Patent Publication Number: US-11020633-B2

Title: Personal structure climbing apparatus

Description:
This application claims priority benefit of parent U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/178,822 filed in the name of Grant Jonathan Sanford on Apr. 21, 2015, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, and further claims priority benefit of parent U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/231,028 filed in the name of Grant Jonathan Sanford on Jun. 23, 2015. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to devices which attach to frames of large architectural structures having a framework such as but not limited to reinforcement, also known as rebar, cages or curtains utilized in the construction of modern buildings, towers, bridges, and the like during construction of the architectural structure, and in particular to a climbing device which is releasably attachable to a substantially horizontal rung of a rebar cage or curtain of an architectural frame to provide secure footing or secure attachment for construction personnel to the rebar cage or curtain of the frame while working on the architectural structure. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Reinforced cement concrete, or RCC, frame structures are a very common in the construction of modern office buildings, apartment dwellings, towers, bridges, and the like. This type of building consists of a structural framework or skeleton of concrete. Horizontal members of this frame are called beams, and vertical members are called columns. Humans walk on flat planes of concrete called slabs. Of these, the column is the most important, as it is the primary load-carrying element of the a frame structure as damage to a column could bring down the entire structure. 
     RCC is concrete that contains steel bars, called reinforcement bars, or rebars. This combination is used because concrete is very strong in compression, easy to produce at site, and inexpensive, and steel is very strong in tension. Reinforced concrete structures require a mold, called formwork, which will contain the poured liquid concrete and give it the form and shape desired. Workers position steel reinforcement bars in the mold and tie them in place using wire, or weld them together. The tied steel is called reinforcement or rebar cage or curtain, because of its shape, often with both vertical and horizontal bars coupled together. When the steel cage is in place, liquid concrete is poured into the formwork. 
     The construction of such large steel reinforced cement concrete structures, especially given modern earthquake survivability codes, requires dense three-dimensional and multi-layer reinforcement cages. As a result, construction personnel working on the cages, particularly those of the walls and columns, and climbing them like rungs of ladders, cannot easily fit the toes of their boots between adjacent bars and layers of bars to step on the horizontal steel bars. This difficulty in climbing the reinforcement cages makes for a slow and tedious process as the worker moves around the structure and often times places construction personnel in potentially hazardous positions during the construction of the structure. Consequently the worker must take great care to secure his footing and tether himself to the existing frame of the building. This slows the construction process, and consequently increases the cost of both the construction of the building, and its related costs such as insurance premiums. 
     A need exists for a climbing device which permits a worker to releasably attach a climbing device to the dense three-dimensional and multi-layer reinforcement cages, which provides both a secure footing, and a rapid movement across the reinforcement cages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a personal climbing apparatus that overcomes limitations of the prior art for climbing a framework such as but not limited to reinforcement or rebar cages or curtains of the type utilized in the construction of modern office buildings, apartment dwellings, towers, bridges, and the like. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, the apparatus for climbing includes a hanger having a blade extended from a shank and forming a gap therebetween; a foot-support platform that is oriented transversely to the shank of the hanger and coupled thereto, the foot-support platform further comprising a foot retainer; and a brace that is coupled between the foot-support platform and the shank of the hanger. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the hanger of the climbing apparatus includes a gap adjuster for adjusting a width of the gap between the shank and the blade. According to another aspect of the invention, the brace of the climbing apparatus includes a linkage that is coupled between the foot-support platform and the shank of the hanger. The linkage is operable for adjusting an angle between the foot-support platform and the shank of the hanger. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the foot-support platform of the climbing apparatus further includes a length adjuster for accommodating different users. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the foot-support platform of the climbing apparatus further includes a foot retainer for securely and reliably retaining user&#39;s booted foot on the foot-support platform. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for climbing a framework such as but not limited to reinforcement or rebar cages or curtains of the type utilized in the construction of modern office buildings, apartment dwellings, towers, bridges, and the like, wherein the method includes providing a pair of climbing apparatus, the pair of apparatus individually accommodating each of a right foot and a left foot of a user, and wherein each of the pair of climbing apparatus has a hanger having a blade extended from an elongated shank through a bend and forming a gap therebetween, wherein the blade and bend and gap are adjacent to a blade end of the elongated shank, and a foot-support platform coupled to the shank of the hanger in a transverse orientation thereto and the foot-support platform is the sized for accommodating a foot of a user and further comprises a foot retainer. The method including placing a right foot of a user on the foot-support platform of a first of the pair of climbing apparatus, and operating the foot retainer corresponding to the foot-support platform of the first of the pair of climbing apparatus for securing the right foot of the user to the foot-support platform of the first of the pair of climbing apparatus. The method also including placing a left foot of a user on the foot-support platform of a second of the pair of climbing apparatus, then operating the foot retainer corresponding to the foot-support platform of the second of the pair of climbing apparatus for securing the left foot of the user to the foot-support platform of the second of the pair of climbing apparatus. Additionally, the method of the invention includes placing one of the first and second of the pair of climbing apparatus on a substantially horizontal member of the framework; placing a different one of the first and second of the pair of climbing apparatus on a substantially horizontal member of the framework; and climbing the framework by alternately moving each of the first and second of the pair of climbing apparatus on a different substantially horizontal member of the framework. 
     According to another aspect of the method invention, when the hanger of each of the pair of climbing apparatus further includes a gap adjuster for adjusting a width of the gap between the shank and the blade; and the method further includes adjusting the width of the gap to correspond to a size of the member of the framework. According to another aspect of the method invention, the hanger of each of the pair of climbing apparatus optionally further includes a brace coupled between the foot-support platform and a foot end of the shank of the hanger opposite from the blade end thereof, whereby the brace supports foot-support platform and a full weight of the user thereon. 
     According to another aspect of the method invention, the foot-support platform of the hanger of each of the pair of climbing apparatus optionally further includes at least one of a foot retainer comprising one or both of a toe retainer and a heel retainer, or the foot-support platform further comprises a length adjuster. When the foot-support platform of the hanger of each of the pair of climbing apparatus includes at one of a foot retainer having one or both of a toe retainer and a heel retainer, the method further includes operating the foot retainer for retaining each of the left foot of the user and the right foot of the user. When the foot-support platform of the hanger of each of the pair of climbing apparatus includes the length adjuster, the method further includes operating the length adjuster for adjusting a length of each of the foot-support platforms for accommodating a length of each of the left foot of the user and the right foot of the user. 
     Other aspects of the invention are detailed herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view that illustrates the invention embodied by example and without limitation as a climbing apparatus for climbing a framework such as but not limited to reinforcement, also known as rebar, cages or curtains of the type utilized in the construction of modern office buildings, apartment dwellings, towers, bridges, and the like, wherein the climbing apparatus is shown with a booted foot inserted therein and is depicted in a collapsed state; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view that illustrates the climbing apparatus of  FIG. 1 , wherein the climbing apparatus is shown with a booted foot inserted therein and is depicted in an expanded state; 
         FIG. 3  is another view that illustrates the climbing apparatus of  FIG. 1 , wherein the booted foot is omitted for clarity and including a plurality of substantially horizontal rungs of a rebar cage or curtain of an architectural frame; and 
         FIG. 4  is another view that illustrates the climbing apparatus of  FIG. 1 , wherein the booted foot is omitted for clarity and including a plurality of substantially horizontal rungs of a rebar cage or curtain of an architectural frame; and 
         FIG. 5  is a frontal perspective view of the climbing apparatus of  FIG. 1  that more clearly illustrates an optional protective faceplate or guard plate that may be mounted on an operational surface of the climbing apparatus; 
         FIG. 6  is a top rear perspective view of the climbing apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-section view of the climbing apparatus of  FIG. 1  that illustrates an optional brake for arresting movement of the climbing apparatus at a selected one of the expanded state illustrated in  FIG. 2  and the collapsed state illustrated in  FIG. 1 , or at another selected stance angle therebetween. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As required, a detailed illustrative embodiment of the present protective enclosure is disclosed herein. However, techniques, systems and operating structures in accordance with the present protective enclosure may be embodied in a wide variety of forms and modes, some of which may be quite different from those in the disclosed embodiment. Consequently, the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative, yet in that regard, they are deemed to afford the best embodiment for purposes of disclosure and to provide a basis for the claims herein which define the scope of the present protective enclosure. The following presents a detailed description of an illustrative embodiment (as well as some alternative embodiments) of the present protective enclosure. 
     In the Figures, like numerals indicate like elements. 
       FIG. 1  through  FIG. 4  all illustrate the invention embodied by example and without limitation as a climbing apparatus  10  for climbing a framework such as but not limited to rebar cages or curtains utilized in the construction of modern architectural structure, such as but not limited to buildings, towers, bridges, and the like during construction of the architectural structure. Climbing apparatus  10  fits on each of the user&#39;s feet and is removably attachable to a substantially horizontal rung of a rebar cage or curtain of an architectural frame to provide secure footing or secure attachment for construction personnel to the rebar cage or curtain of the frame while working on the architectural structure. 
     Climbing apparatus  10  is preferably constructed of a strong but lightweight metal material such as aluminum in order to support the weight of a person using the device and to prevent damage to the device during use. However, other suitable materials having a high impact strength or hardness may be utilized, including but not limited to carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer, carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic or carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (CFRP, CRP, CFRTP or often simply carbon fiber, or even carbon), which is an extremely strong and light fiber-reinforced plastic which contains carbon fibers. 
     Climbing apparatus  10  is composed of a hanger  12  having a blade  14  extended from a shank  16  and forming a gap  18  therebetween, and a foot-support platform  20  adapted for accommodating a booted foot F (dashed) of a user. 
     As disclosed here by example and without limitation, blade  14  of hanger  12  is positioned adjacent to one end  22  of shank  16 . However, alternative positions of blade  14  along the length of shank  16  are also contemplated and may be included or substituted without deviating from the scope and intent of the present invention. Blade  14  and shank  16  are connected by a bend  24  at an interior end of blade  14 , and a gap  18  is formed there between. Hanger  12  optionally includes a gap adjuster  26  for adjusting a width  28  of gap  18  between shank  16  and blade  14 , whereby gap  18  is optionally adjusted for accommodating frameworks of various gauges or thicknesses. 
     Foot-support platform  20  is optionally formed as a foot step  30  that is mounted on a sturdy support member  32  formed, by example and without limitation, as a rigid arm, and rigid arm  32  is coupled in transverse orientation to shank  16  of hanger  12 . 
     Step  30  is formed with an upper support surface or tread  34  which is sized to receive thereon the user&#39;s booted foot F, substantially as illustrated. Tread  34  of step  30  is optionally formed with a non-slip stepping surface  36  to reduce the possibility of slippage when a user is standing on step  30  of climbing apparatus  10 . By example and without limitation, non-slip stepping surface  36  may be formed with a plurality of grip members  38  such as, but not limited to, raised protrusions that optionally surround a hole in tread  34 , or “upwardly upset” portions. Other known forms of non-slip stepping surface are also contemplated and may be included or substituted for grip members  38  without deviating from the scope and intent of the present invention. 
     Climbing apparatus  10  also includes a foot-retainer mechanism  40  for securely and reliably retaining user&#39;s booted foot F on foot-support platform  20 , or optional step  30  when present. As disclosed here by example and without limitation, foot-retainer mechanism  40  includes a foot insert or toe strap  42  adjacent to a first or toe end  44  of foot-support platform  20 , or optional step  30 , for receiving a toe F 1  of user&#39;s booted foot F, a heel F 2  of user&#39;s booted foot F is received into a heel support  46  adjacent to an opposite second end  48  of foot-support platform  20 , or optional step  30 , and an ankle strap  50  is positioned over an ankle F 3  of user&#39;s booted foot F for securely retaining user&#39;s booted foot Fin heel support  46 . Adjustment mechanisms  52  and  54  are provided on either or both of foot insert or toe strap  42  and ankle strap  50 , whereby either or both of foot insert or toe strap  42  and ankle strap  50  is adjustable. Adjustment mechanisms  52  and  54  are, for example, buckles or hook-and-loop type closures such as Velcro®, or a combination thereof. However, alternative adjustment mechanisms  52  and  54  are also contemplated and may be included or substituted without deviating from the scope and intent of the present invention. 
     Foot step  30 , optionally further includes a length adjuster mechanism  56  for adjusting a length  58  of foot step  30 , for accommodating different sizes of booted foot F. For example, is constructed in two parts; a forward or toe support  60  and rearward or heel support  46 , which toe support  60  and heel support  46  are separately mounted on foot step  30 . Length adjuster mechanism  56  changeably fixes a distance (arrow  62 ) between toe support  60  and heel support  46 . By example and without limitation, length adjuster mechanism  56  is a detent mechanism operable between either one or both of toe support  60  and heel support  46  of foot step  30  and a portion of foot-support platform  20 . 
     Foot-support platform  20  is coupled to shank  16  of hanger  12  in transverse orientation to shank  16 . Hanger  12  may be sufficiently sturdy to support the user&#39;s weight on foot-support platform  20  when foot-support platform  20  is cantilevered from shank  16  of hanger  12 . Alternatively, an optional brace  64  is coupled between foot-support platform  20  and shank  16  of hanger  12  for supporting foot-support platform  20  and user&#39;s full weight thereon. 
     As disclosed here by example and without limitation, brace  64  of climbing apparatus  10  optionally includes an angle adjuster mechanism  66  for adjusting an angle  68  between foot-support platform  20  and shank  16 . Angle adjuster mechanism  66 , when present, permits user to change an angle  70  of his or her stance relative to the framework. For example, angle adjuster mechanism  66  of hanger  12  is optionally incorporated in to brace  64  for adjusting angle  68  between foot-support platform  20  and shank  16 . By example and without limitation, angle adjuster mechanism  66  of brace  64  utilizes a linkage (shown) or other expandable-and-contractible mechanism coupled between both foot-support platform  20  and shank  16  of hanger  12 . Here, linkage-type expandable-and-contractible angle adjuster mechanism  66  is represented as three rigid linkage members  72 ,  74  and  76  that cooperate to form brace  64 . For example, one linkage member  72  is rotatably coupled to shank  16  through a rotational coupling  78  located adjacent to a base end  80  thereof opposite of end  22  having blade  14  of hanger  12 . Second linkage member  74  is rotatably coupled through a rotational coupling  82  located adjacent to an aft end  84  of rigid arm  32  of foot-support platform  20 ; and third linkage member  76  is slidably coupled to rigid arm  32  through a slidable coupling  86  located adjacent to a forward end  88  thereof opposite from aft end  84 . For example, slidable coupling  86  is formed between a pin  90  positioned adjacent to forward end  88  of foot-support platform  20  slidably coupled between third linkage member  76  and a slot  92  through support member  32 , which slidable coupling  86  slidably couples third linkage member  76  to support member  32  under the operation of foot step  30 . These three linkage members  72 ,  74  and  76  are joined in a rotational coupling  94  opposite from each of corresponding couplings  78 ,  82  and  86 . 
     As also disclosed here by example and without limitation, angular adjustment of foot-support platform  20  of climbing apparatus  10  to shank  16  is accommodated by a rotational coupling  96  therebetween. For example, foot-support platform  20  is optionally is optionally rotatably coupled to shank  16  through rotational coupling  96  located between first or toe end  44  of foot-support platform  20  and end  22  of shank  16 . 
     In operation, sliding movement (arrow  98 ) of slidable coupling  86  causes rotational coupling  94  to move (arrow  100 ) toward or away from shank  16 , which in turn causes first and second linkage members  72  and  74  to rotate about respective rotational couplings  78  and  82  between a collapsed or angled relationship ( FIG. 1 ) and an extended or substantially parallel or near parallel relationship ( FIG. 2 ) thereby extending angle  68  between foot-support platform  20  and shank  16  and concurrently extending angle  70  of user&#39;s stance relative to the framework toward perpendicular. Opposite sliding movement (arrow  98 ) toward shank  16  results in moving angle adjuster mechanism  66  toward the collapsed or angled relationship ( FIG. 1 ) of linkage members  72 ,  74  and  76  reducing angle  68  between foot-support platform  20  and shank  16  and concurrently reducing angle  70  of user&#39;s stance relative to the framework away from perpendicular. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates climbing apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1  releasably attached to a substantially horizontal rung R 1  of a rebar cage or curtain R of an architectural frame consisting of a plurality of substantially horizontal rungs R 2 -R 5  for providing secure footing or secure attachment for construction personnel to the rebar cage or curtain of the frame while working on the architectural structure. 
     Here, width  28  of gap  18  is adjusted via gap adjuster  26  for receiving thereinto substantially horizontal rung R 1  of rebar cage or curtain R. Thereafter, climbing apparatus  10  hangs on rebar cage or curtain R via hanger  12  with shank  16  resting against plurality of substantially horizontal rungs R 2 -R 5  thereof. 
     Optionally, a protective faceplate or guard plate  102  may be mounted on an operational surface  104  of shank  16 . Guard plate  102 , if present, protects the integrity of shank  16  against wear and damage that may be caused by repeated interactions with rungs R 1 -R 5  of rebar cage or curtain R. According to one embodiment of the invention, guard plate  102  is optionally removable and replaceable. 
       FIG. 4  is another view that illustrates climbing apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1  releasably attached to a substantially horizontal rung R 1  of rebar cage or curtain R of an architectural frame. Here, sliding operation (arrow  98 ) of slidable coupling  86  results in angle adjuster mechanism  66  extending angle  68  between support member  32  and shank  16  and concurrently extending support member  32  and foot-support platform  20 , whereby angle  70  of user&#39;s stance is extended relative to the framework toward perpendicular. Operation of sliding operation (arrow  98 ) of slidable coupling  86  and angle adjuster mechanism  66  results in rotatable linkage members  72  and  74  being extended into the substantially parallel or near parallel relationship ( FIG. 2 ). As illustrated here, appropriate sizing of linkage members  72 ,  74  and  76  in combination with sizing of slot  92  through support member  32  optionally results in linkage members  72  and  74  being extended beyond parallel into an over-center relationship with third linkage member  76  such that support member  32  and shank  16  are substantially locked in the substantially perpendicular relationship illustrated here and in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 5  is a frontal perspective view of climbing apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1  that more clearly illustrates protective faceplate or guard plate  102  that may be mounted on operational surface  104  of shank  16 . 
       FIG. 6  is a top rear perspective view of climbing apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-section view of climbing apparatus  10  of  FIG. 1 . As illustrated, a brake  106  is optionally positioned between foot step  30  and rigid arm  32  of foot-support platform  20 . Optional brake  106 , if present, is operable for arresting sliding movement (arrow  98 ) of slidable coupling  86  toward or away from shank  16 , whereby the relationship of linkage members  72 ,  74  and  76  is fixed at a selected angle  68  in either the collapsed relationship ( FIG. 1 ) or the extended relationship ( FIG. 2 ) thereof until brake  106  is released. Alternatively, brake  106  is operable for arresting sliding movement (arrow  98 ) of slidable coupling  86  for fixing the relationship of linkage members  72 ,  74  and  76  at a different selected angle  68  in between the collapsed relationship ( FIG. 1 ) and the extended relationship ( FIG. 2 ) thereof until brake  106  is released. According to one embodiment, brake  106  is a friction brake, such as an elastomer disc or pad (shown), that brakes by engaging a surface of rigid arm  32 , and releases by disengaging from such surface. However, alternative brakes  106  other than friction brakes are also contemplated and may be included or substituted without deviating from the scope and intent of the present invention. Accordingly, user is able to work at a selected stance angle  70  relative to the framework within a range of stance angles  70 . 
     As disclosed here by example and without limitation, brace  64  of hanger  12  optionally includes angle adjuster mechanism  66  for adjusting an angle  68  between foot-support platform  20  and shank  16 , adjuster mechanism  66  permits user to change an angle  70  of his or her stance relative to the framework. 
     Additionally, when angle adjuster mechanism  66  of brace  24  is practiced utilizing a linkage (shown) or other expandable-and-contractible mechanism such as angle adjuster mechanism  66 , foot-support platform  20  is movable (arrow  108 ) toward and away from shank  16 , within the throw (at arrow  98 ) of pin  90  in slot  92  through support member  32 , for adjusting user&#39;s position relative to shank  16  and framework. A slide or roller (shown)  110  may be optionally provided between toe end  44  of foot-support platform  20 , or optional step  30 , and rigid support member  32  for ease of moving (arrow  108 ) foot-support platform  20  relative to shank  16 . 
     As more clearly shown here, foot-retainer mechanism  40  may include a toe stop  112  adjacent to toe end  44  of foot-support platform  20 , or optional step  30 , as a stop for toe end F 1  of user&#39;s booted foot F. 
     In use, it is contemplated that climbing apparatus  10  includes some fastening means, such as a tether, for retaining or safety line and ultimately connected to a harness attached to the user&#39;s body. 
     While the preferred and additional alternative embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the inventor makes the following claims.