Window Shutter Escape Ladder
Novel escape ladder for use in multi-story buildings
Contact
Technology
Rick P. Swatloski, Ph.D.
Escape ladders for use in multi-story buildings typically are constructed of rope,
Project Manager
cables, telescoping sections, wires, or a combination of these materials. When not in
TreMonti Consulting, LLC.
use, these ladders are stored near a window or door, in a box or container, or are
1939 Roland Clarke Place,
bolted/hinged to a wall. Escape ladders for use from the upper floors of multi-story
Suite 150
buildings are larger than those used for egress from lower floors, and as a result, are
Reston, VA 20191
larger requiring more storage space which can block the egress route and are often not
Cell: 205.886.3411
aesthetically pleasing. Often, as a result of the size of these upper floor escape ladders,
people may tamper with or remove them, and as a result, they may not be available
when needed in an emergency. There have been several attempts to design an
Inventor
aesthetically pleasing, tamper-proof, functional escape ladder for use from the upper
Mark D. Mettler
floors of multi-story buildings. Development of such an improved system has not been
Dallas, PA USA
adopted to date for general commercial use for a variety of reasons including; cost, the
ability of people to tamper with them making them non-functional when needed, and
Field
they are not pleasing to the eye.
Emergency escape (egress)
device
Mark Mettler, an inventor and entrepreneur with a background in product
development and construction technology, has developed a new escape device for
Technology
use from the upper floors of multi-story buildings. The Window Shutter Escape
Window shutter escape ladder
Ladder system is designed to look like a typical window shutter and blend in with
the building, making it less likely to be tampered with, and from a design perspective
Stage of Development
more aesthetically appealing. The system is comprised of two vertical hollow side
Prototype developed
rails and horizontal reinforced slats used for steps. It is stored in a collapsed
configuration and is mounted directly to the outside of a building, or attached to the
Status
building with hinges adjacent to a window or door. When not in use, it appears to be
Seeking licensing partners
a window shutter. The ladder can be used for escape from a single floor of a building
(e.g., second floor), or a series of such devices can be mounted in a vertical fashion,
Patent Issued
each one connecting to the other one for use in a multi-story building.
Patent No.: US 7,159,693
Competitive Advantages
The system looks like a window shutter mounted to a building and is always
available for use in the event of an emergency.
Escape ladder does not interfere with the normal use of doors and windows,
takes up minimal space, and is aesthetically pleasing from a design perspective.
As a result of its segmented construction, the system can be used from a single
floor, or multiple sections of the device can be connected, allowing it to provide
an escape from the upper floors of a multi-story building.
Opportunity
The technology has broad applicability in a variety of residential, commercial, and
industrial building construction markets across the globe. The escape ladder can be
integrated into the design of new buildings or can be easily deployed on existing
buildings. The system can easily comply with local building codes. The global
construction market is estimated to be $7.6 trillion US by 2023.
The inventor is seeking a partner for further development and commercialization of
this technology through a license. The inventor is available to collaborate with
interested companies.