Abstract: The invention presents devices for controlled descent from buildings. Such a device includes a housing having a primary spool about which a cord is wound, a payload coupler for attaching a harness assembly to the housing, and an unwind control assembly for controlling the rate of exit of the cord from the housing. An inventive device kit may include a convertible storage unit used to protectively store a device and which, upon deployment, may be used as a protective helmet. In using an inventive device, a user attaches the device to a fixture in a building, dons a harness and the converted helmet, attaches the device to the harness, and exits the building from a window or roof.

Abstract: This system comprises: support portions (11) fixed to the building corresponding to the different floors (P) of said building; a series of evacuation walkways (12) mounted onto these support portions (11), and which extend around at least a portion of the perimeter of the floors, fitted with several windows (V) or feasible exits; several stairways (13) and access ramps (14) fitted between consecutive floors (P); a protective outer surface (2) made up of a series of panels (21); at least a proportion of the panels (21) of the protective outer surface (2) will be made of breakable material in order to provide openings in the aforementioned outer surface (2) for exiting or jumping to the outside; and cabinets (4) containing parachutes for personal use, accessible from at least the evacuation walkways (12) that correspond to the higher floors of the building.

Abstract: A personal, lightweight, high altitude rappel escape safety device is worn by an individual as a backpack and provides a safe means of lowering the individual from an elevated structure. The device comprises a structural body containing a mechanical device for slowly releasing a high strength cable. One end of the cable is secured to the structure prior to the user descending from the structure. The cable is released from a spool located inside the body and makes a circuitous path though a frictional structure. The structure contains baffles through which the cable extends. The friction caused by the pattern of release of the cable generates sufficient drag to safely lower a person from any altitude in a structure to the ground. The rate of descent may be adjusted via a braking mechanism.

Abstract: A belaying device for a rope comprises a cam able to rotate between a securing position corresponding to securing the rope by jamming effect against the stud and a separated position allowing the rope to run freely in the gap between the cam and the stud. The cam is associated with a triggering ratchet able to occupy either a locked position blocking the cam in the separated position or an unlocked position following a deliberate control action releasing said cam.

Abstract: Provided is speed-adjustable life-saving apparatus which comprises a housing, a drum disposed in the housing, a life rope and a resistance wheel hub motor. One end of the life rope is fastened and wound on the drum. The resistance wheel hub motor disposed in the drum comprises a wheel hub, a speed-variable damper assembly, a shift and a rotor, and is supported in the housing by a main shaft. The wheel hub is fixedly connected to the drum and drives the rotor through the speed-variable damper assembly. A unilateral diode is connected to the circuit of the rotor through external leads. The speed-adjustable life-saving apparatus provided herein is safe, reliable and convenient to use.

Abstract: A shaft with a gear and a small-diameter drum mounted and a different shaft with a gear and a large-diameter drum mounted are axially mounted in a rotatable condition across the inside of a housing. The gears are engaged with each other. A case has a horizontally long cavity part being open to one side, and rope insertion holes. The cavity part has, in a movable condition, an adjusting tool between an energizing means and a restricting means. The adjusting tool has a rope insertion hole. The rope is wound around the small-diameter drum and the large-diameter drum respectively in the same direction. The externally let-off rope obtained through an upper rope let-off hole has, at an upper end, a hook. The externally let-off rope obtained through a lower rope let-off hole is in a hanging-down condition resulting from insertion of the rope into the above rope insertion holes.

Abstract: A rappel device is used in rapidly descending from a height using a rope and then quickly disengaging from the rope. The rappel device comprises a body having a rim which defines a rope opening therein. The body is further adapted to be affixed to a harness. A lock extends across the rope opening. The lock frictionally engages a rope extending through the rope opening. A retracting mechanism manually releases the lock from engagement with the rope. The retracting mechanism is biased to a secured position whereby the lock is engaged with the rope. The retracting mechanism, when actuated, manually releases the lock to an open position whereby the rope is quickly released from the lock.

Abstract: A compact descender apparatus which is easy to use and easy to store for lowering a person from an elevated position to a relatively lower position, having a generally cylindrical housing; a spool mounted for rotation in the housing having an axis of rotation which is in orthogonal relationship to a front face of the housing; a rope stored on the spool having a free end portion which extends upwardly to a helical groove on an outer portion of a friction core which is mounted on an upper portion of said housing for controlling a rate of descent with the descender; and a camshaft rotatably mounted in the housing for adjusting the rate of descent. A tang extending downwardly from a lower portion of the housing and a pair of spaced apart bosses having apertures on an upper portion of said housing are provided for attaching the descender apparatus.

Abstract: An escape device including a woven fabric shaped rope installed in the inner space of a housing board, a braking member including a resistant frame, a handle, and a plurality of resistant rods spaced apart by compressing springs between the rods, the braking member provided to reduce the lowering speed of the device and a harness consisting of a waist belt and a bottom belt is provided. The device is used for safely lowering a person from high altitudes, such as a hotel, apartment, hospital or commercial building, onto the ground. The outside surface of the housing board may be configured to install a painting, picture or clock so that the housing board can be used as a displaying flame when the device is hung on the wall of room. The housing may be in the shape of any type of animal or cartoon character so that a user is familiar with it. The woven fabric rope defines one rope and is released by pulling one end of the rope.

Abstract: A worm gear mechanism driven by an electric motor and operatively coupled to a reel having a length of high tensile line for an emergency escape from a high structure. The reel is arranged within a casing, and a belt is connected to the casing for supporting a person's body. The worm gear mechanism rotates the reel, feeding out the line, and thereby lowering the user to a safe location below.

Abstract: An escape device for escaping from a building or other high area in an emergency comprises a worm gear mechanism driven by an electric motor and operatively coupled to a reel having a length of high tensile line wound around it, arranged within a casing, and a belt connected to the casing for supporting a person's body. The worm gear mechanism rotates the reel, feeding out the line, and thereby lowering the user to a safe location below.

Abstract: An abseil rescue system, comprising: a velocity control system with two brakes and two retarders; a rope winder with a rope; and a frame, having a base and a gallows with two height positions. The two brakes and the two retarders act on the rope, allowing for controlled and safe descent of a person. The base has a reel with a crank, where a transmission cord is wound up, which leads to the upper front end of the gallows, with a hook fastened to the free end of the transmission cord. By turning the crank, the gallows is brought in a high position to provide a high suspension point for the rope winder.

Abstract: An abseil rescue system with a velocity control system, allowing a user to descend on a rope, comprising two holders, two brakes, two retarders, and a frame. The retarder and the brake grip the rope of the abseil rescue system simultaneously, allowing to control the velocity of descent accurately. The weight of the user helps to grip the rope, such that for a tight grip the user is not required to apply much force.

Abstract: A single rope descending device, especially a portable descending device for use of a single person, comprises a receiving housing, a cap, an adjusting nut, and a rope windlass. The receiving housing is made up of a left and a right semi-circular hollow halves within which the rope windlass having a rope wound and raveled thereon is housed. Each half of the receiving housing is provided with a tapered protruding end wherein corresponding serrated clamping edges define the assembling part thereof to boost up the resistant force of the rope passed through the twist and turn formed thereby. The cap is screwed up to conic outer threads of the tapered protruding ends to clamp tight the tapered protruding ends against the rope.

Abstract: An emergency escape device for buildings in accordance with the present invention comprises a rotatably supported axle, a reel mounted on the shaft to rotate therewith, a string wound around the axle and having a first end securely attached to the axle and a second end, a weight means securely attached to the second end of the string, a cable wound around the reel and having a free end, the cable having a winding direction opposite to that of the string, a basket securely attached to the free end of the cable and having a weight smaller than that of the weight means, a hydraulic pump including a fluid path and an output shaft, a control valve mounted to the fluid path for controlling opening and closing of the fluid path to thereby control rotational movement of the output shaft, a transmission member for transmitting rotational movement of the output shaft to the axle, a rod mounted to the control valve for actuating the control valve, and a pull string having an end attached to the rod and a second end loca

Abstract: A life-saying travel bag includes a suitably long, wide and durable rope sewn with a zipper on each side such that the rope forms a substantially cylindrical bag when the side zippers are closed. A fastening mechanism is disposed near either end on the inside of the bag, and a fastening strap is arranged at either end of the bag for connecting to a shoulder strap for carrying. An upper cover and a lower cover are respectively connected to the ends of the bag by zippers. The upper cover accommodates a speed control means which has a narrow recess at its center for containing an adjusting rod with an eccentric shaft. The ends of the shaft are connected to a control lever which may bring the adjusting rod to rotate towards or away from the opening of the recess so that the rod may be retained at or disengage from the opening to achieve the object of control. The zippers may be opened so that the rope is extended to its full length.

Abstract: A personal portable life-saving device includes a housing, a reel set, at least a guide roller, a control disk, a braking unit, a metal strap and a body fastening means. In case a fire accident happens in a high building, the user may fasten the metal strap to any fixed object in the building, tie the body fastening means about his/her body and jump off the building by holding the housing. The user may adjust the dropping speed and land safely.

Abstract: A new and improved descent retarding device having a main U shaped steel frame (7) allowing a short, light, design. There are five aluminum or steel cross bars (3) (4) (5) which act as friction retarders when the 7/16" rope (8) is attached. Two of the friction bars (4) are slotted on one end. This allows them to swing open when loading. The rope (8) slips through the space unoccupied by the open bars. The rope (8) is placed around the bars which are then pulled closed, contacting the friction bars (4) with the main frame (7). The device is now tight and ready to use. The unique combination of springs (9), handle bar (5) and adjustable self locking wing nuts (6) working in conjunction with each other make a safe, easy to use new concept in descenders. Using a handle instead of holding the rope on the descender increases balance and prevent burns.

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.

Abstract: A portable assembly comprising a nylon flame retardant support rope, an adjustable size waist band and crotch harness and a lever controlled brake rope friction device. The user securely fastens the rope at the point of departure, threads the rope through the friction device and fastens the device to the harness. The lever on the friction device regulates the rate of descent from a full stop to the limiting rate prescribed by the friction ring assembly. Alternately, the user may hand hold the friction device for lowering a load fastened to the harness.

Abstract: This invention discloses a self-sufficient device enabling a person to descend and ascend with ease, which device includes a closed loop of cord depending from a frictionally controlled cord release apparatus that exerts braking on the looping movement of the closed loop of cord in one direction releasing the first member and taking up the second member thereof, while it allows substantially free looping movements in the other direction releasing the second member and taking up the first member of the closed loop of the cord, wherein the first member of the closed loop of cord includes a harness securely affixed thereto and the second member includes a handle and a stirrup slidably secured thereto, which handle and stirrup freely slide on the second member of the closed loop of cord when no load is exerted thereon, while the handle and stirrup grabs the second member of the closed loop of cord when a load is exerted thereon.

Abstract: A load lowering or rescue device for lowering a load or person from an elevated location, has a drum rotatably mounted on a frame. One end of a rope or cable is secured at the elevated location. The other end of the rope or cable is secured to the drum and a portion of the rope or cable is wound around the drum. A spring biased drum brake cooperates with the drum for controlling the lowering speed or for stopping the drum rotation. First and second brake action control members permit controlling the brake action in opposite directions, for example, one control member permits reducing the brake force for accelerating the lowering speed, while the other control member permits selectively increasing the brake force and stopping the lowering.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for transporting a person or persons vertically that comprises a closed loop of cord depending from a cylindrical roller with frictional braking means on which roller the cord is wound over a plurality of laps wherein the speed of the lowering motion of one member of the closed loop of cord depending from the cylindrical roller is effortlessly controlled by a small amount of tension exerted on the other member of the closed loop of cord depending from the cylindrical roller as the small amount of tension exerted on the other member of the closed loop of cord controls the magnitude of the frictional braking on the cylindrical roller. Consequently, a person secured to the one member of the closed loop of cord is able to lower oneself at a safe speed with ease by exerting a small amount of pull on the other member of the closed loop of cord.

Abstract: This invention relates to a self-sufficient device enabling a person to descend and ascend with ease, which device includes a closed loop of cord depending from a frictionally controlled cord release device wherein a person secured to one member of the closed loop of cord depending from the frictionally controlled cord release device by means of a harness is able to controll one's descending speed by exerting a small amount of tension on the other member of the closed loop of cord in the descending process. In the ascending process, a person secured to one member of the closed loop of cord by a harness is able to elevate oneself by using a stirrup slidably secured to the other member of the closed loop of cord 1 which stirrup includes a locking means that grabs the other member of the closed loop of cord when one stands on the stirrup applying a weight thereon, while the stirrup slides substantially freely on the other member of the closed loop of cord when no weight is applied thereon.

Abstract: A descent apparatus to control the descent of people or materials from physical heights, for example, buildings, aircraft, ships, trees or mountains and may be used for business, pleasure, and military purposes, under routine or emergency circumstances. The apparatus employs a movable lever arm spring bias toward the braking disposition which influences the amount of friction between various sections of the cable used for lowering as the various sections of the cable interactively contact one another in opposed directions about multiple rollers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a new and improved design associated with the fabrication and construction of a portable escape device wherein a cable is wound around a drum physically encased therein, said drum being mechanically interrelated with two separate and distinct brake mechanisms through a series of interrelated gears, the brake mechanisms capable of being automatically and/or manually actuated independent of each other or in combination therewith so as to control the rate of movement of said drum and thus regulate the rate of release of said cable wound around said drum. Furthermore, one of the brake mechanisms is air cooled and operates upon centrifugal force principals to achieve braking.

Abstract: This invention relates to an emergency escape system for escape from elevated structures such as sky-scrapers, high-rise apartment or office buildings, etc., which system enables one to lower oneself from any level of a high-rise building to ground level all by oneself without requiring any help from rescue crews wherein, with the minimum amount of physical effort, the descending motion and speed is completely controlled by the descending person. The sky-ride emergency system comprises a closed loop of rope or cable wound on a friction drum over a number of complete laps in a substantially tight relationship. The cylindrical surface of the friction drum nonrotatably secured to an elevated level has a high friction coefficient. The closed loop of rope depending from the friction drum includes at least one securing means such as a hook or ring affixed to the rope. The lower extremity of the closed loop of rope depending from the friction drum reaches down to a lower level such as ground level.

Abstract: This invention relates to a self-contained and self-sufficient device for lowering and raising oneself vertically without relying on any mechanical power, or any man power external to the system wherein the direction and speed in the vertical movement of a person is fully controlled with ease by that person himself or herself. The sky-ride vertical mobiity system of the present invention comprises a frictionally controlled rope release device secured to an upper level and a closed loop of rope depending from the frictionally controlled rope release device that is wrapped around a friction drum included in the frictionally controlled rope release device. Exertion of a pull of very small magnitude on one member of the closed loop of rope depending from the frictionally controlled rope release device creates a frictional braking of very large magnitude that is capable of suspending a heavy object secured to the other member of the closed loop of rope motionlessly in midair or lower it at a safe speed.

Abstract: A slide for frictionally engaging a flexible line to control a person's descent along the line. An outer shell has a helical opening in one side with a longitudinal offset at its lower end for receiving the line. An inner friction member, which is adjustable rotationally and longitudinally inside the outer shell, has a transverse slot in its inner end and a helical screw thread behind for frictionally receiving the line. Indicia on the friction member are visible at an opening in the outer shell to show the body weight for which the slide has been adjusted. The slide has a fail-safe lock acting between the outer shell and the friction member.

Abstract: This manually operated conveying apparatus for lowering loads is easy to operate, light in weight and most of all it is safe for use.The apparatus has a rope made into a big loop. It is supported by a shaft with a roller inside the frame. When a load is applied to said rope it produced tension that causes the shaft housings to swing in the direction going with the load and the shafts that are fixed to the shaft housings pressed said rope against the rollers. These pressures tend to hold the rope and stop the load from going down but as the weight of the load exceeds this pressures the load goes down producing another sets of forces, the forces of friction between the rope and the rollers, between the shaft and the rope and between the roller and the shafts. The combined forces produced by the pressures and the frictions are going in the opposite direction that tend to hold and stop the load from going down.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a fire emergency descent device utilizing straps is securable onto a persons back, and a spool-mounted line (wire) is controllably releasable through overhead wire guide supports adjustable to alter the hanging position of the strapped-in person, and rate of descent being controllable either manually by a manually-adjustable variable valve and a second valve normally preset to correspond to a persons weight to controllably regulate release of compressed air from a piston cylinder housing in which air becomes compressed by piston action resulting from spinning of the spool (spindle) during descent.