US3717219A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Descent and ascent device for use on a rope
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-11-23
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Granted: 1973-02-20
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Expires: 1990-11-23
Abstract
Abstract A device to be used for descent and ascent on a rope, which rope is anchored near its upper end. A first rope engaging member adapted to be threaded onto the rope intermediate the ends thereof, without passing the ends of the rope therethrough, and, by the reverse operation, the first rope engaging member may be removed from the rope without passing the ends of the rope therethrough. When the device is used for descent on a rope. Friction on the rope is generated by a plurality of cylindrical members on the device to enable a person to be lowered at a controlled rate of speed, by manipulation of the tension on the loose or free end of the rope. A cam friction member is provided which is utilized to hold the device and the person in static relation with respect to the rope when desired, or to cooperate with a second rope engaging member when ascending the rope. When ascending a rope, which is anchored near its upper end, a rope engaging mechanism is pivotally mounted on the feet of the person doing the climbing, which mechanism has a rope engaging cam associated therewith, so, by movement of the feet laterally, the second rope engaging member may be clamped to the rope to enable a cam actuated friction member supporting the climber to be released from the rope and be moved upwardly to engage with the rope at a higher elevation, so by alternately contracting and extending the legs, the climber can climb upwardly on the rope, coupled with the climber moving the first rope engaging member upwardly and frictionally engaging the member with the rope, the climber may readily ascend the rope to the anchor point.
Inventors
- 👤 J Hoffman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 00:33
CPC Classifications
A; A62; A62B; A62B1/00; A62B1/06; A62B1/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
36 words
spaced apart, cylindrical friction members secured to and extending between said plurality of spaced apart plates, b. said rope engaging member adapted to have said plurality of plates spaced apart sufficiently to receive a rope therebetween,
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
36 words
spaced apart, cylindrical friction members secured to and extending between said plurality of spaced apart plates, b. said rope engaging member adapted to have said plurality of plates spaced apart sufficiently to receive a rope therebetween,
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
at least one of said plates being apertured, near one end thereof, to receive a member to support the load,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
at least one of said plates being apertured, near one end thereof, to receive a member to support the load,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
95 words
the rope being passed in doubled relation between said cylindrical friction members and looped over the outwardly extending end portions so that each cylindrical friction member will have a partial wrap or a full wrap of rope therearound, g. said rope extending below said rope engaging member adapted to be manually relieved of tension to permit downward movement of the rope engaging member and the load support member attached thereto, and h. said load support member being connected to at least one of the apertured ends of one of said plates to support the load.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
95 words
the rope being passed in doubled relation between said cylindrical friction members and looped over the outwardly extending end portions so that each cylindrical friction member will have a partial wrap or a full wrap of rope therearound, g. said rope extending below said rope engaging member adapted to be manually relieved of tension to permit downward movement of the rope engaging member and the load support member attached thereto, and h. said load support member being connected to at least one of the apertured ends of one of said plates to support the load.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
137 words
A device for longitudinal movement on a rope, which rope is anchored against downward movement, and extends downwardly from the anchor member, which device comprises; a. a rope engaging member adapted to support a load, when said rope engaging member is engaged on a rope, b. a load support member attached to said rope engaging member, c. means operable to lessen the friction between the rope engaging member and the rope, to permit the rope engaging member to be moved relative to the rope, and d. brake means is provided to hold said rope engaging member in static relation intermediate the length of the rope while a person may remove loops from said rope engaging member or add loops to said rope engaging member while suspended on the rope, without passing the ends of the rope therethrough.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
137 words
A device for longitudinal movement on a rope, which rope is anchored against downward movement, and extends downwardly from the anchor member, which device comprises; a. a rope engaging member adapted to support a load, when said rope engaging member is engaged on a rope, b. a load support member attached to said rope engaging member, c. means operable to lessen the friction between the rope engaging member and the rope, to permit the rope engaging member to be moved relative to the rope, and d. brake means is provided to hold said rope engaging member in static relation intermediate the length of the rope while a person may remove loops from said rope engaging member or add loops to said rope engaging member while suspended on the rope, without passing the ends of the rope therethrough.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
137 words
A device for longitudinal movement on a rope, which rope is anchored against downward movement, and extends downwardly from the anchor member, which device comprises; a. a rope engaging member adapted to support a load, when said rope engaging member is engaged on a rope, b. a load support member attached to said rope engaging member, c. means operable to lessen the friction between the rope engaging member and the rope, to permit the rope engaging member to be moved relative to the rope, and d. brake means is provided to hold said rope engaging member in static relation intermediate the length of the rope while a person may remove loops from said rope engaging member or add loops to said rope engaging member while suspended on the rope, without passing the ends of the rope therethrough.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
137 words
A device for longitudinal movement on a rope, which rope is anchored against downward movement, and extends downwardly from the anchor member, which device comprises; a. a rope engaging member adapted to support a load, when said rope engaging member is engaged on a rope, b. a load support member attached to said rope engaging member, c. means operable to lessen the friction between the rope engaging member and the rope, to permit the rope engaging member to be moved relative to the rope, and d. brake means is provided to hold said rope engaging member in static relation intermediate the length of the rope while a person may remove loops from said rope engaging member or add loops to said rope engaging member while suspended on the rope, without passing the ends of the rope therethrough.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
said second loop being adapted to pass over the same plate as the first loop so as to form an additional wrap of rope around said second pair of rounded, non-rotatable, rope engaging friction members to increase the friction to enable the controlled lowering of a greater load.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
said second loop being adapted to pass over the same plate as the first loop so as to form an additional wrap of rope around said second pair of rounded, non-rotatable, rope engaging friction members to increase the friction to enable the controlled lowering of a greater load.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
94 words
the loop of the doubled rope adapted to pass over one of said plates of said second pair of plates and to pass around said second pair of rounded, non-rotatable rope engaging friction members, and d. a member for supporting a load secured to the lower end of at least one of said elongated plates so upon release of tension on the rope, the rope will move around the rounded, non-rotatable rope engaging friction members to enable the controlled lowering of the load, by regulating the tension on the lower end of the rope.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
94 words
the loop of the doubled rope adapted to pass over one of said plates of said second pair of plates and to pass around said second pair of rounded, non-rotatable rope engaging friction members, and d. a member for supporting a load secured to the lower end of at least one of said elongated plates so upon release of tension on the rope, the rope will move around the rounded, non-rotatable rope engaging friction members to enable the controlled lowering of the load, by regulating the tension on the lower end of the rope.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
193 words
A device for longitudinal movement on a rope, as defined in claim 1; wherein a. said rope engaging member has a plurality of spaced apart plates, b. said spaced apart plates having spaced apart, cylindrical members extending therebetween and secured thereto to form friction members, c. certain of said cylindrical friction members receive at least a partial wrap of the rope therearound, d. other of said cylindrical friction members receive at least a full wrap of rope therearound, e. the rope being insertable into the rope engaging members betwEen said cylindrical friction members, intermediate the ends of the rope, f. said rope extending below said rope engaging member is adapted to be manually relieved of tension to permit downward movement of the rope engaging member and the load support member attached thereto, g. a guard rod secured to one of said plates and extending in abridging relation over another of said plates, and h. said guard rod has the distal end thereof spaced from another of said plates for lateral passage of the rope therebetween so as to guide the rope extending therebelow in guided relation with respect to said rope engaging member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
91 words
said cylindrical friction members are spaced apart to form openings therebetween to receive a doubled rope therethrough, c. certain of said cylindrical members receive at least a partial wrap of rope therearound, d. other of said cylindrical friction members receive at least a full wrap of rope therearound, e. the rope being insertable into said rope engaging member in doubled relation between certain of said cylindrical friction members, intermediate the ends of the rope, f. other of said spaced apart plates having outwardly extending end portions for passage of rope thereover,
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
91 words
said cylindrical friction members are spaced apart to form openings therebetween to receive a doubled rope therethrough, c. certain of said cylindrical members receive at least a partial wrap of rope therearound, d. other of said cylindrical friction members receive at least a full wrap of rope therearound, e. the rope being insertable into said rope engaging member in doubled relation between certain of said cylindrical friction members, intermediate the ends of the rope, f. other of said spaced apart plates having outwardly extending end portions for passage of rope thereover,
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
76 words
A device for longitudinal movement on a rope, as defined in claim 2; wherein a. a guard rod is secured to one of said plates and extends in abridging relation over another of said plates, and b. said guard rod has the distal end thereof spaced from another of said plates for lateral passage of the rope therebetween so as to guide the rope extending therebelow in guided relation with respect to said rope engaging member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device for longitudinal movement on a rope, as defined in claim 1; wherein a. said rope engaging member has a plurality of spaced apart plates,
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device for longitudinal movement on a rope, as defined in claim 4; wherein a. a load receiving harness is secured to the lower, apertured end of at least one of said plates to support the load therefrom.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
66 words
A device for longitudinal movement on a rope by a person, as defined in claim 1; wherein a. brake means is provided to hold said rope engaging member in static relation intermediate the length of the rope while a person may remove loops from said rope engaging member or add loops to said rope engaging member while suspended on the rope without passing the rope therethrough.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
298 words
A device for longitudinal movement on a rope by a person, as defined in claim 1; wherein a. said rope engaging member has spaced apart side members and at least two spaced apart members connecting said side members, which members are spaced apart sufficiently to enable the passing of a doubled rope therebetween and between said side members, intermediate the ends of the rope, b. said side members extending outward from said connecting members to enable a loop of the doubled rope to be passed thereover one or more times. c. said load support member being attachably secured to at least oNe of said side members, d. a second rope engaging member which includes two apertured pivot levers, e. said second rope engaging member having a removable pivot pin therein, said removable pivot pin being adapted to be removed from said second rope engaging member for insertion of rope therebetween intermediate the ends of the rope, f. said pivot levers, which are pivotally connected together, are adapted to be attached to the lower appendages of a person to enable the levers to be moved laterally by the lower appendages of the person thereby to selectively engage and disengage the rope to enable ascent on said rope, and g. said rope engaging member adapted to support a load while ascending the rope and said device adapted to be changed from an ascending to a descending device by shifting the load support member from the brake of the load descending device to one of the side members of the load descending device after the loops of the rope have been properly fitted on the friction members and the lever members, attached to the appendages, have been disengaged from the rope, which acts may be performed while suspended on the rope.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
135 words
A device for longitudinal movement on a tensioned rope, which rope is fixedly anchored, near its upper end, to an anchor member, which device comprises; a. a rope engaging member comprising three elongated parallel plates arranged in spaced apart, side by side, relation, one said outer plate and said intermediate plate forming a first pair of plates, the other of said outer plates and said intermediate plate forming a second pair of plates, b. a first pair of rounded, non-rotatable rope engaging frictional members extending between and being secured to said first pair of plates to enable a doubled rope to be passed therebetween, intermediate the ends thereof, to form a first loop, c. a second pair of rounded, non-rotatable rope engaging friction members extending between and being secured to said second pair of plates,
Claim 24
Independent Claim
135 words
A device for longitudinal movement on a tensioned rope, which rope is fixedly anchored, near its upper end, to an anchor member, which device comprises; a. a rope engaging member comprising three elongated parallel plates arranged in spaced apart, side by side, relation, one said outer plate and said intermediate plate forming a first pair of plates, the other of said outer plates and said intermediate plate forming a second pair of plates, b. a first pair of rounded, non-rotatable rope engaging frictional members extending between and being secured to said first pair of plates to enable a doubled rope to be passed therebetween, intermediate the ends thereof, to form a first loop, c. a second pair of rounded, non-rotatable rope engaging friction members extending between and being secured to said second pair of plates,
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
54 words
A device for longitudinal movement on a load tensioned rope, as defined in claim 8; wherein a. said second pair of rounded, non-rotatable, rope engaging friction members, which extend between said second pair of plates are spaced apart a sufficient distance that a doubled rope may be passed therebetween to form a second loop,
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
53 words
A device for longitudinal movement on a load tensioned rope, as defined in claim 9; wherein a. said second pair of rounded, non-rotatable, rope engaging friction members are of greater length than said first pair of rounded, non-rotatable, rope engaging friction members so as to receive a plurality of wraps of rope therearound.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
63 words
A device for longitudinal movement on a load tensioned rope, as defined in claim 9; wherein a. the outer plate of said second pair of elongated, peralled plates is of lesser length than the other of said plates and has each each end thereof extending outwardly from the adjacent, rounded, non-rotatable rope engaging, friction member, to enable the rope to be passed thereover.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-20 | 1976-08-21 | 1977-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-20 | 1980-08-21 | 1981-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-20 | 1984-08-21 | 1985-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |