Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2147~16
ESCAPE DEVICE FOR LOWERING A PERSON
FROM A MULTI-STORIED BUILDING
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
Field of the invention
The invention relates to an escape device for
lowering a person from a building or the like, in case
for example of fire.
Description of related art
Known in the art is US patent n 4,287,963
(COXSEY), which describes a relatively compact safety
apparatus for lowering one or more persons from the
window of a multi-storied building. The apparatus
comprises a structural framework affixed inside a room
of the building and disposed adjacent the window. A
reel is journaled in the framework inside the room,
for storing a cable for lowering the person at a
suitable speed. The framework comprises a first
telescopic vertical arm on top of which an horizontal
arm pivotably extends. In use, the horizontal arm is
pivoted from its stored position to a ready position
where it projects outside the window for suspending
the cable over an escape path leading down the
building. Once pivoted, the horizontal arm remains
over the escape path and therefore causes an
obstruction for other persons in the rooms above.
Other escape devices are known in the art, as
shown in the following US patents: 3,850,262 (SIMIZU);
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3,861,496 (HOOVER); 3,946,989 (TSUDA); 4,236,600
(WOOTEN);4,473,160(NEUENSCHWANDER);4,487,292(SMITH
et al.); 4,653,609 (DEVINE); 4,703,831 (FORREST et
al.); 4,714,137 (CI~OU); 4,867,276 (TAMIETTI); and
5,147,013 (OLSON et al.).
However, none of the escape devices described in
the above-mentioned patents clears out from the escape
path after use. Some of these escape devices are only
usable once. Thus, this requires a greater number of
available escape devices per building. Others of
these escape devices are provided with a crank or a
motor whether for rewinding the cable around the reel
after the lowering of a person or to permanently drive
for example an endless vertical cable passing about
pulleys respectively located on top and down the
building. A crankable escape device requires the user
to exert a physical effort to rewind the cable, while
a motorized escape device requires a suitable electric
installation.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION:
It is therefore an object of the present
invention to provide an escape device which clears out
from the escape path after each use.
It is another object of the invention to provide
an escape device which is relatively simple in design
and easy to install, and usable for lowering
successively several persons without requiring manual
rewinding from the user nor the use of a motor.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
According to the present invention, there
is provided an escape device for lowering a
person from a multi-storied building,
comprising:
a reel assembly having a rotatable reel for
winding and unwinding a cable, a base
mountable onto a first member of the
building and supporting said reel, and a
braking mechanism for restricting rotation
of said reel at a predetermined speed; and
a support assembly for suspending a loose end of
said cable over an escape path leading down
the building, said support assembly
comprising a base mountable onto a second
member of the building close to said escape
path, a moveable arm connected to said base
of the support assembly and supporting a
pulley means for receiving said cable from
said reel, said arm being deployable and
retractable between a ready position where
said arm overlays said escape path and a
standby position where said arm is drawn
off said escape path, and a retraction
means for exerting a predetermined
retraction force upon said arm to urge said
arm toward said standby position, so that,
in operation r said arm moves from said
standby position to said ready position
only when said person pulls on said loose
end of the cable to escape down the
building, and returns back in said standby
position when said person relieves said
cable.
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Preferably, the arm is pivotably mounted onto the
base of the support assembly.
According to the invention, there is also
provided an escape device for lowering persons from a
multi-storied building, comprising:
a double reel assembly having a pair of
coaxially aligned rotatable reels solid
with one another for winding and unwinding
respectively a pair of cables, a base
mountable onto a first member of the
building and supporting said pair of reels,
and a braking mechanism for restricting
rotation of said pair of reels at a
predetermined speed; and
a pair of support assemblies for suspending
respectively loose ends of said cables over
respective escape paths leading down the
building on opposite sides of said double
reel assembly, each of said support
assemblies comprising a base mountable onto
a second member of the building close to
the corresponding escape path, and an arm
connected to said base of the corresponding
support assembly and supporting a pulley
means for receiving the cable from the
corresponding reel and suspending the
corresponding loose end over the
corresponding path, whereby the unwinding
of one of said cables causes the winding o~
the other cable.
Preferably, the arms are pivotably mounted onto
the respective bases of the support assemblies.
2147416
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
In order to impart full understanding of the
manner in which these and other objectives are
attained in accordance with the present invention,
preferred embodiments thereof are described
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying
drawings wherein:
10Figure 1 shows a "double reel" escape device
- according to the present invention, in use;
Figure 2 shows a "double reel" escape device
according to the present invention, in
stored position;
15Figure 3 shows a compact escape device according
to the present invention;
Figure 4 shows a side view of a braking
mechanism for an escape device according to
the present invention;
20Figure 5 shows a top view of the reel àssembly
for a "single reel" escape device according
to the present invention;
Figure 6 shows a top view of the reel assembly
for a "double reel" escape device according
25to the present invention;
Figures 7 and 8 show side views of a support
assembly for an escape device according to
the present invention, having a moveable
arm in stored and in ready positions
30respectively;
Figure 9 shows a front view of a support
assembly for an escape device according to
the present invention, having a moveable
arm in ready position;
- 214 7416
Figures lOa and lOb show front and side views of
a cabinet for covering either a compact
escape device or the reel assembly of an
escape device according to the present
invention.
Figure 11 shows a multi-storied building
provided with several escape devices
according to the present invention;
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the following description and in the drawings,
like reference characters designate like or
corresponding parts throughout the several views.
Referring to Figure 1, there is shown an escape
device 2 according to the present invention, for
lowering a person from a multi-storied building 4
(shown in Figure 11). Basically, the escape device 2
comprises a reel assembly 6 for storing a cable 8, and
a support assembly 10 for suspending a loose end of
the cable 8 over an escape path leading down the
building 4. The reel assembly 6 has a rotatable reel
12 for winding and unwinding the cable 8. The reel
Z5 assembly also has a base 14 mountable onto a first
member of the building 4 (such as a balcony balustrade
16 or simply an outer wall of the building 4, or any
other suitable emplacement) and supporting the reel
12. The reel assembly 6 further has a braking
mechanism 16 (as shown in Figure 4) for restricting
rotation of the reel 8 at a predetermined speed. The
support assembly 10 comprises a base 18 mountable onto
a second member of the building 4 (such as the balcony
balustrade 16) close to the escape path. The support
assembly 10 also comprises a moveable arm 20 connected
- 2147416
to the base 18 and supporting a pulley 22 for
receiving the cable 8 from the reel 12. The arm 20 is
deployable and retractable between `a ready position
where the arm 20 overlays the escape path (as the arm
20 of the left support assembly 10 shown in Figure 1)
and a standby position where the arm 20 is drawn off
the escape path (as the arm 20 of the right support
assembly 11 shown in Figure 1). The length of the arm
20 should be adapted to sufficiently space the user
from the lower balconies during his descent. The
support assembly further comprises a retraction
mechanism 26 (shown in Figure 9) for exerting a
predetermined retraction force upon the arm 20 to urge
the arm 20 toward the standby position. Thus, in
operation, the arm 20 moves from the standby position
to the ready position only when the person pulls on
the loose end of the cable 8 to escape down the
building, and returns back in the standby position
when the person relieves the cable 8.
The escape device 2 can be further provided with
an additional support assembly 11, thereby permitting
to lower successively several persons using the
support assemblies 10, 11 alternately and the same
reel assembly 6, which in this case may be called a
double reel assembly, and which comprises a pair of
coaxially aligned rotatable reels 12, 13 (shown in
Figure 6) solid with one another for winding and
unwinding respectively the cables 8, 9.
The loose ends of the cables 8, 9 are provided
with straps 52 arranged to tighten on the persons upon
use.
~1~7416
Referring to Figures 7, 8 and 9, the moveable arm
comprises an elongated member 28 having an upper end
provided with the pulley 22 and an opposite lower end
pivotably connected to the base 18 of the support
5 assembly 10 so that the elongated member 28 is
pivotably moveable between the standby and ready
positions. As shown in Figure 8, the support assembly
10 comprises a stop mechanism for preventing the
elongated member 28 to pivot past the ready position.
The base 18 of the support assembly 10 forms a bracket
mountable onto the balcony balustrade 16 ( shown in
Figure 1).
As shown in Figure 9, the retraction mechanism 26
15 comprises a torsional spring 30 mounted on a pivot
joint 33 ( shown in Figures 7 and 8) between the base
18 of the support assembly 10 and the elongated member
28, to produce a torque urging the elongated member 28
toward the standby position. However, it should be
20 understood that any other suitable arrangement could
be used as well as retraction mechanism, as long as it
carries out the intended purpose. For example, the
retraction mechanism 26 could be formed by a return
spring having an end connected to the elongated arm 28
25 and an opposite end properly secured at a given
distance from the elongated arm 28 in order that the
spring produces the intended retraction force urging
the arm 20 toward the standby position when no force
is exerted at the loose end of the cable 8.
Referring to Figures 7, 8 and 9, the moveable arm
20 comprises a coupling member 32 having an upper end
pivotably connected to the lower end of the elongated
member 28 for the swivelling thereof, and a lower end
35 pivotably connected to the base 18 of the support
2147~16
assembly 10, for folding the arm 20 away from the
escape path in a stored position, as shown in Figures
2 and 7.
Although the arm 20 of the illustrated support
assembly 10 is pivotably connected to the base 18, it
should be understood that various other configurations
could be suitable as well to fulfil the retractable
and deployable functions and purposes according to the
lo invention. For example, a telescopic arrangement of
the arm 20 could also possibly suit this purpose. In
that case, the base could resemble a sleeve through
which the arm slides. The sleeve could be slightly
inclined so as to ease the sliding of the arm over the
escape path upon a force exerted on the loose end of
the cable, while a retraction mechanism (as a return
spring) would urge the arm inside the sleeve if no
force is exerted on the cable.
The stop mechanism of the support assembly 10 can
be either provided by an additional member appended to
the support assembly 10 and placed to block the
pivotal movement of the elongated member 28 when it
reaches the ready position, or conveniently be formed
using the shape and structure of the arm 20 so as to
obtain the same blocking effect, as it is the case for
the arm 20 shown in the Figures. Indeed, the lower
end of the elongated member 28 and the upper end of
the coupling member 32 have opposite complemèntary
ending surfaces 34, 36 hingeably connected together so
that the ending surface 34 of the elongated member 28
rests against the ending surface 36 of the coupling
member 32 when the elongated member 28 reaches the
ready position.
2147~16
Referring to Figure 7, the support assembly 10
comprises a locking element 38 engaging with the
coupling member 32 when the arm 20 is deployed from
the stored position, for locking the coupling member
32 in a steady position for use of the arm 20. It
should be understood that any other suitable locking
arrangement fulfilling this purpose could be used as
well.
10Referring to Figures 5 and 6, there are
respectively shown top views of the reel assemblies 6
for "single reel" and "double reel" escape devices 2
according to the present invention. In each case, the
base 14 comprises a pair of opposite mounting plates
1540, 42 provided with securing elements 44 for clamping
the balustrade 16 (shown in Figure 1) between the
plates 40, 42. A rewind crank handle 46 is provided
for recoiling the cables 8, 9 around the reels 12, 13.
Optionally, each reel 12, 13 comprises a connecting
element 48 for retaining an end of the corresponding
cable 8, 9. Otherwise, the end of each cable 8, 9 can
be simply looped around the reel's hub and tied.
Preferably but not limitatively, the reel assembly 6
comprises a manual security disk brake 50 coupled to
the reel or reels 12, 13.
Referring to Figure 3, there is shown a compact
embodiment of the escape device 2 according to the
present invention, wherein the reel assembly 6 and the
support assembly 10 share the same common base 54.
Such an embodiment can be especially useful when the
escape device must be mounted onto an outer wall of
the building 4, adjacent to a room window.
21 I7416
Referring to Figures lOa and lOb, there is shown
a removable cabinet 56 specially adapted to cover the
reel assembly 6, the support assembly 10 of the
compact embodiment of the escape device as shown in
Figure 3. The cabinet S6 is provided with a rear
flange 58 for attaching the cabinet 56 onto the common
base 54 of the escape device 2. The cabinet has a
handle 60 molded therein, forming a down opening 62
through which air can pass but not rain.
Referring again to Figure 3, the common base 54
is provided Wit]l an alarm system 64 activated upon
removal of the cabinet 56 from the common base 54, to
scare or dissuade children from playing with the
escape device 2, and to warn the neighbourhood of an
imminent danger. The base 54 is further provided with
a box 66 for storing the loose end of the cable 8 and
the optional strap 52 (shown in Figure 1). To use the
escape device 2, the cover 56 ( shown in Figures lOa
20 and lOb) is first removed from the base 54. The arm
20 is then pivoted in vertical standby position and
the cable 8 is positioned on the pulley 22 at the end
of the arm 20. As soon as the user exerts a pulI on
the cable 8, the arm 20 moves into ready position over
25 the escape path, where the user simply has to hang on
the strap 52 and let himself be lowered by the escape
device 2. For the next lowering of a person, the
cable 8 is rewound around the reel 12 by means of the
crank handle 46.
Referring to Figure 4, there is shown a preferred
embodiment of the braking mechanism 16 of the reel
assembly 6 according to the invention, operated by
centrifugal force. The braking mechanism 16 comprises
three pivotable shoes 68 held back by springs 72 in a
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position adjacent to the inner surface of a stationary
drum 70 solid with the shaft 74 of the reels 12, 13.
By centrifugal effect, the faster the reel 12 or 13
unwinds, the harder the shoes 68 press against the
inner surface of the drum 70 and brake the reels 12,
13 at a suitable speed for lowering a person.
Referring to Figure 11, there are shown several
persons escaping the building 4 simultaneously, by
lo means of the "double reel" escape devices 2 according
to the present invention. In each case, the process
is the same. Initially, a first arm lo (or 11) is
deployed in vertical standby position and the cable 8
(or 9) is positioned around the pulley 22 (or 23).
After the descent of a first person, the other arm 11
(or 10) is deployed and the cable 9 (or 8) is detached
from the reel and positioned around the pulley 23 (or
22) to lower another person. While the cable 11
unwinds from the reel 13 to lower the person, the
other cable 10 automatically rewinds around the reel
12 for a next use. Thus, several persons can be
lowered successively, without requiring any manual
rewinding of the cables 8, 9. Furthermore, as the
arms 1~, 11 clear out from the escape paths after use,
the lowering is safer for the persons on higher
balconies.
Although the present invention has been explained
hereinafter by way of preferred embodiments thereof,
it should be pointed out that any modifications to
these preferred embodiments, within the scope of the
appended claims, are not deemed to change or alter the
nature and scope of the present invention.
