Occupant-controlled Patents (Class 182/11)
  • Patent number: 9914626
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an order picker with a wiring mechanism, belonging to the technical field of manned elevation equipment. The order picker with a wiring mechanism comprises a stationary part, an elevation mechanism and an elevation part, wherein the wire suitable for transmitting signals is connected between the stationary part and the elevation part. It also comprises a wire accumulator which acts on the wire in such a way that the wire is always tensioned between the stationary part and the elevation part; when the elevation part is raised, the wire accumulator starts to pay out the wire, and when the elevation part is lowered, the wire accumulator starts to stow the wire. The present invention adopts a wire accumulator structure which can avoid the wires which come from the chassis being nipped during elevation of the elevation structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Zhejiang Dingli Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Xu Shugen
  • Patent number: 9381926
    Abstract: An improved zip line trolley allowing a rider control of his or her speed while traversing along a suspended cable. The trolley comprises front and back wheels conjoined via left and right trolley plates and a handle bar. Front and back hand brake levers are mounted onto the handle bar. When front and back hand brake levers are squeezed by the rider, they create a constricting force which applies friction to the suspended cable via brake pads. This frictional force slows the rider's speed to his or her desired rate and brings the rider to a safe stop at a precise location along the suspended cable. The rider is able to quickly and easily remove the trolley from the suspended cable and transport it to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Inventor: Kenton Michael Brannan
  • Patent number: 9120023
    Abstract: The lever, wheel and axle, pulley, wedge, screw, and inclined plane are the six Simple Machines of the Classical era. Over 2000 years ago a man from Syracuse used them to create a way to move water against the pull of gravity. The Archimedes' screw is still a standard for simple efficiency. In homage to those early machines and the dreamers who built them, the Human Flying Apparatus provides a carriage, wheels and an axle, a harness, and a braking and steering system and, in specific embodiments, thrusters, all suspended from a single rail, which allows a human being to soar in simulated flight that is safe, sustained, and suitable for all skill levels. “For once you have tasted flight, you will walk the Earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you long to return.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Inventor: Elizabeth Wales Burroughs
  • Patent number: 9016432
    Abstract: A descent control device for controlling rotational motion of an object includes: at least one drive assembly for rotationally engaging the rotating object; a first substantially planar ferromagnetic moving element in rotationally locked engagement with at least one drive assembly and comprising at least one recess formed in a surface thereof having at least one magnet fixedly disposed therein; a second substantially planar ferromagnetic moving element in rotationally locked engagement with at least one drive assembly, and comprising at least one recess formed in a surface thereof having at least one magnet fixedly disposed therein; and at least one conducting plate disposed proximate the first and second moving elements. A magnetic field may be induced by rotational movement of the first or second moving element relative to at least one conducting plate in a direction to oppose acceleration of at least one drive assembly as it rotationally engages the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Rapid Egress Descent Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Hartman, Dan S. Smith
  • Patent number: 8770346
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Inventor: Marvin M. May
  • Patent number: 8272476
    Abstract: A magnetic descent control device is disclosed. The device comprises an input shaft affixed to a rotating driven sheave acting as a drive assembly, which grips a cable guiding the descent path of a body carrying cage. The input shaft has a shoulder upon which rests a rotor. The rotor is encased within a front and back enclosure of conductive material. Disposed along at least one surface of the rotor and/or at least one of the conductors, is a series of magnets such that rotation of the rotor relative to the conductors creates relative motion between the magnets' magnetic field and the conductor inducing eddy currents in the conductor that oppose the magnetic field creating a rotational braking force. As a result, very precise and/or controllable descent may be obtained over a broad range of descent angles and/or distances with little or no mechanical wear or risk of overheating. Preferably, the sheave gripping the cable may have a circumferential groove to better improve traction and grip of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Rapid Egress Descent Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Hartman, Dan S. Smith
  • Patent number: 8132650
    Abstract: A device for the safe descent of people or cargo along the cable, for example, for the salvation of people in case of fire in high-rise building. To provide the salvation of a few people during the same rescue operation, the device ensures movement along the cable in both directions, downwards and upwards. There is no need for any extensive preparation before using the device. The cable, with or without a handing device, is fixed in the point of lowering, dropped downwards with the weight and then is reeled three times upon the contact disk. Such connection ensures moving the contact disk along the cable without sliding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Inventor: Yuriy ShterenBerg
  • Patent number: 7909139
    Abstract: The present invention is a powered lift platform including a platform, at least one guide rail section in operative contact with the platform, each of the at least one guide rail sections comprising at least one guide rail and in which a first end of each of the guide rail sections is configured to removably attach to a second end of a second guide rail section. The invention also includes a lift mechanism supported by the platform, a lift guide in operative contact with the lift mechanism and attached to the upper portion of the upper guide rail, a power supply to operate the lift mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, at least one wheel is operatively attached to the powered lift platform. Also presented is a method for securing the powered lift platform to a columnar-like support. Also presented is an extendable standoff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventors: Lewis J. Blue, William E. Meier
  • Patent number: 7445086
    Abstract: This is a device that will provide additional security for individuals who work on extension ladders. It can be fit to any extension ladder and provide a support mechanism so that, if the ladder were ever to shift backward, it would stop the ladder from shifting, thereby protecting the worker. Because of the telescoping nature of the tube, it provides protection and it may be used in a variety of settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Inventor: Daniel Sizemore
  • Patent number: 7404360
    Abstract: A trolley for traveling along a cable. The trolley may include a frame having a first end, a second end, and a rail positioned between the first and second ends. A brake pad may connect to the frame. A sheave mount may also connect to the frame and include a sheave for rolling along the cable. A carriage may connect to the frame and include a user mount for suspending a user. The carriage may selectively travel along the rail through a continuous range of motion to control a braking force generated by the trolley between the brake pad and the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Inventor: Eric S. Cylvick
  • Publication number: 20070235254
    Abstract: A large winch on the building which lowers a cable to the ground, and this is secured at a 20 to 45 degree angle. persons can then escape the building by sliding down the wire using a speed control mechanism and a harness. Up to 1440 persons could be evacuated in one hour. More could be evacuated by using more cables such as one on each corner of the building.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventor: Charles Dean Soucek
  • Publication number: 20040182645
    Abstract: The system for safe descent of people or cargoes, for example for rescuing people in case fire in high-rise buildings consists of a device for control movement along the cable, the cable itself and a connection between them. There is no need for any serious preparation before using the system: the cable by means of hanging device or without them is dropped downwards or the cable is discharged from the cross bow to the lower object where the harpoon fixes itself. The control over the speed of the descent is performed automatically by means of electric frictional brake. Required energy is used from energy weight of descending object. The rotor of a generator of direct current and the axis of the movable disk of the brake is connected with the axis of the contact disk through the reducer. Three revolutions of the cable are reeled upon this contact disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventor: Yuriy ShterenBerg
  • Publication number: 20030146045
    Abstract: A propulsion unit is adapted to propel a selected tip element into a structure along with a cable attached to the tip element. The cable is secured with respect to the structure and apparatus is provided that cooperates with the cable to allow at least one person at a time to move along the cable to safety. In a preferred embodiment, the propulsion unit is similar to an artillery piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventor: Frank B. Porter
  • Publication number: 20030051429
    Abstract: There is provided a roof safety system for facilitating a unencumbered lateral movement of a user's safety tether line along a length of a roof truss. The system comprises first and second elongated anchor members that are respectively positioned at first and second locations along the length of the roof truss. Moreover, a tension line is engaged to the first and second elongated members to extend therebetween and is further slidably connectable by the user's safety tether line. By doing so, the tension line facilitates the unencumbered lateral movement of the user's safety tether line between the first and second positions along the length of the roof truss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventor: Fred E, Hovenier
  • Patent number: 5038536
    Abstract: A high building is provided with a permanent bracing system which also serves for accessing upper levels of the building. The bracing system includes inclined guys permanently attached at mounting points at an upper level of the building and being anchored on the ground at points spaced apart from the building. At least one of the bracing guys supports a transportation device commuting along the guy between the ground and the upper level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Inventor: Juan De Mendoza Sans
  • Patent number: 4934277
    Abstract: A rescue device for use in traversing a cable of an aerial transportation system, the rescue device including a frame carried by a pair of wheels for movement along the cable, the frame including a portion extending below the cable, and a lever arm having opposite ends and being pivotally connected intermediate its opposite ends to the downwardly extending portion of the frame. A suspension device such as a harness is attached to one end of the lever arm and is intended to support the rescuer. A brake pad or shoe is mounted on the opposite end of the lever arm and is positioned below the cable. The weight of the rescuer on the harness functions to cause engagment of the brake pad with the cable. A brake control lever projects from the end of the lever arm supporting the brake pad and is pulled downwardly by the rescuer to control the force of the brake pad against the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Assignee: Evacuation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Flint K. Smith, Robert T. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 4256199
    Abstract: A self-powered, cable-mounted trolley for moving the load along a cable includes a housing, pulleys including at least one driven pulley journaled for rotation in the housing for frictionally engaging the cable passing therethrough and a motor and transmission to supply power to the driven pulley. Means are provided for attaching the load to the housing.The trolley is useful in a building rescue system for moving a load upwardly and downwardly on a tensioned cable attached to an upper portion of the building and extending downwardly to a safe location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1981
    Inventor: Archibald B. Sellards