Abstract
An escape system for providing an escape route out of a building is discloses. The system comprises a ladder, and at least one anchor element at a position distant from the proximal end of the ladder. The ladder is extendible between a collapsed storage configuration and an extended use configuration. The ladder comprises a plurality of essentially rigid ladder segments, each ladder segment comprising at least one rung and being displaceable in relation to the remaining plurality of ladder segments. The ladder also comprises at least one fixation element attached to or forming part of at least one of the ladder segments. The fixation element comprises a first spacer element, the first spacer element extending between the anchor element and the ladder in the extended use configuration. The ladder is detached from the anchor element in the collapsed storage configuration, and at least one fixation element of the ladder is configured to attach to the anchor element when the ladder is in the extended use configuration.
Claims
1. An escape system for providing an escape route out of a building, the system comprising a ladder securable at a proximal end thereof to said building, and at least one anchor element at a fixed position relative to the building at a position distant from the proximal end of the ladder, the ladder being extendible between a collapsed storage configuration and an extended use configuration, wherein the ladder comprises: Plurality of essentially rigid ladder segments, each the ladder segments comprising at least one rung and being displaceable in relation to a remaining plurality of ladder segments of the plurality of essentially rigid ladder segments; a stopping mechanism configured to prevent the ladder segments from displacement beyond extension in the extended use configuration; and at least one fixation element attached to or forming part of at least one of the ladder segments, the at least one fixation element comprising a first spacer element, the first spacer element extending between the anchor element and the ladder in the extended use configuration, and a fixation extension mechanism configured to automatically extend the at least one fixation element towards the anchor element when the ladder is extended from the collapsed storage configuration to the extended use configuration, wherein the fixation extension mechanism comprises a resilient member allowing the fixation element to be resiliently extended towards the anchor element, wherein the ladder is detached from the anchor element in the collapsed storage configuration, and the at least one fixation element of the ladder is configured to attach to the anchor element when the ladder is in the extended use configuration.
2. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein each of the ladder segments is telescopically displaceable in relation to the remaining plurality of ladder Segments.
3. The escape system according to claim 1, further comprising a first extension control mechanism configured to decelerate the ladder during at least part of the extension of the ladder from the collapsed storage configuration to the extended use configuration.
4. The escape system according claim 3, wherein the first extension control mechanism configured to sequentially extend the ladder segments one after another.
5. The escape System according to claim 1, wherein the fixation element and the anchor element are configured to be mutually detachable.
6. The escape system according to claim 5, further comprising a collapsing mechanism constructed and arranged to collapse the ladder from the extended use configuration to the collapsed storage configuration.
7. The escape system according to claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the ladder is configured for being secured to at least a part of a roof construction of the building, and the anchor element is configured for being secured to a façade of the building.
8. The escape system according to claim 7, wherein the at least one anchor element is a plurality of anchor elements, and wherein the at least one fixation element is a plurality of fixation elements.
9. The escape system according to claim 7, wherein the proximal end of the ladder is configured for being secured to at least one rafter of the roof construction.
10. The escape system according to claim 8, wherein the proximal end of the ladder is configured for being secured to at least one rafter of the roof construction.
11. The escape system according to claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the ladder comprises a second spacer element extending between a part of the ladder secured to at least a part of a roof construction of the building and the remaining plurality of ladder segments.
12. The escape system according to claim 1, wherein a second extension control mechanism allows extension of the ladder in a first stage by application of a first force, and extension in a second stage by application of a second force, and wherein the second force is greater than the first force.
13. An escape ladder for being mounting on a building, the ladder being securable at a proximal end thereof to the building and being extendible between a collapsed storage configuration and at extended use configuration, wherein the ladder comprises: a plurality of essentially rigid ladder segments, each of the ladder segments comprising at least one rung and being displaceable in relation to a remaining plurality of ladder segments of the plurality of essentially rigid ladder segments; a stopping mechanism configured to prevent the ladder segments from displacement beyond extension in the extended use configuration; and at least one fixation attached to or forming part of at least one of the ladder segments, the fixation element comprising a first spacer element, the first spacer element extending between the building and the ladder in the extended use configuration, and a fixation extension mechanism configured to automatically extend the at least one fixation element towards an anchor element when the ladder is extended from the collapsed storage configuration to the extended use configuration, wherein the fixation extension mechanism comprises a resilient member allowing the fixation element to be resiliently extended towards the anchor element, wherein the at least one fixation element of the ladder is configured to attach to the anchor element when the ladder is in the extended use configuration.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Embodiments of the invention will now be further described with reference to the drawings, wherein:
(2) FIG. 1 and FIGS. 9-12 illustrate an escape system according to embodiments of the invention; and
(3) FIGS. 2-8 and FIGS. 13-28 illustrate parts of an escape system according to embodiments of the invention.
(4) FIG. 1 illustrates: an escape system 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The escape system 100 comprises a ladder 102 secured at a proximal end 104 to the roof 106 of a building. In FIG. 1, the ladder 102 is in an extended use configuration spanning the façade 108 of the building from the roof 106 and down. The ladder comprises a plurality of telescopically displaceable rigid ladder segments 110 that each comprises one rung. A stopping mechanism 111, see FIG. 14 or FIG. 24, is preventing the ladder from further extension beyond the extended use configuration. The stopping mechanism is in the form of protrusion on adjacent ladder segments. At the inside of the tube 112 of outer one of the adjacent ladder segments 110 is a spring loaded protrusion, while a corresponding spring loaded protrusion on the outside of the tube 112 of an inner one of the adjacent ladder segments 110, and the two spring loaded protrusions are arranged to interlock when the adjacent ladder segments 110 have been extended, and to be collapsed in the collapsed storage configuration.
(5) A fixation element 114 of the ladder 102 attached to a ladder segment 110 is detachably attached to an anchor element 116 on the façade 108 of the building providing structural stability for the ladder 102. A first spacer element 118 of the fixation element 114 extends between the façade 108 and the ladder 102 providing a space between the two for a person to climb the ladder 102. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the proximal end 104 of the ladder 102 comprises a second spacer element 120 extending between the part of the ladder 102 secured to the roof 106 of the building and the remaining essentially rigid ladder segments 110. This allows for providing a space between the ladder 102 and the façade 108 of the building near the roof 106 and a constant distance between the ladder 102 and the façade 108 of the building from the roof 106 and down.
(6) Also visible in FIG. 1 is an open lid 122 of a housing 124 for storing the ladder 102 in the collapsed storage configuration.
(7) In FIG. 2, the ladder 102 is stored in the housing 124 in the collapsed storage configuration. The housing 124 and ladder 102 is secured through the roofing of the building to a rafter 126 of the roof construction. In the collapsed storage configuration, the ladder segments 110 are compressed and the fixation element 114 and second spacer element 120 are folded up for storage.
(8) In FIGS. 3-5, embodiments of the fixation element 114 and anchor element 116 are illustrated. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the anchor element 116 is oriented horizontally relative to the building, and the fixation element 114 is configured to detachably attach to the horizontal anchor element 116. In this configuration, attachment of the fixation element 114 to the anchor element 116 is particularly tolerant towards horizontal displacement of the ladder 102 relative to the building, while vertical movement of the ladder 102 is restricted. In this way, the attachment is able to carry a load. In FIG. 4, the anchor element 114 is oriented vertically relative to the building, and the fixation element 114 is configured to detachably attach to the vertical anchor element 116. The embodiment of FIG. 4 is accordingly particularly tolerant towards vertical displacement of the ladder 102 relative to the building. Vertical tolerance may be particularly important as manual vertical displacement of the ladder 102 for manual attachment is expectedly considerably more difficult than horizontal displacement of the ladder 102. FIG. 5 illustrates the vertically oriented anchor elements 116 secured to the façade 108 of the building in the vicinity of a window 128 for easy of manual attachment and improved structural stability in the vicinity of the window 128. See FIG. 6 for another embodiment with the ladder 102 in the extended use configuration spanning a window 128 of the building.
(9) FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate alternative embodiments of the escape system 100, wherein a distal end of the ladder opposite the proximal end of the ladder in the extended use configuration comprises support means 130. The support means 130 are engaged with the surface beneath the ladder 102 when the ladder 102 is in the extended use configuration. The support means 130 of FIG. 7 allows for a more compact collapsed storage configuration, while the support means 130 if FIG. 8 provide improved stability of the contact between the ladder 102 and surface.
(10) In one embodiment, a second extension control mechanism allows extension of the ladder 102 in a first stage by application of a first force, and extension in a second stage by application of a second force, wherein the second force is greater than the first force. This is facilitated by a relatively high coefficient of friction between the tubes 112 of the nine adjacent ladder segments 110 closest to ground. This relatively high coefficient of friction causes the last eight ladder segments 110 closest to ground to extend relative slowly for a controlled decent during the last 3 meters.
(11) FIGS. 9-12 illustrate an escape system 100 according to an embodiment of the invention at various degrees of extension. The illustrated embodied escape system 100 comprises a displaceable securing element 132 secured to part of the roof construction 106 of a building. In FIG. 9 the displaceable securing element is in a storage configuration retracted from the edge 134 of the roof 106 housing the ladder 102 in its collapsed storage configuration. The embodied escape system 100 further comprises a first extension control mechanism 136 in the form of a wire 138, e.g., made of steel secured to a wire drum 140, which in turn is secured to the roof construction 106. When the escape system 100 is activated, the break of the wire drum 136 is released and the displaceable securing element 132 is pulled by gravity towards the edge 134 of the roof 106 while being damped by the wire 138 and wire drum 140. The displaceable securing element 132 is allowed to roll on rollers 139 mounted below it.
(12) In FIG. 10, the displaceable securing element 132 has reached the edge 134 and the ladder 102 still in the collapsed storage configuration is partially suspended over the edge 134 of the roof 106. The gravitational pull on the suspended part of the ladder 102 causes the ladder 102 and displaceable securing element 132 to rotate towards a vertical configuration as illustrated in FIG. 11. A joint 142 of the displaceable securing element 132 prevents further rotation. Thereafter the gravitational pull sequentially extends the displaceable ladder segments 110 as illustrated in FIG. 12. The sequential extension is enabled by the dampening caused by the wire 138 connected to the ladder segment 110 furthest from the roof in the extended use configuration.
(13) In the embodiment of FIGS. 13-15 the ladder comprises a plurality of rigid ladder segments 110 being displaceable relative to each other in parallel planes.
(14) FIGS. 13-15 illustrate an embodiment of a fixation element 114 and anchor element 116. In this embodiment, the anchor element 116 is secured to the façade 108. The fixation element 116 comprises a wheel 144 allowing the proximal end 146 to roll along the façade 108 for achieving attachment to the anchor element 116 while pushing the ladder 102 away from the façade 108. The fixation element 114 further comprises a resilient connection member 146 for achieving resilient, detachable attachment between the fixation element 114 and anchor element 116.
(15) FIGS. 16-18 illustrate another embodiment of a fixation element 114 and anchor element 116. In this embodiment, the shape of the anchor element 116 allows the fixation element 114 and thereby also the ladder 102 to be pulled towards the façade 108 as the fixation element 114 attaches to the anchor element 114.
(16) FIGS. 19-21 illustrate yet another set of fixation element 114 and anchor element 116. In this embodiment, the fixation elements 114 are configured to extend towards the anchor elements 116 at angle not being normal to the façade 108 of the building. As illustrated in FIG. 21, the anchor elements 116 are spaced further apart than the ladder 102 is wide. When the fixation elements 114 are attached to the anchor elements 116 this provides a relatively high degree of structural stability as well as a relatively large amount of space for a person to climb in between the façade 108, the ladder segments 110 and the fixation elements 114.
(17) FIG. 22 illustrates the details of on embodied fixation element 114. The workings of the fixation element of FIG. 22 are illustrated in FIGS. 23-28. In FIG. 22 two adjacent ladder segments 110 are illustrated. These ladder segments 110 are connected by the fixation element 114 in manner allowing them to be displaced in parallel planes. The fixation element 114 comprises a first spacer element 118, a spring 148, as well as other mechanical components 150. The spring 148 allows the spacer element 118 to resiliently extend towards the façade 108 of the building.
(18) FIG. 23 illustrates that the fixation element 114 connects adjacent ladder segments 110 in a slideably, displaceable manner.
(19) FIGS. 24-26 illustrate unobstructed automatic extension of the fixation element 114. In FIG. 24 two adjacent ladder segments 110 are extended to a degree less than a first predetermined degree of displacement. In FIG. 25 the first predetermined degree of displacement has been reached in the first spacer element 118 is automatically extended towards the façade 108. In FIG. 26 the first spacer element 118 is fully extended and the adjacent ladder segments 110 have reached their maximum allowed degree of displacement.
(20) FIGS. 27-28 illustrate displacement of the adjacent ladder segments 110 in case of obstructed extension of the fixation element 114. In FIG. 27 the adjacent ladder segments 110 have been displaced beyond the first predetermined degree of displacement and the fixation element 114 is being automatically extended towards the façade 108 as a result thereof. At the instance depicted in FIG. 27 the extension of the fixation element 114 is being obstructed by an object exerting a force on the first spacer element 118 as illustrated by the arrow 152. Further displacement of the adjacent ladder segments 110 do not cause further extension of the first spacer element 118 while it is being obstructed by the object. Rather, further displacement causes the spring 148 to be loaded. The resilience provided by the loaded spring 148 would subsequently fully extend the first spacer element 118 and fixation element 114 if the object was removed. FIGS. 24-28 also show a collapsing mechanism 154 which is configured to automatically collapse the ladder from the extended use configuration to the collapsed storage configuration allowing convenient collapsing of the ladder for possible reuse.
