Patent US3968858A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3968858A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Climbing device
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-05-14
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Granted: 1976-07-13
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Expires: 1995-05-14
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus is described for climbing a sailboat mast or other vertical structure. The apparatus includes a track which extends upward along the mast and a pair of climbing devices which are usable by an operator to raise himself up along the track. Each of the climbing devices includes a carriage which is mounted on the track for sliding movement therealong and a lever bar pivotally mounted to the carriage for locking the device at any selected location along the track. The locking action is obtained by the application of downward force on the locking lever causing an end of the same to frictionally engage the track. One of the locking levers is adapted to receive the feet of an operator, whereas the other is adapted for hand grasping. The apparatus is used by the operator engaging his feet and hands with the foot and hand devices respectively and then climbing the mast by alternately sliding the foot and hand devices upward along the track.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas D. Vollan
- 👤 George W. Walsh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 08:48
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B27/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
256 words
Apparatus responsive to the weight of a human operator tending to move in a downward direction along a generally vertical path by blocking said movement comprising: A. a track extending generally rigidly along said path; B. a carriage mounted on said track for slidable movement therealong; C. cooperable interengaging structures on said track and said carriage essentially preventing outward transverse movement of said carriage away from said track and circumferential movement of said carriage around said track; D. a blocking lever bar pivotally mounted on said carriage at a location and in an orientation at which upon tending to move in said downward direction said weight of said human operator will apply pivotal pressure to said bar on a first side of its pivotal mounting to said carriage causing frictional engagement with said track of its end on the opposite side of said pivotal mounting, whereby movement of said human operator downward is resisted by said blocking lever bar; 1. said lever bar having a length on the opposite side of said pivotal mounting which is greater than the distance between said pivotal mounting and said track, the distance from said pivotal mounting on the location at which the weight of said human operator applies pressure to said bar on said first side being greater than the distance between said pivotal mounting and said end of said bar on said opposite side, whereby said frictional engagement in response to said application of the weight of a human operator will be provided with leverage pressure; and 2.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
256 words
Apparatus responsive to the weight of a human operator tending to move in a downward direction along a generally vertical path by blocking said movement comprising: A. a track extending generally rigidly along said path; B. a carriage mounted on said track for slidable movement therealong; C. cooperable interengaging structures on said track and said carriage essentially preventing outward transverse movement of said carriage away from said track and circumferential movement of said carriage around said track; D. a blocking lever bar pivotally mounted on said carriage at a location and in an orientation at which upon tending to move in said downward direction said weight of said human operator will apply pivotal pressure to said bar on a first side of its pivotal mounting to said carriage causing frictional engagement with said track of its end on the opposite side of said pivotal mounting, whereby movement of said human operator downward is resisted by said blocking lever bar; 1. said lever bar having a length on the opposite side of said pivotal mounting which is greater than the distance between said pivotal mounting and said track, the distance from said pivotal mounting on the location at which the weight of said human operator applies pressure to said bar on said first side being greater than the distance between said pivotal mounting and said end of said bar on said opposite side, whereby said frictional engagement in response to said application of the weight of a human operator will be provided with leverage pressure; and 2.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
138 words
said blocking lever bar being pivotally mounted for movement in the direction opposite to that at which said weight of said human operator will apply pressure thereagainst in order to release said frictional engagement with said track of the end of said bar on the opposite side of said pivotal mounting, whereby said carriage is free for slidable movement along said track; and E. means adapting said lever bar for supporting the weight of a human operator, said means including a foot platform secured to said bar on said first side of its pivotal mounting and a retaining member for maintaining said platform in engagement with any foot thereon upon said foot moving in said opposite direction to release said frictional engagement of said end of said lever bar with said track, said foot platform and retaining member
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
138 words
said blocking lever bar being pivotally mounted for movement in the direction opposite to that at which said weight of said human operator will apply pressure thereagainst in order to release said frictional engagement with said track of the end of said bar on the opposite side of said pivotal mounting, whereby said carriage is free for slidable movement along said track; and E. means adapting said lever bar for supporting the weight of a human operator, said means including a foot platform secured to said bar on said first side of its pivotal mounting and a retaining member for maintaining said platform in engagement with any foot thereon upon said foot moving in said opposite direction to release said frictional engagement of said end of said lever bar with said track, said foot platform and retaining member
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
being sized to accommodate both feet of an operator. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including tension brake means extending between said first side of said blocking lever bar and said carriage applying limited pivotal pressure on said lever bar causing initial frictional engagement of said end with said track to resist downward movement of said carriage on said track whenever a load is not being supported thereby.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cooperable interengaging structures includes a pair of opposed surfaces respectively on said track and said carriage which frictionally engage one another upon said lever bar frictionally engaging said track and urging said carriage toward outward transverse movement away from said track.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said cooperable engaging structures includes a pair of flanges extending outward respectively on opposite sides of said track and a corresponding pair of opposed channels having their openings facing one another on said carriage and receiving said flanges, the rear surface of each of said flanges and the interior surface of its corresponding channel providing said opposed surfaces which frictionally engage one another upon said lever bar frictionally engaging said track and urging said carriage toward outward transverse movement away from said track.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
119 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said cooperable engaging structures on said track and said carriage include a channel extending along said track with a slot communicating therewith parallel to said path, said channel having a greater transverse dimension than said slot; and a projection on said carriage extending through said slot and riding within said channel, the portion of said projection inside said channel having a greater transverse dimension than said slot and the interior surface of said channel and the exterior surface of said portion of said projection providing said opposed surfaces which frictionally engage one another upon said lever bar frictionally engaging said track and urging said carriage toward outward transverse movement away from said track.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said end of said blocking lever bar on the opposite side of said pivotal mounting is bifurcated and engages said track on the opposite sides of said slot upon being caused by pivotal pressure on said lever to frictionally engage said track.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
138 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including: A. a second carriage mounted on said track for slidable movement therealong; B. cooperable interengaging structures on said track and said second carriage essentially preventing outward transverse movement of said second carriage away from said track and circumferential movement of said carriage around said track; C. a second blocking lever pivotally mounted on said second carriage at a location and in an orientation at which upon tending to move in said downward direction said weight of said human operator will apply pivotal pressure to said second bar on a first side of its pivotal mounting to said second carriage causing frictional eengagement with said track of its end on the opposite side of said pivotal mounting, whereby movement of said human operator downward is resisted by said second blocking lever bar;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
198 words
said second lever bar having a length on the opposite side of said pivotal mounting which is greater than the distance between its pivotal mounting and said track, and the distance from said pivotal mounting of the location at which said weight of said human operator applies pressure to said second bar on said first side being greater than the distance between said pivotal mounting and said end of said second bar on said opposite side, whereby said frictional engagement in response to said application of the weight of a human operator will be provided with leverage pressure; and 2. said second lever bar being pivotally mounted for movement in the direction opposite to that in which said weight of said human operator will apply pressure thereagainst in order to release said frictional engagement with said track of the end of said second bar on the opposite side of said pivotal mounting, whereby said second carriage is free for slidable movement along said track; and D. means adapting said lever bar for supporting the weight of a human operator including a cross bar secured to said second lever bar providing a grip for both hands of said operator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
198 words
said second lever bar having a length on the opposite side of said pivotal mounting which is greater than the distance between its pivotal mounting and said track, and the distance from said pivotal mounting of the location at which said weight of said human operator applies pressure to said second bar on said first side being greater than the distance between said pivotal mounting and said end of said second bar on said opposite side, whereby said frictional engagement in response to said application of the weight of a human operator will be provided with leverage pressure; and 2. said second lever bar being pivotally mounted for movement in the direction opposite to that in which said weight of said human operator will apply pressure thereagainst in order to release said frictional engagement with said track of the end of said second bar on the opposite side of said pivotal mounting, whereby said second carriage is free for slidable movement along said track; and D. means adapting said lever bar for supporting the weight of a human operator including a cross bar secured to said second lever bar providing a grip for both hands of said operator.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-07-13 | 1980-01-12 | 1980-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-07-13 | 1984-01-12 | 1984-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-07-13 | 1988-01-12 | 1988-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |