Fire escape – ladder – or scaffold – Wall- or floor-attached
Reexamination Certificate
2002-11-19
2004-11-16
Chin-Shue, Alvin (Department: 3634)
Fire escape, ladder, or scaffold
Wall- or floor-attached
C182S003000, C182S036000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06817443
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to escape systems and, more specifically, to a high rise emergency descent system. The high rise emergency descent system is comprised of at least one track fixedly attached a tall building and a device for attachment thereto whereby a person can put on a jumpsuit having an integral harness and descent assembly that will allow the user to attach to the descent track and descend to the ground.
The system is based on providing a descent device that considers the variations of individual weight of the users. Each descent device has a drag brake that controls the rate of descent of the user. The drag brake is comprised of a brake pad under pressure engaging the descent track as the user descends to the ground.
To insure the correct mating between a descent device and a user the descent device is permanently attached to a jumpsuit or other compatible apparel that is donned by the user having an integral harness and descent device attached thereto. The size of the jumpsuit correlates directly to the duty rating of the pressured descent device. Therefore a smaller suit incorporates a lesser pressured brake than a larger suit having a greater pressured brake. Therefore, the descent rate can be equalized for a mixture of individuals by providing a plurality of jumpsuits having a pressured drag brake for that size of individual.
At the point of departure a plurality of various sized descent apparel can be stored and as individuals arrive they would select the appropriately sized garment, don the garment, move to the point of departure, and attach the descent device to the track and under a controlled descent move to the ground.
The descent device also incorporates an additional braking mechanism comprised of a hydraulic piston that moves a brake pad into an engaging position with the descent track. The hydraulic piston has control means attached to the descent device that is user controlled. Therefore, users can effect the rate of descent by engaging the control mechanism for the hydraulic brake.
The descent device is a substantially C-shaped device having opposing channels on the backside that hold and guide the descent device along the descent track. Extending transversely from the descent device are handle grips providing means for a user to hold and steady themselves while traveling along the descent track. The handle grips can incorporate a control mechanism for the hydraulic brake providing means whereby the user can control their rate of descent along the descent track. The brake mechanism has connection means for controlling the application of the brake pads to the descent track using a hydraulic cylinder mounted on the descent device and in fluid connection with a brake pad.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other fire escape devices designed for evacuating a building. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 489,463 issued to Coker on Jan. 10, 1893.
Another patent was issued to Grossmann on Apr. 4, 1905 as U.S. Pat. No. 786,641. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 4,121,689 was issued to Bonvin on Oct. 24, 1978 and still yet another was issued on Nov. 14, 1978 to Hatala as U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,172.
Another patent was issued to Graham on Oct. 20, 1981 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,295,543. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 4,350,224 was issued to Jochum et al on Sep. 21, 1982. Another was issued to Vilchek on Sep. 27, 1983 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,406,349 and still yet another was issued on Feb. 19, 1985 to Milne et al as U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,966.
Another patent was issued to Armstrong on Dec. 16, 1986 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,032. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,782 was issued to Lipinski on Dec. 1, 1987. Another was issued to Darnell et al on Oct. 15, 1991 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,619 and still yet another was issued on May 26, 1992 to Chouest as U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,885.
A portable fire escape comprising a suitable frame, means for suspending a person therefrom, a circumferentially recessed brake wheel or drum journaled in said frame, a cable having one end secured to said brake wheel and adapted to be wound thereon with in said recess, and a flexible band partially encircling the brake-wheel and extending across the recess; said band having one end fixed and the other end secured to an operating lever for tightening the band, substantially as described.
The combination, with the vertical wall of a building structure, of a lift, grooved guides for the lift set into said wall, and lift-ropes connected with the lift and arranged in said guides, substantially as described.
An escape mechanism for enabling a person to escape at any floor of a building, the escape mechanism including a vertically disposed hollow rail and at least one rack disposed within the rail. At least one running and suspension apparatus is adapted to be introduced within the rail, where the apparatus is equipped with support members and includes an engagement portion having at least one pinion. The pinion engages the rack to allow the apparatus to move along the rail only upon rotation of the pinion. The engagement portion includes impeding assemblies having inertial escapement members for hindering the rotation and for slowing the descent of the apparatus by gravity while the engagement portion is engaged within the rail.
A riding emergency or fire escape apparatus mountable interior of a building for delivering an inhabitant exterior of the building for free fall descent to the ground. The apparatus of this invention exterior of the building essentially comprises plate members mounted in a recess provided in the wall of the building or spaced from the wall of the building a few inches so as not to detract from the architecture of the building. A base plate is provided with a vertically extending zigzag track. A cover plate overlaying and planularly spaced from the base plate is formed with a vertically extending lineal track. The passenger transport mechanism is provided with a chair and is mountable interior of the building. Similarly arranged base and cover plates containing zigzag tracks and lineal tracks respectively, are provided at each floor level interior of the building. The tracks of the respective plates align with the corresponding tracks in the fire escape structure exterior of the building through an openable door at each floor level. The passenger transport mechanisms stored at each floor level, comprise a chair connected to a vertically disposed roller trolley frame which is provided with rollers which ride the zigzag track for a slowed down free fall descent while a second roller rides in the vertical track so that the passenger chair is restrained to a lineal vertical descent.
A fire escape apparatus comprises a vertically extending channel member defining a channel into which opens a slot formed between flanges constituting a front wall of the channel member. Rows of staggered projections within the channel are formed by bolts extending between the flanges and a rear wall of the channel member. A harness for supporting a person escaping in the event of fire or other emergency is suspended from a T-shaped support including a cross-piece, and an upright. In use, the cross-piece and upright are introduced into the channel through the slot. A lug on the upright projects through the slot and limits side-side movement as the harness support descends under the weight of the person escaping, the cross-piece co-operating with the bolts to perform a stepping movement.
A rescue for a multi-floor building includes an upright climb rail assembled of profiled rail sections defining two lateral cooling channels and an upright tooth rack extending around the entire length of the rail; a rescue cabin includes a projecting frame insertable into a front guiding slot in the rail and supporting a driving gear engaging the upright tooth rack; the frame of the cabin overlaps safety windows provided on each floor of the building and has an entrance opening facing the windows.
An emergency escape apparatus includes a gear track mounted vertically on an exter
Chin-Shue Alvin
Kroll Michael I.
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