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How far can one descend? Suitable for the twin towers?
How long is the descent good for.

Lol … not a very smart and thought through design … Not everyone wants to be a super Hero …

what about obese people? isn't that ride going to hurt their wrists??

After someone has descended down the building does the Rapunzel retract back to the top so someone else can use it? What's to stop some idiot from using it for fun, or for when the elevators are taking too long?

How far can one descend? Suitable for the twin towers?
How long is the descent good for.

Lol … not a very smart and thought through design … Not everyone wants to be a super Hero …

lets look at the positives of this: its a fantastic concept! inspiring stuff!

what about obese people? isn't that ride going to hurt their wrists??

After someone has descended down the building does the Rapunzel retract back to the top so someone else can use it? What's to stop some idiot from using it for fun, or for when the elevators are taking too long?

lets look at the positives of this: its a fantastic concept! inspiring stuff!

Awesome idea ! Too Good ! Improvements like Retraction (for reuse) and descent length could make these practical solution. Stuntmen in movies already use something like this, but applying it to emergency fire situations is a brilliant idea.

Good concept, when escaping a burning building anything is better than free-fall.

I think the cable drum would need to be a lot larger diameter, even to descend just two floors, the speed retarder needs to be a lot stronger design (both the spindle and gear mesh) and probably the outer body needs to be made from one piece to ensure integrity.

I know it's very easy to be critical when I am perhaps not even smart enough to have thought of the idea in the first place but personal safety must always take precedence over design.

Awesome idea ! Too Good ! Improvements like Retraction (for reuse) and descent length could make these practical solution. Stuntmen in movies already use something like this, but applying it to emergency fire situations is a brilliant idea.

Good concept, when escaping a burning building anything is better than free-fall.

I think the cable drum would need to be a lot larger diameter, even to descend just two floors, the speed retarder needs to be a lot stronger design (both the spindle and gear mesh) and probably the outer body needs to be made from one piece to ensure integrity.

I know it's very easy to be critical when I am perhaps not even smart enough to have thought of the idea in the first place but personal safety must always take precedence over design.

dislocated and ripped shoulder cartilage and tendons == lawsuits.
make it at least 2 handed. a swingseat, a harness, anything better than dangling an out-of-shape office worker by the arm only for it to twist like a twizzler, I can easily see an obese person's arm ripping off once dislocated. yucky mess to clean up, both physically on the ground and in courtroom litigation.

I think this is a great concept.

@Tweakie, thanks for providing some constructive feedback.

@lawrence, pedro, cris; just pointing out the first negative thing that comes to mind is a bad habit. This isn't a real product, its a concept.

The idea is great if you ask me. I work in a high rise building and would appreciate at least SOME level of emergency escape other than the stairs. Sure its going to need tweaks if it ever comes to fruition.

@Truthiness; I think the reusable idea is a super cool suggestion. That would reduce the number you needed per building.

dislocated and ripped shoulder cartilage and tendons == lawsuits.
make it at least 2 handed. a swingseat, a harness, anything better than dangling an out-of-shape office worker by the arm only for it to twist like a twizzler, I can easily see an obese person's arm ripping off once dislocated. yucky mess to clean up, both physically on the ground and in courtroom litigation.

Why would you even put the spool in the device itself?

You could feed a much longer and thicker cable from the source and accomplish the same goal.

I think this is a great concept.

@Tweakie, thanks for providing some constructive feedback.

@lawrence, pedro, cris; just pointing out the first negative thing that comes to mind is a bad habit. This isn't a real product, its a concept.

The idea is great if you ask me. I work in a high rise building and would appreciate at least SOME level of emergency escape other than the stairs. Sure its going to need tweaks if it ever comes to fruition.

@Truthiness; I think the reusable idea is a super cool suggestion. That would reduce the number you needed per building.

Why would you even put the spool in the device itself?

You could feed a much longer and thicker cable from the source and accomplish the same goal.

It's a cool idea. Though only older buildings with poor egress designs that don't meet current requirements would benefit from a device like this. Very intriguing still. Wouldn't windows need to be able to open or they would have to be smashed out to use it? Also what about people using them on floors above yours and below yours? Even with my skepticism if they were produced for individual use, just attach to a support column, and were reasonably priced I wouldn't mind keeping one with me when in a high-rise. Just in case.

It's a cool idea. Though only older buildings with poor egress designs that don't meet current requirements would benefit from a device like this. Very intriguing still. Wouldn't windows need to be able to open or they would have to be smashed out to use it? Also what about people using them on floors above yours and below yours? Even with my skepticism if they were produced for individual use, just attach to a support column, and were reasonably priced I wouldn't mind keeping one with me when in a high-rise. Just in case.

Hahaha, it's a safety device in the guise of a superhero gadget.

Hahaha, it's a safety device in the guise of a superhero gadget.

I love when art people design stuff. Stumbled!

Hmmm… clean aesthetics, interesting concept.

What if someone has really big hands? Or really small hands (like a child)? Can this design handle both? Maybe a padded strap that goes under both arms would work better? A concept for use in emergency situations such as this needs the ability to handle the broadest possible group.

I love when art people design stuff. Stumbled!

I think putting the spool and gears at the other end wouldn't work since the friction of the cable along the edge would probably lead to cable failure or the cable snagging altogether.
A little elbow grease and some more thought will make this a popular product in most of Asia and middle eastern countries. In Canada, USA and Europe there are too many over-weight people who would be hurt by using this device.

Hmmm… clean aesthetics, interesting concept.

What if someone has really big hands? Or really small hands (like a child)? Can this design handle both? Maybe a padded strap that goes under both arms would work better? A concept for use in emergency situations such as this needs the ability to handle the broadest possible group.

I think putting the spool and gears at the other end wouldn't work since the friction of the cable along the edge would probably lead to cable failure or the cable snagging altogether.
A little elbow grease and some more thought will make this a popular product in most of Asia and middle eastern countries. In Canada, USA and Europe there are too many over-weight people who would be hurt by using this device.

With a few tweaks, this idea could work for a low-rise building, only a couple of stories tall. Only one arm is definitely too dangerous, and if you let go, the wrist grip would do serious damage on the bones in your hand and wrist, depending on how much you weigh. You also have to weigh in the fact that any wind would cause people to sway like pendulums, and larger heights mean larger pendulum length, meaning that people could swing into the building at velocities that could do serious damage.

Really, the best way this idea could be implemented would be to mimic belaying done by rock climbers.

With a few tweaks, this idea could work for a low-rise building, only a couple of stories tall. Only one arm is definitely too dangerous, and if you let go, the wrist grip would do serious damage on the bones in your hand and wrist, depending on how much you weigh. You also have to weigh in the fact that any wind would cause people to sway like pendulums, and larger heights mean larger pendulum length, meaning that people could swing into the building at velocities that could do serious damage.

Really, the best way this idea could be implemented would be to mimic belaying done by rock climbers.

No mention of securing it or anchoring it. Simply put it on and jump out the window!!!!

No mention of securing it or anchoring it. Simply put it on and jump out the window!!!!

This could really save lives. It's a fantastic concept that if implemented today could easily start saving lives tomorrow. It would also be very welcome in the toolkit of emergency services of all sorts, from firefighters to coast guard and beyond.

This device needs two models:

- An industrial or "high rise" model that spools from the source – probably a dedicated emergency escape point on each floor, and can be respooled quickly and easily from the source.

- A personal model much like the design shown above but with a stronger, reinforced mechanism and enough spooled cable to decend at least three stories

Both models need to:
- Accomodate large hands by opening up the device
- Reduce stress on the wrist. I recommend a heavy duty sling that is attached to the device that wraps around the wearers upper arm from elbow to armpit and can be adjusted for length – if designed properly it would promote good form (a 90 degree angle of the arm) minimizing the danger to the shoulder joint and would provide a good place for the second arm to grip if need be.

This could really save lives. It's a fantastic concept that if implemented today could easily start saving lives tomorrow. It would also be very welcome in the toolkit of emergency services of all sorts, from firefighters to coast guard and beyond.

This device needs two models:

- An industrial or “high rise” model that spools from the source – probably a dedicated emergency escape point on each floor, and can be respooled quickly and easily from the source.

- A personal model much like the design shown above but with a stronger, reinforced mechanism and enough spooled cable to decend at least three stories

Both models need to:
- Accomodate large hands by opening up the device
- Reduce stress on the wrist. I recommend a heavy duty sling that is attached to the device that wraps around the wearers upper arm from elbow to armpit and can be adjusted for length – if designed properly it would promote good form (a 90 degree angle of the arm) minimizing the danger to the shoulder joint and would provide a good place for the second arm to grip if need be.

This is brilliant, sometimes, when there is a big fire, you can't put it out, and it is better to escape,
second, there are a number of rapunzels present equal to the people in the building, zo nobody has to jump or stay.
Third, I am pretty sure, an obese whil risk a very painfull wrest above death by burn. and if they don't, bad luck, better 20 people saved and 1 dead because he is obese above 21 dead.

I just hope the rope is long enough but i am sure they won't instal them if the rope is to short.
A apoligize for my English, its my third language.

I think people have pointed out a lot of the obvious flaws and bonuses here, but I think it is important to consider the reality of materials and means, even if we're talking about concepts. Industrial design is after all about applied design, with the eventual intent of your design being for consumer use. Part of being a designer is addressing the flaws in a design, and improving on them. To me, this looks like the designer either ignored those flaws or didn't get a good critique before completing the idea stage of the design process.

This is brilliant, sometimes, when there is a big fire, you can't put it out, and it is better to escape,
second, there are a number of rapunzels present equal to the people in the building, zo nobody has to jump or stay.
Third, I am pretty sure, an obese whil risk a very painfull wrest above death by burn. and if they don't, bad luck, better 20 people saved and 1 dead because he is obese above 21 dead.

I just hope the rope is long enough but i am sure they won't instal them if the rope is to short.
A apoligize for my English, its my third language.

Photoshopped.

I think people have pointed out a lot of the obvious flaws and bonuses here, but I think it is important to consider the reality of materials and means, even if we're talking about concepts. Industrial design is after all about applied design, with the eventual intent of your design being for consumer use. Part of being a designer is addressing the flaws in a design, and improving on them. To me, this looks like the designer either ignored those flaws or didn't get a good critique before completing the idea stage of the design process.

Photoshopped.

why are all designs on here not even remotely thought through? "form beyond function", eh? yeah… i can see that…

why are all designs on here not even remotely thought through? “form beyond function”, eh? yeah… i can see that…

Hi, I am an abseiling window cleaner working on high rise buildings in the city of Sydney. Great idea.. might need some work.
That amount of cable in the handle would be enough for a two maybe three story building."Cable spool at other end" Tristan d.
It would need a swinging arm or something from the building so the cable hangs freely and did not rest on a sharp edge.
A ski lift t-bar hanging from the bottom may make it more comfortable.
Not many people are happy to step off the edge of a building, people would freeze up and slow things down if there was a queue.
A fixed line down the side of a building with a device that runs along it would stop the wind twisting and tangling the cable with other cables.
otherwise i likey

Hi, I am an abseiling window cleaner working on high rise buildings in the city of Sydney. Great idea.. might need some work.
That amount of cable in the handle would be enough for a two maybe three story building.”Cable spool at other end” Tristan d.
It would need a swinging arm or something from the building so the cable hangs freely and did not rest on a sharp edge.
A ski lift t-bar hanging from the bottom may make it more comfortable.
Not many people are happy to step off the edge of a building, people would freeze up and slow things down if there was a queue.
A fixed line down the side of a building with a device that runs along it would stop the wind twisting and tangling the cable with other cables.
otherwise i likey

The device is clearly marked with an "S" for small. It would make sense to make several sizes for different sized hands. And several lengths and strengths of cable. Good idea!

The device is clearly marked with an “S” for small. It would make sense to make several sizes for different sized hands. And several lengths and strengths of cable. Good idea!

what if there's a malfunction and the locking mechanism gets stuck? You're stuck tethered to a burning building and possibly being retracted back upward when it goes back for the next passenger?

Wow. First, i agree with critique. That is how an idea grows and develops. Second, you need a free hand to exit from a window and assist in your free fall by pushing away from the building. If there was an extra exterior handle as a grip for use in an open fall, this would be a great assist to the stress on the hanging one handed person waiting for rescue. Third, cable length. Yes, figure it out. and as previously mentioned, the building can pre-install custom escape windows with the amount of these repels per office personal quantity. Know what it looks like when troops hook up and jump from a plane? Same idea, with slow-stop mechanism till rapunzl kicks in and drops you to a safe area. Forth, Fat people, easy, bottom floor only. Fifth, Malfunction? exterior emergency release. Six, seat, or sling, you'll end up with a bunch of hung people. Maybe, only maybe a foot stirrup. Last: Seven. How about a simple cable, length based on fall, drops from window, rapunzle attached at top with slow decent mecanism inside. Or, invent the rapunzle-shoot Just jump and it self deploys like the troops.

Wow. First, i agree with critique. That is how an idea grows and develops. Second, you need a free hand to exit from a window and assist in your free fall by pushing away from the building. If there was an extra exterior handle as a grip for use in an open fall, this would be a great assist to the stress on the hanging one handed person waiting for rescue. Third, cable length. Yes, figure it out. and as previously mentioned, the building can pre-install custom escape windows with the amount of these repels per office personal quantity. Know what it looks like when troops hook up and jump from a plane? Same idea, with slow-stop mechanism till rapunzl kicks in and drops you to a safe area. Forth, Fat people, easy, bottom floor only. Fifth, Malfunction? exterior emergency release. Six, seat, or sling, you'll end up with a bunch of hung people. Maybe, only maybe a foot stirrup. Last: Seven. How about a simple cable, length based on fall, drops from window, rapunzle attached at top with slow decent mecanism inside. Or, invent the rapunzle-shoot Just jump and it self deploys like the troops.

Dunaunaunaunaunauna Batman!

How do you not slam your feet on the ground, or be left dangling in the air?

The device is marked with “Wire 150 m” on picture 3, long enough for most buildings.

The device is marked with “Wire 150 m” on picture 3, long enough for most buildings.

I think that this is an expansive product. With fantastic applications, look at a control system and possible weight limits. My main concern with the product is its simplicity, it seems almost too good. key points such as the cable resting on an exposed and potentially sharp surface are not too high on the list as the spool is in the handset and therefore the wire would not rub. However the control mechanism and the stop/start functions perplex me. These can be resolved by setting them to an average height of 6ft 6" from the ground, therefore most you have only a small drop and would reduce the "ground smash effect".

My next concern is to do with how the device would be attached to the building, Im assuming its not a batman shooting grappel claw, but due to the structural integrity of most office buildings today a wall would not be a practical attachment.

Just food for thought, I am otherwise a huge fan of the concept and believe that this has a great deal of promice as a live saving device. Brilliant thinking, well done.

I think that this is an expansive product. With fantastic applications, look at a control system and possible weight limits. My main concern with the product is its simplicity, it seems almost too good. key points such as the cable resting on an exposed and potentially sharp surface are not too high on the list as the spool is in the handset and therefore the wire would not rub. However the control mechanism and the stop/start functions perplex me. These can be resolved by setting them to an average height of 6ft 6″ from the ground, therefore most you have only a small drop and would reduce the “ground smash effect”.

My next concern is to do with how the device would be attached to the building, Im assuming its not a batman shooting grappel claw, but due to the structural integrity of most office buildings today a wall would not be a practical attachment.

Just food for thought, I am otherwise a huge fan of the concept and believe that this has a great deal of promice as a live saving device. Brilliant thinking, well done.

This would be very cool, except that there are a few obvious design flaws.

First the fact that not everyone is physically capable to use this device, ie; elderly, obese, really young, people with really large hands, or what if an amputee was trapped in the fire.

Second, others using the device on other floors would end up getting tangled with other people going down.

Third, there is not a motor small (including power source) enough that can quickly and safely lower a person. See Mythbusters.

Fourth, it would only be able to use this device if the fire were on a floor above the user. Ever seen a building fire? Sometimes windows get blown out and the fire comes out the window. Not to mention that highrise buildings create a huge draft which would blow the person around like a kite on a string.

Last, if there ever is a motor strong enough the expense would be far to great for the general market.

An so you choose “dead not-a-super-hero”? Yours is not a very smart and thought through comment!

“@Scott says” Blurts out the first thing that comes to his mind thus proving the point. I’m calling you out for not knowing what you’re talking about for claiming reuseability is “practically required” for a life saving product! Nonsense.

I’m not going to point out the obvious flaws and/or shortcomings with respect to this design, since this has already be done in the comments.

Instead, I’d like to note that it simply saddens me to see that some people who consider themselves (future) industrial designers spend time, money, and effort on things like this (or are allowed to do so by educational institutions). And this isn’t the first time I see such a thing on a design blog.

Please, focus on things that are (or might be) possible and practical; we don’t need your dreamed up, impractical designs; we’ve got four-year-old kids with crayons for that. And for the love of humanity: get someone to check your grammar.

Fat people bounce!

Wow. Some of you guys can be real jerks.
Final word: Great idea, needs some tweaks. That’s why we have this website. You who are pulling this poor man down just becauseyou think the design is impractical, so what? If you guys can’t be professional and leave bullying out of this, then you shouldn’t be here.
Guys, I’m only fifteen years old. With all due respect, it shames me that I have to be the voice of reason in the matter.

This is great;
the concept,
the design,
the name.

XD

did it say “for when some huge airplane crashes into the building you’re in”?? -__-

generation scared

best response ever. great logic couldnt have said i better.

Myth busters showed that there were problems with building an ascender. Though Jamie’s worked quite well. His problem was lacking a release mechanism for going down. Adam had problems with a grapple design that would shoot an arrow/harpoon head into concrete solid enough to secure a line to.

As to a strong enough mechanism… we use them all the time in the real world. We call them fishing reels. A fishing reel can have variable drag setting that would allow most any speed decent for most any weight category. A bit of designing could probably come up with something both automatic and simple in function and design.

Very strong lines can be made that are incredibly strong, durable, and since you are not holding onto the line, okay to be thin… Though probably best if very visible (like flourescent) and not razor thin.

Since the lines themselves are stationary and not sliding as pointed out, not only do they not rub on sharp edges, the are not very prone to tangling. This is much as the real world application of the lines used in the military to pull the ripcords of chutes of troops exiting cargo/troop planes. Sorry but I forgot th name for the long straps that the troops all attach to a rail before jumping. Anyway, there is no issue with those straps tangling since they do not slide across each other.

More problematic are similar problems that arise if you use an elevator during a fire. That of passing a floor that is on fire or potentially going to explode. …sometimes quick egress is of greater importance… Sometimes you can’t count on stairs or elevators. If the cables are robust enough, perhaps the decrease in time passing through the danger zone might make it feasabl? Though fire doors do protect you from a lot in many fires.

I think addition of a simple foot strap to the descender, similar to footstraps on ascenders, would be a great addition. One or two styrrups for the feet an a handle for the free hand.

But… Attachment points? Retrofitted into the building I assume? Or? That was a downfall of the Mythbuster experiments.

Buster

So what if it is Photoshopped????? It isn’t a photo of the item in use, it is a diagram of how it is to be used as well as an image of what it would look like or could look like, isn’t it? Gee whiz… I expect that a blog post about improving an image using photoshop would have these inane “photoshopped” comments as if it were a faked pboto of Sasquatch.

LOL! I love your response ting.

Thats a great idea. I’m not obese or afraid to use that thing, so I think its brilliant. Anyone who wants to burn to death is welcome to stay behind, ha ha, see ya later

I RESPECT YOUR OPINION

Not a good design. The distance traveled cant be very long. chances of shoulder dislocation in case of weak arms.
There are some more design issues and considerations left out…

Not a very good design.

How does it have enough wire? What if you’re in a 100 story building? Is every one of these made with a certain amount of wire depending on the floor you’re on? How do you control the speed of descent? Do fat people get one for each hand or will you make a chair type thing?

senario…your kitchen is on fire…the wall that the rapunzel is attached to is in the kitchen and also catches fire. the wall crumbles…bye bye passenger

going by they pictures it looks like it is good for a descent of 150 meters

Great idea but not for us big people.

Possible Improvement: pigtail gear on the motor(or hand release) end. it will be more resistant to being forced to turn under a lot of weight. Im not sure if it’s actually called that, but its essentially a screw, used for turning gears.

How long would this descend and what is the maximum weight it can carry?

Probably the same things that stop most people from doing stupid things..precautions..consequences.Have you driven a car lately??

A good idea actually.

Run your mouths when the heat of the fire is melting your sneakers because you cannot find a way out of the building.

My concern is that if the device firmly grips your wrist…what happens if there is a malfunction?
Is there an emergency release so that you are not tethered or handcuffed to the building?

But most people don’t want to burn alive…

That will be a problem.

is there anything more to make the world a better place

You notice the S at the top of the thing? There’s probably many sizes.

Hands down, I’ll buy it when it’s available.

Its for emergencies. It only has to be worn for a few minute while you descend from a burning building which you otherwise could not escape. Its wasn’t designed to look cool, it was designed to save people.

You mean “break” their wrist.

In theory it’s a good idea. Thanks for the post.

Great idea, even if it doesn’t live up to expectations it’s great that we still have people thinking outside the square in an attempt to improve humanity. As for hurting your wrist, well most people have two hands, you could always try a novel idea and use your other hand to grip over the unit. I’d personally take a sore wrist over burning to death. Obese people? Lose weight, problem solved.

As someone with a bit of high angle rescue experience, I would say that a belt would be a good addition. A simple 2-in webbing with a self locking buckle attached to the device with a steel cable or nylon line would provide an exceptional degree of redundancy. This way the person can still be lowered when incapacitated without risk of wrist injury and regardless of obesity.

I’m 130lbs overweight. I’ll take the hurt wrist. This looks like a great concept.

If you are looking for a descending device that works and is being used in the field, take a look at http://www.deusrescue.com

More people want to be a superhero than dead.

I am 6’5 wgt.270lbs. Could I use it?

Yeah that’s what i call super cool design!

I agree, more appropriate for commercial application vs general public.

However, I like the cable spool inclusive in the moving part. If it’s legitimately feasible to have the strength and cable length in something that small, this location would prevent abrasion of the cable when it wraps over an edge of the window as well as allow the user to control the descent speed.