US4372422A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Escape device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1980-12-29
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Granted: 1983-02-08
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Expires: 2000-12-29
Abstract
Abstract A device for escaping from elevated locations, particularly in an emergency, is provided. The device controls the travel of a weight, e.g., a human passenger, on an essentially 1:1 ratio of rope or cable length to the distance of travel. The invention can be employed for either vertical or horizontal travel. Further, this invention can be operated by a passenger or from a lower location such as the ground or any other place towards which the weight is to travel. The device contains at least one roller, preferably a plurality, around which the cable or rope is run. The roller is generally tapered from at least one side towards a middle location and grooved at the latter to facilitate proper operation, good braking ability, low heat generation during operation and braking, and easy release from a stationary position.
Inventors
- 👤 Thurman V. Sharp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 12:53
CPC Classifications
A; A62; A62B; A62B1/00; A62B1/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A device suitable for use in lowering a load comprising a frame, a roller rotatably mounted on said frame, said roller having a groove positioned around said roller, the surface of said roller adjacent a side of said groove being inclined inwardly toward said groove, a flexible line forming a loop around said roller within said groove, said line extending in generally opposite directions from said roller, said groove having a width confining said line such that said line frictionally contacts itself at the entrance and exit portions of the loop in said groove, said frame and roller being movable along said line by application of a load on said frame, and the movement of said frame and roller being controllable by application of a force on said line.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
A device suitable for use in lowering a load comprising a frame, a roller rotatably mounted on said frame, said roller having a groove positioned around said roller, the surface of said roller adjacent a side of said groove being inclined inwardly toward said groove, a flexible line forming a loop around said roller within said groove, said line extending in generally opposite directions from said roller, said groove having a width confining said line such that said line frictionally contacts itself at the entrance and exit portions of the loop in said groove, said frame and roller being movable along said line by application of a load on said frame, and the movement of said frame and roller being controllable by application of a force on said line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device of claim 1 wherein said roller has inwardly inclined surfaces on both sides of said groove.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device of claim 1 or 2 having a plurality of said rollers and said line is positioned around said rollers in series in the grooves of said rollers.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
130 words
A device suitable for use in lowering a load comprising a frame, a roller rotatably mounted on said frame, said roller having a groove positioned around said roller, the surface of said roller adjacent a side of said groove being inclined inwardly toward said groove, said groove having at least one side that is essentially perpendicular to the axis of its roller, a flexible line positioned in said groove around said roller, said line extending in generally opposite directions from said roller and thereby contacting itself in said groove and in frictional engagement with itself, said frame and roller being movable along said line by application of a load on said frame, and the movement of said frame and roller being controllable by application of a force on said line.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
130 words
A device suitable for use in lowering a load comprising a frame, a roller rotatably mounted on said frame, said roller having a groove positioned around said roller, the surface of said roller adjacent a side of said groove being inclined inwardly toward said groove, said groove having at least one side that is essentially perpendicular to the axis of its roller, a flexible line positioned in said groove around said roller, said line extending in generally opposite directions from said roller and thereby contacting itself in said groove and in frictional engagement with itself, said frame and roller being movable along said line by application of a load on said frame, and the movement of said frame and roller being controllable by application of a force on said line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device of claim 4 in which both sides of said groove are essentially perpendicular to the axis of its roller and one said side has a rounded upper corner.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device of claim 1 or 2 having means for holding a load at one end of said frame.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device of claim 1 or 2 wherein one end of said line has mechanical means for attaching the line to a support.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device of claim 7 having means for holding a load at the end of said frame opposite to that from which the line having said mechanical means extends.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
101 words
A device suitable for use in conjunction with a flexible line for lowering a load comprising a frame having opposed sides, a roller mounted rotatable between said sides, said roller having a groove extending therearound, said groove having a depth at least one-half the diamter of the line and having a width which is greater than the diameter of the line and which is less than twice the diameter of the line for confining a loop of the line in the groove, said roller having a surface adjacent a side of said groove, said surface being inclined inwardly toward said groove.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
101 words
A device suitable for use in conjunction with a flexible line for lowering a load comprising a frame having opposed sides, a roller mounted rotatable between said sides, said roller having a groove extending therearound, said groove having a depth at least one-half the diamter of the line and having a width which is greater than the diameter of the line and which is less than twice the diameter of the line for confining a loop of the line in the groove, said roller having a surface adjacent a side of said groove, said surface being inclined inwardly toward said groove.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device of claim 9 wherein said roller has inwardly inclined surfaces on both sides of said groove.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device of claim 10 wherein a plurality of said rollers are rotatably mounted between said sides and the axis of said rollers are substantially parallel to one another.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device of claim 11 wherein the sides of said groove are substantially perpendicular to the axis of its roller.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device of claim 12 wherein one of said sides has a rounded upper corner.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device of claim 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13 having a flexible line in said groove of a respective roller and encircling said roller, and when a plurality of said rollers are present said line encircles said rollers in series.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device of claim 14 wherein means are provided for holding a load at one end of said frame.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device of claim 15 wherein one end of said line has mechanical means for attaching said line to a support.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device of claim 16 having means for holding a load at the end of said frame opposite to that from which the line having said mechanical means extends.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
11 words
A device of claim 15 having a plurality of said rollers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device of claim 18 wherein said holding means comprises a belt having two legs extending from said frame, each leg having a series of perforations spaced along its length, and buckle means for holding said belt legs in a position closely-spaced to one another.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device of claim 19 wherein said buckle means is rectangular and has internal projections on opposite sides of said buckle means for engagement with said perforations in said legs of said belt.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-02-07 | 1986-08-09 | 1987-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-02-07 | 1990-08-09 | 1991-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-02-07 | 1994-08-09 | 1995-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |