The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 24, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 06, 1997
Robert J Martin, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Theresa K Martin, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
Other;
Abstract
A self-contained fire escape apparatus for mounting in a wall of a building adjacent an associated window includes a collapsible ladder. A cover is securely attached to a first end of the ladder. A box is configured to provide storage space for the ladder and defines a bottom wall, front and rear walls, a pair of sidewalls, and an opening in the front wall. A second end of the ladder is securely anchored to the box. The cover is releasably attached to the box to cover at least a portion of the opening such that a person can manually remove the cover and eject the cover and the first end of the ladder through the associated window. The box is configured for mounting within a building wall in close reception between a pair of upright structural members of the building wall. The collapsible ladder 2 is sufficiently small in its collapsed condition that it fits within the box 8 for storage. The ladder preferably includes a handle link with at least three elongate rigid handle sections that are rigidly interconnected. At least two of the handle sections form integral stand-offs that abut a flat surface to thereby support a first handle section in a spaced-apart relationship from the flat surface such that a person using the ladder can easily and securely grasp the first handle section.