is also useful for boarding ships and other purposes

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Nobes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd November
1883.
GEORGE NOBES of 27 Dudley Grove Harrow Road, Paddington in the County'
of Middlesex Plumber. "AN IMPROVED DOMESTIC FIRE ESCAPE"
The object of my invention is to construct an improved form of fire escape,
which shall be always ready for use in case of Accidents by fire, and at other
times may be enclosed in a box, table, settee, sofa or other article of furniture.
The fire escape consists of a flexible ladder with rigid treads or rounds. The
flexible sides may be made of rope, asbestos, wire or chain, and the treads or rounds
of iron, brass, or other suitable material. The methods of attaching the treads to
the flexible material are varied according to the nature of the materials. Some of.
the rounds are extended in length in order that their outer ends may be fitted
with wheels, discs or rollers, to enable the ladder to easily pass obstructions when
in use.
The receptacle in which the ladder is kept ready for use, consists of a box
of a suitable size, in which the ladder is kept coiled up on a drum; the axle of the
drum extending through the outside of the box, where it is fitted with a crank or
handle for winding up or unwinding the ladder
Near the end of the axle, next to the handle, I fit a disc or wheel with a brake
ör friction strap and lever; by which means a person or a cradle or cage with
Children or Females can be lowered out of the window to the ground the ladder
itself being used as a lowering chain for the purpose.
The lid of the box is formed of several pieces, hinged together, in order to afford
facility for the lid to fall over the sill of the window, and some of the staves, of
which the lid is composed, have rollers fitted to them, which are useful to reduce
friction, and also as handles for laying hold of on getting out of or into the
room.'
It is obvious that my said invention may be fitted into and incorporated with
various articles of furniture, suitably prepared for the purpose.
At the outer end of the ladder I fit a heavy leaden or other roller, in order to
insure the descent of the ladder.
My said invention is also applicable to Ships and other Vessels, where it may
be used to form a temporary companion ladder
And in order that my said invention may be clearly understood, reference is
hereby made to the accompanying Drawings, in which similar letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts in both figures
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the Invention, and Fig. 2 a front elevation of the
same. a is the window opening. b is the box standing on the floor containing
a drum and axle upon which the ladder is usually wound or coiled; c is the handle
for revolving the drum. d is a disc which is surrounded by a friction strap to
check the descent of the ladder. The lever e and its connection with the friction
strap are so arranged that a movement in either direction causes the strap to
operate as a brake, being so arranged that it is impossible to move it in a wrong
direction when required in excitement and hurry: fis the lid of the box; in this
case shewn as composed of five staves, three of which have rollers g affixed, both
to reduce friction and to be used as safety bars for persons to hold to when getting
on the ladder to descend, or when ascending to the window. h h are discs or wheels
to enable the ladder to readily pass obstructions. ii are the treads or rounds of
the ladder. is a heavy weight, fitted to the end of the ladder to facilitate its
descent to the ground

page_text: Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I claim :-
The general arrangement and combination of parts together respectively
forming my improved Domestic fire escape substantially as hereinbefore described
and shewn on the drawings Figures 1 and 2.
In witness whereof I the said George Nobes have hereunto set my hand and
seal this second day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
GEORGE NOBES (L.S.)