Patent ID: 7059451

Claim:
A load lowering system, comprising: a. at least one friction rod vertically mounted on a building; b. a friction collar disposed around said friction rod; c. means for creating a friction force between said friction collar and said friction rod that resists movement of said friction collar over said friction rod; d. at least one glide rod vertically mounted on a building, said glide rod being spaced apart from and parallel to said friction rod, said glide rod including a spiral groove and a spiral vane formed thereon; e. a glide collar disposed around said glide rod, said glide collar including means for engaging said spiral vane on said glide rod thereby said glide rod to rotate as said glide collar travels over said glide rod; and, f. a support platform disposed perpendicularly to said friction rod and said glide rod, said support platform being supported by said glide collar attached to said glide rod.