Load-lowering device

Claim 2

The load-lowering device which comprises: a housing including a pair of sideplates fastened in fixed spaced parallel relation; reel-forming means journaled for rotation within the housing about a transverse axis extending normal to the sideplates, said means including a hub and a disclike flange mounted in said housing intermediate said sideplates so as to divide the housing into a tape compartment and a brake compartment; a hollow cylindrical member held between the sideplates enclosing the tape and brake compartments in coaxial relation with the reel-forming means, said member including an opening communicating the interior of the tape compartment; a flexible tape wound upon that portion of the hub within the tape compartment with the inner end thereof fastened thereto and the outer end emerging onto the exterior of the housing through the opening in the hollow cylindrical member; one or more brake shoes pivotally attached to that portion of the hub within the brake compartment for rotational movement therewith, each of said shoes including an arcuate section positioned and adapted to engage the inner surface of the hollow cylindrical member within the brake compartment so as to retard the reel-forming means upon rotation thereof in a direction to unwind the tape; and, handle-forming means attached to the housing for movement therewith opposite the point at which the tape emerges therefrom in which: spring means are carried by the reel-forming means for rotational movement therewith, said spring means including a portion within the brake compartment engaging a shoe so as to normally bias the leading edge thereof into sliding engagement against the inner surface of the hollow cylindrical element when said reel-forming means is at rest and is rotated in the direction to unwind the tape.

Claim 3

The load-lowering device which comprises: a housing including a pair of sideplates fastened in fixed spaced parallel relation; reel-forming means journaled for rotation within the housing about a transverse axis extending normal to the sideplates, said means including a hub and a disclike flange mounted in said housing intermediate said sideplates so as to divide the housing into a tape compartment and a brake compartment; a hollow cylindrical member held between the sideplates enclosing the tape and brake compartments in coaxial relation with the reel-forming means, said member including an opening communicating the interior of the tape compartment; a flexible tape wound upon that portion of the hub within the tape compartment with the inner end thereof fastened thereto and the outer end emerging onto the exterior of the housing through the opening in the hollow cylindrical member; one or more brake shoes pivotally attached to that portion of the hub within the brake compartment for rotational movement therewith, each of said shoes including an arcuate section positioned and adapted to engage the inner surface of the hollow cylindrical member within the brake compartment so as to retard the reel-forming means upon rotation thereof in a direction to unwind the tape; and, handle-forming means attached to the housing for movement therewith opposite the point at which the tape emerges therefrom in which: the axis of pivotal movement of each brake shoe is displaced rearwardly toward the trailing edge thereof a sufficient distance such that centrifugal force acting thereon due to rotation of the reel-forming means will urge the leading edge into sliding engagement against the hollow cylindrical member in which: spring means are mounted on the reel-forming means for rotational movement therewith, said spring means having a portion thereof engaging one of the brake shoes operative to bias same rearwardly about its axis of pivotal movement during both rotation and nonrotation of said reel while maintaining sliding engagement of said brake shoes with the hollow cylindrical member.

Claim 4

The load-lowering device which comprises: a housing including a pair of sideplates fastened in fixed spaced parallel relation; reel-forming means journaled for rotation within the housing about a transverse axis extending normal to the sideplates, said means including a hub and a disclike flange mounted in said housing intermediate said sideplates so as to divide the housing into a tape compartment and a brake compartment; a hollow cylindrical member held between the sideplates enclosing the tape and brake compartments in coaxial relation with the reel-forming means, said member including an opening communicating the interior of the tape compartment; a flexible tape wound upon that portion of the hub within the tape compartment with the inner end thereof fastened thereto and the outer end emerging onto the exterior of the housing through the opening in the hollow cylindrical member; one or more brake shoes pivotally attached to that portion of the hub within the brake compartment for rotational movement therewith, each of said shoes including an arcuate section positioned and adapted to engage the inner surface of the hollow cylindrical member within the brake compartment so as to retard the reel-forming means upon rotation thereof in a direction to unwind the tape; and, handle-forming means attached to the housing for movement therewith opposite the point at which the tape emerges therefrom in which: the axis of pivotal movement of each brake shoe is displaced rearwardly toward the trailing edge thereof a sufficient distance such that centrifugal force acting thereon due to rotation of the reel-forming means will urge the leading edge into sliding engagement against the hollow cylindrical member in which: spring means are mounted on the reel-forming means for rotational movement therewith, said spring means having a portion thereof engaging one of the brake shoes operative to bias same rearwardly about its axis of pivotal movement during both rotation and nonrotation of said reel while maintaining sliding engagement of said brake shoes with the hollow cylindrical member.