Business Opportunities Weblog

Niche Product: The Rescue Reel

By on March 8, 2013 in Inventions

Kevin R. Stone is an orthopedic surgeon and an unlikely inventor.

When Kevin had seen footage of people jumping out of the windows of the World Trade Center on 9/11, he was inspired. He went to work on a device that would allow people to escape from a tall building, through the window, in the event of a serious emergency. His device became the Rescue Reel, reports The New York Times.

The device, called Rescue Reel, will retail for around $2,000. To escape, people strap themselves into the harness, lock the reel to a stationary point like a door frame and gently propel themselves backward down the outside of a building.

Using the fishing reel as a base concept, Dr. Stone hired Think2Build, a San Francisco design company, to help him create the device. Dr. Stone said the biggest engineering challenge was finding a way that people of differing weights could fall at a speed that would not injure them when they hit the ground — no faster than two seconds per story (which means it would have taken about four minutes to flee the upper floors of the twin towers). Ultimately, the designers incorporated a centripetal braking system, which produces more friction at higher weights.

The device, which uses Kevlar ropes, will be available in 30-, 60- and 100-story lengths. For taller buildings, such as those in Dubai, Dr. Stone said custom lengths could be created.

Dr. Stone said he had invested more than a million dollars in creating the harness. “I want to make that contribution by that anniversary,” Dr. Stone said.

Video after the jump

Photo by Rescue Reel

safety

Angela Shupe has added 5,783 posts to Business Opportunities Weblog.

Another Idea: How to Start a Building Inspection Business

  • http://www.dog-crate-shop.com Donna White

    As a person that lives in the countryside and avoids cities like the plague, I can’t see myself needing one of these, however, those of you who love the city and work in buildings too tall to safely jump from, you may feel safer with one of these. Even 3 to 4 stories high would get me thinking I may need one. Great idea.

  • http://wahm.business-opportunities.biz Angela Shupe

    Donna, I am in the same position. I would never need one, but even I might consider it if I had to work in tall building. Granted, I am not sure which would win in an emergency situation: my fear of highs or the need to climb out the window.

Today's Posts