Abstract: An emergency escape rope apparatus includes an elongated rope with knots or other protruberances spaced along it and which is arrayed within a container. The container has a plurality of elongated protuberance receiving tubes positioned in it, each tube having a slot extending along its wall and opening at an open end of the tube. In an order from one tube to the next, each tube sequentially receives a selected number of knots with loops of the rope between the knots extending through the slots. Between one tube and the next, an anchor segment of the rope between two sequential knots is stretched taut between the top of the one tube and the bottom of the slot of the next tube to retain the knots within the one tube until the rope secured by the next tube has payed out. The container has a clip in its cap for removably retaining a cap end of the rope for quick access.

Abstract: A smoke alarm network for buildings and the like comprises a plurality of stations having a smoke detector alarm unit installed in each. Station switching members are connected at each station, and a central control panel is provided with switching members connected with each of the stations and responsive to identifiably indicate alarm signals sent by the station detectors to the control panel. An alert switch is mounted on the control panel and is operably connected with each detector-alarm unit for selectively activating the alarm positioned at one or more of the stations.