US3949832A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable fire escape
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-12-04
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Granted: 1976-04-13
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Expires: 1994-12-04
Abstract
Abstract An elongated flexible tension member is provided including a first end attachable to an upper floor portion of a building and a free end portion which may depend downwardly to ground level. A slide member is engaged with the tension member for guided movement therealong and defines a handgrip to be held by a user moving downwardly along the tension member with the slide. The slide further supports a seat portion therebelow upon which the user may be seated while grasping the handgrip defining slide and moving downwardly therewith. Also, the slide includes readily actuatable and deactuatable friction brake and clamping structure for selectively and variably braking the descent of the slide and seat portion supported therefrom along the tension member.
Inventors
- 👤 Cloyce R. Hunter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 04:14
CPC Classifications
A; A62; A62B; A62B1/00; A62B1/06; A62B1/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
An apparatus for use in descending from high elevations, said apparatus including an elongated flexible tension member having a first end for anchoring to a suitable support structure at said high elevation and a free end portion which may depend downwardly to a lower elevation, a slide member guidingly engaged with said tension member for guided movement therealong, said slide member including readily actuatable and deactivatable friction brake and clamping means operative to selectively and variably frictionally brake and clamp said tension member for controlling the descent of said slide member downwardly along said tension member, said slide member being elongated and extending lengthwise along said tension member, said brake and clamping means including a pair of selectively and variably actuatable friction brake and clamp structures carried by opposite end portions of said slide member, the opposite ends of said slide member including endwise outwardly opening bores through which said tension member is slidably received, each of said brake and clamping means including a collet sleeve through which said tension member is snugly slidably received, said sleeves and bores including opposing cam surfaces functioning to radially inwardly displace the inner end portions of said sleeves in response to said sleeves being inwardly displaced into predetermined inner positions within said bores and to thereby cause the inner end portions of said collet sleeves to tightly clamp and frictionally brake said tension member and sleeves against relative longitudinal shifting.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
237 words
An apparatus for use in descending from high elevations, said apparatus including an elongated flexible tension member having a first end for anchoring to a suitable support structure at said high elevation and a free end portion which may depend downwardly to a lower elevation, a slide member guidingly engaged with said tension member for guided movement therealong, said slide member including readily actuatable and deactivatable friction brake and clamping means operative to selectively and variably frictionally brake and clamp said tension member for controlling the descent of said slide member downwardly along said tension member, said slide member being elongated and extending lengthwise along said tension member, said brake and clamping means including a pair of selectively and variably actuatable friction brake and clamp structures carried by opposite end portions of said slide member, the opposite ends of said slide member including endwise outwardly opening bores through which said tension member is slidably received, each of said brake and clamping means including a collet sleeve through which said tension member is snugly slidably received, said sleeves and bores including opposing cam surfaces functioning to radially inwardly displace the inner end portions of said sleeves in response to said sleeves being inwardly displaced into predetermined inner positions within said bores and to thereby cause the inner end portions of said collet sleeves to tightly clamp and frictionally brake said tension member and sleeves against relative longitudinal shifting.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combinations of claim combination including spring means operatively associated with said collet sleeves and the corresponding end of said slide member operative to yieldingly bias said collet sleeves to outer positions spaced outwardly of said inner positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said slide member includes a diametrically enlarged central portion intermediate its opposite ends, the inner ends of said bores curving outwardly and in opposite directions about the center axis of said slide member and opening outwardly through axially spaced adjacent portions of said central portion, the portion of said tension member extending between the inner ends of said bores extending at least one full turn about said central portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The combination of claim 3 including a generally cylindrical cover structure enclosing said central portion of said slide member and constructed of shape retentive, resilient and somewhat deformable material and manually inwardly collapsible to clamp the last-mentioned portion of said tension member between the inner and outer surfaces of said cover and central portion of said slide member, respectively.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
268 words
An apparatus for use in descending from high elevations, said apparatus including an elongated flexible tension member having a first end for anchoring to a suitable support structure at said high elevation and a free end portion which may depend downwardly to a lower elevation, a slide member guidingly engaged with said tension member for guided movement therealong, said slide member including readily actuatable and deactivatable friction brake and clamping means operative to selectively and variably frictionally brake and clamp said tension member for controlling the descent of said slide member downwardly along said tension member, said slide member being elongated and extending lengthwise along said tension member, said brake and clamping means including a pair of selectively and variably actuatable friction brake and clamp structures carried by opposite end portions of said slide member, including anchor members carried by opposite side portions of said slide member centrally intermediate its opposite ends, the ends of an elongated sling type seat being supported from said anchor members, the opposite ends of said slide member including endwise outwardly opening bores through which said tension member is slidably received, each of said brake and clamp structures including a collet sleeve through which said tension member is snugly slidably received, said sleeves and bores including opposing cam surfaces functioning to radially inwardly displace the inner end portions of said sleeves in response to said sleeves being inwardly displaced into predetermined inner positions within said bores and to thereby cause the inner end portions of said collet sleeves to tightly clamp and frictionally brake said tension member and sleeve against relative longitudinal shifting.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
268 words
An apparatus for use in descending from high elevations, said apparatus including an elongated flexible tension member having a first end for anchoring to a suitable support structure at said high elevation and a free end portion which may depend downwardly to a lower elevation, a slide member guidingly engaged with said tension member for guided movement therealong, said slide member including readily actuatable and deactivatable friction brake and clamping means operative to selectively and variably frictionally brake and clamp said tension member for controlling the descent of said slide member downwardly along said tension member, said slide member being elongated and extending lengthwise along said tension member, said brake and clamping means including a pair of selectively and variably actuatable friction brake and clamp structures carried by opposite end portions of said slide member, including anchor members carried by opposite side portions of said slide member centrally intermediate its opposite ends, the ends of an elongated sling type seat being supported from said anchor members, the opposite ends of said slide member including endwise outwardly opening bores through which said tension member is slidably received, each of said brake and clamp structures including a collet sleeve through which said tension member is snugly slidably received, said sleeves and bores including opposing cam surfaces functioning to radially inwardly displace the inner end portions of said sleeves in response to said sleeves being inwardly displaced into predetermined inner positions within said bores and to thereby cause the inner end portions of said collet sleeves to tightly clamp and frictionally brake said tension member and sleeve against relative longitudinal shifting.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination of claim 5 including spring means operatively associated with said collet sleeves and the corresponding end of said slide member operative to yieldingly bias said collet sleeves to outer positions spaced outwardly of said inner positions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
75 words
The combination of claim 5 wherein said slide member includes a diametrically enlarged central portion intermediate its opposite ends, the inner ends of said bores curving outwardly and in opposite directions about the center axis of said slide member and opening outwardly through axially spaced adjacent portions of said central portion, the portion of said tension member extending between the inner ends of said bores extending at least one full turn about said central portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
The combination of claim 7 including a generally cylindrical cover structure enclosing said central portion of said slide member and constructed of shape retentive, resilient and somewhat deformable material and manually inwardly collapsible to clamp the last-mentioned portion of said tension member between the inner and outer surfaces of said cover and central portion of said slide members, respectively.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
234 words
An apparatus for use in descending from high elevations, said apparatus including an elongated flexible tension member having a first end for anchoring to a suitable support structure at said high elevations and a free end portion which may depend downwardly to a lower elevation, an elongated slide member including opposite end endwise outwardly opening bores and a generally cylindrical longitudinal mid-portion, the inner ends of said bores opening laterally outwardly of longitudinally spaced portions of said mid-portion and in oppositely outwardly spiraling directions, said tension member being passed through said bores with the intermediate portion thereof extending between the inner ends of said bores wrapped about said mid-portion, a flexible heat insulative cover secured about said mid-portion enclosing and collapsible inwardly into engagement with said intermediate portion, the outer end of at least one of said bores being inwardly tapered, a collet sleeve disposed in the outer end of said one bore and snugly slidably receiving the corresponding portion of said tension member therethrough, said collet sleeve and slide member including coacting means limiting an outward displacement of said collet sleeve relative to said one bore as well as inward displacement of said collet sleeve relative to said one bore, said collet sleeve, when displaced inwardly to its limit position relative to said slide member being reduced in internal dimensions so as to tightly frictionally engage the corresponding portion of said tension member.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
234 words
An apparatus for use in descending from high elevations, said apparatus including an elongated flexible tension member having a first end for anchoring to a suitable support structure at said high elevations and a free end portion which may depend downwardly to a lower elevation, an elongated slide member including opposite end endwise outwardly opening bores and a generally cylindrical longitudinal mid-portion, the inner ends of said bores opening laterally outwardly of longitudinally spaced portions of said mid-portion and in oppositely outwardly spiraling directions, said tension member being passed through said bores with the intermediate portion thereof extending between the inner ends of said bores wrapped about said mid-portion, a flexible heat insulative cover secured about said mid-portion enclosing and collapsible inwardly into engagement with said intermediate portion, the outer end of at least one of said bores being inwardly tapered, a collet sleeve disposed in the outer end of said one bore and snugly slidably receiving the corresponding portion of said tension member therethrough, said collet sleeve and slide member including coacting means limiting an outward displacement of said collet sleeve relative to said one bore as well as inward displacement of said collet sleeve relative to said one bore, said collet sleeve, when displaced inwardly to its limit position relative to said slide member being reduced in internal dimensions so as to tightly frictionally engage the corresponding portion of said tension member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination of claim 9 including spring means operatively connected between said slide member and said collet sleeve yieldingly biasing the latter toward its outermost limit position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-04-13 | 1979-10-13 | 1980-04-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-04-13 | 1983-10-13 | 1984-04-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-04-13 | 1987-10-13 | 1988-04-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |