Improvements in Fire-escapes.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire-escapes.
I, JAMES PRIDE, of 17 James Street, Westbourne Terrace, W., Builder's Manager,
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:-
This invention relates to that class of fire escape in which a canvas shoot is employed
as a means of communication between the building and the ground, the invention
relating to the particular construction and operation of the canvas shoot.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the canvas shoot and
Fig. 2 a side elevation of the same showing also a section of the wall of a building
and means of attachment to the shoot, and
Fig. 3 is a cross section of the shoot, Figs. 2 and 3 being on a sinaller scale than
Fig. 1.
Like letters represent like parts in these drawings.
A represents the shoot which is supported at its upper end by any suitable device
or framing preferably such as will hold the top expanded and will also carry the shoot
clear of the side of the building and any projections which may happen to extend
therefrom. In Fig. 2 I have shown a framing B which would answer the purpose
the projecting portion B' serving to cause the shoot to hang clear of the building; the
general shape of the shoot A will be understood from the drawings the cross section
Fig. 3 showing it to be curved like a tube but with a flat front C which in fact is
entirely open and carries a rope or other ladder D, the rungs of which may be made
with advantage of metal tubes, the ends being curled round so as to embrace the side
ropes E to which they are thus secured the said ropes forming part of or being secured
to the shoot A and the whole being made flexible and adapted to be folded up and
placed in a box or casing forming part of the supporting framework B.
H are
The back portion of the shoot A presents some special features which will now be
described. At suitable intervals in its length, preferably arranged so as to coincide
with the windows of the building to which it is applied, openings F are provided by
which persons escaping by the lower windows can enter the shoot A, a flap or fold &
which may be an extension of the back portion of the shoot above the opening F,
extends down inside the shoot so that a person sliding or climbing down inside the
shoot would not be liable to fall out through the opening F which would be closed by
the flap G. In Fig. 2 two of these openings F and flaps G are shown the upper one
being dotted in the forward position that it would occupy when a person was entering
the shoot by that opening F and the lower opening showing the flap G hanging
straight down below the opening F leaving the interior of the shoot open so as not to
impede the descent of the person or persons inside. Loops or ladder
provided upon the back of the shoot for the accommodation of persons desiring to
enter the shoot by the openings F and these loops would be carried down on the back
of the flaps G inside the shoot so as to enable the person entering by the opening F
to let himself down by these loops until he reached the ladder D at the front of A,
and so be able, if necessary, to continue climbing down. If necessary these loops H
may be carried down the whole of the back portion outside the shoot A and could
thus be used as a ladder to enable a person to descend to the ground outside the tube,
generally speaking however the plan of entering by the opening F and 30 getting to
the front ladder D would be decidedly preferable; or if desired the loops or rungs H
may be carried round to the front ladder D so as to enable a person to pass around
the outside of the shoot from the back and descend by ladder D.
rungs

page_text: A platform I is shown at one of the intermediate windows in Fig. 2 by which the
escape of the person by that window may be facilitated. This platform I may form
part of a window-cleaning apparatus, and may be adapted to fold back inside the wall
of the building when not otherwise in use or to be removed altogethor. Nevertheless
a person desiring to escape from the intermediate window could easily do so without
the assistance of the platform I.
If desired the ladder or open or front portion of the shoot may he closed in by one
or more flaps or pieces of canvas or the like and such closing piece could if desired be
carried a greater portion or the whole length of the shoot so as to close it all in, but
as a rule it is preferable to have it open as much as possible.
In the upper part of the shoot at Fig. 2 is shown at K the box or frame into which
the shoot is intended to fold when not wanted for use, one or more ropes may be
provided inside or outside the shoot preferably passing over pulleys at the top to
facilitate the descent of unconscious or injured persons, or children.
An advantage in this escape is that it may be used as an escape, not only from
windows but also from balconies, the top of bay or bow windows, parapets, and well-
holes of stairs, or indeed from almost any portion of buildings outside or inside. The
ladder D need not extend quite to the bottom of the shoot the last few rungs being
preferably omitted so as to allow of exit from the shoot.
If desired the shoot instead of being provided with openings F may be slit up the
back to a greater or less extent and the divided parts of the back may be normally
held together by hooks, buttons, lacing or other suitable means.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. In a fire escape a combined flexible shoot or tube and ladder substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. A fire escape shoot or tube having openings such as F protected by internal flaps
such as G substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in Fig. 2 of
the accompanying drawings.
3. A fire escape shoot or tube slit up the back and provided with flaps such as G
substantially as described.
4. In a fire escape shoot or tube having intermediate openings such as F by which
entrance to the shoot may be secured the employment of loops or rungs such as H
upon the outside of the shoot and also upon the flap G substantially as and for the
purpose described and illustrated in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.
5. In a fire escape the combination with a tube or shoot of loops or rungs such
as H extending entirely or partly round the outside thereof substantially as described.
Dated this 4th day of December 1890.
JAMES PRIDE.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.