IP Library Granted Patent US 11,110,304
Granted Patent B2
US 11,110,304 · App. 15/861,827 · Granted Sep 7, 2021

Integrated emergency egress equipment

Inventor: Joseph Leachman (Keller, TX)
Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
A62B1/16B64C27/006B64D11/0633B64D25/08B64D47/02
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,110,304
App. No.
15/861,827
Granted
Sep 7, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention includes an emergency egress system of a vehicle, including: a rope compartment, wherein the rope compartment is located on or near a vertical plane along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, within reach of one or more occupant seats; a rope, wherein at least a portion of the rope is stored within the rope compartment and is securely tethered to a portion of a structure of the vehicle; and a rope compartment cover to secure the rope in the rope compartment.

Claims (34)

1. An emergency egress system of a vehicle, comprising:

a rope compartment, wherein the rope compartment is located overhead and on a vertical plane along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, within reach of all seated occupants of the vehicle, and wherein the rope compartment comprises one or more light sources;

a rope, wherein at least a portion of the rope is stored within the rope compartment and is securely tethered to a portion of a structure of the vehicle, wherein the rope comprises a fluorescent material, wherein the one or more light sources of the rope compartment charge the fluorescent material of the rope, and wherein the rope further comprises a weight attached to an end of the rope not securely tethered to the portion of the structure of the vehicle to aid in throwing the weighted end out of the vehicle; and

a rope compartment cover to secure the rope in the rope compartment.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the rope is packed, loose, tied with a breakable or tearable material, stored in a bag or pouch.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the rope further comprises a flame-retardant material or a reflective material.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the rope compartment cover comprises one or more light sources.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the rope is securely tethered to at least a portion of the structure of the vehicle within the rope compartment or outside the rope compartment.

6. A method of supporting emergency egress from a vehicle, comprising:

providing a rope in a rope compartment in an interior space of the vehicle overhead and on a vertical plane along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, within reach of all seated occupants of the vehicle, wherein the rope compartment comprises one or more lights, wherein the rope comprises a fluorescent material, and wherein the one or more light sources of the rope compartment charge the fluorescent material of the rope, and wherein the rope further comprises a weight attached to an end of the rope not securely tethered to the portion of the structure of the vehicle to aid in throwing the weighted end out of the vehicle;

permanently or semi-permanently securing the rope to a portion of a structure of the vehicle; and

stowing at least a portion of the rope within the rope compartment.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the rope is packed, loose, tied with a breakable or tearable material, stored in a bag or pouch.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the rope further comprises a flame-retardant material or a reflective material.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the rope compartment cover comprises one or more light sources.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the rope is securely tethered to at least a portion of the structure of the vehicle within the rope compartment or outside the rope compartment.

11. An emergency egress kit of a vehicle, comprising:

a rope compartment capable of being secured within an interior space of a vehicle overhead and on a vertical plane along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, wherein the rope compartment is located within reach of all seated occupants of the vehicle, and wherein the rope compartment comprises one or more light sources; and

a rope, wherein at least a portion of the rope is stored within the rope compartment and is capable of being securely tethered to a portion of a structure of the vehicle, wherein the rope comprises a fluorescent material, wherein the one or more light sources of the rope compartment charge the fluorescent material of the rope, and wherein the rope further comprises a weight attached to an end of the rope not securely tethered to the portion of the structure of the vehicle to aid in throwing the weighted end out of the vehicle.

12. The kit of claim 11 , wherein the rope is packed, loose, tied with a breakable or tearable material, stored in a bag or pouch.

13. The kit of claim 11 , wherein the rope further comprises a flame-retardant material or a reflective material.

14. The kit of claim 11 , further comprising a rope compartment cover, wherein the rope compartment cover comprises one or more light sources.

15. The kit of claim 11 , wherein the rope is securely tethered to at least a portion of a structure of the vehicle within the rope compartment or outside the rope compartment.

16. A rotorcraft, comprising:

a fuselage;

one or more engines coupled to the fuselage; and

at least one interior space comprising an emergency egress system comprising:

a rope compartment, wherein the rope compartment is located overhead and on a vertical plane along a longitudinal axis of the rotorcraft, within reach of all seated occupants of the rotorcraft, and wherein the rope compartment comprises one or more light sources;

a rope, wherein at least a portion of the rope is stored within the rope compartment and is securely tethered to a portion of a structure of the rotorcraft, wherein the rope comprises a fluorescent material, wherein the one or more light sources of the rope compartment charge the fluorescent material of the rope, and wherein the rope further comprises a weight attached to an end of the rope not securely tethered to the portion of the structure of the vehicle to aid in throwing the weighted end out of the vehicle; and

a rope compartment cover to secure the rope in the rope compartment.

17. The rotorcraft of claim 16 , wherein the rope is packed, loose, tied with a breakable or tearable material, or stored in a bag or pouch.

18. The rotorcraft of claim 16 , wherein the rope comprises a flame-retardant material or a reflective material.

19. The rotorcraft of claim 16 , wherein the rope compartment cover comprises one or more light sources.

20. The rotorcraft of claim 16 , wherein the rope is securely tethered to at least a portion of the structure of the vehicle within the rope compartment or outside the rope compartment.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2021
From: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
To: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
Reel/Frame 056228/0183 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 4, 2018
From: LEACHMAN, JOSEPH
To: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
Reel/Frame 044534/0334 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62575185 · Oct 20, 2017
Related Publication 20190118006A1 · Apr 25, 2019