Multi-purpose portable davit anchoring system

• US 6,401,863 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2000
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: High Rise Escape Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Best Rescue Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Kirkland, Robert Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): LEV, BRUCE ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US09/751,269
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 182/142, 182/145, 182/150, 182/5, 182/231, 182/236, 182/71, 414/543
• US Class Current: 182/142
• CPC Class Codes: B66D 3/20 with driving motor, e.g. electric motor, and drum or barrel contained in a common housing
• CPC Class Codes: B66D 3/26 Other details, e.g. housings

Abstract

A new multi-purpose portable davit anchoring system is provided, having a sectional vertical support mast which comes apart for compact stowage and is easily reassembled. The support mast incorporates a screw jack assembly which adjusts the height of the mast and biases the support mast between two opposing surfaces, such as a floor and ceiling. The biasing action enables it to be firmly yet removably attached to a building wherein the exterior walls are not load-bearing but merely sheathing, and to provide support for a damaged ceiling that might otherwise collapse. A boom member is removably fastened to the support mast, for deploying a lifting and lowering cable away from the side of the building. A mounting plate is provided for a winch assembly that can wind up the cable or release it at a controlled rate of speed. Low profile upper and lower brackets for receiving the ends of the support mast are optionally permanently mounted at several locations on each floor of the building with minimal effect on the appearance of the building.

Claims

1. A multi-purpose portable davit anchoring system for use in a high-rise structure, comprising:

a support mast assembly of adjustable length and having a circumference, said mast assembly comprised of a plurality of detachable sections including a screw jack member for adjusting the height of said mast assembly, adapted for removably mounting on, and biasing said mast assembly at each end thereof against, opposing structural surfaces;

a pair of mounting brackets adapted to be affixed to said opposing structural surfaces in opposing alignment, for removably receiving the ends of said mast assembly;

at least one boom member removably attached to said mast assembly, at any one of a predetermined plurality of positions disposed around the circumference of said mast assembly, said boom member having a proximal and a distal end and comprising a horizontal arm, a tubular vertical strut at its proximal end, and a cross brace connecting said vertical strut to said distal end, and having at least one turning block attached to said distal end;

a pair of boom support brackets affixed to said mast assembly for supporting a boom member therebetween, said support brackets having at least one pair of vertically aligned first orifices therethrough;

a mounting pin for removably fastening said boom member to said support brackets by alignment of said vertical strut between said first orifices and insertion of said mounting pin through said vertical strut and said first orifices;

locking means for preventing the vertical strut from rotating on the mounting pin, comprising a plurality of second orifices, smaller in diameter than the first orifices, disposed about one of each pair of vertically aligned first orifices, together with locking pins removably inserted in said second orifices, whereby said boom member is fixed at one of a plurality of predetermined positions about the circumference of said mast assembly;

reeling means, including a winch, mounted on said mast assembly, adapted for raising and lowering a load;

a cable passing through said turning block and around said winch, said cable having attachment means at one end thereof for attaching a load; and

braking means for controlling speed and extent of descent of a load being lowered by said reeling means and cable.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein said reeling means is a power winch and said braking means is incorporated within said power winch.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein said mounting brackets are adapted for mounting said mast assembly between the floor and ceiling of an upper story balcony of a structure.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein said mounting brackets are adapted for mounting said mast assembly inside an upper story room of a structure, adjacent a window, said mounting brackets comprising a floor bracket and a wall bracket.

5. The system according to claim 2 wherein said power winch has remote-control capability.

6. A multi-purpose portable davit anchoring system for deployment from an upper story of a high-rise edifice, comprising:

a support mast assembly of adjustable length and having a circumference, said mast assembly comprised of a plurality of detachable sections including a screw jack member for adjusting the height of said mast assembly and adapted for removably mounting on, and biasing said mast assembly at each end thereof against, a floor and a ceiling, or other structural surface of, a high-rise edifice;

a pair of mounting brackets adapted to be affixed to said floor, and to said ceiling or other structural surface, in vertical opposing alignment, for removably receiving the ends of said mast assembly;

at least one boom member, removably attached to said mast assembly, having a distal end and a proximal end, said boom member comprising a horizontal arm, a tubular vertical strut at its proximal end, a cross brace connecting said vertical strut to said distal end of said boom member, and at least one turning block pivotably attached to said distal end;

a pair of boom support brackets affixed to said mast assembly in vertical alignment, for supporting one or more boom members therebetween, each said boom support bracket having a first orifice therethrough vertically aligned with the first orifice of the other bracket of the pair, and one said bracket having a plurality of second orifices disposed about said first orifices;

a mounting pin for removably fastening one said boom member to said support brackets by alignment of said vertical strut between said first orifices and insertion of said mounting pin through said vertical strut and said first orifices;

locking pins removably inserted in said second orifices for preventing said vertical strut from rotating on its mounting pin, whereby the boom member may be locked at one of a plurality of predetermined positions about the circumference of said mast assembly;

a motorized, remote-controllable winch for reeling or unreeling cable, said winch removably supported on said mast assembly and incorporating braking means for controlling the rate of speed and extent of unreeling of a cable wound therearound;

a cable passing through said turning block and around said winch, said cable having attachment means at one end thereof for attaching a load.