Emergency escape sling

Abstract

An emergency escape sling employing an exterior vertical cable which is affixed to a building in a position to be accessible from the windows thereof. One or more blocking devices are removably associated with the exterior cable and are vertically movable relative to the cable. Each blocking device incorporates a sling to support the weight of the user, the ends of the sling being respectfully connected to a fixed body portion and to a floating friction unit portion of the blocking device. The weight of the user urges the floating friction unit towards the fixed body portion in a manner to frictionally grip the cable to retard the rate of descent. The invention also includes several embodiments which incorporate apparatus designed to permit the user to vary the rate of descent of the blocking device relative to the cable.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention relates generally to the field of emergency fire escapes, and more particularly, is directed to a device incorporating a permanently affixed cable and a blocking device which slides relative to the cable to permit a building occupant to descend thereon.

All multi-story buildings are provided with stairs or other means to both gain access to the upper floors and to permit the occupants to leave the upper floors when it is so desired. In the case of homes, there is generally one or two stairways which permit the building occupants to travel from floor to floor. In the case of commercial and industrial structures of multi-story construction, it is the common practice to employ both elevators and stairs to permit workers and business visitors to reach the upper floors. Due to the dangers inherent in buildings of multi-story construction, building codes and fire codes have been developed to regulate construction and design to provide safe means of egress from the building. In new construction, the codes generally require the construction of suitable fire stairs, fire towers or similar types of fire resistant means of egress. In older types of buildings, the building codes and fire codes generally require the installation of exterior fire escapes in addition to any interior stairways that may be present in the original construction. However, despite the previous attempts to render buildings safe for egress in times of emergency, fire reports abound with statistics of persons injured or killed when trapped within buildings wherein they are unable for any of a number of reasons to reach the stairs or fire escapes which are permanently installed in the building for just such an emergency or wherein the stairs themselves were unavailable for exit purposes due to the proximity of smoke or fire.

Frequently, in smaller buildings used for apartment purposes, such as converted houses, prior workers in the art have developed emergency means of egress such as fire ropes, fire ladders, folding ladders and other types of portable escape means which could permit a building occupant to escape through a window to thereby reach the ground without the need to use the building stairways. Additionally, other workers have attempted to solve the problem by means of cables which position exteriorly of the building and which are wound about reels for descent purposes. The devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,561,832 and 2,526,065 are exemplary of this type of escape mechanism. The prior art cable and reel types of construction have proved cumbersume in construction and quite troublesome in operation when attempting to regulate the rate of descent by trying to control the speed with which the cable unwinds from the reel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of emergency escape systems, and more particularly, is directed to a combination cable and sling system which permits a building occupant to lower himself to the ground at a controlled rate of speed.

The present invention includes a cable which is permanently affixed exteriorly of a building in the vicinity of the windows. Interiorly of the windows are mounted a plurality of blocking devices which include a body which is designed to be quickly and easily associated with the cable. The body comprises a fixed side and a floating friction unit which moves along a inclined cam surface relative to the fixed side for cable frictional gripping purposes. The fixed side and the floating friction unit terminate downwardly to sling connections whereby the weight of the user pulls the floating friction unit toward the fixed side to frictionally engage the cable to thereby control the rate of descent of the blocking device relative to the cable. The fixed side and the floating friction unit are each equipped with rollers which grip the cable therebetween to control the rate of descent of the user.

If desired, the floating friction unit can be provided with an operating handle suitable for manual adjustment of the frictional engagement by the user. By turning the handle in one direction or the other, the effective distance between the floating friction unit and the fixed side of the blocking device can be regulated by the user to speed up or slow down the rate of descent of the blocking device relative to the cable. In the embodiment illustrated, one or more cables stationarily affix to the exterior of the building and the blocking devices more relative to the cables to thereby permit controlled descent by the user. If desired, the cables can be permanently attached at the roof of the building and some type of automatic release can be provided for operation in time of emergency to extend the cable from the roof to the ground. For example, a solenoid release wired into the building fire alarm system could be employed to trigger the cable release automatically upon function of the building fire alarm. Once the cable has become vertically positioned on the outside of the building, the portable blocking devices can then be individually employed in conjunction with a cable to permit the building occupants to exit thereby.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved emergency escape sling of the type set forth.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel emergency escape sling which includes a cable positioned exteriorly of the building and a plurality of blocking devices which can be readily applied to a cable to permit controlled descent along the cable.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel emergency escape sling including an exterior cable and a plurality of blocking devices each of which are slidable downwardly along the cable and which incorporate a fixed body and a floating friction unit within the body, the fixed body and the friction unit furnishing points of connection for a body encircling sling wherein the weight of the body urges the floating friction unit towards the fixed body for cable gripping purposes.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel emergency escape sling incorporating a cable and a blocking device movable along the cable, the blocking device including a floating friction unit operable by the weight of the user and cam means to vary the pressure applied by the floating friction unit against the cable.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel emergency escape sling incorporating a cable and a blocking device movable along the cable, the blocking device incorporating a fixed body portion supporting cable engaging rollers and a floating friction unit movable relative to the fixed body, said floating friction unit being operable along an inclined path and being activated by the weight of the user to urge the floating friction towards the fixed body rollers for descent speed control purposes.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel emergency escape sling system incorporating a fixed vertically disposed cable and a plurality of blocking devices incorporating descent speed control means, the said blocking devices being provided with cover to facilitate applying the blocking device to the cable and incorporating construction to prevent accidental disassociation of the blocking device from the cable.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel emergency escape sling that is rugged in construction, inexpensive in manufacture and trouble free when in use.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention will be had by referring to the following description and claims of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a blocking device applied to a cable.

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded, perspective view of the blocking device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a blocking device, partly broken away to disclose interior construction details, and showing the floating friction unit in its initial position.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a blocking device similar to FIG. 3, partially broken away, and showing the floating friction unit in its cable engaging position.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a first modified blocking device, partially broken away to disclose interior construction details, and showing the floating friction unit in initial position.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 5, partially broken away and showing the floating friction unit in cable engaging position.

FIG. 7 is a partially explosed, perspective view of the first modified type of blocking device, partially broken away to expose interior construction details.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a second modified type of blocking device, partially broken away to expose interior construction details.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a third modified type of blocking device, partially broken away to expose interior construction details.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a fourth modified type of blocking device, partially broken away to expose interior construction details.

FIG. 11 is a partial side elevational view of a building, partially broken away, showing the emergency escape sling in use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of our invention selected for illustration in the drawings, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, I show in FIG. 1 a blocking device generally designated 10 which is designed to be removably applied to a fire resistant cable 12 of the type preferably fabricated of a stranded steel. The blocking device carries a body encircling sling 14 which has its respective ends 16, 18 affixed through the bottom connectors 20, 22, in secure conventional manner to carry the weight of a person 24 during the descent from a building 26.

As best seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the blocking device 10 incorporates a fixed body 28 which includes a back plate 30 and integral left and right sides 32, 34. As illustrated in FIG. 2, one side, for example the left side 32 of the fixed body 28 is generally channel-shaped in cross sectional configuration and carries a pair of vertically spaced rollers 36, 38 in rotary engagement therein. Pivot pins 40, 42 position through the respective flanges of the channel-shaped left side 32 to rotatively carry the respective rollers 36, 38. The right side 34 is integrally formed with the back plate 30 and is configured to provide a recessed section 44 to operatively receive therein the floating friction unit 46 in operable engagement. The recessed section 44 is formed with a cam face 48 which slopes downwardly in a direction toward the fixed left side 32. The floating friction unit 46 includes a cooperating cam face 50 which is maintained in sliding engagement upon the stationary cam face 48. The floating friction unit pivotally carries a friction roller 52 which projects laterally inwardly from the inner face 54 of the floating friction unit 46. The friction roller 52 is rotatable about the pivot pin 56 which is carried by the sides of the floating friction unit 46. Preferably, the friction roller 52 and the fixed side rollers 36, 38 are mounted upon their respective pivot pins 56, 40, 42 in a manner to retard free rotation to thereby serve to slow down the speed of descent along the cable 12.

The left side 32 of the blocking device 10 terminates downwardly in the sling left bottom connection 20 which, it will be noted, has no motion relative to the fixed body 28. The floating friction unit 46 terminates downwardly in the sling right connection 22 and this connection will move as the entire floating friction unit 46 is moved. However, the length of movement will be less than the height of the blocking device 10 so as to cause no danger or inconvenience to the user 24. As best seen in FIG. 3, in initial position 58 the floating friction unit 46 is urged upwardly and to the right against the recessed section 44 of the right side 34 by any well known construction such as a spring (not shown). As illustrated, when the floating friction unit 46 is in the initial position 58, the respective rollers 36, 38 of the left side 32 and the friction roller 52 of the friction unit 46 define a vertical space 62 of sufficient width to readily receive the cable 12 therewithin without any frictional contact.

When in use, a person 24 slips the sling 14 under his arms to thereby apply the weight of the user to the sling ends 16, 18. As hereinbefore mentioned, one sling end 16 affixes to the stationary blocking device connection 20 which is affixedly secured to the left side 32 of the body 28. Accordingly, the weight of the person will cause no relative movement of the left connection 20. The right connection 22 integrally suspends from the floating friction unit 46 and accordingly, the weight imposed at the sling end 18 is transmitted directly to the floating friction unit 46. Upon application of the user's weight, the floating friction unit 46 slides downwardly along the cam face 48 in the direction of the arrow 64 until the friction roller 52 contacts the cable 12. The friction roller 52 forces the cable into the left side rollers 36, 38 and causes a frictional cable offset 66. When the floating friction unit 46 is fully pulled to the frictional position 60 as illustrated in FIG. 4, the roller 52 tangentially contacts the rollers 36, 38 and squeezes the cable 12 therebetween to thereby serve as a damping arrangement to retard the speed of descent of the blocking device 10 relative to the cable 12. Thus, the weight of the person 24 provides the necessary forces to move the floating friction unit 46 from its initial position 58 as in FIG. 3 to the frictional position 60 as in FIG. 4 to allow descent along the cable 12 by employing the blocking device 10 at a frictionally controlled rate of speed.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the blocking device 10 is provided with a split cover 68 comprising the sections 76, 78 which can be conventionally applied to the fixed body 28 by means of suitable threaded fasteners 70 which threadedly engage the corner positioned tapped openings 72 which are provided in the fixed body 28. The split cover 68 defines a vertical slot 74 which aligns over the space 62 defined between the rollers which is provided to receive the cable 12 therein. Each of the sections 76, 78 of the split cover 68 turns inwardly at the vertical slot 74 and terminates inwardly in cooperating vertical lips 80, 82. The vertical slot 74 is fabricated to a width just sufficient to easily receive the cable therethrough from the exterior to the interior to introduce the cable into the vertical space 62. The vertical lips 80, 82 face the cable 12 when the cable is inwardly positioned within the space 62 and function to prevent easy disassociation of the cable from the blocking device. The bent configuration of the lips 80, 82 serves as a guide and facilitates cable passage when the cable 12 is being inserted into the interior space 62 of the blocking device 10. The bent configuration of the lips further serves to discourage outwardly directed movement of the cable relative to the blocking device unless deliberate care is taken to precisely place the cable against the vertical slot 74 inasmuch as the slot 74 is fabricated to a width that is substantially equal to the dismeter of the cable 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, we show a first modified blocking device 10' which is constructed substantially similarly to the blocking device 10 and which incorporate friction adjusting means 84 to vary the frictional engagement of the various rollers 36, 38, 52 upon the cable 12. In the embodiment illustrated, the floating friction unit 46' is provided with a similar inclined cam face 50' which is designed to ride upon the inclined cam face 48' from the initial position 58 (FIG. 5) in the direction of the arrow 65 to the frictional position 60 as illustrated in FIG. 6. Preferably, a pair of springs 86, 88 bias between the top wall 90 of the floating friction unit 46' and a top wall 92 of the channel 94 to thereby continuously urge the floating friction unit 46' to its said initial position 58.

When in use, the weight of the person 24 pulls the floating friction unit 46' to the frictional position 60 against the bias of the springs 86, 88 as best seen in FIG. 6. The channel 94 communicates with the recessed section 44' and is fabricated of sufficient length to keep the floating friction unit 46' associated within the channel 94 at all times during movement between the initial position 58 and the frictional position 60. The recessed section 44' terminates at its right end in a vertical channel 96 which receives therein in sliding engagement the handle block 98. The handle block 98 vertically reciprocates within the channel 96 as the floating friction unit 46' is moved between its initial position 58 and frictional position 60. A strut 100 pivotally connects to the handle block 98 at the pivot pin 102 and includes at its left end an elongated slot 104 which receives the fixed pin 106 therein in operative engagement. The fixed pin 106 projects outwardly from the floating friction unit 46' in a manner to slidingly engage the strut slot 104. The pivot pin 102 is provided with conventional means such as a threaded stud 108 to receive the operating handle 110 thereon in a secure manner. The handle projects outwardly of the blocking device 10' through the elongated slot 112 provided in the cover 68.

As best seen in FIG. 6, when the floating friction unit 46' is urged to its frictional position 60 by the weight of the body of the user 24, the operating strut 100 is horizontally disposed relative to the blocking device 10' and the operating handle 110 projects outwardly of the cover 68'. Should the user 24 desire to speed up the rate of descent, he can simply push the operating handle 110 upwardly relative to the blocking device 10' to thereby urge the handle block 98 upwardly within its associated vertical channel 96. In so doing, the left end of the strut slot 104 will pull against the fixed pin 106 inasmuch as the distance between the fixed pin 106 and the pivot pin 102 will become greater as the handle block 98 is pushed upwardly within the channel 96. The application of the pulling forces on the fixed pin 106 will cause the floating friction unit 46' to ride upwardly along the inclined cam face 48' and thereby pull the frictional roller 52 in a direction away from the cable 12 and the tangential contact with the rollers 36, 38. Thus, upwardly directed exterior forces on the handle 110 serve to reduce the frictional engaging forces of the floating friction unit 46' against the cable 12 to thereby allow a faster descent. Similarly, when the operating handle 110 is pulled downwardly within the cover slot 112, the distance between the pivot pin 102 and fixed pin 106 will also increase to exert pulling forces on the floating friction unit 46'. However, in this instance, a component of the applied forces will act downwardly along the inclined cam face 48' to thus urge the friction roller 52 into even tighter engagement with the cable 12 and the rollers 36, 38 to reduce the rate of descent of the blocking unit 10' relative to the cable 12.

Referring now to FIG. 8, we show a second modified blocking device 10" which incorporates the same general construction wherein the left side 32 rotatively carries a pair of vertically spaced rollers 36, 38. A floating friction unit 46" similarly carries a strap connector 22 and is generally movable within a recessed section 44" from an upper initial position 58 as illustrated, to a frictional position (not shown) wherein the frictional roller 52 tangentially contacts the rollers 36, 38 in the manner similar to that hereinbefore set forth to frictionally engage the cable 12 therebetween. In this embodiment, the floating friction unit 46" is provided with a bottom rack 114 which is engageable upon a pinion 116 which is carried upon the blocking device fixed body 28" in rotative manner. The pinion 116 is rotatively functioned by means of an operating handle 110" which extends exteriorly of the split cover 68. Thus, the user can employ manual power to adjust the relative position of the friction roller 52 and the fixed rollers 36, 38 by securely grasping the operating handle 110" and then turning the handle in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction to urge the floating friction unit 46" either away from or into tighter engagement with the cable 12.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, the blocking device 10'" similarly comprises a fixed body 28'" including a fixed left side 32 and pivotally mounted rollers 36, 38. A floating friction unit 46'" similarly carries the bottom right connector 22 and has an inclined cam face 50'" in sliding engagement upon the cam face 48'" of the fixed body 28'". Either a single frictional wheel 52 or, if desired, an additional frictional wheel 53 of similar construction can be employed to tangentially contact the rollers 36, 38 to squeeze the cable 12 therebetween for frictional engaging purposes. The right wall 118 of the floating friction unit 46'" is configured to form a curve cam surface 120 which is contacted by the power end 122 of the modified operating handle 110'". The handle 110'" is pivotally connected to the fixed body 28'" by a pivot pin 102'" and operably extends exteriorly of the cover 68. The weight of the person 24 causes the floating friction unit 46'" to slide downwardly along the cam surface 48'" for cable frictional engaging purposes in a manner similar to that hereinbefore described. Should the user desire to slow the speed of descent, the operating handle 110'" can be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot pin 102'" to thereby urge the floating friction 46'" further downwardly along the inclined face 48'" to more tightly engage the cable 12. Release of pressure on the operating handle 110'" can be utilized to increase the speed of descent if so desired by turning in a clockwise direction.

Referring now to FIG. 10, I show a fourth modified type of blocking device 10"" wherein a fixed body 124 upwardly carries a pair of laterally shaped cable engaging rollers 126, 128. The rollers 126, 128 are pivotally arranged within the fixed body 124 by means of pivot pins 130, 132 which preferably permit only frictionally restricted movement thereabout. A frictional roller 134 medially positions below the rollers 126, 128 and is vertically movable with respect to these rollers. As illustrated, the cable 12 is applied to the blocking device either along the right side by positioning beneath the right roller 128 as illustrated or optionally along the left side by positioning beneath the left roller 126. The cable is then laterally threaded to engage over the frictional roller 134 and thence extends vertically downwardly. The roller 134 is rotatable in a frictionally restrained manner about the pin 136 which is carried on the vertically slidable arm 138. A cam operator 140 contacts the bottom of the arm 138 in a manner to urge the operator upwardly when the handle 144 is pivoted about the pin 142.

Still referring to FIG. 10, it will be noted that the handle 144 extends exteriorly of the body 124 to permit manual operation by the user by pivoting the handle either to the left or right about the pin 142. The cam operator terminates upwardly in an arcuately curved cam surface 146 which is designed to vertically reciprocate the roller 134 through action of the arm attached cam follower 148. The sling 14 connects at one end to the sling connection 20 which in turn serves to pull the rollers 126, 128 into contact with the frictional roller 134 with the cable 12 therebetween. A split cover 68"" covers the body 124 and is provided with a horizontal slot (not shown) in alignment over the space 62"" which is defined between the upper rollers 126, 128 and the roller 134 to permit applying the blocking device 10"" to the cable 12.

Although we have described the invention with reference to the particular embodiments herein set forth, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should not be limited by the foregoing specification, but rather, only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

We claim:

1. In an emergency escape system to permit the emergency egress of occupants from a building of the type including a flexible cable affixed to the building wherein the cable is vertically positioned relative to the building, the combination of

A. a blocking device removably associated with the cable,

1. said blocking device having a fixed body and a floating friction unit vertically movable within the body from a first position to a second position, the first position being above the second position,

2. said body including first means to contact the cable,

3. said floating friction including second means to contact the cable,

4. said fixed body including a first sling connection,

5. said floating friction unit including a second sling connection, whereby the weight of an occupant is applied to the blocking device at the first and second sling connections,

6. the weight of the occupany pulling the floating friction unit to the said second position,

7. the second means being urged into contact with the cable when the floating friction unit is pulled to the second position.

2. The emergency escape system of claim 1 and means to vertically vary the second position of the floating friction unit relative to the first means to contact the cable.

3. The emergency escape system of claim 2 wherein the means to vary are manually operated.

4. The emergency escape system of claim 3 wherein the means to vary includes a handle, said handle extending exteriorly of the fixed body.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the means to vary includes a pin affixed to the floating friction unit and an arm interconnecting the pin to the said handle.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the body is provided with a vertical channel and a portion of the handle moves vertically within the channel.

7. The invention of claim 4 wherein the means to vary further includes a rack.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein the handle functions a pinion gear, the said pinion being in mesh with the rack.

9. The invention of claim 4 wherein the floating friction unit includes a second cam surface.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein the handle incorporates a cam follower, the cam follower cooperating with the second cam surface to move the floating friction unit upon movement of the handle.

11. In an emergency escape system to permit the emergency egress of occupants from a building of the type including a flexible cable affixed to the building wherein the cable is vertically positioned relative to the building, the combination of

A. a blocking device removably associated with the cable,

1. said blocking device having a fixed body and a floating friction unit movable within the body from a first position to a second position,

2. said body including first means to contact the cable,

3. said floating friction including second means to contact the cable,

4. said fixed body including a first sling connection,

5. said floating friction unit including a second sling connection, whereby the weight of an occupant is applied to the blocking device at the first and second sling connections for escape purposes,

a. the weight of the occupany pulling the floating friction unit to the said second position,

b. the second means being urged into contact with the cable when the floating friction unit is pulled to the second position; and

B. cam means to guide the floating friction unit between the first position and the second position.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein the cam means include a cam face on the floating friction unit which is in sliding contact upon a cooperating cam face provided in the fixed body.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein the cam face and the cooperating cam face decline in a direction toward the first means to contact the cable.

14. The invention of claim 13 wherein the first and second means comprise first and second rollers.

15. The invention of claim 14 wherein the first and second rollers tangentially contact each other when the floating friction unit is pulled to its second position.

16. The invention of claim 15 wherein the first and second rollers squeeze the cable therebetween when the floating friction unit is moved to the second position.

17. The invention of claim 16 wherein the rollers impose a frictional offset in the cable when the floating friction unit is pulled to the second position.

18. The invention of claim 14 wherein the first and second rollers define a cable receiving space therebetween then the floating friction unit is in its said first position.

19. The invention of claim 18 and a cover secured to the body, said cover being provided with a cable receiving opening.

20. The invention of claim 19 wherein the opening is shaped in the configuration of a uniform width slot.

21. The invention of claim 20 wherein the slot aligns over the cable receiving space whereby the cable can be introduced into the space through the cover slot.

22. The invention of claim 21 wherein the cover slot is defined between inwardly projecting lips.

23. The invention of claim 20 wherein the cover slot is vertically oriented.

24. The invention of claim 20 wherein the cover slot is horizontally oriented.