AN IMPROVED PORTABLE FIRE ESCAPE
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Blake, of No. 16, Harley Street, in the
Parish of Saint Mary Stratford-le-Bow, in the County of Middlesex, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVED PORTABLE FIRE ESCAPE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Blake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st October 1858.
I, WILLIAM BLAKE, of No. 16, Harley Street, in the Parish of Saint Mary
Stratford-le-Bow, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED PORTABLE FIRE ESCAPE," to be as
follows:-
It consists of a metal frame with floor in same to form platform, which
rests on the wooden sill of the window. Attached to the back thereof is a
tube having an inner sliding tube in which are holes to receive a peg, so as
when extended to form rod or bar across inside of window opening. A spring
being enclosed and attached to inner tube, draws in same immediately the
peg is withdrawn. Two metal supports are also provided, being binged to
clips which slide along each side of frame, one to rest on the stone sill or
string course, and the other to catch under same, being made to revolve, and.
having projections for that purpose, thereby keeping the platform firm and
secure when fixed. On the top of the frame, at the two outer corners thereof,
are two hinged standards with eyes at the top of same, through which ropes pass,
each having one end secured to outer tube and the other thrown to the street
below, with a metal rod to slide along same to keep the ropes the same dis-

page_text: tance apart at bottom as at top, and by being secured thereby at the length
required, enables persons in the street to keep them taut and away from the
building. Suspended from rings which slide along these ropes is a car or
cradle of canvas or other material sufficiently strong to convey persons to the
street below, having a rope attached to each end, one to be used by per-
sons in the street to assist its descent, if necessary, and the other to be used by
the person at the window to regulate the speed thereof, to draw it up again as
frequently as required, and finally to descend thereby.
By this means also invalids, children, and others unable to assist themselves
can be lowered (after being placed in the car or cradle) in the most easy
manner; also, if time permit, valuable property, such as books, important
documents, plate, jewellery, &c., can be deposited therein and saved without
incurring any serious damage.
The advantages of this Invention consist in its portability, being made to
fold up, being easily carried from place to place, and capable of being fixed to
any window.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Blake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st April 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
BLAKE, of No. 16, Harley Street, in the Parish of Saint Mary Stratford-le-
Bow, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said William Blake, Her special license that I, the said William Blake,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Wil-
liam Blake, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
PORTABLE FIRE ESCAPE," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Blake, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in

page_text: what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Blake, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
that is to say:-
It consists of a metal frame, in which a floor or panel is fixed, thereby.
forming a platform which rests on the wooden sill of the window, and con-
nected by rings at the back thereof is a tube having an inner sliding tube,
which when extended is kept so by a screw through the outer tube, or by studs
at ends thereof fixing into plates secured to window, thus forming a rod or bar
across inside of window opening; a spring being enclosed and attached to the
inuer tube draws in same when released; and to slide along each side of the
frame, the floor being grooved for this purpose, and together with the frame
cut out to admit it, is a metal clip or slide to which a metal support is hinged
(so as to fold under when not in use), which rests on the stone sill or string-
course, thereby keeping the platform firm and secure when fixed. Also, on
the top of frame, at the two outer corners thereof, are two metal standards, also
hinged (so as to lay down when not in use), with an eye on top of each, through
which ropes pass having knots in same, so as to keep the standards in nearly
an upright position when being used. Each of these ropes has one end
secured round the outer tube, and the other is thrown to the street below,
attached to which is a metal rod (corresponding with the width between the
standards attached to the frame) with an eye at each end. This rod, by sliding
along the ropes, and being secured thereby, adapts the length of them to the
height required, and besides keeping them the same distance apart at the
bottom as at top (thereby ensuring the descent of the car or cradle), also when
so secured, enables persons in the street to keep the ropes tant, and that end
away from the building on fire. Also, in cases where the platform is not
required, these ropes are secured round the outer tube the same distance
apart, and thrown to the street and held in a similar manner.
Suspended by metal rings, which slide along these ropes, is a car or cradle,
made of canvas or other material sufficiently strong for the conveyance of
persons from the window to the street below, having a rope attached to each
end thereof, one if required to be for use by persons in the street to accelerate
its descent, and the other, after travelling over a pulley fixed on the under side
of the front of the frame, and then between two others fixed to a metal band
(running from front to back under the centre of platform), which, together

page_text: with the floor, is cut out for same; or in cases where the platform is not
required, over a pulley attached to the outer tube, to be used by the person at
the window, who by a hook attached, will be enabled to keep it at the window
while receiving its freight, to regulate the speed of its descent, to draw it up
again as frequently as required after depositing its freight in the street below,
and thereby safely to descend.
By this means also invalids, children, and others unable to assist themselves
can be lowered (after being placed in the car or cradle) in the most easy
manner; also, if time permit, valuable property, such as books, important
documents, plate, jowellery, &c., can be deposited therein and saved, without
incurring any serious damage.
The advantages of this Invention consist in its portability, being made to
fold up, being easily carried from place to place, and capable of being fixed to
any window, whereby the possessors thereof may not only be able to save their
own lives and those of their families in case of fire, but also by its instrumen-
tality may be the means of rescuing some of their fellow creatures, who may
be placed in the awful situations we have too often lately read of, in which it
is confidently believed that this Invention will prove itself particularly useful.
And the improvements claimed are,―
1st, the application of sliding tubes to form rod across window opening
when fixed, to be used with or without the platform as required.
2ndly, the means of descent afforded by the ropes attached thereto, which
being thrown out, are held or secured in the street below.
3rdly, the car, cradle, or receptacle which travels along same, and provides
a safe and easy conveyance of descent.
And, 4thly, the combination and folding up, &c., of the whole, as herein-
before described, to produce the improved portable fire escape to fit any
window at any height from the ground.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Blake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of March, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-nine.
WILLIAM BLAKE. (L.S.)