Patent ID: 9149667
Filing Date: 2015-10-06
Classification: A62B,A63B,F16G

Abstract:
1. A safety device for use in a single rope technique arrangement, the device comprising: a clamping mechanism including a plurality of clamping segments interconnected by a flexible spine arrangement, the flexible spine arrangement comprising a plurality of interconnected linking elements, each of the plurality of clamping segments respectively including a first end, a second end and a rope channel having a first aperture and a second aperture sized to substantially accommodate a diameter of a single rope, the first aperture being substantially offset longitudinally and laterally from the second aperture, each said first end directly connected to the flexible spine arrangement; a release mechanism coupled to the clamping mechanism, the release mechanism including an actuation handle coupled to the flexible spine arrangement and configured to move the plurality of segments between a clamping position and a released position, the actuation handle configured to apply a first force to the flexible spine arrangement that substantially misaligns the rope channels of adjacent clamping segments of the plurality of clamping segments in the clamping position and configured to apply a second force that substantially aligns the rope channels of adjacent clamping segments of the plurality of clamping segments in the released position, the clamping position configured to apply more friction to said rope than the release position during use; and a reduction mechanism coupled to the flexible spine arrangement, the reduction mechanism including a body portion having a rope slot configured to accommodate the single rope, the reduction mechanism further including a housing portion disposed pivotally about the body portion, the housing portion including a cammed groove configured to accommodate the single rope, the cammed groove being configured to move rotationally and linearly with respect to the rope slot, the reduction mechanism configured to frictionally engage the single rope in the released position in order to slow descent of the device with respect to the single rope during use.