Tall structure external emergency escape system

An emergency escape system comprising a launching platform, said platform having an escape opening extending completely therethrough, a cable system mounted to said platform, said cable system including a cable having a fixed end and a free end, said fixed end being mounted to an anchor system on said platform, said cable extending through said escape opening, a cable locking device mounted below said escape opening for securing said free end of said cable to said cable locking device, a sling/harness for being worn by a person, and a clamp mechanism attached to said sling/harness for detachable securement to said cable.

A clamping mechanism comprising a pair of clamp members pivotally joined together at one end, the opposite end of each of the said clamp members having a hand grip, said clamp members being disposed toward each other with the space therebetween when said clamp members are in a closed position, at least one guide block in said space for guiding a cable to which said clamping mechanism would be clamped, a tensioning wheel mounted to one of said clamp members in said space for engaging said cable, said tensioning wheel being adjustable in the degree of contact with the cable for adjusting the tension of said cable, a locking mechanism mounting said clamp members together in their closed position, and said locking mechanism including quick release structure whereby said clamp members are disposed in an unlocked condition by pulling a quick release ring which is part of said locking mechanism.

A method of escaping from a tall structure comprising providing an emergency escape system mounted externally of the structure with the emergency escape system having a launching platform disposed in a generally vertical position against the structure and conforming to the external appearance of the structure, lowering the platform to a generally horizontal position which provides access from the interior of the structure to the platform, unwinding a cable which is part of an anchor system mounted to the platform, unwinding the cable until the cable reaches a receiving area, placing a sling/harness on a person attempting to escape from the structure, connecting a clamp mechanism which is secured to the sling/harness to the cable after the lower end of the cable has been anchored at the receiving area, using the cable as a track by maintaining the clamp mechanism in engagement with the cable as the clamp mechanism moves downwardly on the cable while the person correspondingly descends from the platform, and activating a quick release mechanism which is part of the clamp mechanism to release the clamp mechanism from the cable when the person reaches the receiving area so that the person can leave the receiving area.