Improvements in Fire Escapes.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by EDGAR A. STRANG, of Montrose, New York,
United States of America, Gentleman.]
Improvements in Fire Escapes.
I HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex 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 the class of fire escapes that are to be folded beneath
a window within a room to be flung without when required for use; and its aim is
something that will be convenient, safe and indestructible. These objects are attained
by the means set forth in the. accompanying drawing, in which like letters refer to
like parts throughout the several views.
Fig. 1, represents the escape settling into position for use.
Figure 2, is a sectional side elevation, representing the method of using the escape,
and also its concealment within a room.
Fig. 3 is a top view of one of the cross arms of the ladder.
Fig. 4, represents one form of the ladder folded together and
Fig. 5, is a top view of one of the chain sections.
The ladder is constructed entirely of iron or steel and its sides are composed of
bars provided with eyes upon each end, as at 7, Figure 1, and hooked together in
chains, like form as shown. The cross arms 2, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 are
formed in like manner, the eye upon each end enclosing one of the sides of the
ladder. This cross arm is a distinctive feature of the invention. If its eyes were
linked in with the eyes forming the joints in the sides, it would be exceedingly
difficult to construct them so that the whole could be compactly folded together.
I do not so link them in, but apply them, as will be seen, so that they are free to be
inoved from one end to the other of the side links. In Figure 4, a form of link is
shown for the sides that is adapted to be very closely folded, but for clearness it
is represented loosely folded. One of the advantages of the movable cross arm is
here shown to consist of its offering no impediment to the neatness and compactness
of the packing of the ladder. If it were attached to the sides permanently that
much more space would be occupied at each end of the fold, but as the arms are
movable, they can be so disposed that one will in no wise interfere or come in
contact with another. When a ladder is thrown from a window the arms readily
fall to their places as shown in Figure 1, in which 2111 211 are represented as in
their proper places and 2" 2" are just dropping to position.
Figure 2 represents the ladder attached to a building. Within a room a casing,
as a, c, may be provided, and, being cushioned, may be made to serve as a window
seat, the top being readily removable. Close to the floor, an eye staple 9 is secured
to the wall, to which links 7, 71, are attached. These links being more or less than
two as might be required, and of a length to suit the height of the windows from
the floor, and connect at the top with a bar 4, which is made rectangular in form
and larger than the links of the ladder since it is desirable not to have it bend
under any strain put upon it. This bar is made long enough to admit of the inside link
being close to the window sill, which the bar will project far enough to hold the
ladder a little distance from the face of the wall of the building. To prevent this
bar being pushed towards the room so as to bring the ladder against the wall,
I provide a spur 11, on its under side, which projects downwards outside of the
window sill.
All these links, those inside and those outside of the room and the window sill
bar, are designed to be as near as practicable of equal lengths, so that they may be

page_text: the more readily folded in the box within the room and leave each link no more
space than necessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A fire escape ladder, having its sides made up of sections linked to one
another, and eyed cross-bars adapted to slide upon the side sections and rest upon
the eyes formed therein.
2. The combination with a window casing, slotted as shown, of a fire-escape
ladder made up of sections linked together, and eyed cross-bars adapted to slide
upon the side sections and rest upon the eyes formed therein, a window sill bar for
suspending said ladder, said bar being secured at its inner end by links attached to
the wall, and having a spur or projection upon its under side fitting the slot in the
window casing, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 26th day of January 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.