Patent Application
20230341085
Embodiments are related to snatch blocks, pulleys, lifting loads, and to suspending a load from snatch blocks.
Snatch blocks are used for raising, lowering, and suspending loads. A support rope, chain, cable, etc. can be used to suspend a snatch block from a support such as a girder, rafter beam, tree branch, etc. A cord passes through the snatch block. One end of the cord is free, the other can be tied to a load. A user (e.g., person wanting to lift the load) can lift the load by pulling the free end of the cord. The load will fall if the free end of the cord is released. As such, the user may tie the free and to something convenient. The load is then suspended from the snatch block and is secured from falling.
The following presents a summary of one or more aspects of the present disclosure, in order to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated features of the disclosure and is intended neither to identify key or critical elements of all aspects of the disclosure nor to delineate the scope of any or all aspects of the disclosure. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects of the disclosure as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
One aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented as a system such as a snatch block. The system can include a first plate that has a first slot, a second plate that has a second slot, an axle fixedly attached to the first plate and to the second plate, a vertical axis that passes through the axle, and a pinch rod that has a first end that slides in the first slot and a second end that slides in the second slot. The axle can be configured for a cord to slide on the axle and between the first plate and the second plate, the snatch block can be configured for suspending a load from the axle, the load can be lowered by sliding the cord in a first direction on the axle, the load can be raised by sliding the cord in a second direction on the axle, the pinch rod is configured to pinch the cord against the axle when the pinch rod is at a pinch position, the cord is prevented from moving in the first direction when the pinch rod is in the pinch position, sliding the cord in the first direction and at an engagement angle relative to the vertical axis causes the cord to move the pinch rod to the pinch position, and sliding the cord in the second direction releases the cord by moving the pinch rod from the pinch position.
Another aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented as a method. The method can include suspending a load from an axle of a snatch block, lowering the load by sliding a cord in a first direction on the axle, raising the load by sliding the cord in a second direction on the axle, moving a pinch rod into a pinch position by sliding the cord in the first direction and at an engagement angle relative to a vertical axis, and moving the pinch rod from the pinch position by sliding the cord in the second direction, wherein the pinch rod pinches the cord against the axle when the pinch rod is at the pinch position, the cord is prevented from moving in the first direction when the pinch rod is in the pinch position, and the cord is free to slide on the axle when the pinch rod is not in the pinch position.
Yet another aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure can be implemented as a system. The system can include a bearing means for raising and lowering a load, and a pinching means for pinching a cord against the bearing means when the pinching means is in a pinch position relative to the bearing means, wherein the load is lowered by sliding the cord in a first direction on the bearing means, the load is raised by sliding the cord in a second direction on the bearing means, the cord is prevented from moving in the first direction when the pinching means is in the pinch position, sliding the cord in the first direction and at an engagement angle relative to a vertical axis causes the cord to move the pinching means to the pinch position, and sliding the cord in the second direction releases the cord by moving the pinching means from the pinch position.
In some implementations of the methods and devices, the snatch block includes a suspension rod fixedly attached to the first plate and the second plate, wherein the suspension rod is configured for suspending the snatch block from a support. In some implementations of the methods and devices, the snatch block includes a suspension device wherein the suspension device is configured for suspending the snatch block from a support. In some implementations of the methods and devices, the snatch block includes at least one suspension hole wherein the at least one suspension hole is configured for suspending the snatch block from a support. In some implementations of the methods and devices, the snatch block includes a pulley on the axle wherein the cord slides on the axle by riding on the pulley. In some implementations of the methods and devices, the snatch block includes a bushing on the axle wherein the cord slides on the axle by riding on the bushing. In some implementations of the methods and devices, a monolithic body includes the axle, the first plate, and the second plate. In some implementations of the methods and devices, the monolithic body is a molded plastic part. In some implementations of the methods and devices, the first plate and the second plate are parallel. In some implementations of the methods and devices, the first end and the second end are configured to hold the pinch rod within the first slot and the second slot. In some implementations of the methods and devices, the pinch rod is textured. In some implementations of the methods and devices, the first plate is concave.
In some implementations of the methods and devices, the snatch block includes a suspension device that is configured for suspending the snatch block from a support. In some implementations of the methods and devices, the snatch block includes a rotating device that spins on the axle and is between the cord and the axle. The suspension device can include at least one of a suspension rod and a suspension hole. The rotating device can include at least one of a pulley and a bushing. A monolithic body can include the axle, the first plate, and the second plate. The monolithic body can be a molded plastic part. The first plate and the second plate can be parallel. The first end and the second end can be configured to hold the pinch rod within the first slot and the second slot. The pinch rod can be textured, and the first plate can be concave.
In some implementations of the methods and devices, a body of the snatch block includes the axle, a first plate, and a second plate, the axle is fixedly attached to the first plate and to the second plate, the axle is between the first plate and to the second plate, the first plate has a first slot, the second plate has a second slot, the vertical axis passes through the axle, and the pinch rod that has a first end that slides in the first slot and a second end that slides in the second slot. In some implementations of the methods and devices, the method includes using a suspension rod to suspend the snatch block from a support, wherein the suspension rod is fixedly attached to the first plate and to the second plate. In some implementations of the methods and devices, the method includes using a suspension hole in the first plate to suspend the snatch block from a support. In some implementations of the methods and devices, the body is a monolithic body.
In some implementations of the methods and devices, the system includes a suspension means for suspending the system from a support.
These and other aspects will become more fully understood upon a review of the detailed description, which follows. Other aspects, features, and embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, upon reviewing the following description of specific, exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying figures. While features may be discussed relative to certain embodiments and figures below, all embodiments can include one or more of the advantageous features discussed herein. In other words, while one or more embodiments may be discussed as having certain advantageous features, one or more of such features may also be used in accordance with the various embodiments discussed herein. In similar fashion, while exemplary embodiments may be discussed below as device, system, or method embodiments such exemplary embodiments can be implemented in various devices, systems, and methods.
The accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, further illustrate aspects of embodiments and, together with the background, brief summary, and detailed description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. The figures are not necessarily to scale.
It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments as generally described herein and illustrated in the appended figures could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of various embodiments, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, but is merely representative of various embodiments. While the various aspects of the embodiments are presented in drawings, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale unless specifically indicated.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by this detailed description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussions of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.
Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, in light of the description herein, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the indicated embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.
A new type of snatch block has a pinch rod that pinches a cord against an axle to thereby prevent a load from falling. Previous snatch blocks required that the cord be tied off or seized in some other manner. For example, a ratcheting device has been used that keeps the cord from backing out of a snatch block. The main issue with such snatch blocks is that they require one of the user's hands to perform whatever function is required for seizing or releasing the cord. As such, the user is often required to just one hand to hold the cord and suspend the load. The user cannot use both hands for raising and lowering the load when one hand be used to must free the cord or seize the cord. The new type of snatch block can be operated entirely with one hand, thereby leaving the other hand free for other tasks such as supporting/balancing the user, guiding the load, etc. If the load is heavy, the user can use both hands, instead of just one, to hold the cord and thereby raise or lower the load.
When the pinch rod 105 is pinching the cord 501, force is applied to the pinch rod 105. The pinch rod 105 pushes out against the first plate bar and the second plate bar 309. The material selection and dimensions of the pinch rod 105, first plate bar, and second plate bar 309 may therefore be determinative of the load bearing capability of the snatch block. The most successful prototype to date, which is designed for lifting and holding greenhouse lights, has a first plate and a second plate that are 2.25 mm thick brass. The prototype has a second plate bar width 306 and first plate bar width of 2 mm, a 6.35 mm keyhole width, and a 4.9 mm slot width. The prototype axle has a 12.25 axle diameter and a 4.7 mm suspension rod diameter. The prototype has a 38 mm side length. The first plate 101 and the second plate 102 of the prototype are similar in appearance (rounded corner equilateral triangles) to those illustrated in the figures.
The pinch rod 105 has wide ends. The first end 402 has a first wide end 410 that has a first end diameter 407. The second end 403 has a second wide end 411 that has a second end diameter 408. The pinch rod itself has a pinch rod diameter 405. The prototype discussed above has a 3.7 mm pinch rod diameter 405, a 6.7 mm first end diameter 407, and a 6.2 mm second end diameter 408. The second end diameter 408 is smaller than the keyhole width 307 and larger than the slot width 305. The first end diameter 407 is larger than the keyhole width 307. As such, the wide ends hold the pinch rod in the first slot and the second slot. Furthermore, the first end, being larger than the keyhole width, prevents the pinch rod from passing completely through the round sections of the slots. The second end, being smaller than the keyhole width 307, allows the pinch rod to be placed in the slots.
It will be appreciated that variations of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also, that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
