Load lowering apparatus

Claim 2

In a load lowering mechanism of the type employed to lower a load along a generally vertical load supporting line by a slider mechanism including manually operable brake means for frictionally engaging the line to slow the rate of movement of the slider along the line, the improvement wherein said slider assembly comprises, a rigid open frame including a pair of opposed laterally spaced side members, fastener means rigidly securing said side members in said opposed laterally spaced relation, harness means for supporting a load for attachment to said slider assembly, cooperating fastener means on said harness means and said slider assembly operable to releasably attach said harness means to the slider means for movement therewith, a pair of parallel, vertically spaced shaft members each having opposed ends mounted one on each of said side members for rotation about a fixed, generally horizontal axis and each having a line-receiving opening extending substantially diametrically therethrough, the line extending through said line receiving opening in each said shaft member whereby said slider assembly is slidably mounted on the line, said line receiving openings being dimensioned to enable the line to pass freely therethrough, and handle means operably connected with said pair of shaft members and being manually operable to rotate said shaft members through a limited angle of rotation whereby frictional contact between said pair of shaft members and the line passing therethrough may be varied, said handle means including first and second link members rotatably fixed one on one end of each said shaft member, and a third link member pivotally connected to said first and second link members, said first, second and third link members cooperating with said frame to define a parallel linkage which is operable to simultaneously rotate each of said shaft members between a first position in which said line receiving openings extend in substantially vertical alignment with the load supporting line extending therethrough in a generally straight line and a second position in which said line receiving openings in said shaft members are substantially misaligned, with the load supporting line following a zigzag path therethrough.

Claim 3

The load lowering mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said shaft members are rotated through an angle in excess of 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees during movement between said first and said second positions.

Claim 4

The load lowering mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said handle means further comprises means for adjusting the maximum angle of rotation of said shaft members.

Claim 5

The load lowering mechanism according to claim 3 wherein the load supporting line is a relatively thin flat belt and wherein the line receiving openings formed in said shaft members comprises an elongated thin slot extending through said shaft members and containing the axis of rotation thereof.

Claim 6

The load lowering mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the load supporting line is a relatively thin flat belt and wherein the line receiving openings formed in said shaft means comprises an elongated thin slot extending through said shaft means and containing the axis of rotation thereof.

Claim 7

In a load lowering mechanism of the type employed to lower a load along a generally vertical load supporting line by a slider mechanism including manually operable brake means for frictionally engaging the line to slow the rate of movement of the slider along the line, the improvement wherein said slider assembly comprises, a rigid open frame including a pair of opposed laterally spaced side members, fastener means rigidly securing said side members in said opposed laterally spaced relation, harness means for supporting a load for attachment to said slider assembly, cooperating fastener means on said harness means and said slider assembly operable to releasably attach said harness means to the slider means for movement therewith, horizontal shaft means extending between and journaled for rotation in openings in said spaced side members, line receiving opening means formed in and extending substantially diametrically through said shaft means between said side members, the line extending through said opening means whereby said slider assembly is slidably mounted on the line, said opening means being dimensioned to enable the line to pass freely therethrough, handle means operably connected with said shaft means, said handle means being manually operable to rotate said shaft means between a first position in which the load supporting line passes through the opening means with minimal frictional contact therebetween, and the second position in which the load supporting line passes through said opening means with a maximum frictional contact therebetween, and resilient means normally biasing said shaft means to a third position intermediate said first and second positions, the frictional contact between the load supporting line and said shaft means in the third position being sufficient to apply a substantial braking force to said slider assembly and a load supported thereon during movement of the slider assembly along the load supporting line whereby a load may be lowered along the line at a safe, controlled rate without manual actuation of said handle means, said handle means being manually operable to move said shaft means from said intermediate position toward said first position to decrease such frictional contact and toward said second position to increase such frictional contact.

Claim 8

In a load lowering mechanism of the type employed to lower a load along a generally vertical load supporting line by a slider mechanism including manually operable brake means for frictionally engaging the line to slow the rate of movement of the slider along the line, the improvement wherein said slider assembly comprises, a rigid open frame including a pair of opposed laterally spaced side members, fastener means rigidly securing said side members in said opposed laterally spaced relation, harness means for supporting a load for attachment to said slider assembly, cooperating fastener means on said harness means and said slider assembly operable to releasably attach said harness means to the slider means for movement therewith, horizontal shaft means extending between and journaled for rotation in openings in said spaced side members, line receiving opening means formed in and extending substantially diametrically through said shaft means between said side members, the line extending through said opening means whereby said slider assembly is slidably mounted on the line, said opening means being dimensioned to enable the line to pass freely therethrough, handle means operably connected with said shaft means, said handle means being manually operable to rotate said shaft means between a first position in which the load supporting line passes through the opening means with minimal frictional contact therebetween, and the second position in which the load supporting line passes through said opening means with a maximum frictional contact therebetween, and resilient means normally biasing said shaft means to a third position intermediate said first and second positions, the frictional contact between the load supporting line and said shaft means in the third position being sufficient to apply a substantial braking force to said slider assembly and a load supported thereon during movement of the slider assembly along the load supporting line whereby a load may be lowered along the line at a safe, controlled rate without manual actuation of said handle means, said handle means being manually operable to move said shaft means from said intermediate position toward said first position to decrease such frictional contact and toward said second position to increase such frictional contact.

Claim 9

The load lowering mechanism according to claim 6 wherein said shaft means comprises a pair of parallel, vertically spaced shaft members each mounted for rotation about a generally horizontal axis and each having a line receiving opening extending substantially diametrically therethrough, and wherein said handle means is operable to rotate both of said shaft members simultaneously.

Claim 10

The load lowering mechanism according to claim 7 wherein said handle means comprises first and second link members rotably fixed one on one end of each said shaft member, and a third link member pivotly connected to said first and second link members, said first, second and third link members cooperating with said frame to define a parallel linkage.

Claim 11

The load lowering mechanism according to claim 8 wherein said parallel linkage is operable to rotate said first and second shaft members between a first position in which said line receiving openings extend in substantially vertical alignment with the load supporting line extending therethrough in a generally straight line and a second position in which said line receiving openings are substantially misaligned with the load supporting line following a zigzag path therethrough.

Claim 12

The load lowering mechanism according to claim 9 wherein said shaft members are rotated through an angle in excess of 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees during movement between said first and said second positions.

Claim 13

The load lowering mechanism according to claim 10 wherein said handle means further comprises means for adjusting the maximum angle of rotation of said shaft members.

Claim 14

The load lowering mechanism according to claim 11 wherein the load supporting line is a relatively thin flat belt and wherein the line receiving opening formed in said shaft members comprises an elongated thin slot extending through said shaft members and containing the axis of rotation thereof.