Abstract: A folding ladder includes a vertical supporting strap formed from fabric material. The supporting strap has top and bottom ends. The top end of the strap has means, e.g., a fastener, rope or opening, for securing it to a fixed object for holding the ladder upright. At least one loop formed from strap material is provided below the top of the strap and is held in place by the supporting strap. The strap loop depends from the supporting strap and has two upper portions that are connected to each other at the top of the loop. The connected upper portions of the loop lie in lapped face-to-face relationship. Each such loop includes a downwardly depending, generally U-shaped intermediate bend between the connected portions. The U-shaped bend defines a step or hand grip with an opening above it to facilitate the entry of a hand or foot. In a preferred form of the invention, the strap material of each loop is provided with one or more half-twists.

Abstract: A fire escape system includes a ladder permanently attached with cleats to an interior surface of a box that functions both for storage of the ladder and for anchorage of the ladder when in use. The box has a rear side to be placed against a building wall and optionally secured thereto at a position below a window sill and a top ledge mounted on the rear wall. Cleats are mounted to the rear wall are disposed rearwardly of a front edge of the ledge to provide for force applied during use of the ladder to aid in forcing the box against a building wall to inhibit movement of the box during use of the ladder. The ladders used in the system may be constructed of chains with metal rungs.

Abstract: A furniture protection device is disclosed that includes a plurality of angle members arranged in parallel adjacent position. Each angle member includes two intersecting surfaces that define a sharp edge. The angle members are flexibly attached to one another by ropes inserted through apertures in the angle members. The ropes include knots at each end to retain the angle members on the ropes. In an alternate embodiment, additional knots are disposed along the length of the ropes. The additional knots are located between apertures of each individual angle member to maintain the position of each of the angle members with respect to the ropes. In another embodiment, a plurality of elastic fabric strips are attached to a pair of long fabric strips to form elastic apertures therein.

Abstract: A mesh storage apparatus comprises a conformal mesh member (14), which is attached to a retraction mechanism (10). Because the mesh member (14) has a point of attachment (20), rather than multiple points spread along one of its sides, the force of the retraction mechanism or another applied force collapses the mesh member along its major diagonal (13) into an elongated form, similar to that of a cable, rope, or strap, allowing for easy storage. It, therefore, takes advantage of the contractility of the mesh openings and the behavioral characteristics of conformal material under tension to store the mesh member (14) in a much more compact manner than with traditional storage apparatus.

Abstract: A climbing device for clamping around a tree trunk having a generally C-shaped clamp configuration including oppositely disposed trunk engagement portions; a handle portion extending vertically therefrom for positioning the device on the tree trunk; a flexible ladder secured to a horizontal offset aperture support leg extends from the trunk engagement portion. The ladder is capable of being used when the climbing device is engaged about the tree.

Abstract: A net utilizes members having at least one surface which is flat and causes the at least one flat surface of the members to confront each other and be connected by a sewn connection. The generally flat orientation of the members permits the members to be readily repeatedly connected with uniform results. The invention also utilizes the flat surfaces of the members to create an out of plane design whereby the flat surfaces of the members extend perpendicularly to the plane which includes the net. Connections can further be made by providing a hollow member and inserting another member into it at a first point and then threading the inserted member through the hollow member until it exits by piercing the hollow member or by causing the inserted member to be sewn to the hollow member therewithin.

Abstract: A collapsible escape ladder within a storage container. The container has an upper lid connected to the lower rung of the ladder. The container's lower section is connected to the ladder's upper rung section and a dwelling's structural component. During an emergency the lid is thrown from a window pulling the rest of the ladder to its full unfurled length. The lower ladder rung is attached to the lid which by its weight stabilizes the ladder while its upper rung is firmly fixed to the container's lower section and dwelling.

Abstract: An access rope for an offshore production platform comprises an upper end attached to a chain fixed to the platform, a central stabilizing section providing a series of weights and a lower section providing hand holding implements. The weights are of different size and act so the rope swings less in response to the wind than conventional ropes. The hand holding implements include a loop in the rope which can be grasped by a user and a series of enlarged knots. The hand holding section of the main rope is helically wrapped with a smaller rope in which the adjacent wraps are spaced well apart.

Abstract: An individual step pad which can be incorporated into any loop of rope or dock line. The step pad provides a permanent or temporary rescue and utility footing in combination with a piece of rope. The step pad comprises a step pad portion, the step pad portion having a generally flat upper surface, a lower surface, upper edges, a predetermined thickness and lengthwise ends. The step pad portion further has two rope receiving notches in the lengthwise ends each consisting of a semi-circular groove extending vertically through the step pad, the semi-circular groove having a predetermined diameter, whereby the piece of rope is captured within the semi-circular groove of the notches on either end of the step pad. The device is portable and can float, and when installed in a loop of rope, can be thrown to a person in the water or in another boat, etc.

Abstract: A portable fire escape comprising a framework. A structure is for mounting the framework across an opened window internally within a building adjacent a window sill. An elongated extendable flexible ladder is provided. Paraphernalia is for attaching a top end of the flexible ladder to the framework. The flexible ladder can hang down externally against the building to the ground, to allow a person to exit through the opened window of the building during a fire.

Abstract: A recreational and emergency ladder for use with watercraft, the ladder having side supports, rungs and an attachment mechanism. The ladder assists the user to reenter a watercraft without the assistance of another person. The ladder may be stored in a collapsed state and is prevented from being accidentally released by a releasable fastening mechanism. The ladder may further comprise a container for holding the ladder when the ladder is not is use.

Abstract: An escape ladder of collapsible construction has links interconnecting rungs with one end of the ladder being provided with means for fixing the ladder to a structure. At least one end of each link is arrange for movement relative to its respective in a direction axially of the rung between as first position in which the link is able to pivot relative to the rung, and in a second position in which pivotal movement is prevented.

Abstract: An emergency ladder system in which a flexible ladder is contained in a separate canister includes a flexible leader which exits the canister and is attached separate from the canister to a strong fixture, such as a hook, eye or cleat in a boat railing. A lanyard hangs from the canister, and a pull on the lanyard by, for instance, a person overboard causes the canister to open and the ladder to fall into an emergency position away from the canister.

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 flexible ladder for use on moving conveyances which provides frontal stability but lateral flexibility, the ladder having a first, a second and a third strut member each formed of flexible material and each supported in a generally vertical plane, the strut members being parallel to each other with the second strut member between the first and third strut members. A first set of steps are secured between the first and second strut members and a second set of steps are secured between the second and third strut members the steps being vertically spaced apart from each other and the upper ends of each of the strut members being affixed to a moving conveyance, the ladder providing for ascent of an operator to the operating position on the conveyance but permitting lateral flexiblity if the ladder engages an obstruction on the surface on which the machine moves.

Abstract: According to the preferred embodiment depicted, the inflatable boarding ladder comprises upper and lower ladder sections with stiffening rails and hand-holds interconnected by inflatable steps and the ladder back. The upper section is attached to the boat through a telescoping rod engaging and pivoting on mounting brackets. A pillow section provides hull standoff. The articulating lower ladder section pivots about the lower end of the upper section. A ballast section submerges the tapered lower ladder end into the water to ease access and to stabilize the ladder. Inflation and deployment of the ladder is by a gas source such as a foot pump or carbon dioxide cartridge. A deflation orifice permits storage in a soft pack and deck mounted cannister.

Abstract: A relatively simple, lighweight, portable, collapsible ladder includes a plurality of H-shaped sections pivotally interconnected end-to-end to define a flat bundle in the stored or non-use condition. The sections can be unfolded to a flat, extended conditions. In the extended condition, torsion springs cause the sides of the sections to fold inwardly to define side bars having U-shaped cross sections. By reversing the process, the ladder can readily be restored to the folded, storage condition.

Abstract: A chain mesh for easy installation comprises a plurality of running lengths of chain. In one embodiment a plurality of vertical running lengths are positioned in parallel spaced relationship. A plurality of substantially horizontal running lengths are then positioned closely adjacent the plurality of vertical running lengths, and then the points of crossing are interconnected by connecting links therebetween. Each connecting link is normally open, and then closed after being installed between a respective vertical link and a close horizontal link. The connecting links permit a flexibility between the vertical and the horizontal chains, but substantially retain the cross parallel chains in such relationship. This crossed relationship may have the respective plurality of chains substantially perpendicular to each other, or they may be at an oblique angle to each other.

Abstract: A flexible narrow rung rope escape ladder including a pair of parallel support ropes and a series of narrow rungs disposed between the support ropes, the support ropes being spaced from each other such that a user's foot placed on the rung cannot slip sideways during use and no more than one hand or one foot can be placed on a rung at a time.

Abstract: A hidden ladder unit for mounting in the stern of a boat hull that includes a horizontally disposed housing affixed to the transom that has an open front wall and a solid back wall. The housing is equipped with a mounting flange that is fastened securely to the transom. A foldable ladder is secured in the back wall of the housing which, when folded, is fully contained within the housing, and when extended, hangs downwardly from the transom to the waterline of the hull. The opening formed in the front wall of the housing is closed by means of a door that is hingedly mounted in said housing.

Abstract: A boat fender (1) is provided with footstep or handgrip openings (8, 9) at its top and bottom to serve as a ladder for assisting an overboard person. The fender may further be made of two easily separable body members (3, 4), with one of them being hollow and storing a folded rop ladder (6) coupled to the other one.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a retractable and flexible steel cable ladder device adopted for descending people from a high building in fire accident, which can be emergently mounted on the wall of a window or place of the like, so that the flexible steel cable ladder thereof can be lowered down quickly for people to step down therefrom.

Abstract: A rope ladder of the type having a series of ladder steps and two spaced-apart pairs of ropes. Each step has a metal step frame about which is molded a hard elastomer body. Each step has a rope-receiving opening therethrough shaped and sized for closely confining a pair of ropes. Each step has a pair of horizontal transverse openings therethrough parallel to each other on each side of each rope-receiving opening. Before molding, nylon tubes are inserted in each end of each transverse opening and held during molding by slug bolts. After molding, the steps are each cut, on one side only, to provide a main step portion and two separate gripping portions, one for each rope-receiving opening, and each incorporating a portion of the frame and a portion of the body, the gripping portions including a portion of each transverse opening. A bolt is inserted through each pair of aligned nylong tubes, extending through both the main step portion and each gripping portion. A nut is loosely placed on each bolt.

Abstract: A suspension ladder comprises a string of identical rigid rectangular sections (1) which are hinged together about a series of parallel axes adjacent their longer rear edges (2), and each of which has one or more apertures (11) forming a rung of the ladder. Each section (1) has a trapezoidal cross sectional profile providing the section with sloping top and bottom edge faces (4) and (5) which converge towards the front face (6) from the longitudinal rear edges (2) and form stops which limit the extent to which adjoining sections can pivot towards each other in a forward direction. The ladder therefore cannot be flexed in this direction beyond a predetermined minimum radius of curvature and will therefore form a substantially rigid cradle (21) when its lower end is lifted while its upper end is suspended. In contrast adjacent sections can pivot flat against each other in the rearward direction so that the ladder can be rolled up tightly for easy storage.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to an apparatus for boarding or leaving an offshore structure or ship safely. More particularly, the invention relates to a swing beam and flexible ladder to replace the current method for boarding an offshore structure.

Abstract: A sailboat mast ladder, for use with a sailboat having a mast with a sail track extending along its length, includes a flexible, flat support strap having a number of foot loops, also made of flat strap material, at staggered positions on opposite sides of the support strap. The support strap and foot loops are formed from first and second flat straps each having alternating straight sections and foot loop sections, the foot loop sections of one strap being opposite the straight sections of the other strap. The bottom or instep portions of the foot loops are reinforced with flat strap material secured to the first and second flat straps. An end of a halyard is secured to the upper end of the support strap to raise the mast ladder up the mast. A number of guides are secured along the inner edge of the support strap for sliding engagement with track slides of the main sail track to keep the ladder against the mast.

Abstract: A boat ladder for boarding an inflatable pontoon boat, dinghy or similar small craft of the type having opposed generally parallel gunwales. The ladder has two generally parallel ladder supports, each with a first end bendable across one of the gunwales. Plural and parallel ladder steps extend between the two ladder supports and a strap is coupled at one end to the first end of both of the ladder supports. The strap is dimensioned to extend across the space between the gunwales. A hook extends about the second gunwale for coupling the other end of the strap to the other gunwale, whereby the weight of a person climbing up the ladder is distributed relatively evenly across both the gunwales.

Abstract: In a flexible step assembly (10) for a construction vehicle (14) it is desirable to provide a step assembly (10) that is durable enough to withstand impact from uneven terrain and obstacles encountered in vehicle operation and that will also provide a stable platform from which to mount and dismount the vehicle. The flexible step assembly (10) of this invention is suspended from a vehicle (14) by very durable chain assemblies (34) which have a link construction (38,64) that will enable the chain assembly (34) to lock-up to resist movement in a lateral direction upon application of an operator's weight upon a suspended step member (82).

Abstract: The invention relates to a portable emergency fire escape ladder comprising a large double hook adapted to fit over a window ledge, tubular steps suspended by means of galvanized steel cables, the steps secured on the suspension cables by means of pressed steel rings. The tubular steps are slightly larger in diameter at one end than the other allowing the steps to join together to form a pole. There is a connecting rod under the double hook for the attachment of the top tubular step in the pole position. The double hook has a curvature at the lower end in order that the tubular steps may be spaced a distance from the wall to allow room for the person's foot. The double hook is provided with a pull cable which is strung through the frame of the double hook, to the end pieces, so that pulling on the cable will release the double hook from the window ledge allowing a person down the wall.

Abstract: A portable folding ladder comprising a plurality of U-shaped modules having a rung and two vertical portions, the modules movable connected to each other, and when opened becoming progressively narrower as they approach the top of the ladder, when folded the narrower modules fitting inside of the next wider modules and locking means to lock the modules in a rigid manner when the ladder is extended and open.

Abstract: A flexible embarkation-debarkation marine ladder having a pair of flexible wire rope suspension members. A plurality of steps are secured to the suspension members at spaced intervals. The steps include a pair of ears. The opposite ends of the rungs are secured to the ears in spaced relationship. Each ear includes a tubular sleeve extending perpendicularly to and in aligned relationship to the spacing between the rungs. The suspension member extends coaxially through the sleeves. A plurality of constrictible annular stops are fixed to the suspension member at the opposite ends of the sleeves to lock the steps to the suspension member in parallel, spaced relationship. In another form, the marine ladder suspension members are formed of a pair of fiber ropes. The fiber ropes extend through rectangular tubular sleeves which are fixedly secured to the ears as by welding.

Abstract: A portable folding ladder comprising a plurality of U-shaped modules having a rung and two vertical portions, the modules movable connected to each other, and when opened becoming progressible narrower as they approach the top of the ladder, when folded the narrower modules fitting inside of the next wider modules and locking means to lock the modules in a rigid manner when the ladder is extended and open.

Abstract: A portable and convertible ladder comprising a series of u-shaped modules each movably connected to the other by hinge means, said modules having progressively decreasing widths as they approach the top of the ladder when in an open mode, said modules having a base or rung portion and upright sections, each module having locking means movably positioned in their lower portion, and adapted to form a substantially rigid ladder when in an open mode, each module except for the uppermost module having hinge means at substantially the upper portion of said upright sections, said locking means having a locking member positioned in said lower portion adapted to fit and mate with complimentary male or female member positioned in an adjacent portion of said upright sections, at least a section of the wider of said modules overlapping at their upper vertical portions with the bottom portions of the next adjacent narrower modules, and said locking means and said module hinge means provided in said overlapping portions.

Abstract: A rope ladder having loops connected to a main piece of rope. The rope and loops are both made of three strand twisted rope with the loops connected to the main piece by interweaving the ends of the loops with the main piece of rope. The loops are connected to opposite sides of the main piece of rope to form steps which alternate on either side of the rope.

Abstract: An escape system for multi-story buildings comprising ladder units secured to the building at successive levels thereof adjacent an exit opening such as a window. Each unit comprises a housing and a collapsible ladder section having one end anchored therein and an actuating lever accessible from the window or to a person on the ladder section above for releasing the ladder section so that it falls by gravity to an extended position reaching to the next lower ladder unit. The lower end of a ladder section can be secured to the upper end of the ladder section in the next lower unit.

Abstract: A fire escape ladder storage and deployment device comprises a series of interfitting cabinet sections adapted to be affixed to an interior surface of an exterior wall adjacent and beneath a window opening through the wall. In its closed position, the device stores a collapsible ladder such as a rope ladder within the compartment, and also provides a table-like working surface. In an emergency, an upper part of the device folds downwardly, away from the wall to reveal the ladder storage compartment and also to form a step above the floor level. An interior member which holds the ladder is then pivoted upwardly and through the window or door opening. The collapsible ladder can be tossed by hand through the open window first, or it can be deployed via the raising and pivoting of the interior member. Raising the interior member exposes a second step, on the wall mounting bracket, and also forms a third step through the window opening. The ladder than hangs to ground level from the interior member.

Abstract: A ladder for use with vehicles is composed of two flexible supporting members and a number of foot steps, said supporting members comprising a reinforcement located in the vicinity of that face of the member which is directed outwardly from the vehicle so as to give said member a greater resistance to bending in the direction of the vehicle than in the opposite direction. According to another aspect of the invention each foot step at the opposite ends thereof is pivotally connected to brackets mounted in the flexible supporting members.

Abstract: A device to permit the escape of small animals from a pool having a walkway border including a ladder arrangement positioned below the walkway border which ladder arrangement provides escape for small animals from the surface of the pool through an escape hole in the walkway border.

Abstract: A device at an unfoldable escape-ladder, which is assembled of rungs (1), the ends (3) of which are attached between flexible lateral members (5), preferably steel wires, which rungs (1) are longish and made of plate-shaped material and can be stacked, the upper portion of the escape-ladder intended to be attached to a wall (6), a stay or the like, which escape ladder in folded state has the rungs (1) lying stacked and forming with each of the steel wires (5) a ring for each rung (1), which escape-ladder is provided with a means for releasing the ladder. According to the invention, two steel wires (4) or rods are provided which are located in parallel and rigidly mounted along the direction, which the ladder in unfolded state is desired to assume, which steel wires (4) or rods extend through the rings formed by the first-mentioned steel wires (5).

Abstract: A portable personnel platform and ladder for use with elevated piers and ating decks has one end of a compression framework pivotally attached to a rope ladder supporting platform which extends over the pier's edge; adjustable wire backstays which provide cantilever strength connect the opposite end of the compression framework to the upper end of railings on the ladder supporting platform. The opposite end of the compression framework is adapted to have weight added thereto or to be secured to the pier deck. The length of the compression framework is such that considerable leverage is provided to support the weight of several people climbing on the rope ladder attached to the supporting platform while using much less counter-balancing force on the opposite end of the compression framework.

Abstract: There is provided the combination of a frame and a collapsible ladder. The frame defines two spaced-apart horizontal passages in which catch elements are mounted. Resilient means urge the catch elements toward each other, and manual thumbscrew means are provided to pull the catch elements away from each other. A collapsible ladder has attachment means at the top by which it can be anchored, and the ladder also includes a containment means constituted by the bottom rung and two upstanding side members which register with all of the remaining rungs. The upstanding side members have openings at the top into which the catch members extend when in their innermost positions. Manual release is possible by which the side members become disengaged from the frame, thus allowing the web ladder to fall into a position of use.

Abstract: A foldable ladder having a plurality of rigid steps and of rigid links which steps and links are pivotally secured together with pivot pins to result in a rigid ladder in use, but capable of being folded for storage.

Abstract: An escape device for use in tall buildings wherein an endless ladder-type chain driven around a plurality of chain sprockets is mounted on a movable platform and lowered over the side of a building to enable escape to ground level from a burning building. The endless ladder chain is compactly stored when not in use in a housing which includes a pair of inclined rod-like support members by which the endless chain under the force of gravity is slidingly dispensed from the chain housing to the sprocket assembly.

Abstract: This invention provides a collapsible web ladder in which a number of flat step members are connected to two flexible webs by virtue of T-shaped recesses in the ends of the step members. The flexible webs lodge in the recess portions corresponding to the cross-bars of the T's. Each web has affixed to it a plurality of spaced-apart block members which are adapted to lodge against and underneath the cross-bars of the T-shaped recesses, whereby weight placed on a step member can be transferred to the web.

Abstract: An emergency escape openable skylight is provided with a resiliently biased openable cover with at least a substantial portion of the openable cover being constructed of a transparent material. The skylight is provided with a retractable ladder. The retractable ladder may be a pully operated flexible ladder, a rigid foldable ladder, or any other suitable retractable ladder. The cover is normally held closed by a latch means, but is self-opening or substantially self-opening upon release of the latch by reason of the resilient biasing means.

Abstract: A fire escape device has a box with a back panel secured to side panels and to two bottom end panels. A bottom central panel lies between the bottom end panels and is hinged to the back panel. A front panel is hinged to the bottom central panel and has a bottom edge rabbet interfitting with the front edge of the bottom end panels. A removable top panel has angles engaging the upper edges of the back panel and of the front panel and is short to leave end openings above the bottom end panels through which ornaments on the bottom end panels may project. The box is secured to a building by brackets secured to the back panel and the two bottom end panels. Brackets of one design lie over a balcony rail, and brackets of another design are bolted to the building wall. A ladder including side chains and cross rungs is disposed on the bottom central panel with the chains extending through cutouts in the top panel.

Abstract: A fire escape, exercise or amusement device designed to depend vertically from a wall when in use and to have sufficient flexibility to simplify storage is disclosed. The device consists of a rope-like support member with a series of beads about 4 to 5 inches in diameter spaced axially along substantially the entire length of the rope-like support. A grasping hook is attached to at least one end of the device for attachment to a support that is an integral part of a building or other structure. Horizontal rods are attached to the top and bottom of the device above and below the beads.

Abstract: A tree platform supported between two tree branches made up of a platform-like member having ends suitable to slide down between two diverging tree branches, two legs are hinged to the underside of the platform member and a turnbuckle engages the lower ends of the legs forcing them out into engagement with the tree branches thereby holding the platform in place. The turnbuckle ends are generally elliptical in shape and have outer peripheral grooves which receive the loops of two ropes that dangle from the turnbuckle and ladder steps are supported on the two ropes providing a ladder for a person to climb into place on the platform. The ladder will also provide a rope for a hunter to drag a deer.

Abstract: A combination plant box and fire escape ladder includes an anchor rail for fixed attachment to an outside wall of a building, a frame for holding a top rung of the ladder outwardly from the wall, a pair of flexible cables forming the ladder rails, and a plurality of lower rungs. The plant box is attached to the flexible rail ends remote from the top rung, and the lower rungs are attached to the flexible rails between the top rung and plant box. The frame includes a center portion lying adjacent the wall and two end portions which project generally perpendicularly from the center portion and the wall to support the top rung. The anchor rail is provided with a pair of attachment points by which the frame is attached to the anchor rail. The upper ends of the flexible rails are attached to respective attachment points of the anchor rail and extend through the top rung to fix the lower rungs in spaced apart relation from the wall.

Abstract: A tree-climbing kit comprises basically a piece of rope whose central portion has a plurality of closely spaced rings or loops fixed thereto or formed therein, and a pair of stirrups supported from hooks engageable alternately and sequentially in the rings or loops when the rope is double-hung from a tree limb and its ends are securely tied to the tree trunk. The kit also desirably includes a safety belt, and a spool-carried light-gauge pilot line with an end-attached weight for throwing and pulling over the tree limb over which the rope is to be pulled by the line.