Description

APPARATUS FOR REFUGE

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a apparatus for refuge provided to a building, and more particularly, to a apparatus for refuge which is unfolded in an emergency to give a temporary refuge to an individual in need of rescue. Background Art

[2] A building larger than a predetermined size is provided with an emergency exit through which an individual in need of rescue (hereinafter referred to as a "rescuee" for convenience) can escape outside in an emergency such as a fire. The emergency exit has a variety of shapes depending on the structure of a building.

[3] As shown in Fig. 1, Generally, a building 101 is provided with a enterance 102, a emergency exit 104 on one side of an outer wall 103. However, the building 101 is usually not provided with an emergency staircase that is connected to the emergency exit 104 to allow a rescuee to escape from the building to a safe place. In addition, when a rescuee wishes to escape out of the building through an opening such as a window and a balcony, there is no space to reliably accommodate the rescuee outside the building.

[4] Therefore, the rescuee should wait inside the building until a rescue element such as a ladder truck comes to rescue the rescuee. This may cause lots of unnecessary kills in the emergency that requires immediate evacuation from the building.

[5] Furthermore, a falling accident may happen at the emergency exit even in ordinary times.

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[6] An object of the present invention is to provide a apparatus for refuge providing a rescuee with a safe and stable refuge space outside a building in an emergency such as a fire. Technical Solution

[7] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a apparatus for refuge including: a foothold having a bracket mounted on an outer wall of a building, an outer frame rotatably coupled to the bracket, and a support part provided inside the outer frame to support a load; a railing rotatably coupled to the outer wall of the building and disposed above the foothold; an auxiliary railing connected between the foothold and the railing to allow the foothold works in cooperation with the railing; and a support that connects one of the foothold, the railing, and the auxiliary railing

with the outer wall of the building, wherein the support part includes a plurality of inclined flat bars arranged inside the outer frame in parallel to each other.

[8] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a apparatus for refuge including: a foothold having a bracket mounted on an outer wall of a building, an outer frame rotatably coupled to the bracket, and a support part provided inside the outer frame to support a load; a railing rotatably coupled to the outer wall of the building and disposed above the foothold; an auxiliary railing connected between the foothold and the railing to allow the foothold works in cooperation with the railing; and a support that connects one of the foothold, the railing, and the auxiliary railing with the outer wall of the building, wherein the support part includes a non-inflammable plate.

[9] Preferably, the apparatus for refuge further includes a rope with one end connected to an inside of the outer wall of the building and the other end connected to one of the foothold, the railing and the auxiliary railing.

[10] Preferably, the apparatus for refuge further includes a rope holder disposed inside the outer wall of the building to hold the one end of the rope.

[11] Preferably, a rescue means coupler is provided to one of the foothold, the railing, and the auxiliary railing.

[12] Preferably, an advertising element is provided on one of the foothold and the auxiliary railing.

[13] Preferably, a torsion spring is provided between the outer frame and the bracket to absorb impact generated while stopping a rotation of the foothold.

Advantageous Effects

[14] A apparatus for refuge according to the present invention can be unfolded in an emergency such as a fire to provide a rescuee with a refuge space in which the rescuee can temporarily take refuge until the rescuee is rescued. Accordingly, the rescuee can be isolated and protected from an emergency.

[15] A apparatus for refuge according to the present invention has a simple structure, and thus has improved assemblability, structural stability and foldabilty.

[16] A apparatus for refuge according to the present invention also has the advantage that many kinds of rescue elements and advertising elements can be coupled thereto.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[17] Fig. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a related art building.

[18] Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a apparatus for refuge being folded according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [19] Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the apparatus for refuge being unfolded according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[20] Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of an area A shown in Fig. 3.

[21] Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a modification version of the apparatus for refuge including a non-inflammable plate provided to a foothold according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [22] Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a apparatus for refuge being folded according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [23] Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the apparatus for refuge being unfolded according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [24] Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a rope and a rope holder of the apparatus for refuge according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [25] Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a apparatus for refuge mounted on a building according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [26] Referring to Figs 2 to 4, a apparatus for refuge according to the present invention includes a foothold 10 rotatably coupled to an outer wall 2 of a building; a railing 20 rotatably coupled to the outer wall 2 of the building and disposed above the foothold

10; an auxiliary railing 31 connecting the foothold 10 with the railing 20; and a support

41 connecting the auxiliary railing 31 with the outer wall 2 of the building. [27] The foothold 10 has a predetermined width and length to accommodate a rescuee stably. The foothold 10 is disposed at a height of the bottom of a emergency exit 3 provided in the outer wall 2 of the building. [28] The foothold 10 includes a bracket 5 mounted on the outer wall 2 of the building; an outer frame 11 rotatably coupled to the bracket 5; and a support part 12 enclosed by the outer frame 11. [29] The outer frame 11 has a rectangular structure of a predetermined size to serve as a framework of the foothold 10. [30] One side of the outer frame 11 facing the outer wall 2 of the building and another side of the outer frame 11 that is opposite to the one side also serve as rotational axes.

The one side facing the outer wall 2 of the building is rotated with both ends inserted in the bracket 5. [31] The support part 12 is configured to stably support a rescuee's weight. The support part 12 may include a plurality of flat bars arranged inside the outer frame 11 in parallel to each other with predetermined spaces therebetween. Both ends of the flat bar are coupled to the outer frame 11. The flat bar is inclined such that its outer edge

(with respect to the building's outer wall) is disposed upward. The plurality of flat bars have enough strength to support the rescuee's weight. [32] The plurality of inclined flat bars arranged inside the outer frame in parallel to each

other are effective for preventing fire from spreading upstairs. [33] An ordinary support bar can also be used instead of the plurality of flat bars. In addition, as shown in Fig. 5, a non-inflammable plate which does not burn can also be used if needed. [34] The non-inflammable plate is provided in an entire inside of the outer frame 11. The non-inflammable plate can be made from a variety of well-known materials such as a fireproof glass. The non-inflammable plate also supports the rescuee's weight and prevents fire from spreading upstairs. [35] When the non-inflammable plate is used as the support part 12, it is preferable to put a beam of a predetermined strength under the non-inflammable plate to support the non-inflammable plate stably. [36] Since the technical constitutions of the apparatus for refuge illustrated in Fig. 5 are identical to those illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 except that a non-inflammable plate is used as the support part 12, detailed descriptions thereof are omitted. [37] The outer frame 11 is configured to rotate within a predetermined range of angle from the outer wall 2 of the building, that is, until the outer frame 11 is disposed substantially parallel with the ground. [38] Referring to Fig. 4, a stop protrusion 5a is provided on a bracket 5, and a stop groove 11a corresponding with the stop protrusion 5a is provided on the outer frame

11, to restrict the rotation range of the outer frame 11. The locations of the stop protrusion 5a and the stop groove 11a, which determine the rotation range of the outer frame 11, can be varied. [39] A torsion spring 15 is provided between the outer frame 11 and the bracket 5 to absorb impact generated while stopping the rotation of the foothold 10. [40] The railing 20 is disposed above the foothold 10 to protect a rescuee from an accidental fall. [41] The railing 20 has a dimension and a shape corresponding with those of the outer frame 11. The railing 20 is open at a portion contacting an opening of the outer wall 2 of the building so that a rescuee can easily come out of the building into the apparatus for refuge. [42] The railing 20 is rotated from the outer wall 2 of the building by a rotation part 21.

The rotation part 21 may have another structure that easily rotates the railing 20. [43] Both ends of the auxiliary railing 31 are respectively hinged on the foothold 10 and the railing 20 so that the foothold 10 and the railing 20 are interlocked with each other. [44] The support 41 is configured to support the foothold 10 and the railing 20 more stably and keep them horizontal. That is, the support 41 is configured to restrict an extent of a unfoldment of the foothold 10. [45] The location and the number of the support 41 can be varied. For example, both

ends of the support 41 may be coupled to the foothold 10 and the outer wall 2 of the building, respectively. Both ends of the support 41 may also be coupled to the railing 20 and the outer wall 2 of the building, respectively.

[46] The support 41 can be selected from a wire, a rope, a chain, and the like.

[47] A rescue element coupler 51 is provided to the railing 20, the foothold 10 or the auxiliary railing 31.

[48] Operations of a apparatus for refuge will now be described.

[49] Normally, the apparatus for refuge remains folded against the outer wall 2 of the building.

[50] In an emergency such as a fire, a rescuee who wishes to escape out of a building opens the emergency exit 3. Then, the rescuee pushes a foothold 10 or a railing 20, so that the apparatus for refuge is unfolded spontaneously under its own weight.

[51] The unfolding is stopped when the foothold 10 and the railing 20 become horizontally disposed through an interaction of the stop groove 1 Ia in the outer frame 11 and the stop protrusion in the bracket 5. The unfolded state is maintained firmly and stably with the help of the support 41.

[52] The apparatus for refuge, when it is unfolded as described above, provides a refuge space stably accommodating a rescuee.

[53] The apparatus for refuge also serves as a railing when the emergency exit 3 is opened by mistake, which is effective to prevent a falling accident.

[54] Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, a apparatus for refuge according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a foothold 10 rotatably coupled to an outer wall 2 of a building; a railing 20 rotatably coupled to the outer wall 2 of the building and disposed above the foothold 10; an auxiliary railing 31 connecting the foothold 10 with the railing 20; a support 41 connecting the auxiliary railing 31 with the outer wall 2 of the building; and a rope 61 with one end connected to the foothold 10 and the other end inserted into the outer wall 2 of the building.

[55] The unfolded apparatus for refuge can be easily folded with the help of the rope 61.

The rope 61 may be connected to the railing 20 or the auxiliary railing 31 instead of the foothold 10.

[56] Referring to Fig. 8, a rope holder 63 of a predetermined shape is provided on an inner side of the outer wall 2 of the building. The rope holder 63 selectively holds a rope handle 62 coupled to an end of the rope 61.

[57] The outer wall 2 of the building is provided with a predetermined-sized through hole 4 through which the rope 61 is inserted into the outer wall 2.

[58] Since the technical constitutions other than the rope 61, the through hole 4 and the rope holder 63 are identical to those of Figs. 1 to 4, detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

[59] Referring to Fig. 9, an advertising element 71 such as a signboard and a banner can be provided on the foothold 10 or the auxiliary railing 31 of the apparatus for refuge which is mounted on the outer wall 2 of the building. This makes the setting of the advertising element 71 relatively easy, and also makes the building look better because the apparatus for refuge is hidden by the advertising element 71. Industrial Applicability

[60] A apparatus for refuge according to the present invention can be applied to a variety of openings in an outer wall of a building such as an emergency exit, a window, and a balcony.