Abstract: A ladder with extendible legs that may be individually and selectively, secured in the desired extent of protraction by a relatively uncomplicated locking mechanism. The locking mechanism may be incorporated in a ladder having at least a pair of support legs with an extension leg carried by, and slidable axially along, each support leg. A reaction surface is presented from each support leg. A pair of locking cam surfaces is also presented from each support leg. The locking cam surfaces are disposed in spaced opposition to each reaction surface. An engaging plate is presented from each of the extension legs. The engaging plate is slidably interposed between the reaction surface and the opposed locking cam surfaces. A locking member is, in turn, operatively disposed between the engaging plate and the opposed locking cam surfaces.
Abstract: A quartz tube carousel device for vertically storing quartz tubes used in semiconductor fabrication. The carousel stores the quartz tubes in an upright position to conserve floor space and, further, provides for 360 degree rotation for ease of access. Laminar air flow is provided through openings in the device for purging the tubes. Optional features allow for different size, shape and number of tubes to be stored, as well as forced gas purging of the quartz tubes.
Abstract: The invention relates to a jointed ladder comprising two ladder elements connected by a joint. According to the invention a telescopic ladder element is supported movably on each ladder element and can be locked by means of a locking mechanism in order to be able to adjust the jointed ladder to different operating heights. The jointed ladder of the invention can be utilized for all purposes.
Abstract: A moving staircase escape-way from offshore platforms, which consists of two pairs of parallel wire ropes that pass through the ends of a plurality of rolls spaced equally apart. Selected rolls, belonging to the first pair of steel ropes lying substantially parallel to rolls belonging to the second pair of wire ropes, are connected to one another by pairs of non-skid rungs, spaced equally apart. The space between the pairs of rungs being about the same as the average height of a man. The moving staircase is fitted onto pulleys on the edge of a cylindrical drum, shafts of which fit into a support on the offshore platform.
Abstract: A ladder adaptable platform for attachment to a typical extension ladder which has a pair of parallel side rails and spaced rungs. The ladder adaptable platform has a platform surface which is engageable at the backside of a desired rung, the platform surface having side frames which each articulably support rail engaging channels. The ladder adaptable platform may be moved up or down the ladder by lifting the platform from engagement with its rung, sliding the channels up or down the ladder rails to a new desired rung to which the platform surface may be engaged.
Abstract: An improved foldable extension escape ladder is provided and consists of a plurality of ladder segments. A mechanism for oppositely hinging each ladder segment to each other so that when in a folded position it will be used as a piece of furniture and when in an unfolded position it will be used as the escape ladder. Another mechanism is for retaining the ladder segments together in the folded up position and hanging the ladder segments by the first ladder segment, from an open window of a building in the unfolded position so that a person may climb down the escape ladder to the ground during a fire.
Abstract: An egress and evacuation harness consisting of a single piece of strong, flexible material cut to a generally sector-shaped T-shaped pattern, the ends of which are secured together to form a seat. A shoulder strap secures a wearer in the seat.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 18, 1990
Date of Patent:
December 10, 1991
Assignee:
Frost Engineering Development Corporation
Abstract: A scaffolding guard rail post having hooks connected thereto for securing guard rails to the post. The post comprises a longitudinal rod and each hook comprises a longitudinal leg portion connected to the rod and an arm portion. The arm portion has a lower arcuate portion, an upper arcuate portion, a longitudinal web portion intermediate to the lower arcuate portion and the upper arcuate portion, and a longitudinal lip portion. A corner guard rail post has a pair of upper hooks connected thereto and a pair of lower hooks connected thereto. The guard rail posts are secured to a scaffolding frame during usage thereof.
Abstract: The combination 10 of a foot restraint platform 12 designed primarily for use by an astronaut being rigidly and permanently attached to an end effector 14 which is suitable for attachment to the manipulator arm 16 of a remote manipulating system. The foot restraint platform, is attached by a brace 36 to the end effector 14 at a location away from the grappling interface of the end effector. The platform comprises a support plate 18 provided with a pair of stirrups 21,22 for receiving the toe portion of an astronaut's boots when standing on the platform and a pair of heel retainers 23,24 in the form of raised members which are fixed to the surface of the platform and located to provide abutment surfaces for abutting engagement with the heels of the astronaut's boots when his toes are in the stirrups. The heel retainers 23,24 preclude a backward sliding movement of the feet on the platform and instead require a lifting of the heels in order to extract the feet.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 4, 1991
Date of Patent:
December 10, 1991
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Abstract: Climbing apparatus including a rolling tower support platform, and method and tooling for the same wherein one of two spaced double walls of each of opposed tower rails of a tower ladder is snugly gripped by detents formed on the end portions of spaced rail rungs and the extremities of the rungs are flared, the rails including expanded bottoms for snap lock and threaded lock assembly with unique caster boxes of a caster wheel assembly for the tower rails and a support platform mounted on the rails with slidable carriages having double grip and threaded pin tightening arrangements and also having sockets to receive collapsible hand rail assemblies with unique hinges for gates thereof.
Abstract: A support having two support sections slidably engaged with each other includes a lock that can be used to releasably fix the size of the support surface defined by the support sections. The lock is mounted to one of the support sections and includes a shaft that can be received by any of the series of openings defined by the remaining support section. When the shaft is located within an opening, the positions of the support sections relative to each other are fixed, and the support surface will remain stable during use.
Abstract: A safety guard apparatus for use on a pitched roof includes two or more units having a first member attached to a roof member and second and third members serving as an upright guard rail support. A distal end of the first member has fixed thereto a tubular collar having an axis at a right angle to the first member, and a fourth rigid elongate member is adjustably slidably fitted through the collar so that a lower end thereof may abut a vertical wall below the roof to support the apparatus above the roof.
Abstract: The mobile scaffolding unit has a tower, a work platform and a service platform. The work platform can be resupplied by the service platform so as to maintain the work platform at a working elevation. The work and service platforms are located on the vertically orientated tower. Each platform is provided with electric motors to propel the platforms along the tower. The service platform is located below the work platform. The work platform has hatches in its deck for receiving cargo. The hatches are covered with doors. Cargo is located on raised platforms on the deck of the service platform. The service platform then moves up the tower to a position immediately beneath the work platform. The cargo is received by the hatches on the work platform as the service platform moves up the tower, wherein when the service platform is immediately below the work platform, the cargo is at the same level as the work platform deck. The cargo is then moved onto the work platform deck.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 28, 1990
Date of Patent:
November 26, 1991
Assignee:
William F. Mims, Jr.
Inventors:
William F. Mims, Jr., Richard T. Bramlett, Kenneth G. Oatman
Abstract: A system for holding a ladder in a secure position relative to an object against which the ladder rests. The system comprises a strap that contacts the ladder and the object and secures the ladder to the object. The system is also comprised of a first buckle and a second buckle, with each buckle being able to be placed at a desired position on the strap. Each end of the strap passes through a respective buckle and is positioned about a side rail of the ladder. The present invention also pertains to a buckle for holding a strap. The buckle comprises a first member having a first hole. Additionally, the buckle is comprised of a second member having a second hole. There is also a third member having a third hole. The third member is in sliding relationship with the first and second members such that the first side of the third member can slide over the first hole and contact the strap extending therethrough.
Abstract: A safety apparatus to be worn by a person located at an elevated position for releasable securement to a holding device, e.g., a rope grab, etc., to protect the person from falling. The apparatus also enables the person to move about relatively unencumbered when supported by it, while also enabling the person to repel down a safety line located adjacent the holding device. The apparatus comprises a first belt, a second belt, and a pair of extendable connecting straps. The first belt is releasably secured about the waist of the person and includes at least one connector, e.g., a D-ring, for releasable securement to the holding device. The second belt comprises an elongated web-like member having a pair of ends, each of which is fixedly secured to the first belt. The second belt is disposed in a stowed position interposed betweeen the first belt and the lower portion of the back of the person but is arranged to be pulled out and down from the first belt to form a seat for the buttocks of the person.
Abstract: An improved handrail is provided to aid a visually handicapped person in moving up and down stairs. The handrail extends along the stairs. Indicia on the handrail identifies the steps along which the handrail extends. The indicia is in the braille system and includes characters which project downwardly away from a lower side of the handrail.
Abstract: A movable support structure from which a window washer is suspended that utilizes the parapet wall of a building as a support or runway by directing the force applied by the weight of the washer downwardly into the parapet wall. An upright frame above the parapet wall extends upwardly in substantially the same vertical plane of the parapet wall. The upright frame is supported on the parapet wall by a first set of wheels that rest on the wall. The upright frame may be further maintained on the roof by a second set of wheels that rest on the roof. The wheels roll along the roof and wall to facilitate horizontal movement of the apparatus. The horizontal movement is guided by internal and external guide rollers that engage the respective surfaces of the parapet wall. In addition, a ladder depends over the edge of the wall such that a window washer may safely step over the parapet wall and into a position to begin cleaning.
Abstract: A hunting device that is selectively convertible between a tree stand position and a reclined sitting position, thus providing a single apparatus for hunting both large and small game. The apparatus includes a support member, which is capable of pivoting relative to a base member, such that when the apparatus is in the reclined sitting position, the support member pivots to allow the hunter to assume the reclined position. The support member is spring biased in the upright position to allow the hunter to quickly shift from a reclined position to an upright sitting position. In the tree stand position, the base member elevates the support member against the trunk of a tree to allow the support member to serve as an elevated platform for the hunter. The base member includes a first section and a second section pivotally connected to the first section so that the apparatus may be folded into a hand-operated cart with detachable wheels.
Abstract: A window escape comprises a sturdy housing secured to a building wall above a window or the like. The housing has an open bottom and a rotatable sleeve supported between two side walls. A cover is removably retained over the front of the housing. A long rope is tied at one end to the sleeve and at the other end to the cover. Normally the rope is wound around the sleeve and is hidden from view by the cover. In an emergency, a person removes the cover from the housing and throws the cover out the open window. The falling cover unwinds the rope from the sleeve. After the rope is unwound, the person can easily grasp it and descend to safety.
Abstract: A ladder leg extender apparatus for attachment to the leg of a ladder to lengthen the leg as required to support the ladder on an uneven support surface. The apparatus comprises a sleeve secured to a shortened leg of the ladder which slidably carries an extendible support leg therein for movement inwardly and outwardly of the sleeve to adjust the length of the leg. Infinitely variable vertical adjustment of the support leg is achieved by (1) loosening two turn bolts which secure the support leg between the bolts on one side and a coarse file on the other side thereof within the sleeve and then (2) tightening the bolts when the support leg is properly slidably adjusted with the associated ladder is in an upright and level orientation.