Throwline Manipulator Tool

Abstract

An arborist's climbing rope manipulation tool is disclosed. The climbing rope manipulation tool may be used to aid a line in “jumping” over impediments such as sprouts, nubs, and leaves, such that the line settles in the “v” shaped junction between two branches, two limbs, or a branch and a limb. An alternative embodiments of a throw line manipulator may include a chisel, such that articles, such as small leaves and sprouts may be chiseled away by the throw line manipulator to help facilitate the movement of the line into the “v” shaped junction.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to maintenance of tree canopies, and more particularly to an arborist's throw tool.

2. Description of Related Prior Art

Arborists climb trees to trim, cut, and prune limbs and branches while taking care to maintain the health and prevent harm to the tree. Typically, “v” shaped junctions between two limbs serve as the rope supports during arborists' climbs. In one technique, arborists and other climbers rely on a throw line to remotely position a climbing line or rigging line into a tree to safely ascend into the tree's branches. A throw line may be thrown over a branch, such that the line lands on, and bights around the branch, limb, or junction. The throw line may be coupled to a climbing line such that as the throw line loops around the junction, the climbing line follows.

A throw line is generally a thin, lightweight line, constructed from smooth, waxy, and generally synthetic fibers. The smooth, waxy texture enables the throw line to smoothly slide over tree limbs when the line is thrown into a tree, enabling the line to slide down a branch or limb and settle in the “v” shaped junction. To help propel the lightweight line a weighted bag, ball, or other such weight may be coupled to the first end of the throw line. The weighted end is then thrown over a branch or limb, and manipulated, as is known in the art, until the throw line settles in an appropriate spot on the branch or limb. Once the throw line is properly positioned, the throw line's second end may be coupled to a climbing or rigging line, such that as the thrown line snakes around the tree limb, the climbing line follows, with the climbing line eventually also bighting around the tree limb.

Although the weighted end, and waxy texture, help arborists maneuver the throw line along a branch or limb down into the “v” shaped junction, small “nubs” or sprouts growing off tree limbs may inhibit the throw line from settling into the lowest, and sturdiest part of a branch or limb. A common tool, known in the art to aid in the manipulation of a throw line includes attaching a wooden stick to the center of the throw line, often using a clove hitch. The throw line is then cast over a limb (or branch) such that the wooden stick lands on the surface of the limb (or branch). Due to the stick's added weight, and shape, arborists, and other users, may manipulate the rope causing the stick to “jump” over the nubs, until the rope and stick settle at the lowest, and sturdiest part of a branch or limb.

While the stick is a useful tool for maneuvering a throw line, the friction between the branch and stick might impede the branch from gliding or jumping over obstacles such as nubs, twigs, and leaves. Additionally, while the clove hitch is a sturdy attachment, natural grooves, weak points, and decaying spots might cause the stick to detach from the throw line or to break during manipulation, as the stick is not manufactured for coupling with a throw line. Furthermore, the stick may not be able to “jump” over longer twigs and leaves growing out of the branch.

Other throw line manipulation aids known in the art include throwing hooks that are thrown at the desired branch. Often, throwing hooks are thrown using a swinging motion. Once the hook is in place, and secured to the branch, a throw line, or other such line or anchorage may be attached to the throw hook. Drawbacks of using throw hooks include the lack of precision when throwing, as landing on the correct branch with the correction orientation is a matter of luck. Furthermore, users may find it necessary to make multiple attempts at “throwing” before a throw hook is securely fastened.

Some arborists may rely on slings and other such bulky equipment to secure a throw line, or other line to a tree. Such aids are bulky making them cumbersome for arborists to bring along on a climb. Additionally, retrieving slings from a tree is challenging. Retrieval may be frustrating as the sling is often snagged in tree branches. Given the current state of the art, there is a great need for a simple, lightweight, reliable aid for consistently and properly positioning lines in trees.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A throw line manipulating tool may include a hollow rod-shaped body with a plurality of circumferential grooves set along the surface of the rod-shaped body. In some embodiments, the circumferential grooves may be between two and three millimeters. In some embodiments, the hollow rod-shaped body includes tapered ends. In some embodiments, the tapered ends terminate in end faces that run perpendicular to the hollow rod-shaped body. Each end face may include an opening.

The throw line manipulating tool may be used to manipulate a line, such that the line “jumps” over impediments to settle in a “v” shaped junction between two branches, two limbs, or between a branch and a limb. To use the line manipulating tool the line may first be coupled to the weight. The weight, coupled to the line, may then be case over a branch, such that the first end of the line follows the weight over the branch. The throw line manipulating tool may then be attached to the portion of the line not cast over the branch. In some embodiments the throw line manipulation tool may be knotted to the line, such as with a series of hitch knots. In some embodiments, the hitch knots may be set over the throw line manipulation tool's circumferential grooves.

Once the throw line manipulation tool is coupled to the line, the line may be pulled until the throw line manipulation tool rests on the branch. To “jump” the throw line manipulation tool over impediments, the line may be manipulated such that the manipulating tool's angle and closeness to the branch shifts, causing the tool to jump over impediments on the branch until the throw line manipulation tool reaches said “v” shaped junction.

An alternative throw line manipulating tool may include a hollow rod-shaped body that includes an orifice, the orifice may include a chisel. In some embodiments, the orifice may be circumscribed by a chisel on one side and a tapered component on the second side. Articles such as twigs, leaves, and sprouts in need of cutting may slide through the tapered component into the orifice, such that the chisel component may cut the article. In some embodiments the alternative throw line manipulating tool may include at least one circumferential groove.

The alternative throw line manipulating tool may be used to excise articles preventing a line from settling in a “v” shaped junction between two branches, two limbs, or between a branch and a limb. To use the alternative throw line manipulating tool, a line may first be coupled to the weight. The weight, coupled to the line, may then be case over a branch, such that the first end of the line follows the weight over the branch. The alternative throw line manipulating tool may then be attached to the portion of the line not cast over the branch. In some embodiments the alternative throw line manipulation tool may be knotted to the line, such as with at least two hitch knots. In some embodiments, the hitch knots may be set over the alternative throw line manipulation tool's circumferential grooves.

Once the alternative throw line manipulation tool is coupled to the line, the line may be pulled until the alternative throw line manipulation tool rests on the branch. Both sides of the line may then be tightened and manipulated, such that the impediment is set within the alternative manipulating tool's orifice. The line may then be pulled such that the chisel moves from side to side against said impediment until the impediment is excised.

In some embodiments, the alternative throw line manipulator may be used as a hand tool to cut away impediments that are within arm's reach.

In some embodiments, an additional line may be joined to a throw line manipulator-line assembly by inserting the additional line into the throw line manipulator's end face opening and fastening the original line to the additional line, for example with a clove hitch knot.

The throw line manipulator and alternative throw line manipulator may be included in a kit. The kit may include various manipulators of various sizes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described with greater specificity and clarity with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the throw line manipulator coupled to the throw line with a clove hitch.

FIG. 2 is an alternative embodiment of a throw line manipulator.

FIG. 3 is an example of the throw line manipulator resting in the “v” shaped junction between two tree limbs.

FIG. 4 is an embodiment of the throw line manipulator as it rests above a nub on a tree limb.

FIG. 5 is an embodiment of the throw line manipulator with an embedded chisel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As seen in FIG. 1, throw line manipulator 10 for use in positioning a line, such as a throw line properly, is described herein. As seen in FIG. 1, throw line manipulator 10 may be a rod-shaped, or tube-shaped body. As seen in FIG. 2, in a preferred embodiment, the rod-shaped body may include hollow core 11, such that throw line manipulator 10 may be constructed from a hollow, rod-shaped tube. The rod shaped body is preferably cylindrical, but may also be oval shaped, oblong, or otherwise irregularly shaped. In some embodiments, the rod shaped body is completely rounded. In some embodiments, the rod shaped body may have some defined edges. As seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, surface 12 may include at least one, and preferably at least two grooves 14, such that a string, cord, rope, or line, including but not limited to throw line 13, may be coupled to throw line manipulator 10, by hitching throw line 13 (or another such rope) around grooves 14. In a preferred embodiment, at least two grooves 14 may be etched onto surface 12 such that throw line 13 may be coupled to throw line manipulator 10 with a series of knots 20, including but not limited to clove hitch knots, as known in the art. In some embodiments, a clove hitch knot may be secured around each groove 14. It is preferable that there be at least one groove on each end of throw line manipulator 10, such that manipulator first end 17 and manipulator second end 18 are each etched with at least one groove 14. In some embodiments, four grooves 14 may be preferable such that one groove 14 is etched near each end of throw line manipulator 10, and two intermediary grooves 14a are etched towards center 19 of throw line manipulator 10. In such embodiments, an intermediary groove 14a may be etched on each side of center 19, with center 19 being the midpoint between first end 17 and second end 18. In some embodiments, each intermediary groove 14a may be, but is not necessarily, equidistant from center 19.

In some embodiments, it is preferable that there be one groove at each end 17 and 18 of throw line manipulator 10, such that each groove 14 be equidistant from center 19, the midpoint between end 17 and end 18. In such embodiments, central grooves 14a may also be equidistant from center 19.

As seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, grooves 14 may be circumferential channels that encircle throw line manipulator 12. It is preferable that grooves 14 run perpendicular 16 to length 15 of throw line manipulator 10. It is preferable that grooves 14 be etched deeply enough to fully accommodate the thickness of the line, rope, string etc, without fully penetrating through the thickness of surface 12, thereby maintaining the structural integrity of throw line manipulator 10. In some embodiments each groove 14 and 14a may have beveled edges (not shown). In some embodiments, each groove may have a diameter of between one and a half and three millimeters, with a preferred diameter of between two and three millimeters.

In some embodiments, as seen in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2, throw line manipulator 10 may be tapered at first end 17 and at second end 18, thereby preventing throw line manipulator 10 from getting entangled in thick brush, or other such areas. In some embodiments, as seen in FIG. 2, each end 17 and 18 may be capped by end face 20. End faces 20, which may run perpendicular 16 to length 15, may include opening 21, such that each end face 20 contains one opening 21. It is preferable that opening 21 be large enough to accommodate a string, including but not limited to a spliced eye string (not shown), thereby enabling throw line manipulator 10 to be coupled to a carabiner or other attachment for easy transportation and storage.

In some embodiments, opening 21 may be large enough to fit a palm tree climbing line, throw line manipulator 10 may be coupled to a palm tree climbing line (not shown) to aid in position palm tree climbing lines as well. In such embodiments, throw line manipulator 10 may be coupled to a throw line via a series of knots, including but not limited to clove hitch knots, and throw line manipulator 10 may also be coupled to the palm tree climbing line via the palm tree climbing line being inserted into opening 21. Clove hitch knots may also fix the throw line (not shown) to the palm tree climbing line (not shown). In other embodiments, other lines may be inserted through opening 21 to facilitate climbing and other such activities.

In other embodiments, a secondary line may be coupled to the throw line manipulator-line assembly. In such embodiments, an additional line may be inserted into the throw line manipulator's opening, after which the original line may be fastened to the additional line, preferably with a series of clove hitch knots.

It is preferable that throw line manipulator 10 be constructed from a durable, lightweight material such as metal or plastic including but not limited to aluminum, steel, polycarbonate, acrylic, polypropylene, or polypropylene terephthalate glycol. In some embodiments, throw line manipulator 10 may be colored, such that throw line manipulator 10 can be easily seen and identified in the heights of a tree, and/or among thick foliage. Some preferable colors include but are not limited to colors in the neon spectrum as well as other shades of orange, red, and blue.

Throw line manipulator 10 is preferably coupled to a throw line, but may, alternatively, be coupled to a midline or climbing line as well. In some embodiments, a climbing line (not shown) may be coupled to a throw line, and a throw line manipulator may be fixed onto the throw line, directly in front of the climbing line. It is preferable that throw line manipulator 10 be coupled to a line with at least one, and preferably a series of clove hitch knots 20, such that each groove 14 and 14a is tied with a clove hitch knot. It is preferable that throw line manipulator 10 be fixed to the center of a line, rather than to the end of a line.

In some embodiments, throw line manipulator 10 may be coupled to a line before the line is cast onto a desired branch or limb. In other preferred embodiments, throw line manipulator 10 may be coupled to a line after the line has been cast onto the desired branch or limb. In such preferred embodiments, first, a weighted bag, ball, or other such weight may be coupled to the first end of the throw line. The weighted end is then cast over a branch or limb. If a nub, sprout, or other such impediment prevents the line from settling in a “v” shaped junction, the throw line manipulator may be coupled to the remaining line. In some embodiments, a clove hitch may first be set on a central groove 14a, after which the remaining grooves 14 and 14a are also tied with clove hitches. Once all the clove hitches are tied, the throw line manipulator may be spun from side to side, thereby tightening the knots.

To run the throw line manipulator into the branch, each end of the throw line is held, such that the throw line is bighting around the branch. The end farther from the throw line manipulator may be pulled, such that the line continues looping over the branch until the throw line manipulator reaches, and rests on the surface of the branch or limb. To jump over the impediment, each end of the line may be manipulated, for example by being alternatively pulled in a side-to-side motion, in a rocking motion, or in an oscillating motion, as is known in the art. As the line shifts, the angle of throw line manipulator 10 shifts, and the tightness with which throw line manipulator 10 is set on the branch shifts, thereby enabling throw line manipulator 10 to “jump” over the impediment, and ultimately settle in “v” shaped junction 21 (as seen in FIG. 3).

In some alternative embodiments, rather than “jumping” over impediments, such as nubs, shoots, and sprouts, it may be preferable to chisel away an impediment. In such embodiments, an alternative throw line manipulator may be deployed. As seen in FIG. 5, alternative throw line manipulator 22 may include chisel 23 embedded in surface 12, such that chisel 23 may cut away small shoots, and other such impediments. Chisel 23 may include tapered orifice 24 etched into throw line manipulator 22, wherein one side of orifice 24 is tapered component 25 and a second side of orifice 24 is sharpened into chisel 23. In some embodiments, it is preferable that chisel 23 be positioned in the latitudinal direction, such that chisel 23 runs along the width 26 of alternative throw line manipulator 22. Chisel 23 and tapered component 25 preferably circumscribe groove 24 such that small sprouts 28 set within groove 24 may be cut away by chisel 23. It is preferable that chisel 23 run perpendicular 16 to the length 15 of alternative throw line manipulator 22. In a preferred embodiment, only one side of orifice 24 may be etched into chisel 23. In an alternative embodiment, both sides of orifice 24, namely tapered component 25 and chisel 23 may be etched into chisels. In a preferred embodiment, orifice 24 may include tapered component 25 and a chisel 23, such that articles in need of cutting may slide through the tapered component into the orifice, after which the chisel component may cut said article. It is preferable that orifice 24 extend between one third and one half of the way into the circumference of alternative throw line manipulator 22. In some embodiments, orifice 24 may extend into the majority of the circumference of alternative throw line manipulator 22. It is preferable that orifice 24 be set in the center of alternative throw line manipulator 22, but in some embodiments, orifice 24 may be set anywhere along the length of alternative throw line manipulator 22. In some embodiments, it is preferable that orifice 24 have a diameter of between half an inch and two inches. In some embodiments chisel 23 may be shaped as a regular or irregular arc. Additionally, tapered arc 25 may also be shaped into a regular or irregular arc. In other respects, alternative throw line manipulator 22 may be similar to throw line manipulator 10, as described herein, and may include, but does not necessarily include, grooves 14 and 14a, tapered ends 17 and 18, and openings 21 (as seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2). Alternative throw line manipulator 22 may also be fashioned from a metal or plastic material including but not limited to aluminum, steel, polycarbonate, acrylic, polypropylene, or polypropylene terephthalate glycol. In some embodiments, alternative throw line manipulator 22 may be colored, such that alternative throw line manipulator 22 can be easily seen and identified in the heights of a tree, and/or among thick foliage. Some preferable colors include but are not limited to colors in the neon spectrum as well as other shades of orange, red, and blue.

The method for hitching alternative throw line manipulator 22 to a throw line is analogous to the aforementioned method for coupling throw line manipulator 10 to a throw line. As described above, alternative throw line manipulator 22 may be fixed onto a throw line with, preferably, a series of clove hitch knots. In a preferred embodiment, alternative throw line manipulator 22 may be coupled to a line after the line has been cast onto the desired branch or limb. In such preferred embodiments, first, a weighted bag, ball, or other such weight may be coupled to the first end of the throw line. The weighted end is then cast over a branch or limb, if a sprout or twig, or other such impediment prevents the line from settling in “v” shaped junction, alternative throw line manipulator 22 may be dispatched to chisel away at the impediment. In such embodiments, alternative throw line manipulator 22 may be coupled to the remaining line, via at least one, but preferably a series of clove hitch knots. It is preferable that alternative throw line manipulator 22 have at least one groove, and ideally at least two grooves, such that the clove hitch knots may be wrapped around the grooves, thereby ensuring a secure attachment between alternative throw line manipulator 22 and the throw line. Once attached to the line, alternative throw line manipulator 22 may be dispatched to the branch.

To run the alternative throw line manipulator into the branch, each end of the throw line is held, such that the throw line is bighting around the branch. The end farther from alternative throw line manipulator 22 may be pulled, such that the line continues looping over the branch until alternative throw line manipulator reaches 22, and rests on the surface of impediment. When dispatching alternative throw line manipulator 22 it is preferable to ensure that chisel 23 is facing towards the direction of the impediment, such that when alternative throw line manipulator 22 reaches the impediment, the impediment will rest within orifice 24. To chisel off the impediment, each end of the line may be pulled tight, such that alternative throw line manipulator 24 oscillates in a sawing motion. As throw line manipulator 22 is pulled from side to side against the impediment, chisel 23 exerts pressure on the impediment, cutting it off of the branch and enabling the throw line to settle in the desired “v” shaped junction.

In some embodiments, alternative throw line manipulator may be used without the accompaniment of a throw line as a hand tool for cutting away low growing twigs, leaves, and other such impediments. The alternative throw line manipulator may be used for jumping over impediments as well.

In some embodiments, a throw line manipulating kit may include both throw line manipulator 10 for jumping over impediments, and alternative throw line manipulator 24 for chiseling away at small twigs, leaves, and other impediments having a diameter of less than one inch. In some embodiments, alternative throw line manipulator may be used for both jumping over impediments and chiseling away impediments, as described herein. In some embodiments, a throw line manipulating kit may include throw line manipulators 10 and alternative throw line manipulators of various sizes. In a preferred embodiment the length 15 (as seen in FIG. 1) of throw line manipulator 10 and alternative throw line manipulator 22 may span the width of the tree branch, and therefore a kit may contain throw line manipulators 10 and alternative throw line manipulators spanning a range of sizes. In some embodiments, the throw line manipulator and alternative throw line manipulator may be between twelve and twenty-four inches.

Claims

1. A throw line manipulating tool comprising: a hollow rod-shaped body,a plurality of circumferential grooves set along the surface of the rod-shaped body.

2. The throw line manipulating tool of claim 1 wherein the hollow rod-shaped body comprises tapered ends.

3. The throw line manipulating tool of claim 1 wherein the tapered ends terminate in end faces that run perpendicular to the hollow rod-shaped body.

4. The throw line manipulating tool of claim 1 wherein each end face comprises an opening.

5. The throw line manipulating tool of claim 1 wherein the circumferential grooves have a diameter of between two and three millimeters.

6. An alternative throw line manipulating tool comprising: a hollow rod-shaped body,an orifice etched into the hollow rod-shaped body, the orifice comprising a sharp chisel.

7. The alternative throw line manipulating tool of claim 6 wherein the orifice is circumscribed by a sharp chisel on one side and a tapered component on a second side.

8. The alternative throw line manipulating tool of claim 6 wherein the orifice comprises a tapered component and a sharp chisel component, whereby articles in need of cutting may slide through the tapered component into the orifice, wherein the chisel component may cut said article.

9. The alternative throw line manipulating tool of claim 6 wherein the hollow rod-shaped body further comprises at least one circumferential groove.

10. A method for setting a line in a “v” shaped junction, the method comprising: coupling a line to a weight;casting the weight over a branch whereby a first end of the line follows the weight over said branch;attaching a throw line manipulation tool to a portion of the line not cast over said branch; pulling the first end of the line until the throw line manipulation tool reaches the surface of said branch;manipulating said line whereby the manipulating tool's angle and closeness to the branch shifts, whereby the manipulating tool jumps over impediments on the branch until it reaches said “v” shaped junction.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10, the method further comprising coupling the manipulation tool to the line with at least one clove hitch knot.

12. The method as set forth in claim 10, the method further comprising tying the line around the manipulation tool's circumferential grooves.

13. A method for removing impediments from tree branches and limbs, the method comprising: coupling a line to a weight;casting the weight over a branch whereby a first end of the line follows the weight over said branch;attaching an alternative throw line manipulation tool to a portion of the line not cast over said branch;pulling the first end of the line until the throw line manipulation tool reaches the surface of said branch;manipulating said line whereby an impediment is set within the alternative manipulating tool's orifice;pulling the line whereby the chisel moves from side to side against said impediment until the impediment is excised.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13, the method further comprising tying the line around the alternative manipulation tool's circumferential grooves.