Emergency escape slide incorporated into exit
An emergency escape mechanism is disclosed. A deployable and inflatable slide is located proximate the exit door of a building. When the alarm switch on the alarm box next to the door is set to unlock the door may be opened and a chute or slide falls out to the exterior of the building. A mercury switch or the like is activated as the uninflated slide tilts out which activates an inflation means, preferably a compressed gas cylinder or the like. The slide or chute is anchored to the building by a girt bar anchored in the floor and a plurality of chute support straps. This allows for rapid evacuation of the building. Additionally, the alarm box switch may operate a silent alarm to alert the police of a potentially hazardous situation.
1. An emergency escape mechanism for a building having a floor, comprising:
an exit door located within a doorway on an exterior of the building, said doorway having an exterior side on the exterior of the building, and also having an interior side;
an inflatable emergency escape slide having a portion of a first end coupled to a lower portion of the doorway and a second end resting against an outer surface of the interior side of said exit door, said second end configured to drop out of said doorway when said exit door is opened;
an alarm box located proximate said exit door, said alarm box further including an alarm switch and wherein said alarm switch is further connected to a locking bar engaging said exit door;
an inertially-activated switch positioned on said first end;
a gas release device in gas communication with said inflatable emergency escape slide;
a girt bar anchored in the floor of the building in the lower portion of the interior side of the doorway; and
escape slide support straps attached to said girt bar and to said portion of said first end of said emergency escape slide, said alarm switch being coupled to said locking bar and being configured to be activated to cause said locking bar to cause said exit door to open, whereupon said first and second ends of said emergency escape slide go into motion as said second end automatically drops out of said doorway to a position outside the building, said inertially-activated switch automatically operating in response to said motion to generate an electrical signal, said gas release device being responsive to said electrical signal provided by said inertially-activated switch to inflate said emergency escape slide in automatic response to said electrical signal.
2. The emergency escape mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein said gas release device comprises a compressed gas tank.
3. The emergency escape mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein said locking bar is configured to be moved from a locked position to an unlocked position, said emergency escape slide mechanism additionally comprising an alarm that is activated in response to movement of said locking bar from said locked position to said unlocked position.
4. The emergency escape mechanism according to claim 3 , wherein said alarm comprises a silent alarm.