# US 8,770,346 B2 · Method and apparatus for reaching from outside an upper level of a tall structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,346 B2 - Document ID: US8770346B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/966,846 - Filed: 2010-12-13 - Published: 2011-04-07 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2003-01-27 - Assignees: Marvin M. May - Applicants: Marvin M. May - Inventors: Marvin M. May - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770346B2 ## CPC - A62B 1/02: by making use of rescue cages, bags, or the like (elevators, escalators or moving walkways B66B) - B66B 9/187: with a liftway specially adapted for temporary connection to a building or other structure (B66B9/193 takes precedence) - Y02A 50/00: in human health protection, e.g. against extreme weather - A62B: DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING (valves specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; life-saving devices, apparatus or methods specially adapted for use in water B63C9/00; divers' equipment B63C11/00; specially adopted for use with aircraft, e.g. parachutes, ejector seats, {B64D17/00, B64D25/10}; rescue devices peculiar to mining E21F11/00) - B66B: ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS ({apparatus for raising or lowering persons on theatrical stages or the like A63J5/12} ; funicular railbound systems with rigid ground-supported tracks and cable traction, e.g. cliff railways, B61B9/00; arrangements of ammunition handlers in vessels B63G3/00; hoists, lifts, or conveyors for loading or unloading in general B65G; braking or detent devices controlling normal movements of winding drums or barrels B66D; ship-lifting devices E02C; garages for many vehicles with mechanical means for lifting vehicles E04H6/12; hoists for feeding ammunition or projectiles to launching apparatus or to loading mechanisms F41A9/00) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ## Abstract An embodiment of the invention is directed to a system having a pulley attached to a building. A closed loop of cable is installed around the pulley. The loop is of sufficient length so as to reach, when deployed outside of the building, below the pulley to where emergency personnel gather in an area next to a base of the building (when responding to a disaster situation in the building). A winch around which the loop is to be operatively installed is located in the area next to the base. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lifting system for raising a suspended load to an upper level of a tall structure, comprising: a top pulley attached to a structure; a closed loop of cable installed around the top pulley; a load attached to a near section of the loop, wherein a far section of the loop is positioned farther from a side of the structure than the near section; a traction winch around which the loop is installed, the traction winch being powered to rotate in one direction to pull in the far section of the loop and thereby raise the attached load, and to rotate under braking in an opposite direction to let out the far section of the loop and thereby lower the attached load; and a moveable pulley within the loop, the moveable pulley to be moved relative to the traction winch and the top pulley to thereby (i) increase tension in the loop so that the attached load moves away from a side of the structure and (ii) decrease tension in the loop so that the attached load moves towards the side of the structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the structure is a building and the top pulley is permanently attached to a structural support of the building located near an edge of a roof of the building. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the traction winch is mounted on a vehicle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3 wherein the closed loop of cable has a point to which the load is attached. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4 wherein the load comprises a container designed for holding people and equipment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5 wherein the closed loop of cable is a single length of cable. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the top pulley is permanently attached to a structural support of the structure and is moveable between a retracted position and an extended position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising: a bottom pulley located below the top pulley; and a drum winch to pull in and let out an adjustment cable that is installed around the drum winch at one end and is connected to the moveable pulley at another end, and is also installed around the bottom pulley, to adjust tension in the closed loop. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the bottom pulley is attached to the structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the top pulley is attached to a roof of the structure. ### Claim 11 A lifting system for raising a suspended load to an upper level of a tall structure, comprising: a top pulley attached to a structure; a loop of cable installed to a structure; a load attached to a near section of the loop, wherein a far section of the loop is positioned farther from a side of the structure than the near section; a traction winch around which the loop is installed, the traction winch being powered to rotate in one direction to pull in the far section of the loop and thereby raise the attached load, and to rotate under braking in an opposite direction to let out the far section of the loop and thereby lower the attached load, wherein the traction winch is breech loadable; and means for moving the attached load closer to and farther from the structure. ### Claim 12 A lifting system for raising a suspended load to an upper level of a tall structure, comprising: a top pulley attached to a structure; a loop of cable installed around the top pulley; a container to carry equipment and personnel attached to a near section of the loop, wherein a far section of the loop is positioned farther from a side of the structure than the near section; a traction winch around which the loop is installed, the traction winch being powered to rotate in one direction to pull in the far section of the loop and thereby raise the attached container, and to rotate under braking in an opposite direction to let out the far section of the loop and thereby lower the attached container; and a moveable pulley within the loop and that is to be moved to push against the loop and thereby increase tension in the near portion of the loop. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The lifting system of claim 12 wherein the top pulley is permanent attached to a building. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The lifting system of claim 13 wherein the top pulley is attached to the building at its roof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The lifting system of claim 12 wherein the traction winch is mounted on a vehicle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The lifting system of claim 15 wherein the loop of cable has an end to which the container is attached. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The lifting system of claim 15 further comprising: a bottom pulley located below the top pulley; and a drum winch to pull in and let out an adjustment cable that is installed around the drum winch at one end and is connected to the moveable pulley at another end, and is also installed around the bottom pulley, to adjust tension in the loop. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The lifting system of claim 11 wherein the top pulley is permanently attached to a building. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The lifting system of claim 18 wherein the top pulley is attached building at its roof. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The lifting system of claim 11 wherein the traction winch is mounted on a vehicle. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The lifting system of claim 20 wherein the loop of cable has a point to which the container is attached.