Lowering device

Claim 2

A lowering device comprising: a flexible line adapted to be connected at one end to a support structure and to hang downwardly therefrom; a unit carried by said line and slidable downwardly therealong; and means for supporting a person or other load from said unit; said unit containing and defining a circuitous passage through which said line extends in a relation introducing friction between the line and unit to slow the descent of the unit along the line; said circuitous passage in extending through said unit being shaped to first advance generally circularly in one direction, and then advance generally circularly in the opposite direction to avoid or reduce twisting of the line.

Claim 3

A lowering device as recited in claim 1, in which said unit includes an elongated tube containing said passage through which the line extends and bent to advance first in said one circular direction and then in said opposite circular direction.

Claim 4

A lowering device as recited in claim 1, in which said passage advances generally helically in said first circular direction through a plurality of turns and then advances generally helically in said opposite direction.

Claim 5

A lowering device as recited in claim 1, in which said unit includes an elongated tube containing and forming said passage and shaped to first advance generally helically in said one circular direction about an axis and through a plurality of turns, and then reverse direction to advance generally helically in the opposite circular direction and essentially about said axis through the same number of turns.

Claim 6

A lowering device as recited in claim 1, in which said passage advances through substantially the same number of turns in said one direction as in said opposite direction.

Claim 7

A lowering device comprising: a flexible line adapted to be connected at one end to a support structure and to hang downwardly therefrom; a unit carried by said line and slidable downwardly therealong; and means for supporting a person or other load from said unit; said unit containing an elongated tube through which said line extends and which is shaped to follow a circuitous path for introducing friction between the line and tube to slow the downward descent of the unit; and a structure which is stronger than the tube and is positioned to prevent straightening of the tube by forces exerted by the line in use and thereby maintain the circuitous configuration of the tube and the frictional effect resultant therefrom.

Claim 8

A lowering device comprising: a flexible line adapted to be connected at one end to a support structure and to hang downwardly therefrom; a unit carried by said line and slidable downwardly therealong; and means for supporting a person or other load from said unit; said unit containing an elongated tube through which said line extends and which is shaped to follow a circuitous path for introducing friction between the line and tube to slow the downward descent of the unit; and a structure which is stronger than the tube and is positioned to prevent straightening of the tube by forces exerted by the line in use and thereby maintain the circuitous configuration of the tube and the frictional effect resultant therefrom.

Claim 9

A lowering device as recited in claim 6, in which said structure includes a mass of material hardened in place adjacent said tube.

Claim 10

A lowering device as recited in claim 6, in which said structure includes a mass of resinous plastic material hardened in place about said tube to maintain its shape.

Claim 11

A lowering device as recited in claim 6, in which said unit includes an outer case surrounding said tube; said structure including a mass of material hardened in place within said case and about said tube to maintain the circuitous shape of the tube.

Claim 12

A lowering device as recited in claim 9, in which said tube first advances generally helically in one direction essentially about a predetermined axis and then advances generally helically in the opposite circular direction essentially about said axis to avoid or minimize twisting of the line.

Claim 13

A lowering device comprising: a flexible line adapted to be connected at one end to a support structure and to hang downwardly therefrom; a unit carried by said line and slidable downwardly therealong; and means for supporting a person or other load from said unit; said unit containing and defining a circuitous passage through which said line extends in a relation introducing friction between the line and unit to slow the descent of the unit along the line; said unit including a sleeve disposed about said line at one end of said passage and mounted to be adjustably turned about the line, and means actuable by said sleeve to variably resist movement of the line therethrough in accordance with the rotary positioning of the sleeve.

Claim 14

A lowering device comprising: a flexible line adapted to be connected at one end to a support structure and to hang downwardly therefrom; a unit carried by said line and slidable downwardly therealong; and means for supporting a person or other load from said unit; said unit containing and defining a circuitous passage through which said line extends in a relation introducing friction between the line and unit to slow the descent of the unit along the line; said unit including a sleeve disposed about said line at one end of said passage and mounted to be adjustably turned about the line, and means actuable by said sleeve to variably resist movement of the line therethrough in accordance with the rotary positioning of the sleeve.

Claim 15

A lowering device as recited in claim 11, in which said last mentioned means include a plurality of clamping fingers within the sleeve adapted to be cammed inwardly by the sleeve upon rotary movement thereof to variably resist movement of the line therethrough.

Claim 16

A lowering device as recited in claim 12, including markings indicating the rotary setting of said sleeve.

Claim 17

A lowering device as recited in claim 11, including markings indicating the rotary setting of said sleeve and thereby indicating the resistance offered to movement of the line therethrough.

Claim 18

A lowering device comprising: a flexible line adapted to be connected at one end to a support structure and to hang downwardly therefrom; a unit carried by said line and slidable downwardly therealong; and means for supporting a person or other load from said unit; said unit containing and defining a circuitous passage through which said line extends in a relation introducing friction between the line and unit to slow the descent of the unit along the line; said unit including two devices engageable with said line at opposite ends respectively of said passage and each offering resistance to movement of the line therepast, and each being adjustable to vary said resistance, so that said two devices can control descent of said unit along said line in opposite directions respectively; each of said two devices including a plurality of fingers adjustably tightenable inwardly against different sides of said line, and a camming sleeve disposed about said fingers and threadedly mounted for rotary adjusting movement and acting upon such rotary movement to variably cam said fingers against the line.

Claim 19

A lowering device comprising: a flexible line adapted to be connected at one end to a support structure and to hang downwardly therefrom; a unit carried by said line and slidable downwardly therealong; and means for supporting a person or other load from said unit; said unit containing and defining a circuitous passage through which said line extends in a relation introducing friction between the line and unit to slow the descent of the unit along the line; said unit including two devices engageable with said line at opposite ends respectively of said passage and each offering resistance to movement of the line therepast, and each being adjustable to vary said resistance, so that said two devices can control descent of said unit along said line in opposite directions respectively; each of said two devices including a plurality of fingers adjustably tightenable inwardly against different sides of said line, and a camming sleeve disposed about said fingers and threadedly mounted for rotary adjusting movement and acting upon such rotary movement to variably cam said fingers against the line.

Claim 20

A lowering device as recited in claim 15, in which said unit includes an elongated case having said devices mounted to opposite ends thereof, a tube contained within said case and defining and containing said passage and shaped to give the passage said circuitous configuration, and a mass of resinous plastic material hardened in place within the case and about said tube to maintain the tube in its circuitous shape.

Claim 21

A lowering device as recited in claim 15, in which said tube and the contained passage advance first generally helically in one direction essentially about a predetermined axis and through a predetermined number of turns, and then reverse direction to advance in the opposite circular direction generally helically essentially about said axis and through the same number of turns to prevent twisting of the line in use.