Patent Application
20110258815
The background of the invention will be discussed in two parts.
The present invention relates to a rope management device and in particular to a device for ascending and descending a rope without the assistance of a belayer and that can be changed from a clamping device to an unclamping device under load.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,203 issued on 31 May 2005 to Perry L. Everett et al., and in U.S. Pat. No. 7,533,871 issued on 19 May 2009 to Perry L. Everett et al., there is shown and described rope climbing apparatus that provides a simple and convenient way to ascend and descend a rope without using a belayer. The present invention provides an easier and smoother transition from a rope clamping position to a rope unclamping position, thus conveniently providing an even more effective rope climbing device.
A rope management device is provided that includes features allowing for transition from a rope clamping position to a rope unclamped position when under load. Included is a teeter bar having a pivot axis allowing for application of friction on a section of rope to hold a load in place and then when rope is pulled through the device the load is transferred within the device and allows the teeter bar to pivot about another axis to eliminate friction between the rope and clamping surfaces. The device can function with a double rope technique system as well as a belay device.
A listing of the reference numerals, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements in the several views, with a brief description of their function, is as follows:
The present invention provides a different embodiment of the disclosures of U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,203 issued on 31 May 2005 to Perry L. Everett et al. and of U.S. Pat. No. 7,533,871 issued on 19 May 2009 to Perry L. Everett et al., which patents are incorporated herein by reference.
As indicated in the drawings the components of the invention and their assembly are described as follows:
a base plate 1 having ten holes, an attachment hole 1a, pivot hole 1b, and six fastener holes 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f, 1g, 1h, 1i and 1j; hole 1c for receiving threaded fastener screw 2c therethrough to permanently fasten bollard 2 to side A of base plate 1 by engagement with threaded hole 2a; hole 1d for receiving fastener bolt 3c therethrough to fasten bollard 3 to side A of base plate 1, holes 1e, 1g, 1h, 1i, and 1j for selectively affixing stop 8, and threaded hole 1f for permanently affixing threaded stop 7;
bollards 2 and 3 include fastener holes 2a and 3a, respectively, for receiving securing fasteners 2c and 3c, respectively, to affix bollards 2 and 3 to base plate 1, and replaceable wear sleeves 4 and 5 secured by screws 4b and 5b, respectively, threaded hole 2a also permanently affixing threaded stop 6 to the bottom of bollard 2;
a cam 9 having a pivot hole 9c for receiving threaded fastener 3c therethrough after which threaded fastener 3c mates with threaded holes 1d and 3a to secure bollard 3 to side A of base plate 1 and thereby define pivot axis 3, and fastener holes 9a and 9b for securing handle 10 to side B of cam 9 by means of fastener bolts 10c and 10b, respectively, and fastener hole 9d for securing spring 9c by means of fastener screw 9f;
a teeter bar 11 pivotally mounted between base plate 1 and access plate 13 by threaded fastener 15 which transits pivot holes 1b, 11b and 13b to terminate in nut 15a to thereby define pivot axis 1, attachment hole 11a defining attachment point 1, a friction brake generally designated 11d, and a fairlead generally designated 11e having a fastener hole 11c;
bearing 12 having hole 12a for fixedly receiving a first end of fastener 14, the second end of fastener 14 fixedly received by teeter bar hole 11c, this arrangement allowing bearing 12 to remain in contact with cam 9, the combination of bearing 12, fastener 14 and hole 11c defining pivot axis 2;
access plate 13 having rope attachment hole 13a, pivot hole 13b for receiving bolt 15, pivot hole 13b co-acting with fastener 15, pivot hole 11b to rotatably affix teeter bar 11 to side B of access plate 13, hole 13a co-acting with hole 1a to define rope attachment point pivot axis 2, and catch 13c configured for co-acting with threaded stop 6;
handle 10 permanently affixed to cam 9 by threaded fasteners 10c and 10d transiting holes 10a and 10b, respectively, to engage threaded holes 9a and 9b, respectively.
As shown in
As is evident from review of the figures, pivot hole 11b is in an off center location between attachment hole 11a and fairlead 11e of teeter bar 11 which provides a leverage advantage. The distance between fairlead 11e and pivot axis 1 is greater than the distance between attachment hole 11a and pivot axis 1. This leverage advantage makes it possible to more easily pull rope 105 through device 101. As rope 105 is pulled down against fairlead 11e teeter bar 11 teeters on pivot axis 1 moving pivot axis 2 and pivot axis 3 further apart thus eliminating clamping pressure and friction on rope 105 between wear sleeve 5 of bollard 3 and friction brake 11d of teeter bar 11. This unclamping action allows rope 105 to be pulled through device 101, down across fairlead 11e moving device 101 closer to anchor 103.
In operation of the device 101, co-action between handle 10, cam 9 and bearing 12 provides a mechanical advantage in that this co-action makes it possible to more easily control the distance between pivot axis 2 and pivot axis 3. This allows a controlled distance between wear sleeve 5 and friction brake 11d which makes it possible for rope management device 101 to go from a rope clamping position to a rope unclamping position even when under load. As handle 10 and cam 9 are turned counter clockwise on pivot axis 3, bearing 12 follows cam 9 to move pivot axis 2 and pivot axis 3 further apart thereby reducing clamping pressure and friction on rope 105 between wear sleeve 5 of bollard 3 and friction brake 11d of teeter bar 11. This unclamping action allows rope 105 to slip through device 101 at a controlled speed moving device 101 further from anchor 103.
Further, threaded fastener hole 9d of cam 9, when receiving threaded governor control screw 9f through governor spring 9e together with base plate fastener holes 1g, 1h, 1i, 1j and governor stop bolt 10f, provides a variable position stop. This provides means for limiting the descent speed of device 101 by limiting how far handle 10 and cam 9 are allowed to turn counter-clockwise before being stopped by governor stop bolt 10f and governor control screw 9f.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to an illustrated and described embodiment, other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that would fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/214,287 filed on 23 Apr. 2009 and entitled “ROPE MANAGEMENT DEVICE”. This utility application has the same subject matter and title as the aforesaid Provisional Application.
