Abstract: An aerial rescue device is a powered platform that quickly elevates the fireman to height, or powers the secure descent of a rescued person. A powered carriage rides between two extensible booms. Two rungs secured to the carriage enable a fireman to stand on one and hold onto the other. The two booms have rails within. The rails guide trolleys secured to the ends of the two rungs. The carriage is moved by two cables. Each cable is connected at one end to the carriage and at the other end to two winches. These winches are computer controlled to enable the carriage to ride up and down while the booms are being extended. Preferably, there are also rotatable boom segments at the top of the booms.

Abstract: An extensible, vehicle-mounted ladder with movable rungs is used to aid in raising and lowering in rescue operations. The ladder includes a rotatable base having storage space to hold extra rungs supporting the variable extended positions of the ladder. The ladder includes a plurality of ladder units or extensible booms. Each ladder unit includes four C-rails. A first ladder unit is attached to the rotatable base and the others extensible therefrom. The ladder includes rungs that slidably engage within two of the C-rails. A drive cable connects the rungs in a closed loop and is powered to enable rung rotation in a closed loop around the ladder units within the C-rails.

Abstract: A highway motor vehicle is equipped to be driven by a handicapped person in a mobility chair. The preferred embodiment permits rear passenger seating commonly found in automobiles and includes a rear stowage compartment for purchased items. The vehicle has a powered hatch and ramp. This hatch and ramp permit a handicapped person to enter to the driving position in a wheelchair. Wheelchair wheel locks and seatbelts secure the wheelchair and handicapped person in place in the driver's position in the vehicle. The hatch is closable and the ramp withdrawable so that the vehicle is drivable on the highway. Collapsible and rotatable steering controls are either part of the front hatch or are rotatably mounted to the floor and moved into a position in front of the driver. Steering and other operational controls may be geared or electronic to suit the handicapped person's abilities.

Abstract: A transportable conveyer is provided for simultaneous rescue of multiple persons and objects. The conveyer is capable of being stored and transported in a compact folded position. The preferred embodiment is an endless conveyer with three elements: a belt equipped with a plurality of eyes for a hook along the circumferential surface of the belt; a vehicle to transport the belt to a site where rescue is required; and a motor for rotating the belt to raise or lower a load secured to the load affixing means. The belt may be deployed manually or by a powered boom. Hooks, harnesses and bags are used to attach one or more objects of rescue to the belt.

Abstract: An inflatable slide to aide in the evacuation of people from multi-storied buildings and a method of using the slide. The slide has three principle elements: an inflatable bag (10); a container (60) for the inflatable bag; and a pressurized gas source (20) to fill and deploy the bag. A deployed bag sits atop the stairs between landings in a stairwell and has a top surface (70) suitable for sliding down the steps. The container (60) stores the inflatable bag when not inflated and releases the bag when the pressurized gas source (20) is activated.