Escape device

Abstract

 An escape device for use with a flight of stairs, comprises a slide that extends in the longitudinal direction of the flight of stairs and can be moved between a storage position and a use position, in which storage position the slide leaves the treads of the flight of stairs essentially free, and in which use position the slide extends transversely over the treads of the flight of stairs. The slide can be unrolled from the storage position into the use position and in the storage position is preferably on one longitudinal side of the flight of stairs.

Description

[0001] The invention relates in general to an escape device comprising an elongated slide that can be moved between a storage position and a use position.

[0002] The invention relates in particular to an escape device for use with a flight of stairs, comprising a slide that extends in the longitudinal direction of the flight of stairs and that can be moved between a storage position and a use position, in which storage position the slide leaves the treads of the flight of stairs essentially free, and in which use position the slide extends transversely over the treads of the flight of stairs.

[0003] An escape device of this type for use with a flight of stairs is disclosed in US-A 5 535 848. This known escape device has a chute-shaped, rigid slide that can be folded back against a side wall or against the balustrade of the flight of stairs.

[0004] The disadvantage of this known escape device is that the slide takes up a fairly large amount of space in the storage position. With the slide in this position, the side wall behind it is screened by the slide, as a result of which it is not readily accessible for any work. This problem also arises when the slide is folded back against the balustrade, with the additional aspect that a visual obstacle is then also produced which impedes the view through the balustrade.

[0005] The aim of the invention is to provide an escape device which better meets the requirements in these respects. This aim is achieved in that the slide can be spread out, for example rolled out or folded out, from the storage position into the use position.

[0006] As a consequence of the fact that the slide is rolled up or folded up in the storage position, the dimensions thereof are limited. The wall or the balustrade located alongside it consequently remains free from obstructions, which increases the degree of acceptance of the escape device according to the invention. In addition, in the use position the slide can nevertheless offer an adequately large escape route.

[0007] Preferably, the slide can also be rolled up or folded up from the use position into the storage position, as a result of which the slide can easily be stored again after use.

[0008] To increase safety, the slide can be made of a flexible material, such as fire-resistant sheeting. In connection with stability, the slide can have two longitudinal edges, wherein the one longitudinal edge is fixed to the longitudinal side of the flight of stairs and the other longitudinal edge comprises a stiffening edge. This stiffening edge has fastening means for fastening said stiffening edge to the flight of stairs when the slide is in the use position. Despite the flexible nature of the sheet material, a stable slide can be provided in the use position by means of the stiffening edge fastened to the flight of stairs.

[0009] In order to increase the stability, the longitudinal edges can be made up of longitudinal stiffeners and longitudinal stiffeners can extend between and parallel to the longitudinal edges. These longitudinal stiffeners ensure that the slide does not sag too much between the bearing points on the treads of the stairs. Optionally, the slide can have an inflatable element.

[0010] The ease of use of the escape device according to the invention can be increased if the slide has two inflatable tubes located some distance apart, each of which tubes forms a longitudinal guide. First of all the escape device can be easily and firmly fixed to the relevant longitudinal side of the flight of stairs by means of the case. Furthermore, the slide is well protected in the case against damage and the like. The lid can also serve as a stiffening edge.

[0011] The escape device according to the invention has been described above in combination with a flight of stairs. As an alternative, the escape device can, however, also be used suspended freely, for example between a balcony and the ground floor. For this purpose the slide can be fixed to the external wall of a building such that it can be swung towards the ground.

[0012] Finally, the invention also relates to a slide that is intended for use with the escape device according to the invention.

[0013] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a few illustrative embodiments of the escape device shown in the figures.

Figure 1 shows the escape device in the storage position, fitted on the stairs.

Figure 2 shows the escape device in the use position.

Figure 3 shows a cross-section of the escape device in the storage position.

Figure 4 shows a cross-section of the escape device from Figure 2 in the use position.

Figure 5 shows a second embodiment of the escape device in cross-section, in the storage position.

Figure 6 shows a cross-section of the escape device according to Figure 5 in the use position.

Figure 7 shows a third embodiment in cross-section, in the storage position.

Figure 8 shows a cross-section of the escape device according to Figure 7 in the use position.

[0014] The escape device shown in Figures 1 and 2 is indicated in its entirety by reference numeral 1. It is fitted on a flight of stairs 2, that is delimited by a side wall 3 and balustrade 4. In the illustrative embodiment shown the escape device has been fitted to the longitudinal side of the flight of stairs 2 close to the side wall 3, but the escape device 1 can also be fitted to the longitudinal side of the flight of stairs 2 close to the balustrade 4.

[0015] The escape device consists of a case 5, that is made up of a trough 6, firmly fixed to the flight of stairs 2 by means of fixing means 8, and a lid 7.

[0016] As can also be seen in Fig. 3, a slide, which is indicated in its entirety by 9 and is rolled up around a rotary shaft 10, is located in the case 5. The slide 9 is made of sheet material 11, preferably fire-retardant sheet material, that is stiffened by means of ribs or longitudinal stiffeners 12.

[0017] The slide 9 is furthermore fixed to the lid 7, which, as is shown in Figs. 2 and 4, can be lifted from the trough 6, after which the slide can be unrolled into the position shown in Fig. 2. The lid 7 can then be fixed to the flight of stairs by means of fixing means 13, after which the escape device is ready for use. There is a buffer cushion 14 at the bottom of the slide 9.

[0018] In the use position of the escape device shown in Fig. 2, the lid 7 and the trough 6 also have the function of guiding the person present on the slide 9, so that he or she does not land on the treads 15 of the flight of stairs 2 which are located alongside the slide.

[0019] In the variant shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a case 5 that consists of a tube 20 in which a slit 16 has been provided is used. The slide 9 has been rolled up around the rotary shaft 10 and protrudes outwards through this slit 16. There is a longitudinal stiffening 17 on the longitudinal edge of the slide 9 that is outside the case 5, which longitudinal stiffener 17 can be fixed to the flight of stairs analogously to the lid 7 in Fig. 2.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 6, the slide also has two inflatable tubes 18, which in the inflated state serve for guiding the person present on the slide 9.

[0021] The third embodiment shown in Figure 7 also has a case 5 consisting of a trough 6 and lid 7. The slide 9 consists of a number of strips 23 joined to one another by elastic hinges 21, 22, as shown in Figure 8. In the storage position in Figure 7, these strips are folded up in a zig-zag shape in the trough 5.

[0022] As shown in Figure 8, the elastic hinges 21 open in a V-shape on the underside of the slide 9 and the elastic hinges 22 open in a V-shape on the top of the slide 9. As a result the zig-zag shaped state as shown in Figure 7 can be obtained.

[0023] The trough 5 consists of a base 24 with fixed side wall 25, as well as a side wall 26 that can be folded out and that, in turn, is also joined by an elastic hinge to the bottom wall 24. As a result, after removal of the lid 7, the slide 9 can easily be folded out sideways because the side wall 26 of the trough can also be folded down.

[0024] The strip 23 located on the side of the lid is provided with a hingeable upright panel 28, which, in turn, is fixed to the lid 7 by means of the strip 29.

Claims

1. Escape device comprising an elongated slide (9) that can be moved between a storage position and a use position, characterised in that the slide can be spread out from a storage position into the use position transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction thereof.

2. Escape device according to Claim 1 for use with a flight of stairs (2), comprising a slide (9) that extends in the longitudinal direction of the flight of stairs and can be moved between a storage position and a use position, in which storage position the slide (9) leaves the treads (15) of the flight of stairs (2) essentially free, and in which use position the slide (9) extends transversely over the treads (15) of the flight of stairs (2), characterised in that the slide (9) can be spread out from the storage position into the use position.

3. Escape device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the slide (9) is elongated.

4. Escape device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the slide (9) is made of a flexible material, such as fire-resistant sheeting.

5. Escape device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the slide (9) has two longitudinal edges, wherein the one longitudinal edge (6, 10) can be fixed to one longitudinal side of the flight of stairs (2) and the other longitudinal edge comprises a stiffening edge (7, 17).

6. Escape device according to Claim 5, wherein the stiffening edge (7, 17) has fastening means (13) for fastening said stiffening edge (7, 17) to the flight of stairs (2) when the slide (9) is in the use position.

7. Escape device according to Claim 6, wherein the fastening means (13) are located at least close to the top of the slide (2).

8. Escape device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the slide (9) has a buffer element (14) at the bottom.

9. Escape device according to one of Claims 5 - 8, wherein the longitudinal edges are made up of longitudinal stiffeners (6, 7, 10, 17).

10. Escape device according to one of Claims 5 - 9, wherein longitudinal stiffeners (12) extend between and parallel to the longitudinal edges.

11. Escape device according to Claim 19, wherein the longitudinal stiffeners (12) are made of plastic or metal.

12. Escape device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the slide (2) has an inflatable element (18).

13. Escape device according to Claim 12, wherein the slide (2) has two inflatable tubes (18) located some distance apart, each of which tubes forms a longitudinal guide.

14. Escape device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the slide is in the folded-up state in the storage position.

15. Escape device according to preceding Claim 14, wherein the slide is folded up in a zig-zag shape in the storage position.

16. Escape device according to Claim 15, wherein the slide has strips (23) which are joined to one another by means of elastic hinges (21, 22).

17. Escape device according to Claim 16, wherein the strips (23) and elastic hinges (21, 22) consist of a plastic whole.

18. Escape device according to Claim 17, wherein each elastic hinge (21, 22) is formed by a region having a thickness that is less than the thickness of the strips (23).

19. Escape device according to Claim 18, wherein each elastic hinge (21, 22) is essentially in line with one surface of the slide and on the other surface is delimited by a recess.

20. Escape device according to Claim 19, wherein the recesses open alternately on the one and the other surface.

21. Escape device according to the preceding Claims 1 - 13, wherein the slide is rolled up in the storage position.

22. Escape device according to Claim 21, wherein the slide (9) can be rolled up from the use position into the storage position.

23. Escape device according to Claim 21 or 22, wherein an elongated case (5) is provided that can be fixed to one longitudinal side of the flight of stairs, which case comprises an open trough (6), a lid (7) and a rotary shaft (10), a longitudinal edge of the slide (9) being joined to said shaft (10) in such a way that in the storage position the slide (9) is enclosed by the case (5) and the lid (7).

24. Escape device according to Claim 23, wherein the other longitudinal edge of the slide (9) is joined to the lid (7).

25. Escape device according to Claim 24, wherein the stiffening edge is formed by the lid (7).

26. Escape device according to one of Claims 21 or 22, wherein an elongated case (20) is provided that has a longitudinal slit (16), in which case (20) a rotary shaft (10) is located to which a longitudinal edge of the slide (9) is joined, which slide (9) extends through the longitudinal slit (16) in such a way that the other longitudinal edge (17) is outside the case (20).

27. Escape device according to Claims 21 - 26, wherein a handle is provided for manual rolling up of the slide (9) from the use position into the storage position.

28. Escape device according to Claims 16 - 27, wherein the slide is made up of strips of material that extend in the longitudinal direction thereof, which strips are joined in the transverse direction.

29. Escape device according to Claim 13, wherein the slide comprises parallel lamellae which are joined to one another by links.

30. Slide (9) obviously intended for use with an escape device according to one of the preceding claims.

Drawing