Carabiner holder

A carabiner holder comprises a carabiner retaining portion and an extension member attachment portion. The retaining portion is configured to releasably retain a carabiner and comprises a first member positioned to engage a first side of the carabiner adjacent a carabiner gate and a second member positioned to engage a second side of the carabiner opposite the first side. The first member and the second member are positioned opposite each other and separated by a first distance at rest. At least one of the first and second members is resiliently movable to allow the first and second members to be separate relative to each other by a second distance greater than the first distance when engaged with a carabiner. The extension member attachment portion is connected to the retaining portion and allows the holder to be attached to an extension member to extend the holder's reach.

BACKGROUND

This application relates to climbing, rescue and construction equipment, and in particular to an approach for releasably holding a carabiner or similar device, e.g., to extend a user's reach and allow the carabiner it to be secured to or removed from an object.

Carabiners, which are also referred to as snap links, are used in rock and alpine climbing, construction and industrial settings and rescue work as part of a safety system. In general, a carabiner resembles a link of a chain with a spring-biased movable portion or gate that, when opened, allows the carabiner to be passed though an opening in or around another object. Typically, the object is fixed, and the user's connection to that object is by way of a rope, sling or tether attached at one end to the user (usually by a harness) and at its other end to the carabiner (either as a fixed connection or running through the carabiner).

Such objects are selected based on the expectation that they will sustain or reduce the forces exerted on the user if he falls, thus limiting the user's injuries. In some cases, a suitable object is not within easy reach. For example, on many sport climbing routes, the first object is a bolt with a hanger secured to the rock face, but it is located out of arm's reach of most users. Conventional devices for holding a carabiner in an opened position and having an elongated handle for extending the user's reach are known, but these devices tend to be overly complicated in operation and not sufficiently rugged for use in typical conditions experienced in climbing, industrial and rescue situations.

SUMMARY

Disclosed below are representative embodiments that are not intended to be limiting in any way. Instead, the present disclosure is directed toward novel and non-obvious features, aspects and equivalents of the embodiments of the carabiner holder or reach extender described below, as well as associated methods. The disclosed features and aspects of the embodiments can be used alone or in various novel and nonobvious combinations and sub-combinations with one another. The disclosed approaches provide a simpler and more robust solution to holding and manipulating carabiners.

According to one aspect, a carabiner holder comprises a carabiner retaining portion configured to releasably retain a carabiner and an extension member attachment portion. The retaining portion comprises a first member positioned to engage a first side of the carabiner adjacent a carabiner gate and a second member positioned to engage a second side of the carabiner opposite the first side. The first member and the second member are positioned opposite each other and separated by a first distance at rest, and at least one of the first and second members is resiliently movable to allow the first and second members to be separated by a second distance greater than the first distance when engaged with a carabiner. The extension member attachment portion is connected to the retaining portion and allows the holder to be attached to an extension member to extend the holder's reach.

The extension member attachment portion can be configured for a threaded connection to an extension member. The extension member attachment portion can be configured for attachment over an edge of an object. The extension member attachment portion can be configured for attachment to a blade of a paddle or oar. The holder can be substantially constructed of a single piece of stock that has been formed into the carabiner retaining portion and the extension member attachment portion. The holder can be substantially comprised of stainless steel rod or wire.

The holder can comprise a cover member that at least partially covers a portion of the carabiner retaining portion. The carabiner holder can comprise a connecting portion that maintains the first member and the second member in desired positions relative to each other. The retaining portion can comprise a stop positioned to resist movement of a carabiner held in the holder. The first member can be shaped to urge the gate of a carabiner to at least a partially opened position when the carabiner is held in the holder.

The extension member attachment portion can define an extension axis, the retaining portion can define a retention axis, and the retention axis can be laterally offset from the extension axis. The holder can comprise an extension member for attachment to the extension member attachment portion.

According to another aspect, a carabiner holder comprises a single piece of material having a first end formed into a generally helical coil, continuing in a first side comprising a long straight segment, an outwardly flared return bend, a short straight segment, and an angled segment, the first side continuing in a connecting portion, the connecting portion continuing in a second side spaced apart from and opposite the first side, the second side comprising an angled segment, a short straight segment, an outwardly flared return bend and a straight segment that terminates in a second end of the material, and the first and second sides are positioned to releasably receive a carabiner.

The coil can threadedly receive an extension member for extending the reach of the carabiner holder. The coil can define an extension axis, and the first side and the second side can be laterally offset from the extension axis.

According to another aspect, a carabiner holder comprises a holding portion having a first side configured to contact at least a gate of a carabiner and to hold the gate in at least a partially open position when the carabiner is engaged with the holder, and a second side positioned opposite the first side and configured to contact a spine of the carabiner when the carabiner is engaged with the holder, the first and second sides being coupled together by a junction that maintains the first and second sides spaced-apart in an at rest position by a first distance, and wherein at least one of the first and second sides is movable relative to the other against a resilient biasing force in the holder to allow the first and second sides to be separated from each other by a second distance greater than the first distance to pass over the carabiner when the carabiner is engaged with and disengaged from the holder.

The first distance separating the first side and the second side in the at rest position can be sized to allow a climbing rope threaded through the carabiner to pass freely between the first side and the second side as the carabiner is disengaged from the holder. The holder can be disengaged from a carabiner by withdrawing it in a direction away from the carabiner while the carabiner is held in place, thereby overcoming the resilient biasing force and forcing the first and second sides to separate relative to each other as the holder is slid over the carabiner until it is disengaged from the carabiner.

With the first side and the second side in contact with respective portions of the carabiner, the carabiner holder can be urged into engagement with the carabiner such that the carabiner is retained by the holder using a single thrusting motion directed along an axis of the carabiner. The holder can be engaged with or disengaged from a carabiner using a one-handed operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is a shows an embodiment of a carabiner holder10holding a carabiner16in the opened position. In this embodiment, the carabiner holder10has a retaining portion12that releasably secures a carabiner, such as the carabiner16as shown, and an extension member14connected to the retaining portion12that serves to extend the user's reach.

The carabiner16has a gate18, which is held in the opened position by the retaining portion12against a biasing force (usually exerted by a spring of the carabiner) tending to urge the gate18to a closed position. When the gate18is in the closed position (not shown), it contacts the carabiner's free end22. On a side opposite the gate18, the carabiner16has a spine20.

InFIG. 1, the free end22of the carabiner16has been threaded through an eye24in a piton26that is secured to a surface, such as a rock face. In the same way, the carabiner could be coupled to any other type of fixed object expected to withstand or at least reduce the forces experienced by a user in the event of a fall. Such fixed objects would include other types of rock, alpine or sport climbing protection, nearby objects in an industrial setting, such as a beam, or any other suitable object. The holder10can also be used to couple the carabiner16to a rope that is out of reach.

InFIG. 1, a bight of climbing rope27is shown threaded through the carabiner16. The bight of rope27may be knotted in a loop, or it may be allowed to pass freely through the carabiner16. Instead of the rope27, a sling or a tether could be attached to the carabiner16. In most uses, another portion of the rope, sling or tether is connected to the user, usually by way of a harness. In some situations, the carabiner holder10is used to place or retrieve carabiners without any attached rope, sling or tether.

The retaining portion12comprises a pair of generally opposed arms28,30. The arm28, also referred to as the first arm, is shown contacting the gate18and forcing it at least partially open. The arm30, also referred to as the second arm, is shown contacting the spine20.

In some embodiments, both of the arms28,30are resilient, and the arms can be spread apart from their positions at rest, e.g., as shown inFIG. 4A. To move the arms from the at rest position, the resilient force tending to return the arms to that position must be overcome. This resilient force can be calibrated as necessary to provide sufficient force to hold a carabiner, yet allow the holder10to be engaged and disengaged from a carabiner with sufficient ease. In some embodiments, one of the arms28,30is relatively rigid and only the other arm is resilient.

To disengage the holder10from the carabiner16, the holder10can be withdrawn in the direction A (FIG. 1). Withdrawing the holder10while the carabiner16remains in place by way of its connection to the piton26causes the arms28,30to spread away from each other and to slide along the carabiner16, and past the rope27, until they disengage from the carabiner16and release it.

To reengage the holder10with the carabiner16, the process is reversed, and the holder10is forced over the carabiner16by urging it in the direction B with the arms28,30aligned to engage the gate18and the spine20, respectively. The arms28,30initially spread apart and then return to their positions as shown in theFIG. 1with the arm28urging the gate18open and the arm30in contact with the spine20. Curved portions of the arms28,30can be used as guides to follow a rope leading up to a carabiner to be retrieved.

Alternatively, depending upon the geometry of the carabiner16, it may be possible to disengage the holder10by pivoting it to a position such as is shown in dashed lines inFIG. 1before withdrawing it in the direction C. In the dashed line view of the arms28,30, they are shown spreading apart from each other as they are urged to pass over wider sections of the carabiner16. It may also be possible to rotate the holder10about its longitudinal axis to assist in disengaging the carabiner, as shown inFIG. 3.

Referring toFIG. 2, which shows a plan view of a portion of the holder10, in some embodiments the arms28,30are offset from an axis defined by the extension member (i.e., an axis passing through the approximate center of the coil36). In this way, the holder10can be positioned near a surface, such as a rock face, in positioning the holder to place or retrieve a carabiner. The offset also provides clearance and prevents interference during manipulation of the holder10when the carabiner16has other objects attached to it, such as when the carabiner16has an attached sling with a second carabiner at its opposite end (commonly called a “quick draw”). As also shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the space below the offset allows both strands of the rope27passing through the carabiner16to lie on the same side of the holding portion12, such that the strands can hang approximately parallel to the extension member14for easy manipulation and one-handed handling.

The extension member14is generally sized as needed to extend the user's reach. The extension member14may be a dedicated handle, such as a readily available conventional handle for a household tool, e.g., a broom handle. Alternatively, the extension member14may be a piece of equipment that has another use, e.g., a tent pole, ski pole, avalanche probe, paddle, oar, or other elongate object (e.g., a stick) that extends the user's reach by a sufficient amount and is sufficiently rigid to allow the carabiner (and optionally, a rope carried by the carabiner) to be manipulated.

In some embodiments, the retaining portion12and the extension member14are configured for connection together by a threaded connection, such as by the attachment end or coil36of the retaining portion12as best seen inFIGS. 4A and 4B. Other connection types are, of course, possible.

The retaining portion12, and specifically the arms28,30, are configured to releasably secure the carabiner16such that it can be manipulated at a distance away from the user, e.g., to couple the carabiner16to or remove it from an object. In some embodiments, the arms28,30are maintained in a desired relationship relative to each other by a connecting portion32that connects the arms28,30together opposite their free ends.

In specific embodiments, the retaining portion12can be constructed of a single piece of stock that is formed to the desired final shape. Referring toFIGS. 4A and 4B, beginning at a first end34, the coil36is formed. At the upper end of the coil36, the first arm28is formed to have a long straight section38, an outwardly curved portion or flared return bend40, a short straight section42, and an angled section44. The angled section joins the connecting portion32. At the other end of the connecting portion32, the second arm is formed to have an angled section46, a short straight section48, an outwardly curved portion or flared return bend50and a long straight section52that terminates in a second end54adjacent the connecting portion. Other geometries are also possible. One way of optimizing the fit of the retaining portion for a specific size and shape of carabiner is by adjusting the length of one or more of the segments.

The retaining portion12is configured to provide a stop that contacts the lower end of the carabiner16and allows force to be applied against it and prevents it from being “pushed through” the holder. In some embodiments, the stop is provided by the shape of the arms28,30. For example, the carabiner16in its position inFIG. 1is stopped by contact between the carabiner16and the junction of the segments38and44on the first arm28and the junction of the segments46and52on the second arm. Other stop configurations are, of course, possible.

FIGS. 5A and 5Bshow an embodiment of a holder10′ sized for coupling with an extension member14′ of a smaller diameter. Such an extension member14′ may be a tent pole, a ski pole shaft, an avalanche probe or a dedicated handle of a smaller diameter. Instead of a threaded connection, the retaining portion12′ may be configured for a force-fit connection with the extension member14′. If desired, the sleeve29can have an extended length as shown to assist in keeping together the extension member14′ and the retaining portion12′.

FIG. 6shows an alternative embodiment of the holder10″ with a retaining portion12″ specifically adapted for fitting over an edge of a generally flat object, e.g., a paddle blade60. In this way, the paddle blade60and its shaft62serve as the extension member, which is particularly useful in water rescue situations, e.g., to connect a carabiner with a rescue rope threaded through it to the personal flotation device of a victim in the water, to a guy line on a raft or to an object that fallen overboard.

The retaining portion12″ can be shaped as shown such that the arms28,30have bent-back ends56that facilitate sliding the retaining portion into place over the paddle blade60. Although not required, the retaining portion12″ can positioned as shown such that the arms28,30straddle a rib64formed in the paddle blade60.

As shown inFIG. 6, the retaining portion12″ can have an attached sling or rope58that serves to keep the retaining portion in place on the paddle blade60when the paddle is withdrawn to disengage the holder10″ from the carabiner16. The rope58can be looped or tied around the junction of the paddle blade60and the shaft62as shown, or through any available openings in the paddle blade60. Other approaches to keeping the retaining portion12in place on the paddle during use could also be used.

In some embodiments, the cover29is made from a shrink tubing. Other suitable materials for the cover29would include rubber, rubber-like materials or plastics, including injection molded plastics. In some embodiments, the arms28,30are made of a steel, such as a spring steel. In some embodiments, a stainless spring steel is used. In other embodiments, it would be possible to make the arms from another material having sufficient resiliency and strength.

Although the examples shown in the drawings show only a substantially oval-shaped carabiner, the holder can be used without modification with other conventional carabiners, including pear-shaped and D-shaped carabiners, such as by adapting the length of the various segments as described above.

The holder allows for one-handed operation since there is no mechanism requiring separate actuation to release a carabiner from the holder or to engage the holder with a carabiner. In some embodiments of the holder, although the arms28,30can move relative to each other, they are formed from a single piece of material, which reduces the risks of failed connections and lost parts.