Patent Application
20090008188
The invention relates to an ascender device for ascending on a double rope composed of a first ascender and a second ascender assembled to one another by securing means, each ascender comprising:
1. State of the Art
Ascenders for a double rope generally comprise a first ascender with a grip for the right hand and a second ascender with a grip for the left hand, which are mounted back to back without any offset so as to superpose the two grips. The two troughs are arranged side by side with the corresponding jamming cleats and final assembly of the apparatus is performed by riveting the two grips.
In another known apparatus, the grips are separated from one another without being superposed to enable a batter grip with both hands. The two troughs do however remain arranged side by side as in the above-mentioned case.
In all known apparatuses, the two ascenders have flanges of different structures, which require several types of tooling for cutting and folding the right-hand and left-hand flanges of the two ascenders.
2. Object of the Invention
The object of the invention consists in providing an ascender device that is easy to use and to hold when ascending along a double rope, and that is manufactured with standard parts requiring the same tooling for manufacture of both the ascenders.
The device according to the invention is characterized in that the flanges of the two ascenders are identical and are reversed by pivoting through 180° with respect to one another along a vertical axis extending parallel to the two troughs, and that the two grips are symmetrical with respect to the vertical axis so as to be able to be held simultaneously by the user's right hand and left hand.
This results in a balanced bearing of the ascender device for double rope. The two flanges of identical structure are both manufactured with the same tooling in the case of a cutting and folding operation, or the same mould in the case of manufacture in a foundry.
The two flanges are superposed at the base and comprise a pair of coaxial holes forming a single securing hole for passage of a carabiner.
According to a first embodiment, the grips of the flanges are joined on the inside to two superposed branches extending vertically in the extension of the troughs and comprising coaxial holes for passage of the securing means.
According to a second embodiment, the ascenders are assembled in a heart shape, without superposed branches on the inside.
The identical flanges of the ascender device can be achieved by cutting and folding, by machining a metal sheet section, or by founding.
Other advantages and features will become more clearly apparent from the following description of embodiments of the invention given as non-restrictive examples only and represented in the accompanying drawings, in which:
In
The two ascenders 11A, 11B present identical structures and are both achieved by means of the same cutting and folding tooling.
Each ascender 11A, 11B comprises a metal flange 13A, 13B made in particular of aluminium alloy, an internal aperture 14A, 14B designed to form a grip 15A, 15B on the outside being cut out in the bottom part of the flange.
The top part of each ascender 11A, 11B is folded into a U-shape to form a vertical trough 16A, 16B accommodating rope C1, C2, and further comprises a cleat 17A, 17B articulated on a transverse articulation axis 18A, 18B. Each cleat 17A, 17B is provided with a jamming surface in the form of a cam, equipped with a plurality of spurs of the type described in the document FR 2311213. A torsion spring 22A, 22B is mounted coaxially on axis 18A, 18B, and urges cleat 17A, 17B to press on rope C1, C2 inside corresponding trough 16A, 16B.
Opposite grip 15A, 15B, each aperture 14A, 14B of flange 13A, 13B is bounded by a substantially straight branch 19A, 19B extending vertically in the extension under corresponding trough 16A, 16B.
The base of each branch 19A, 19B of flanges 13A, 13B is provided with a circular opening 20A, 20B for passage of a carabiner. The intermediate part of branches 19A, 19B further comprises holes 21 with smaller diameters than those of openings 20A, 20B. Holes 21 will be used for fitting securing means 12.
Assembly of the two ascenders 11A, 11B is performed as follows:
Flanges 13A, 13B of the two ascenders 11A, 11B are identical and are reversed with respect to one another following a vertical pivoting movement through 180°, being adjoined via their internal branches 19A, 19B and troughs 16A, 16B. Straight branches 19A, 19B are thereby superposed, and openings 20A, 20B are coaxial and aligned in the transverse direction.
Holes 21 in branches 19A, 19B are also aligned enabling passage of securing means 12 formed by rivets or any other assembly system. Two rivets in superposed branches 19A, 19B are sufficient to obtain the required mechanical strength of ascender device 10.
Assembly of the two ascenders 11A, 11B is performed along vertical axis XY (
When ascending along a double rope C1, C2, the user first attaches ascender device 10 to the harness by means of a carabiner (not represented) passing through openings 20A, 20B. He then passes double rope C1, C2 in troughs 16A, 16B, then climbs up along rope C1, C2 holding the two grips 15A, 15B with his right hand and his left hand.
With reference to the alternative embodiment of
In the alternative embodiment of
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07 04795 | Jul 2007 | FR | national |
