Patent ID: 7552798
Filing Date: 2009-06-30
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
1. A column climbing device for climbing structural steel columns having flanges and the like, comprising: a platform member having a planar toe portion and a planar foot portion, the planar foot portion of the platform member adapted to receive a foot of a user, the planar toe portion of the platform member extending only forward from the planar foot portion substantially co-axial with the length of the planar foot portion and comprising a first metallic interior surface and a second metallic interior surface positioned within the platform member together defining a substantially-rectangular notch open to one side of the planar toe portion of the platform member and substantially perpendicular to the length of the planar foot portion, the first metallic interior surface and the second metallic interior surface in a fixed parallel orientation with respect to one another and having substantially-equal dimensions, wherein the substantially-rectangular notch is only forward of the planar foot portion and is configured to frictionally engage a flange of a column, the first metallic interior surface of the planar toe portion of the platform member is configured to engage a back side of the flange of the column along a first edge and first line of frictional force and the second metallic interior surface of the planar toe portion of the platform member is configured to engage a front side of the flange of the column along a second edge and second line of frictional force; a first hardened member removably and immovably in contact with at least a portion of a top surface of the toe portion of the platform member, but not also in contact with a portion of a bottom surface of the toe portion of the platform member, wherein the first hardened member is substantially co-extensive with the first metallic interior surface of the substantially-rectangular notch; wherein the first metallic interior surface of the planar toe portion of the platform member selectively engages the back side of the flange of the column along the first edge and first line of frictional force associated with the first hardened member; wherein the second metallic interior surface of the planar toe portion of the platform member selectively engages the front side of the flange of the column along the second edge and second line of frictional force; wherein the first line of frictional force is in a parallel spaced-apart relationship with the first metallic interior surface of the planar toe portion of the platform member and the second line of frictional force; and wherein the first line of frictional force and the second line of frictional force are substantially equal in dimensions; and one or more attachment mechanisms attached to the planar foot portion of the platform member for securing the platform member to the foot of the user, further comprising a second hardened member removably and immovably in contact with at least a portion of the bottom surface of the toe portion of the platform member, but not also in contact with a portion of the top surface of the toe portion of the platform member, wherein the second hardened member is substantially co-extensive with the second metallic interior surface of the substantially-rectangular notch; wherein the second metallic interior surface of the planar toe portion of the platform member selectively engages the front side of the flange of the column along the second edge and second line of friction force associated with the second hardened member; and wherein the second line of friction force is in a parallel spaced-apart relationship with the second metallic interior surface of the planar toe portion of the platform member and the first line of friction force, the planar toe portion of the platform member is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the planar foot portion of the platform member.