Patent ID: 8312964

Claim:
An emergency descender system comprising: a housing having first and second mating halves attached together, inside which housing are mounted at least one friction inducing assembly defining a convoluted path and an array of load-bearing members that are non-rotating and friction inducing, and a coil of descent line, the coil of descent line having a first end located at the center of the coil, and attached to a spindle to permit free rotation of the coil, and therefore free entry of such descent line into the at least one friction inducing assembly, the coil having a second end which terminates in a loop or other mechanical attachment beyond the at least one friction inducing assembly and array of load-bearing members, and a load-bearing and load-transfer yoke, comprising a pair of load-bearing plates attached to the load-bearing members; and a pair of straps, one end of each strap attached to a respective load-bearing plate, each strap extending from an attachment point on the plate to one end of the housing, the straps joined together to form a terminal end that is adapted for attachment to an anchor point on a tree or other elevated structure, wherein the at least one friction inducing assembly is configured to permit passage of the descent line in the convoluted path such that when the descent line is pulled through the convoluted path, friction is generated, sufficient to slow down the descent of a person wearing a safety harness attached to the descender, to ensure a controlled descent at a safe speed.