Fire escape – ladder – or scaffold – Body catcher – Sheet or net type
Patent
1996-01-19
1998-05-12
Chin-Shue, Alvin C
Fire escape, ladder, or scaffold
Body catcher
Sheet or net type
182 45, A62B 500
Patent
active
057494380
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a safety device for emergency exits in vertical or oblique surfaces of buildings.
Emergency exits in the outer facade of buildings are usually required only if there are no escape routes within the building, in complying with safety regulations. This is frequently the case when buildings are renovated or expanded subsequently and it is not possible to adhere to the safety regulations in the interior of the building. For example, it may be intended to build useable rooms in existing attics, although there is only a narrow access to the rooms within the building. If the safety regulations require a second escape route in such cases, the only possibility available is to use the windows as an emergency exit. In such cases, it is generally necessary to mount unattractive and visually or functionally annoying emergency exits and stairways with expensive banisters on the outer facade of the building. Such solutions are justifiable if the respective outer facade of the buildings faces, for example, rear yards or other shielded sides. It is the general opinion that such permanently installed emergency exits are not justifiable in public places in towns or cities. In particular, such emergency exits are prohibited on buildings of historical value by organization responsible for protecting historical monuments. Consequently, the intended roof expansions cannot be realized or unjustifiable expenditures arise in connection with providing within the building a second escape route.
Different emergency exits are already known for vertical surfaces of buildings. They are mounted below windows in the wall, lying against it in an inoperative position. In an emergency, the respective balcony-like emergency exit is swiveled into a horizontal position utilizing gravity. In this position, it is held from above by means of chains or the like.
In the DR 11035, a platform is described which can be let down and rotated and is mounted in the facade of a building in front of a window. On either side of the window frame, the platform has framework rods, the lower ends of which are mounted in the facade so that they can rotate. At their upper ends, the framework rods are connected with a crossbar. In an emergency, the platform can be brought into the horizontal position and held in this position from above by a chain. Iron slats, nets or the like between the framework rods serve as a surface on which the persons to be rescued can stand.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,090,585 describes a balcony-like exit from a window, which consists of sturdy bottom and railing parts. In the inoperative position, the emergency exit is folded together and, with a bottom part which is mounted rotatably at the building, folded upward against the vertical surface of the building. In an emergency, the emergency exit, utilizing the force of gravity, is swiveled downward into a horizontal position and unfolded.
It is a disadvantage of all known solutions that they can be mounted only on vertical surfaces of a building. The known emergency exits cannot be used in front of windows in oblique roof surfaces. A further disadvantage consists therein that these solutions use essentially the force of gravity, to move the emergency exit into the use position. The forces, which arise when the emergency exit is lowered, and the loads resulting from the persons to be rescued must be absorbed by holding elements fastened to a top of the building. This is associated with considerable uncertainties, since the holding elements themselves tear or can be pulled out of their anchorages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a safety device for emergency exits, which lies essentially invisibly against the vertical or oblique outer surfaces of the building in the inoperative position and can be moved into an operation position in front of the emergency exit by means of simple manipulations.
Pursuant to the present invention, a safety device for an emergency exit which comprises a safety bracket, whic
REFERENCES:
patent: 4074791 (1978-02-01), Inman
patent: 4090585 (1978-05-01), Laub
patent: 5083636 (1992-01-01), Goldenberg
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