Improvements in or relating to Fire-escapes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 29th Nov, 1890-Accepted, 3rd Jan., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Fire-escapes.
1, SYDNEY SIMMONS of Belle Isle, Kings Cross, London, N.W., Proprietor of the
Patent Steam Carpet Beating Works, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
One of the great difficulties with fire escapes as hitherto designed has been that if
fixtures to a building they were never ready for use when wanted, or if not fixtures
there was delay and difficulty in applying them at the time of need.
Now by my
invention I seek to overcome these difficulties which I do in the following manner.
I secure in any convenient manner to or near the wall of the building a suitable
framework, more or less in the form of a ladder and adapted to be used as a ladder.
This framework may be arranged parallel to the wall of the building or at
any angle
to it, but preferably at right angles to it, and between the rungs of the ladder I fit
any suitable device or letters which will enable this to be ordinarily used as a sign
or advertisement, but at the same time it can at any moment be also employed as a
ladder or fire escape.
The letters or devices may be of the kind now well known as swinging letters or
may be fixtures, and any ornamentation or other additions to the ladder frame may
be made for example one or more lamps or other signs such as are used for public-
houses, an anchor or so forth.
I prefer to use this invention in the form of a ladder as above suggested but it will
be understood that other forms of fire escapes such as a movable platform, lift, or
equivalent may be used in conjunction with it.
Dated this 91st day of Antahan 1800
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Fire-escapes.
I, SYDNEY SIMMONS, of Belle Isle, Kings Cross, London, N.W., Proprietor of the
Patent Steam Carpet Beating Works, 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:-
One of the great difficulties of fire escapes as hitherto designed has been that if
fixtures to a building they were never ready for use when wanted or if not fixtures
there was delay and difficulty in obtaining and applying them at the time of need.
Now by my invention I seek to overcome those difficulties which I do in the following
manner.
I secure in any convenient manner to or near the wall of the building a suitable
framework more or less in the form of a ladder and adapted to be used as a ladder.
This framework may be arranged parallel to the wall of the building or at any angle
to it, but preferably at right angles to it, and between the rungs of the ladder I fit
any suitable device or letters which will enable this to be ordinarily used as a sign
or advertisement but at the same time it can at any moment be also employed as a
fire escape ladder.
The letters or devices may be of the kind now well known as swinging letters or may
be fixtures, or any ornamentation or other additions to the ladder frame may be made
for example one or more lamps or other signs such as are used for public-houses, as an
anchor or so forth.

page_text: In the accompanying drawn
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the front of a building with the improved fire escape
attached, and
Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are details of the apparatus.
Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show the combination with the ladder and advertisement of
various signs.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
represents a framework which must be of such a form as to be capable of being used
as a ladder and B represent the rungs of the ladder, are the letters or other devices
which are intended to act as a sign or advertisement appertaining to the building to
which the escape is attached. In Fig. 2 the framework is shown plain and similar
to that of an ordinary ladder with two vertical supports A to both of which the rungs
are secured and would usually be made of metal, preferably metal tubing. In Fig. 3
one of the frames A is removed and each rung at its free end is finished with an
ornamental curl or finial A¹ and suspended from the top is shown a lamp and an
anchor, a general sign for the building, and quite independent of the legend conveyed
by the other letters. In Fig. 4 one central support A is employed the rungs
extending on each side of it and the letters being therefore hung on each side of the
central support.
In Fig. 1 the forms shown in Figs. 2 and 3 are indicated in the position they
would occupy upon the building from which they are shown projecting at a right
angle. They are in this instance stopped short above the windows of the ground
floor so as to be out of the way but usually they can be carried down further than is
represented in Fig. 1 but would generally have to stop short at such a distance from
the ground as would allow persons to pass freely underneath from which height
above the ground persons escaping from the building could easily drop without
being hurt.
When the fire escape is stopped off as shown in Fig. 1 a sheet,
mattress, or other means should be provided for the persons to fall on or they
could be reached from the top of a van, omnibus or the like drawn underneath for
the purpose.
In well frequented thoroughfares which are well patrolled by police a removable
ladder or bottom section of this device may be employed adapted to be jointed or
hung onto the bottom rung of the fixed ladder this supplementary escape extending
down to within a practicable distance for a person to drop to the ground.
The placing of these fire escapes may be varied according to circumstances but
they should be placed within easy reach from at least one window of each floor
so that persons upon all the floors could have ready access to them and if desired
suitable platforms may be arranged in conjunction with the window so as to
facilitate the exit from the window and the access to the ladder.
In the drawing the letters are shown with brackets G secured or otherwise
fastened to the letters and brackets E integral with or fastened to the rungs B and
pins or bolts F pass through both brackets thus forming a hinge or joint by
which the letter can swing; they may however be fixed so as not to swing at all.
The form shown in Fig. 4 would preferably be arranged parallel with the wall of
the building to which it appertains and it will be understood that while the letters
may be secured to the rungs of the ladder as above specified it is not essential that
they should be so, as they may be secured in any required manner to any desired
part of the ladder or rungs. They have been here described as above as they
then conveniently occupy the space between the rungs and the upright supports of
the ladder.
In Fig. 5 the general arrangement of the letters is the same as before excepting
that the letters S and M are shown hung with two chains G and the letter T is shown
rigidly secured by straps or plates H at top and bottom. A lamp I is shown
connected by any suitable form of ornamental bracket or suspending device J with
the front frame A of the ladder and secured by a tie rod K the object of this and the
succeeding figures being to show how convéniently these fire escape ladders may be
used for other purposes of utility and ornamentation.

page_text: In Fig. 6 the combination with the fire escape ladder of a clock L is exhibited and
needs no further explanation.
In Fig. 7 a pawnbroker's sign M of the three balls is illustrated the balls being
connected by any suitable bracket N with the fire escape ladder. The letters in this
figure are shown rigidly connected to the rungs of the ladder.
If desired either or both of the side frames A of each ladder (which frames may
advantageously be of tubular section) may be utilised as rain water pipes, or pipes
for the supply of water for domestic purposes extinguishing fires as in the "hydrants"
fixed outside buildings in the United States to which the fireman couples his hose
thus obtaining direct access to the interior of the building, sprinklers or the like or
gas supply pipes or for carrying off the gases from drains or other ventilating or other
purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with a fire escape ladder of letters or signs substantially as and
for the purpose described.
2. An advertising fire escape consisting of a ladder to which are secured letters or
signs substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. The use of a gas water ventilating or other pipe as one of the side frames of a
fire escape ladder substantially as described.
4. The combination in a fire escape ladder of a ladder advertising signs or letters
and a lamp clock anchor or other similar sign not forming part of the legend portrayed
upon said ladder substantially as described.
5. A fire escape ladder having letters symbols or the like occupying the space
between the rungs and the framework substantially as described.
Dated this 28th day of November 1890
זומCI
SIMMONS
GRANDY SIMMONS
SYDNEY S
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicants.