IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE ESCAPES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Agar, of Whitby, Yorkshire, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE ESCAPES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Agar at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st January 1876.
HENRY AGAR, of Whitby, Yorkshire. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE ESCAPES."
This Invention has for its object the converting a toilet table into a fire escape
when occasion may require. For this purpose I proceed as follows:-I make a
skeleton framework of a dressing table, which may be either of wood or metal, the
legs or standards at each corner being furnished on their inner sides with ratchet
teeth so as to enable the upper portion of the framework to be raised or lowered in
order to bring it on a level with the window sill. A suitable hook is provided at
cach of the four corners, which shoots into the teeth, and thus steadies the frame-
work in any required position. About midway of the framework I fix two centre
bars of suitable length and thickness, and of either wood or metal. These centre
bars are furnished with hinges, to which I attach two shorter lengths of bar, which
are also provided with hinges, and serve as joints to connect the hinder part of the
framework with the front thereof. I take care that such joints should be of such a
length as, when folded over as herein-after described, to leave a sufficient space for
the reception of the bag and other parts of the apparatus hereafter described to be
contained therein. To the outer hinges at the ends of these joints I aflix two bars
either of wood or metal of a suitable length and diameter, and at the end of these
bars I attach a stout frame, preferably of metal, to which a pulley and rope is
attached. This frame is made to shut down perfectly level inside the two longi-
tudinal bars just described. To the upper portion of it I attach any suitable pulley
provided with a rope or wire, one end of such rope or wire being firmly attached to
a cross bar, the four ends of such cross bar having holes drilled in them to permit of
a suitable bag or cage being attached thereto by means of chains or ropes. The
mouth of this bag or cage is made somewhat in the form of a travelling bag, so as
to admit of its being shut up when not in use. Such bag may be made of either
leather or canvas or any other suitable material. At each side of the frame which
projects beyond the back of the dressing table I affix two side wings formed of a
fight metal framework covered with canvas. These wings are also made to fold
over one another, and shut down on the top of the framework whenever it is desired
to close the machine. These side wings are for the purpose of preventing any
person using the escape from falling out on either side of the window.
On the under side of the framework just beneath the outer extremities of the
wings 1 attach two angular legs working on hinges, the extremities of which when
[Price 4d.]

page_text: unfolded fix themselves against the wall at an angle of about 45 degrees, and in
order to ensure these legs nipping tight to the wall I provide two cog wheels
gearing into ratchet teeth formed on the two centre bars of the framework before
described. Such cog wheels and ratchet are worked by means of a crank handle,
and serve to adapt the escape to any thickness of wall by running it out or in, and
thus nipping the legs tightly to the wall. Between these two centre bars I place a
canvas, wooden, or other suitable flooring extending about two-thirds of the entire
length of the escape, so as to enable anyone to walk out and step into the bag or
cage before described. This bag or cage is then lowered by the person in the cage
turning a screw attached to the under side of the before-mentioned cross bar above
the mouth of the bag. When this screw is turned the bag begins to descend, one
end of the rope passing through a hole made for that purpose in the centre of the
bottom of the bag. When the occupant of the bag reaches the ground the rope can
be taken out of the slide in which the screw works, and passed over the cross bar,
and thus worked up and down from the street.
When the machine is not in use it is only necessary to fold over the frame to
which the bag or cage is attached, shut down the two side wings, and turn this
portion bodily on to the framework of the table, then shut down the two angular
legs, and place on the top of the table, which is made to lift off or on as may be
required.
In order to prevent the framework of the table overbalancing itself when the
escape is in use I provide two endless screws, one at each end of the table, by means
of which the framework can be sécurely screwed to the floor.
I prefer to use irou of a similar quality to that employed for the manufacture of
ordinary iron bedsteads for the manufacture of my improved fire escape.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Henry Agar in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th July 1876.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE ESCAPES."
HENRY AGAR, of Whitby, Yorkshire.
This Invention has for its object the converting a toilet table into a fire escape
when occasion may require. For this purpose 1 proceed as follows:-I make a
skeleton framework of a dressing table, which may be either of wood or metal, but
preferably of the latter, and either square or of any suitable shape. Around the
four uprights or supports thereof at the bottom I place a suitable inetal or wooden
girder, firmly fastened to such uprights or supports by means of screws and nuts, so
as to preclude all risk of any of such uprights or supports giving way when a heavy
superincumbent weight is placed upon such skeleton framework when used as a fire
escape. I make the top of such skeleton framework to slide up and down, so that
it may be readily raised or lowered to any desired height according to the level of
the bottom of the window from where an exit is to be made in case of fire; and in
order to securely fix it in any such position I provide suitable stout angle pieces
either of metal or wood just beneath the four corners of such movable top, in which
angle pieces I form suitable holes to permit of four powerful thumbscrews being
inserted therein, such thumbscrews when screwed up tightly wedging themselves
against the four standards or uprights, and thus firmly securing the top of the
apparatus at any desired level. Across such movable top I fix two strong cross bars
of a suitable length and thickness, and either of wood or metal. I prefer that the
distance apart of such fixed cross bars should correspond as nearly as may be to the
width of the window at which the apparatus is placed for use. On the top of each of
such fixed cross bars i form a series of ratchet teeth similar to those formed on the under
frame of a rising and falling writing slope; or the bars themselves may be formed
plain, and metal plates having similar ratchet teeth formed thereon may be rivetted,
screwed, or otherwise securely fastened on the tops of such fixed cross bars. Such
ratchet teeth extend the entire length of such fixed cross bars, and the base of each

page_text: of such cross bars is formed with a smooth projecting flange or edge on the inner
side thereof of, say, about a quarter of an inch wide, or of any other suitable width.
Such smooth projecting flange or edge serves as a bearing for two inner sliding
cross bars, herein-after called the front or sliding cross bars, which are placed
thereon edgewise, and which are connected together and strengthened by means of
any suitable number of longitudinal bars rivetted, screwed, or otherwise securely
fastened thereto. At the front ends of such front or sliding cross bars I attach two
strong movable metal hooks, which lock into the ratchet teeth already described,
and at the two further or rear ends thereof I attach either by screws or in any other
suitable manner two double hinge pieces. I take care that these double hinge pieces
shall be of a length sufficient when turned up, as hereafter described, to form a
recess of a suitable depth to receive the bag or sack and other portions of the
apparatus hereafter mentioned, and I further strengthen them by placing between
them one, two, or any other suitable number of strong longitudinal metal or wooden
bars, the ends of which bars I prefer to rivet into the ends of the movable cross bars,
which thus work easily up and down upon them as pivots, at the same time that
additional strength is thereby imparted to the hinge joints. In the outermost
sockets of such double hinge pieces I now attach two more movable metal cross
bars, hereafter called the hinder or folding cross bars. Such hinder or folding cross
bars are of a corresponding length to the front or sliding cross bars already men-
tioned, and such hinder or folding cross bars are rivetted in the manner just described
or otherwise securely fastened, and are capable of being folded over towards the
front of the apparatus or table, and when so folded come level with the front ends
of the front or sliding cross bars, to which the locking hooks are attached, as already
mentioned. Such hinder or folding cross bars are strengthened by longitudinal
girders in a similar manner to the front or sliding cross bars, and when such hinder
or folding bars are unfolded they project through the window.
Attached to the bottom of each of such hinder bars are two strong angular legs,
working on hinges so as to permit of their being folded up when the apparatus is
not in use, and which legs when unfolded lodge against the wall at an angle of about
45 degrees. To ensure such angular folding legs nipping tightly against the exterior
of the wall when the apparatus is in use it is only necessary to draw the front sliding
bars forward a sufficient degree when the hooks attached to their front ends at once
lock into the before-mentioned ratchet teeth, and thus securely fix such angular
legs together with the frame of the apparatus in the required position.
On the top of the longitudinal girders which are placed as before described
between the front or sliding cross bars, and the hinder or folding cross bars I place
a platform or flooring made either of perforated metal, wood, canvas, or other
suitable material. Such platform or flooring extends about two-thirds of the entire
length of the escape and serves to enable a person or persons to walk out through the
open window and step into the bag or cage hereafter described. At each side of the
hinder or folding cross bars I attach two side wings or galleries, made either of
perforated inetal, canvas, or other suitable material. These wings or galleries are
made to work on hinges, so that they may fold one over the other and shut down
on the top of the framework whenever it is desired to close the escape and use it as
a toilet table. Such folding wings or galleries are for the purpose of preventing any
person using the escape from falling out on either side of the window.
At the two extreme ends of the hinder or folding cross bars I attach by means of
suitable hinges a stout framework, preferably of metal of an arched or any other
suitable shape, and made of suitable dimensions both in length and height to allow
of its shutting down perfectly level inside such two hinder or folding cross bars.
In the centre of the top of such arched framework, I affix a strong pulley and
rope or wire, one end of such rope or wire being firmly secured to the centre of
a suitable cross bar, preferably of metal, by means of a pulley or in any other suit-
able manner. The ends of such cross bar have holes drilled therein to permit of
a suitable bag or cage being firmly attached thereto by means of chains or ropes.
Such bag or cage may be made either of chain metal, canvas, leather, macintosh, or

page_text: of any other suitable material; the mouth and also the bottom thereof being con-
structed with a folding metal rim, upon a similar principle as the mouth of a
travelling bag, so as to admit of its being shut up and placed under the table or in
some convenient position when not in use.
In order to firmly fix the dressing table top on the frame of the apparatus when in
use as a toilet table, I prefer to have the following arrangement:-On the under side
of such top and in any suitable position I fix two studs or pins which fall into
corresponding recesses or sockets formed for their reception in the tops of two of the four
uprights or standards before described, and on the tops of the other two of such four
uprights or standards I affix two metal slides,such slides having suitable holes formed in
their bases through which two metal pins or pivots pass upon which they work easily
up and down. On the under side of the table top, and placed in suitable positions, I fix
two metal grooves or channels wherein such metal slides so affixed to the tops of two
of the standards or uprights as before described may work, and when it is required
to use the fire escape apparatus it is only necessary to turn the table top over to
that side where the metal slides are placed, when it at once runs down to the
ground without becoming absolutely detached from the framework.
This arrange
ment of slides and pins, may however, if preferred, be dispensed with, and the table
top made to lift off or on in the ordinary manner.
The operation of my Invention is as follows:-When necessity arises to use the
fire escape apparatus, remove the table top, open the window sash, unfold the angle
legs, throw back the hinder or folding cross bars which then project through the
window, adjust the locking hooks in the ratchet teeth, raise the two folding galleries
or wings, lift up the arched or other suitably shaped framework, attach one end of
the rope or wire to the pulley fixed in the centre of the top thereof, affix the other
end of such rope or wire to the pulley in the centre of the bar attached to the mouth
of the bag or sack, mount the platform or floor leading to such bag or sack, take
hold of one end of the rope or wire, and pass the same round a suitable stud and
pin fixed on one side of such cross bar at the mouth of the bag or sack, so as to
prevent the rope escaping too rapidly from the hand and thus precipitating the
occupant of the bag or sack too suddenly to the ground; then enter the bag or
sack, still retaining one end of the rope or wire, and by gently easing the same
gradually lower the bag or sack to the ground, which when reached, jump out of
the bag or sack, rapidly draw the same up again, and repeat the operation until
every person has been rescued. Two or three persons may descend in the bag
or sack at the same time according to the size thereof.
As it frequently happens that on any sudden alarm of fire persons lose their
presence of mind, and would thus be unequal to the task of lowering themselves,
I make another arrangement as follows:-On one side of the metal framework
placed around the top and bottom of the bag as before described, and in the centre
thereof, I place two stout metal guide rings. It only remains then to pass one end
of the cord or wire through such guide rings and throw it out to the bystanders
below, who are thus enabled to work the bag or cage up and down and pull it out
to any suitable angle in order to avoid the flames.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of any said
Invention, and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it
understood that what I claim is, the constructing a toilet table in such a manner
that it is capable of being readily converted into and used as a fire escape whenever
occasion may require, substantially in the manner and by the means herein-before
set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Agar, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-eigtth day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand
HY. AGAR. (L.S.)