US 3,997,026 AGranted

Collapsible ladder assembly suitable for use as fire escape

OwnerJoseph F. Riehlmanninventor

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Abstract

A collapsible ladder assembly suitable for installation on high-rise buildings and capable of modification to be architecturally unobstrusive and compatible with a variety of architectural designs is described. The ladder assembly comprises a frame member, two or more telescoping stile pair sections and a plurality of rung members. In the normal storage position the ladder is disposed entirely within the frame member with the telescoping stile members in the retracted position. The entire unit is adapted to fit within a window opening. In a emergency the ladder can be released to the extended position for use from inside a window whereby it falls on hinged arms down and away from the building at a distance sufficient to permit passage of a person between the building and the ladder. Release of one ladder actuates a release mechanism on the similarly mounted ladder on the floor below and so on, allowing an escape passage to a safe level or, if necessary, to the ground.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A ladder assembly in which the ladder is collapsible for storage and extensible for use comprising a box-like frame member and a collapsible ladder;

said ladder capable of being enclosed within said box-like frame member in the storage position;
said ladder comprising a plurality of telescoping stile pairs including an upper stile pair and a lower stile pair and a plurality of rung members, said ladder having an extended length of not less than 1.3 times the height of said frame;
said ladder being attached to said frame member by at least two pairs of pivoted arms and said ladder capable of being accommodated in said frame member in the storage position and capable of movement to an extended position in which said upper pair of stile members moves outwardly and downwardly on said pivoted arms to a predetermined vertical position sufficient to allow passage of a person between said frame and said ladder;
said ladder being secured in the extended position by tension means connecting between said ladder and frame member;
and said ladder assembly including a cover panel attached to said upper stile pair which cover panel substantially closes the outside opening in said box-like frame member.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 05/567,133Filed 11 Apr 1975 · continuation in part
Priority: 13 Dec 1973
Granted: 14 Dec 1976
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

E06C 1/125
Extensible, e.g. telescopic: with tubular longitudinal members nested within each other
E06C 9/08
Movably mounted: with rigid longitudinal members
E06C 9/10
With rigid longitudinal members: forming part of a building, such as a balcony grid, window grid, or other window part
E06C
Ladders