Shelving and Emergency Egress Unit

Abstract

A readily accessible combination device is disclosed that can be used as both a shelving unit, such as a bookcase, and then quickly and easily be transformed into an egress unit with a set of emergency escape stairs. The combination device may be repositionable or securely and removably fastened to a structure, such as a wall in proximity to a window or other elevated opening. The device of the present invention is comprised of a plurality of shelves/steps that are repositionably attached to a plurality of supports by swivel mechanisms that permit the quickly and easy transformation of the device from shelving unit to egress unit, and vice versa.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combination shelving and egress device comprising:
 a top shelf;   at least one secondary shelf;   a plurality of supports; and   a plurality of swivel mechanisms.   
     
     
         2 . The combination shelving and egress device of  claim 1 , wherein said top shelf is attached to each of said plurality of supports by at least one of said plurality of swivel mechanisms. 
     
     
         3 . The combination shelving and egress device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one secondary shelf is attached to each of said plurality of supports by at least one of said plurality of swivel mechanisms. 
     
     
         4 . The combination shelving and egress device of  claim 1  further comprising a second secondary shelf and a wall bracket with a slot formed therein. 
     
     
         5 . The combination shelving and egress device of  claim 4  wherein said second secondary shelf is attached to each of said plurality of supports by at least one of said plurality of swivel mechanisms. 
     
     
         6 . The combination shelving and egress device of  claim 4  wherein each of said top shelf, at least one secondary shelf and said second secondary shelf are positioned along said plurality of supports at approximately equal distances. 
     
     
         7 . The combination shelving and egress device of  claim 1 , wherein said combination shelving and egress device is repositionable between a shelving unit configuration and an egress unit configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The combination shelving and egress device of  claim 7 , wherein when said combination shelving and egress device is in the shelving unit configuration, an upper surface of the top shelf is generally perpendicular to said plurality of supports. 
     
     
         9 . The combination shelving and egress device of  claim 7 , wherein when said combination shelving and egress device is in the egress unit configuration, an upper surface of the top shelf is not generally perpendicular to said plurality of supports. 
     
     
         10 . The combination shelving and egress device of  claim 8 , wherein the upper surface of the top shelf is generally parallel to an upper surface of said at least one secondary shelf 
     
     
         11 . A combination shelving and egress device for attachment to a wall comprising:
 a top shelf;   a first secondary shelf;   a second secondary shelf;   a plurality of supports;   a plurality of swivel mechanisms; and   a wall bracket.   
     
     
         12 . The combination shelving and egress device of  claim 11  further comprising a foot attached to an end of each of said plurality of supports. 
     
     
         13 . The combination shelving and egress device of  claim 11 , wherein said wall bracket further comprises a slot. 
     
     
         14 . The combination shelving and egress device of  claim 11 , wherein each of said top shelf, said first secondary shelf and said secondary shelf is attached to each of said plurality of supports by at least one of said plurality of swivel mechanisms 
     
     
         15 . The combination shelving and egress device of  claim 11 , wherein said combination shelving and egress device is repositionable between a shelving unit configuration and an egress unit configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The combination shelving and egress device of  claim 15 , wherein when said combination shelving and egress device is in the shelving unit configuration, an upper surface of the top shelf is generally perpendicular to said plurality of supports. 
     
     
         17 . The combination shelving and egress device of  claim 15 , wherein when said combination shelving and egress device is in the egress unit configuration, an upper surface of the top shelf is not generally perpendicular to said plurality of supports. 
     
     
         18 . The combination shelving and egress device of  claim 16 , wherein the upper surface of the top shelf is generally parallel to an upper surface of said first secondary shelf. 
     
     
         19 . A combination shelving and egress device for attachment to a wall comprising:
 a top shelf;   a first secondary shelf;   a second secondary shelf;   a plurality of supports pivotally attached to each of the top shelf, the first secondary shelf and the second secondary shelf by a swivel mechanism; and   a wall bracket.   
     
     
         20 . The combination shelving and egress device of  claim 19 , wherein said combination shelving and egress device is repositionable between a shelving unit configuration and an egress unit configuration.