GB2198470A - Fire escape ladder - Google Patents

Abstract

A fire escape apparatus 1 comprises an upper ladder section 2 and a lower ladder section 3 mounted in an opening 4 in a wall 5. The upper ladder section 2 is slidably mounted by sleeves 13 which engage inclined mounting guide posts 10 in the opening. Guide pins 21 carried by the lower ladder section 3 slidably engage rails 11 of the upper ladder section 3 as the ladder is moved from a retracted position in which it is stored in the opening to an extended position in which it provides an escape from the opening. The opening 4 is closable by a door 6 which is opened by a quick release handle mechanism. <IMAGE>

Description

FIRE ESCAPE APPARATUS The invention relates to a fire escape apparatus Fire is an ever present danger in buildings such as domestic houses, apartments, office buildings, hospitals anci notes. When fire occurs there is often no ###### available to the normal escape routes down stairways and the like, Fixed fire escapes which are mounted on the side of a building and through which access is gained from specially constructed fire escape doors are well known.

They are however difficult and expensive to manufacture and install, occupy g considerable amount of space, and are generally aesthetically invasive.

There is therefore a need for an improved fire escape apparatus.

This invention is directed towards providing such a fire escape apparatus.

According to the invention there is provided a fire escape apparatus comprising a ladder fcr mounting in an opening, the ladder being extendable from a retracted position to an extended position in which the ladder provides an escape rote from the opening.

In one embodiment of the invention the apparatus includes mounting means for mounting in an opening, the ladder being mounted to the mounting means and being extendable to and from the mounting means.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the ladder comprises at least two ladder sections which are movable relative to one another from the retracted to the extended positions.

Preferably the ladder sections are slidably movable from the retracted to the extended positions.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the ladder includes an upper section which is slidably movable relative ro tne mounting means and a Second etion which is slidably movable relative the first section to the extended position.

In one embodiment of the invention the upper ladder section includes engagement means which run on the mounting means.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the mounting means comprises a pair of spaced-apart glide posts and the engagement means engage the posts.

Preferably the engagement means comprises a pair of sleeves for engaging and running on the guide posts.

Typically the guide posts are inclined outwardly from a recessed position adjacent the top of the opening to a forward position adjacent the bottom of the opening.

In one embodiment of the invention the second ladder section includes engagement means for slidably engaging the first ladder section as the ladder moves from the retracted to the extended position.

Preferably the engagement means comprises a pair of inwardly projecting pins which slidably engage opposed arms of the first ladder section as the ladder moves from the retracted to the extended position.

Typically the first ladder section includes stop means to engage the projecting pins when the ladder is in the fully extended position.

In one ertibodiinent of the invention the opening is closable by a door. Preferably the door is provided with a quick release opening mechanism.

In one embodiment of the invention the quick release opening mechanism includes a locking bar slidably mounted in a sleeve carried by the door and movable from an open release position to a locking position in which the locking bar engages a receiver in the opening.

Preferably the handle includes an elongate slot engaged by a roll pin projecting upwardly from the locking bar.

Typically the sleeve is attached to the door by brackets and the handle is pivotally mounted to one of the brackets on a pivot pin.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thoroof simon by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a fire escape apparatus according to the invention in a retracted position, Fig. 2 is a persective view of the fire escape apparatus in an extended position, Fig. 3 is a detail of the fire escape apparatus, Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of a door forming part of the fire escape apparatus, Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the fire escape apparatus from the inside with the ladder sections in an extended position, Fig, 6 is a plan view of the apparatus in the position of Fig. 5, Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view in the direction of the arrows VII-VII in Fig. 5, Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view 6similar to Fig. 7 with the ladder in a retracted position, Fig. 9 is a front view of the escape apparatus in the extended position, and Fig. 10 is a side elevational View of the apparatus of Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a fire escape apparatus according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The fire escape apparatus 1 comprises a ladder, in this case comprising an upper ladder section 2 and a lower ladder section 3 which are mounted in an opening 4 in the wall 5 Of a hose or the like. The opening 4 in the wall 5 is closable by an escape door or hatch 6: To escape through the opening 4 the door 6 is first opened as will be described below and the ladder sections 2,3 are pushed out through the opening 4 and extended from the retracted position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 8 to the extended escape position illustrated in Figs. 2, 7, 9 and 10.

The ladder sections 2,3 are mounted on a mounting means in the opening 4 which comprises a pair of upright mounting posts 7 which extend from an upper lintel 8 to a lower plotz v and a pair of downwardly and forwardly extending guide support posts 10 which also extend between the lintel 8 and the lower plate 9.

Tho upper ladder erection 2 nnmpris two lonaitudinal rails 11 with three steps 12 extending therebetween. The rails 11 are bent inwardly at their upper end and are attacnea to sleeves 13 which run along the 9 guide posts 10 as the ladder section 2 is being dropped to the extended position. The sleeves 13 are pivotally mounted to the ladder section 2 on pivot pins 14. The lower end of the rails 11 are also cranked inwardly and both the upper and lower extremities of each rail are provided with rubber bungs 15 which prevent wear and assist in frictional engagement between the ladder and the wall 5. The lower ladder section 3 includes a pair of upwardly extending arms 20 having inwardly extending guide pins 21 which slide along the rails 11 of the upper ladder section 2 when the ladder is being extended. The lower end of the upper rails 11 include a pair of stops 22 to locate and fix the lower ladder section 3 in the extended position illustrated in Fig. 2.

T?1e lower loeldeS BrotlOn 3 in this case includeo a height adjustable lower step portion 25, having an inwardly extending portion 26 for engaging against the wall 5.

The escape apparatus may include two lower steps 30 which may be fixed to the wall adjacent the ground.

Referring in particular to Figs. 1 and 4 the door 6 can only be opened from the inside by a quick release operating handel 35. The locking mechanism comprises a locking bar 36 which is slidably mounted in a sleeve 37 attached to tne door 6 by brackets 38. The locking bar 36 is slidably movable by the handle 35 which has an elongate slot 39 engaged by a roll pin 40 projecting upwardly from the locking bar 36. The handle 35 is pivotally mounted to one of the brackets 38 by a mounting pin 41. The opening is formed with a receiver 42 into which the locking bar 36 is inserted in the locked position illustrated in Fig. 4.

To release the latch bar 36 the handle 35 is pushed in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 4 which pulls the pin 40 and hence the latch bar 36 in the direction of the arrow B releasing the latch bar 36 from its receiver 42 and allowing the door 6 to be opened. The ladder sections 2,3 are then pushed outwardly through the opening 4, the first ladder section sleeves 13 riding along the guide posts 10 and the guide pins 21 of the lower ladder section 3 riding along the rails 11 of the upper ladder section 2 until they engage the stops 22. At this point the ladder is in the extended position illustrated in Fig. 2 and a user may readily escape through the opening and down the ladder to the ground.

A battery operated emergency light 50 may be provided.

One advantage of the invention is in providing a relatively cheap fire escape apparatus which can be easily installed and operated. As the ladder is retained in a retracted position within an opening in the fabric of a building it is readily easily installed and is stored in an out-of-the-way though accessible position.

It will be appreciated that any suitable construction of ladder may be employed. The term "ladder" as used in the specification includes a chute.

Claims (18)

1. h fire escape apparatus aampr?iofrrg a ladder for mounting in an opening, the ladder being extendable from a retracted position to an extended position in which the ladder provides an escape route from the opening.

2. An escape apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes mounting tneans for mounting in an opening, the ladder being mounted to the mounting means and being extendable to and from the mounting means.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the ladder comprises at least two ladder sections which are movable relative to one another from the retracted to the extended positions.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the ladder sections are slidably movable from the retracted to the extended positions.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the ladder includes an upper section which is slidably movable relative to the mounting means and a second section which is slidably movable relative the first section to the extended position.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the supper ladder section includes engagement means which run on the mounting means.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the mounting means comprises a pair of spaced--apart guide posts and the engagement means engage the posts.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein the engagement means comprises a pair of sleeves for engaging and running on the guide posts.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or 8 wherein the guide posts are inclined outwardly from a recessed position adjacent the top of the opening to a forward position adjacent the bottom of the opening.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 5 to 9 wherein the second ladder section includes engagement means for slidably engaging the first ladder section as the ladder moves from the retracted to the extended position.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the engagement means comprises a pair of inwardly projecting pins which slidably engage opposed arms of the first ladder section as the ladder moves from the retracted to the extended position.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the first ladder section includes stop means to engage the projecting pins when the ladder is in the fully extended position.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the apparatus includes a door for closing the opening.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the door is provided with a quick release opening mechanism.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein the quick release opening mechanism includes a locking bar slidably mounted in a sleeve carried by the door and movable from an open release position to a locking position in which the locking bar engages a receiver in the opening.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the handle includes an elongate slot engaged by a roll pin projecting upwardly from the locking bar.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 or 15 wherein the sleeve is attached to the door by brackets and the handle is pivotally mounted to one of the brackets on a pivot pin.

18. Fire escape apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described-with reference to the drawings,