An Improved Apparatus applicable to Windows and the like as a Fire Escape or Hoist.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 12th June, 1893-Accepted, 5th Aug., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus applicable to Windows and the like as a
Fire Escape or Hoist.
We, JOSEF FEINER and CARL KÖHLE, both of 39 Ulmerstrasse, Memmingen,
in the Empire of Germany Manufacturers do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:
11
This invention relates to an apparatus which may be easily and quickly erected
at a window or other like opening for use in lowering or lifting persons or objects
from or to said window and consequently suitable as a fire escape and also for
inserting or removing such bulky articles of furniture as cannot be brought up or
down by the staircase.
The apparatus is entirely transportable and requires no permanent holdfasts of
any kind on the window frame or elsewhere and it comprises a cross beam having
stout pins at the ends for securing it across two uprights which have also points at
their lower ends to prevent them slipping on the floor. These uprights lean against
the inside of the wall on each side of the window frame, the aforesaid cross beam
lying across the window opening. Across the outside of the window lies a second
cross beam the ends of which are held at a distance from the wall by two plates or
frames resting against the surface of the wall. This second cross beam is suspended
from the first by two chains adjustable in length to suit different thickness of wall.
Across these two beams a rope may be suitably wound, the said rope carrying a
belt or girdle at one end. The beams may be grooved to prevent the rope slipping
too easily. The whole may be placed together in a small compass when not in use
and secured by straps.
Dated this 12th day of September 1892.
HERBERT & CO.,
Agents to Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus applicable to Windows and the like as a
Fire Escape or Hoist.
We, JOSEF FEINER and CARL KÖHLE both of 39 Ulmerstrasse, Memmingen,
in the Empire of Germany, Manufacturers, 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 an apparatus which may be easily and quickly erected
at a window or other like opening for use in lowering or lifting persons or objects
from or to said window and consequently suitable as a fire-escape and also for
inserting or removing such bulky articles of furniture as cannot be brought up or
down by the staircase.
The apparatus is entirely transportable and requires no permanent holdfasts of
any kind on the window frame or elsewhere and it comprises a cross beam having
stout pins at the ends for securing it across two uprights which have also points at
their lower ends to prevent them slipping on the floor. These uprights lean against
the inside of the wall on each side of the window frame, the aforesaid cross beam
lying across the window opening. Across the outside of the window lies a second
cross beam the ends of which are held at a distance from the wall by two plates or
frames resting against the surface of the wall. This second cross beam is suspended

page_text: from the first by two chains adjustable in length to suit different thickness of wall.
Across these two beams a rope may be suitably wound, the said rope carrying a
belt or girdle at one end. The beams may be grooved to prevent the rope slipping
too easily. The whole may be placed together in a small compass when not in use
and secured by straps.
This apparatus is shown in the annexed drawing, in which
Fig. 1 is an elevation showing the apparatus adjusted for use as seen from outside
the window,
Fig. 2 the same, seen from inside.
Fig. 3 is a vertical lateral section of the building and window with the apparatus
in position for use.
Figs. 4 and 5 show the apparatus folded up when not in use, Fig. 5 being an end
view and Fig. 4 a perspective view.
Fig. 6 illustrates the method of winding the ropes over the beams.
A is the inside cross beam, grooved to prevent a sliding of the rope; this beam
is provided near both ends with laterally projecting pins serving to firmly connect
the beam A to the uprights A¹ and A². These latter are provided with holes to
receive the pins ¹. These supporting bars A' and A2 of a suitable length and
thickness are provided below likewise with pins i to prevent their slipping on the
floor on which they are supported (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3). B is the exterior beam
which latter, when the apparatus is in use, is placed outside the window and coupled
to the beam A by chains K K' or the like whose hooked ends permit regulation of
their effective length.
The beam B rests at the ends in bracket frames B1 and B2, of such form and
dimensions that when the apparatus is put together they receive and hold the
different component parts of the apparatus and on the other hand when the apparatus
is in use, these frames keep the beam B at a sufficient distance from the outer
surface of the building (see Figs. 3, 4 and 5).
As the chains K K' are of sufficient length and provided with hooks, the
connection of beams A and B can be suitably effected on walls of any thickness.
Over the beams A and B in conformity with Figs. 1, 2 and 6 of the drawing a
rope S is passed, this rope being sufficiently long and at one of its ends provided
with the belt G.
This girdle or belt is provided at both ends with a metal fastener of bow form,
the one of which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, has also a double hook-like shape for
attachment of the other bow as shown in Fig. 1.
This apparatus can be used in different ways, thus a person can lower himself
independent of others, or when arrived at the bottom the rope with girdle can be
drawn up again and other persons lowered by control of the rope from below, or
one person can lower other persons from above by the aid of the girdle, where
children, females or infirm persons are to be lowered.
The beam B serves to keep the rope away from the wall so that persons sliding
down may not be injured by projections.
It is obvious that also objects of any kind may be lowered by the same
apparatus.
When put together the apparatus shows a form represented in Figs. 4 and 5.
The beam B with its bracket frames B' and B2, which latter as already mentioned,
are suitably formed to receive between them the other parts of the apparatus (see
Fig. 5) receive the supporting bars A' and A2 and between these the beam A on
which the rope S with girdle G may be wound, over these parts the chains or the
like K K are secured and fixed by their hooks. Furthermore the beams A A' A'
are firmly bound down by the straps arranged on the frames B¹ B².
The apparatus only requires a small space when out of use and may therefore
easily be placed anywhere, to be ready at hand in case of need.
To use this apparatus as a hoist for furniture, which cannot be carried up stairs,
a pulley is slung on the cross beams A and B for reception of the rope S.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
An improved apparatus applicable to windows and the like as a fire-escape or
hoist, consisting of beams A and B adapted, when in use, to be placed across the
window; posts A' A' adapted to support the beam A inside the building, bracket
frames B and B carrying the ends of the beam B and adapted to rest against the
outside of the building, adjustable chains K K or the like adapted to connect the
beams A and B, and rope $ with belt or equivalent G, substantially as described.
Dated this 12th day of June 1893.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicants.