Patent ID: 8316989

Claim:
A belaying device adapted to receive one or more ropes therein, the belaying device comprising: a main body including a first ramp, a second ramp, and a pin slot having first and second ends, the first end of the pin slot being adjacent the first and second ramps, and the second end of the pin slot being positioned away from the first and second ramps; and a sliding member received at least partially within the pin slot, the sliding member comprising first and second rods that extend at least partially out of opposing sides of the pin slot, the first and second rods being configured to have first and second ropes wrapped respectively thereabout so that the first rope is positioned between the first rod and the first ramp and the second rope is positioned between the second rod and the second ramp, wherein the sliding member is movable between the first and second ends of the pin slot to compress the first rope between the first rod and the first ramp and to compress the second rope between the second rod and the second ramp when the sliding member moves toward the first end of the pin slot, wherein the sliding member is pivotally received within the pin slot such that the distance between the first rod and the first ramp can be larger or smaller than the distance between the second rod and the second ramp in order to accommodate first and second ropes having different characteristics, further comprising at least one cam rotatably linked to the main body, the cam being configured to facilitate positioning of the sliding member in relation to the first and second ramps, wherein the sliding member is movable closer to the first and second ramps when the cam is in a first position than when the cam is in a second position.