Abstract:
A rope management device is provided that includes features allowing for transition from a rope clamping position to a rope unclamped position when under load. Included is a teeter bar having a pivot axis allowing for application of friction on a section of rope to hold a load in place and then when rope is pulled through the device the load is maintained while allowing the teeter bar to pivot to eliminate friction on the rope.

Description:
CLAIM FOR BENEFIT OF EARLIER FILING DATE 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/214,287 filed on 23 Apr. 2009 and entitled “ROPE MANAGEMENT DEVICE”. This utility application has the same subject matter and title as the aforesaid Provisional Application. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The background of the invention will be discussed in two parts. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention relates to a rope management device and in particular to a device for ascending and descending a rope without the assistance of a belayer and that can be changed from a clamping device to an unclamping device under load. 
       RELATED ART 
       [0004]    In U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,203 issued on 31 May 2005 to Perry L. Everett et al., and in U.S. Pat. No. 7,533,871 issued on 19 May 2009 to Perry L. Everett et al., there is shown and described rope climbing apparatus that provides a simple and convenient way to ascend and descend a rope without using a belayer. The present invention provides an easier and smoother transition from a rope clamping position to a rope unclamping position, thus conveniently providing an even more effective rope climbing device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    A rope management device is provided that includes features allowing for transition from a rope clamping position to a rope unclamped position when under load. Included is a teeter bar having a pivot axis allowing for application of friction on a section of rope to hold a load in place and then when rope is pulled through the device the load is transferred within the device and allows the teeter bar to pivot about another axis to eliminate friction between the rope and clamping surfaces. The device can function with a double rope technique system as well as a belay device. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective diagram illustrating the manner in which the components of the present invention are assembled in relationship to each other according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the assembled device of  FIG. 1  as viewed looking toward the access plate; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the opposite side on the assembled device of the invention of  FIG. 1  as viewed looking toward the base plate; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a perspective side view of the assembled device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the invention taken along lines  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6A  illustrates operation of the device of the invention approaching a clamping position under load; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 6B  illustrates operation of the device of the invention wherein the device is in an unclamping position. 
       
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE APPLICATION 
       [0013]    A listing of the reference numerals, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements in the several views, with a brief description of their function, is as follows:
         101 . General designation of the device of the invention     1 . Base plate     1   a . Base plate attachment hole     1   b . Base plate pivot hole     1   c . Base plate fastener hole for fastener  2   c        1   d . Base plate fastener hole for fastener  3   c        1   e . Base plate hole for stop  8       1   f . Base plate hole for stop  7       1   g . Base plate fastener hole for stop bolt  10   f        1   h . Base plate fastener hole for stop bolt  10   f        1   i . Base plate fastener hole for stop bolt  10   f        1   j . Base plate fastener hole for stop bolt  10   f        2 . Bollard for attachment to base plate  1  by means of fastener  2   c        2   a . Threaded fastener hole for receiving fastener  2   c  and stop  6       2   b . Fastener hole for receiving fastener  4   b        2   c . Threaded fastener for connection through fastener hole  1   c  to side B of bollard  2       3 . Bollard for attachment to base plate  1  by means of fastener  3   c        3   a . Threaded fastener hole for receiving fastener  3   c        3   b . Fastener hole for receiving fastener  5   b        3   c . Fastener for connection through pivot hole  9   c  and base plate hole  1   d  to side B of bollard  3       4 . Wear sleeve for receiving bollard  2       4   a . Fastener hole for receiving fastener  4   b        4   b . Threaded fastener for connection through fastener hole  4   a  of wear sleeve  4  into fastener hole  2   b  of bollard  2       5 . Wear sleeve for receiving bollard  3   a.        5   a . Fastener hole for receiving fastener  5   b        5   b . Threaded fastener for connection through fastener hole  5   a  of wear sleeve  5  into fastener hole  3   b  of bollard  3       6 . Stop for threading into hole  2   a  of side A of bollard  2       7 . Stop for threading into hole  1   f  of side A of base plate  1       8 . Stop for insertion into hole  1   e  of side B of base plate  1       9 . Cam     9   a . Cam fastener hole     9   b . Cam fastener hole     9   c . Cam pivot hole     9   d . Fastener hole     9   e . Spring     9   f . Control screw     10 . Handle     10   a . Handle fastener hole for receiving bolt  10   c        10   b . Handle fastener hole for receiving bolt  10   d        10   c . Handle fastener bolt     10   d . Handle fastener bolt     10   e . Fastener hole     10   f . Governor stop bolt     11 . Teeter bar     11   a . Teeter bar attachment hole     11   b . Teeter bar pivot hole     11   c . Teeter bar fastener hole     11   d . General designation for teeter bar friction brake     11   e . General designation for teeter bar fairlead     12 . Bearing     12   a . Bearing fastener hole     13 . Access plate     13   a . Access plate attachment hole     13   b . Access plate pivot hole     13   c . General designation for access plate catch     14 . Fastener for insertion into fairlead fastener hole  11   c        15 . Fastener for insertion through pivot holes  1   b  and  13   b , abuts friction brake  11   d        15   a . Nut for receiving fastener  15  on side B of access plate  13         
 
       DESCRIPTION 
       [0072]    The present invention provides a different embodiment of the disclosures of U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,203 issued on 31 May 2005 to Perry L. Everett et al. and of U.S. Pat. No. 7,533,871 issued on 19 May 2009 to Perry L. Everett et al., which patents are incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0073]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective diagram illustrating the manner in which the components of the present invention, generally designated  110 , are assembled in relationship to each other. As illustrated, the major components include a base plate  1 , access plate  13 , teeter bar  11 , cam  9 , handle  10 , and bollards  2  and  3 . Also included are bollard wear sleeves  4  and  5 , bearing  12 , stops  6 ,  7 , and  8 , and pivot axis fasteners  3   c ,  14  and  15 . Further included are miscellaneous fasteners  2   c ,  4   b ,  5   b ,  10   c ,  10   d  and  15   a.    
         [0074]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the assembled device of  FIG. 1  as viewed looking toward the access plate,  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the opposite side on the assembled device of the invention of  FIG. 1  as viewed looking toward the base plate,  FIG. 4  is a perspective side view of the assembled device of  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the invention taken along lines  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 . After assembly of the device  110  as indicated in  FIGS. 1-4 , there are three component pivot axis&#39; designated pivot axis  1 , pivot axis  2  and pivot axis  3 . Pivot axis  1  is defined by aligned pivot holes  1   b ,  11   b  and  13   b  secured by fastener  15  and nut  15   a , pivot axis  2  defined by pivot hole  11   c  and secured by fastener  15 , and pivot axis  3  defined by aligned pivot holes  9   c  and  1   d  and secured to bollard  3  by fastener  3   c . There are two rope attachment points, attachment point  1  at teeter bar attachment hole  11   a , and attachment point  2  defined by aligned base plate attachment hole  1   a  and access plate attachment hole  13   a.    
         [0075]    As indicated in the drawings the components of the invention and their assembly are described as follows: 
         [0076]    a base plate  1  having ten holes, an attachment hole  1   a , pivot hole  1   b , and six fastener holes  1   c ,  1   d ,  1   e ,  1   f ,  1   g ,  1   h ,  1   i  and  1   j ; hole  1   c  for receiving threaded fastener screw  2   c  therethrough to permanently fasten bollard  2  to side A of base plate  1  by engagement with threaded hole  2   a ; hole  1   d  for receiving fastener bolt  3   c  therethrough to fasten bollard  3  to side A of base plate  1 , holes  1   e ,  1   g ,  1   h ,  1   i , and  1   j  for selectively affixing stop  8 , and threaded hole  1   f  for permanently affixing threaded stop  7 ; 
         [0077]    bollards  2  and  3  include fastener holes  2   a  and  3   a , respectively, for receiving securing fasteners  2   c  and  3   c , respectively, to affix bollards  2  and  3  to base plate  1 , and replaceable wear sleeves  4  and  5  secured by screws  4   b  and  5   b , respectively, threaded hole  2   a  also permanently affixing threaded stop  6  to the bottom of bollard  2 ; 
         [0078]    a cam  9  having a pivot hole  9   c  for receiving threaded fastener  3   c  therethrough after which threaded fastener  3   c  mates with threaded holes  1   d  and  3   a  to secure bollard  3  to side A of base plate  1  and thereby define pivot axis  3 , and fastener holes  9   a  and  9   b  for securing handle  10  to side B of cam  9  by means of fastener bolts  10   c  and  10   b , respectively, and fastener hole  9   d  for securing spring  9   c  by means of fastener screw  9   f;    
         [0079]    a teeter bar  11  pivotally mounted between base plate  1  and access plate  13  by threaded fastener  15  which transits pivot holes  1   b ,  11   b  and  13   b  to terminate in nut  15   a  to thereby define pivot axis  1 , attachment hole  11   a  defining attachment point  1 , a friction brake generally designated  11   d , and a fairlead generally designated  11   e  having a fastener hole  11   c;    
         [0080]    bearing  12  having hole  12   a  for fixedly receiving a first end of fastener  14 , the second end of fastener  14  fixedly received by teeter bar hole  11   c , this arrangement allowing bearing  12  to remain in contact with cam  9 , the combination of bearing  12 , fastener  14  and hole  11   c  defining pivot axis  2 ; 
         [0081]    access plate  13  having rope attachment hole  13   a , pivot hole  13   b  for receiving bolt  15 , pivot hole  13   b  co-acting with fastener  15 , pivot hole  11   b  to rotatably affix teeter bar  11  to side B of access plate  13 , hole  13   a  co-acting with hole  1   a  to define rope attachment point pivot axis  2 , and catch  13   c  configured for co-acting with threaded stop  6 ; 
         [0082]    handle  10  permanently affixed to cam  9  by threaded fasteners  10   c  and  10   d  transiting holes  10   a  and  10   b , respectively, to engage threaded holes  9   a  and  9   b , respectively. 
         [0083]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate an operational configuration for the invention.  FIG. 6   a  shows tether line  108  attached at one end to attachment point  1  defined by hole  1   a  and the other end to security belt  107  shown to be attached to a fellow climber. Rope  105  is shown attached at one end to attachment point  2  defined by hole  13   a  and then passed around an anchor  103  and then between base plate  1   a  and access plate  13  positioned to pass bollards  2  and  3  and then around fairlead  11   e  and out for manual control by the device operator. With this configuration it is possible for the operator, by pulling or letting off on the rope  105 , to control the distance between pivot axis  3  (hole  1   d  of base plate  1 ) and pivot axis  2  (hole  11   c  of teeter bar  11 ) to thereby control the distance between bollard  3  and friction brake  11   d . With this control the device  101  can be operated to go from a rope clamping state to an unclamping state even when under load. 
         [0084]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , teeter bar  11  is pivotally mounted between base plate  1  and access plate  13  on pivot axis  1 , thus allowing teeter bar  11  to teeter about pivot axis  1 . As indicated in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , when a load is applied to attachment point  1  teeter bar  11  teeters about pivot axis  1  to move fairlead  11   e  toward bollard  3  and thus moving pivot axis  2  and pivot axis closer together to apply clamping pressure and friction on a section of rope  105  between wear sleeve  5  of bollard  3  and friction brake  11   d  of teeter bar  11 . As the applied load increases, applied clamping pressure and friction increases and holds the load by preventing movement of rope  105  through the device  101 . 
         [0085]    As is evident from review of the figures, pivot hole  11   b  is in an off center location between attachment hole  11   a  and fairlead  11   e  of teeter bar  11  which provides a leverage advantage. The distance between fairlead  11   e  and pivot axis  1  is greater than the distance between attachment hole  11   a  and pivot axis  1 . This leverage advantage makes it possible to more easily pull rope  105  through device  101 . As rope  105  is pulled down against fairlead  11   e  teeter bar  11  teeters on pivot axis  1  moving pivot axis  2  and pivot axis  3  further apart thus eliminating clamping pressure and friction on rope  105  between wear sleeve  5  of bollard  3  and friction brake  11   d  of teeter bar  11 . This unclamping action allows rope  105  to be pulled through device  101 , down across fairlead  11   e  moving device  101  closer to anchor  103 . 
         [0086]    In operation of the device  101 , co-action between handle  10 , cam  9  and bearing  12  provides a mechanical advantage in that this co-action makes it possible to more easily control the distance between pivot axis  2  and pivot axis  3 . This allows a controlled distance between wear sleeve  5  and friction brake  11   d  which makes it possible for rope management device  101  to go from a rope clamping position to a rope unclamping position even when under load. As handle  10  and cam  9  are turned counter clockwise on pivot axis  3 , bearing  12  follows cam  9  to move pivot axis  2  and pivot axis  3  further apart thereby reducing clamping pressure and friction on rope  105  between wear sleeve  5  of bollard  3  and friction brake  11   d  of teeter bar  11 . This unclamping action allows rope  105  to slip through device  101  at a controlled speed moving device  101  further from anchor  103 . 
         [0087]    Further, threaded fastener hole  9   d  of cam  9 , when receiving threaded governor control screw  9   f  through governor spring  9   e  together with base plate fastener holes  1   g ,  1   h ,  1   i ,  1   j  and governor stop bolt  10   f , provides a variable position stop. This provides means for limiting the descent speed of device  101  by limiting how far handle  10  and cam  9  are allowed to turn counter-clockwise before being stopped by governor stop bolt  10   f  and governor control screw  9   f.    
         [0088]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to an illustrated and described embodiment, other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that would fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.