Patent ID: 7735308

Claim:
A blended yarn for forming a rope adapted to engage structural member, the blended yarn comprising: a plurality of first fibers; and a plurality of second fibers, where abrasion resistance properties of the second fibers are greater than abrasion resistance properties of the first fibers, and a coefficient of friction of the second fibers is less than a coefficient of friction of the first fibers; wherein the plurality of second fibers are combined with the plurality of first fibers such that the first fibers extend along the length of the blended yarn and the second fibers do not extend along the length of the blended yarn such that the first fibers primarily determine load bearing properties of the first yarn, and the second fibers define a substantial portion of a surface of the blended yarn such that the second fibers substantially determine abrasion resistance properties and a coefficient of friction of the first yarn; and a plurality of blended yarns are combined to form the rope such that when the rope contacts the structural member, the second fibers of the blended yarn are primarily in contact with the structural member, and the first set of fibers substantially bear tension loads on the rope.