Abstract: A personal safety device for controlled-rate descent of a person from a building may include a cable control assembly having a frame attachable to the building. A cable may be wound on a cable reel. The cable reel may be configured for rotation within the frame. A weight setting control may be configured to vary a weight at which a predetermined rate of descent of a person supported on the cable will occur, whereby a user of the device can set his or her weight on the weight setting control and employ the device to descend from a building at the predetermined rate.

Abstract: Personal fire escape systems allow a user to escape fires in buildings. A covered enclosure is bolted to a window and stores a spool housing when it is not in use. The spool housing encloses a spool with a cable wound around it. One end of the cable protrudes from the top of the spool housing and is attached to the building. A pair of wrist straps is attached to the sidewall of the spool housing and has wrist loops for securing the wrist straps to the user's wrist. A brake is biased towards preventing the spool from rotating by springs. The user depresses a brake lever towards a handle to pull a brake rod to release the brake to control their rate of descent.