Henry K. Arnette
General Contractor at Holt St, Mebane, NC

6530455, Mar 11, 2003

Aug 11, 2000

09/637561

Henry Arnette - Mebane NC
Judd W. Staples - Chapel Hill NC
Woodrow G. Shaw - Stoney Creek NC

Walter Kidde Portable Equipment, Inc. - Meband NC

E06C 156

182198, 182206

An escape ladder provides emergency egress from a dwelling and generally comprises a hook assembly connected to a ladder assembly. The hook assembly includes a pair of laterally spaced clamps and the ladder assembly includes a pair of straps attached to the clamps and a series of rungs extending between the straps. Each clamp comprises an upper hook and a lower hook connected via a hinge. The pair of clamps are connected via a collapsible stabilizer bar. The hinges and stabilizer bar permit the clamps of the hook assembly to be folded and compressed to form an un-deployed configuration of the hook assembly. The rungs are of common cross-sectional shape permitting them to be nested in an un-deployed configuration of the ladder assembly. The escape ladder of the present invention provides secure attachment to the dwelling, folds into an un-deployed package that small and compact for storage, yet is assembled to provide user-friendly deployment that can be reliably deployed in a high stress situation.