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 with an exit door located within a doorway on an exterior of the building and elevated above a ground level, said emergency escape mechanism comprising;
an inflatable emergency escape slide, in a non-inflated state, having a first portion attached to a girt bar by escape slide support straps, said girt bar anchored in the floor of the building on an interior side of the doorway, said inflatable emergency escape slide is non-fixedly coupled to, and resting against, an interior side of the exit door;
an alarm box located proximate said exit door, said alarm box further including an alarm switch and where said alarm switch is further connected to a locking bar engaging said exit door;
an inertially-activated switch positioned at another portion of said inflatable emergency escape slide resting against the exit door;
an inflation device in fluid communication with said emergency escape slide, said inertially-activated switch coupled to said inflation device for controlling activation of said inflation device;
whereby in an emergency, said alarm switch is activated, disengaging said locking bar and unlocking said exit door and wherein when said exit door is opened, said inflatable emergency escape slide no longer rests against said exit door and falls out of the doorway, said inertially-activated switch detecting said fall and activating said inflation device in response to said fall, thereby inflating said inflatable emergency escape slide outside the building.
2 . The emergency escape mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said inflation device comprises a gas release means.
3 . The emergency escape mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said gas release means includes a compressed gas tank.
4 . The emergency escape mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said alarm switch further includes a silent alarm.
5 . The emergency escape mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein said locking bar engages a latch extending between said exit door and the building.
6 . The emergency escape mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein said inertially-activated switch is a mercury switch.
7 . The emergency escape mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein said girt bar is located at a lower portion of the doorway.