DRAWING FIGURES
FIG. 1 presents a first perspective view of a First Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool.
FIG. 2 presents a second perspective view of the First Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool.
FIG. 3 presents the First Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool threaded with a rope in a configuration so as to be used as a movable rope jam.
FIG. 4 presents a top view of the First Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool.
FIG. 5 illustrates the side walls of the rope channel of the First Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool.
FIG. 6 illustrates a configuration of the First Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool which allows it to operate as a standard friction knot with the addition of a cord.
FIG. 7 illustrates a configuration of the First Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool which allows it to act as a standard belay and rappel device.
FIG. 8 presents a Second Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool which can be used with two ropes.
FIG. 9 presents a Third Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool, for one rope, illustrating an alternate shape for a portion of the device.
FIG. 10 presents a Fourth Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool, for two ropes, illustrating an alternate shape for a portion of the device.
FIG. 11 presents a close-up view of the First Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool illustrating the pinch that is exerted on the rope when the device jams the rope.
FIG. 12 presents a Fifth Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool demonstrating the use of the device as an auto-locking belay device.
FIG. 13 presents a Sixth Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool demonstrating use of the device as an auto-locking belay device for two ropes.
REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS
10 First Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool
12 Main Body
13 Front Face
14 Open Front Area
15 Back Face
16 Open Back Area
18 Rope Channel
20 Snap Hook Containment Loop
22 Attachment Points
24 First Snap Hook
26 Rope
28 Middle Portion
30 Extents
32 Side Walls
34 Cord
36 Second Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool
38 Dual Rope Channels
40 Third Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool
42 Fourth Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool
44 Rope Pinch Regions
46 Fifth Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool
48 Extended Ends
50 Fifth Embodiment Main Body
52 Attachment Snap Hook
54 Fifth Embodiment Back Face
56 Sixth Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool
58 Sixth Embodiment Main Body
60 Sixth Embodiment Dual Rope Channels
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION
FIGS. 1 and 2 present two perspective views of a First Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool (10) which has a Main Body (12) with a Front Face (13) with an Open Front Area (14), a Back Face (15) with an Open Back Area (16), and a Rope Channel (18) passing between the Open Front Area (14) and the Open Back Area (16). A Snap Hook Containment Loop (20) is attached to the Main Body (12). In this embodiment, the Attachment Points (22) for the Snap Hook Containment Loop (20) allow the Snap Hook Containment Loop (20) to pivot with respect to the Main Body (12). A First Snap Hook (24) is not fixedly attached to the Main Body (12). As FIG. 3 indicates, the Rope Channel (18) is dimensioned so as to allow, with slight clearance, the placement of two strands of a Rope (26) [not part of the invention] to be used with the device. As FIG. 4 shows, a top view of the device demonstrates that the Middle Portion (28) of the Back Face (15) is recessed with respect to the Extents (30) of the Back Face (15), the edge defined by the Back Face (15) thus showing a V shape in this figure.
As shown in FIG. 3, in use as a rope jam, a loop of the Rope (26) is threaded into the Open Front Area (14), through the Rope Channel (18—partially hidden), and out the Open Back Area (16—completely hidden in this figure). The First Snap Hook (24) is then clipped through both the loop of Rope (26) and the Snap Hook Containment Loop (20). The device may be easily moved along the Rope (26), in either direction, by grabbing the First Snap Hook (24) and pulling it in a direction away from a fixed end of the Rope (26). By pulling on the First Snap Hook (24), the First Snap Hook (24) stays away from the Main Body (12) and the Rope (26) easily feeds into the Rope Channel (18), around the First Snap Hook (24) and back out the Rope Channel (18). If, however, the Rope (26) is pulled, and the Main Body (12) is constrained against moving along with the Rope (26), the device will jam the Rope (26) against further movement. In this situation, the pull on the Rope (26) causes the First Snap Hook (24) to be pulled into the Middle Portion (28) of the Open Back Area (16). The Rope (26) thus jams because the Side Walls (32), shown in FIG. 5, of the Rope Channel (18) are not spaced wide enough to allow clearance for a cross section of the First Snap Hook (24) as well as two strands of the Rope (26). Thus, the unique shape of the Middle Portion (28) of the Open Back Area (16) of the subject invention is a key element providing functionality not found in other climbing safety devices.
Unlike any of the friction knots used in the sport of rock climbing, the subject invention will jam the Rope (26) whenever the rope begins to move when the Main Body (12) is constrained from movement, regardless of the direction of force that is constraining the Main Body (12). For a friction knot to function effectively, the anchor point has to be upstream from the knot, relative to the direction of rope movement, and the force therefore pulls on the knot to tighten it. The subject invention will jam the Rope (26) whether the Main Body (12) is constrained by an upstream “pulling” force or a downstream “pushing” force. Therefore, in addition to having functionality not provided by a friction knot, the subject invention can be easily adapted to function as a friction knot by the addition of a Cord (34) [not part of the invention]. As FIG. 6 demonstrates, a loop of Cord (34) can be attached to the Snap Hook Containment Loop (20) by many methods including, as shown here, a simple girth hitch. By anchoring the loop of Cord (34) to a fixed anchor point (not shown), the subject invention will function as does a friction knot.
As shown in FIG. 7, the pivotal Attachment Points (22) of this First Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool (10) allow the Snap Hook Containment Loop (20) to be rotated into a position extending beyond the Front Face (13). When in this configuration, and with the Rope (26) threaded in the opposite direction as when threading the device to be a rope jam, the loop of Rope (26) thus extending beyond the Front Face (13), the subject invention can function as a simple manual belay and rappel device such as the ATC Climbing Belay Device by Black Diamond Equipment Ltd. of Salt Lake City, Utah.
FIG. 8 shows a Second Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool (36) with Dual Rope Channels (38). This embodiment can handle two ropes simultaneously, which can be beneficial in certain situations, especially when rappelling. This embodiment is otherwise analogous to the First Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool (10).
FIGS. 9 and 10 respectively show a Third Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool (40) for one rope and a Fourth Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool (42) for two ropes. These embodiments demonstrate that the indented region into which the Snap Hook (24—not shown for clarity) travels when the device jams the Rope (26—not shown for clarity) does not have to be in the shape of a V. In these embodiments the indented region is in the shape of a U.
FIG. 11 presents a close-up view of a portion of the First Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool (10) illustrating the Rope Pinch Regions (44) caused by the pinch that is exerted on the Rope (26) as the First Snap Hook (24) is drawn into the recessed region of the Main Body (12) by the forces of the Rope (26).
FIG. 12 present a Fifth Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool (46) demonstrating the use of the device as an auto-locking belay device. This figure shows the Rope (26) already having been locked by the device. In addition to the elements found comprising the First Embodiment Climber's Multi-Tool (10), this device has Extended Ends (48) on the Fifth Embodiment Main Body (50) and an Attachment Snap Hook (52). The Extended Ends (48) serve to lengthen the Fifth Embodiment Main Body (50) at the Fifth Embodiment Back Face (54). In use, the Attachment Snap Hook (52) is clipped through both the Snap Hook Containment Loop (20) and the belayer's harness (not shown). The Attachment Snap Hook (52) thus holds the Fifth Embodiment Main Body (50) against movement by way of the Snap Hook Containment Loop (20). The belayer need only pull on the First Snap Hook (24) with one hand in order to feed out or take in the Rope (26) with the other hand. If the climber falls, the belayer releases the First Snap Hook (24) thereby allowing the Rope (26) to pull the First Snap Hook (24) into the Fifth Embodiment Main Body (50) thus causing the Rope (26) to be stopped by pinch forces between the First Snap Hook (24) and the Fifth Embodiment Main Body (50). The Extended Ends (48) provide a fulcrum surface allowing two sides of the First Snap Hook (24) to act as a lever in order to pry the pinched section of Rope (26) away from the Fifth Embodiment Main Body (50), as shown in FIG. 13, thus releasing the lock on the Rope (26).
FIG. 14 presents a Sixth Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool (56) demonstrating the use of the device as an auto-locking belay device for two ropes. The device is analogous to the Fifth Embodiment Simple Climber's Multi-Tool (46) with the exception that the Sixth Embodiment Main Body (58) has Sixth Embodiment Dual Rope Channels (60). The Rope (26) is not shown in this figure in order to better illustrate the Sixth Embodiment Dual Rope Channels (60).
CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE
Thus the reader will see that the subject invention is a simple climber's multi-tool that performs several safety functions for climbing activities the totality of which heretofore have required several different devices. The device also fulfills a currently unmet need for a convenient light-weight safety back-up device to be used with a solo climbing belay device. It functions as an auto-locking belay device or as a back-up safety device for a belay device. It provides easy and controlled release of a load once a rope has been jammed by the device. Certain embodiments of the device can accommodate two ropes simultaneously. The subject invention can also function as a standard manual belay and rappel device, and with the addition of a small piece of cord, can perform many of the functions performed by safety back-up knots such as the Prusik knot, the Bachman knot, and the Klemheist knot.
While the above description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as examples of six embodiments thereof. Each piece described within the aforementioned embodiments could be changed in form in ways that would not affect its function. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
Patent Application
20080011543
