FIRE-ESCAPESPASQUALE NIGRO
Patented February 9, 1909
To all whom it may concern:
Be it known that I, PASQUALE NIGRO, a
subject of the King of England, and a resident
of Clarksville in the county of Montgomery and
State of Tennessee, have invented
certain new and useful improvements
in Fire-Escapes of which the following is
a specification.
My invention is an improvement in fire
escapes, and consists in certain novel constructions
and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.
Referring to the drawings forming a part
hereof Figure 1 shows the improvement in
operation. Fig. 2 is a front view of the
frame, and the means for attaching it to the
body of the wearer. Fig. 3 is a central
longitudinal section and Fig. 4 is a detail
perspective view of the central portion of
the frame showing the hinged connection.
The present embodiment of my invention
comprises a frame consisting of a central
portion 1, adapted to be placed on the
shoulders of the wearer, and having a cutaway
portion 2, for receiving the neck. The
central portion 1 is provided at each side
of the opening with strengthening ribs 3.
The side sections 5 are hinged to the ends
of the central sections, by a rule joint 6 as
shown in Fig. 4. It will he observed that
the side sections are curved longitudinally
in the plane of the sections, and are provided
adjacent to the commencement of the
curved portion with loops 8 for engagement
by the hands of the wearer as shown in Fig. 1.
The frame is provided with a covering
of fabric material 9, and is secured to the
body the wearer by means of straps 10,
which are riveted or otherwise secured to
the central portion of the frame 1, as at 11
the straps crossing and being riveted
together as at 12, the upper ends thereof being
provided with buckles 13, and the lower
ends with spaced openings 14 for engagement
by the tongues of the buckles. A strap
15 is secured to the fabric material as at
16, the said strap being endless and forming
a loop for engaging a belt 17.
In operation the frame is placed on the
wearer's shoulders with the opening 2 engaging
the neck, and the crossing of the
straps on the back. The free ends of the
straps are then brought upwardly under
the arms and to the opposite shoulder and
into engagement with the buckles, the belt
being buckled around the waist of the
wearer. The wearer now engages the loops 8 with
his hands and is prepared to leap,
the air imprisoned beneath the fabric material
serving to up-hold the wearer and
break the force of his fall.
It will be observed, that the lugs 3 and 6
of the hinged sections permits the frame to
open out in alinement or prevents an upward
bending of the side sections with respect to the
central section, permitting however, a downward
movement, so that the frame may be folded
together for convenience in carriege or storage.
I claim:
A fire escape comprising a frame composed
of a central section and side sections
hinged to the central section, means in connection
with the hinges for preventing upward movement
of the side sections with respect to the central
section, the side sections being curved toward
their other ends, a covering of fabric material for the frame,
straps connected with the central portion
for securing said central portion to the
shoulders, a loop connected with the fabric
material, a belt engaged with the loop, and
loops on the side sections for engagement
by the hands of the wearer.
PASQUALE NIGRO.
Witnesses:
LOGAN C. DAVIS,
W.B. ANDERSON