Patent Document

BELAY DEVICE FOR CLIMBERS 
   The present application is a continuation-in-part and claims priority of pending provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/373,777, filed Apr. 18, 2002, entitled “Belay Device for Climbers”. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to the fields of mountain and rock climbing and, more particularly, it relates to a belay device for controlling the ascent or descent of a climber. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Rock climbing involves the challenge of navigating a rock face which is often essentially vertical. Rock climbing and rappelling have recently become more popular, as have other so-called “extreme” sports. Rock climbing offers individuals an opportunity to be outdoors and participate in an activity that is both rewarding and challenging, while at the same time being non-destructive to the natural environment. 
   At the start of the climb, the climber will determine the path to be taken as the climber ascends the rock face. The climber will generally need to use his or her entire body as that ascent takes place. Beyond the climber&#39;s body, a number of pieces of equipment are generally used by the rock climber. This equipment varies from climbing shoes equipped with tough rubber soles, to sewn harnesses, to special climbing rope. 
   The sport of climbing or mountaineering typically requires a team of two people. To ensure the safety of the climber, the climber ties into a rope (i.e. the rope is tied to a harness worn by the climber), and is belayed by a partner. While the climber ascends, the belayer takes up or lets out the rope such that the rope is maintained taut between the climber and belayer, preventing a fall of any great distance by the climber. One type of belaying system, known as “top-roping”, employs an anchor placed at the top of the cliff. Typically, the rope runs through this anchor pulley-fashion and the belayer stands at the foot of the cliff, although in some cases the belayer will belay from the top. In either case, the anchor is above the climber at all times, so that the climber will fall only a short distance if he “falls off” the climb. 
   Due to the dangers involved in climbing, a need exists for belay devices which are reliable and durable for supporting a climber in an emergency situation. The present invention fulfills these needs as described and claimed below. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present invention is a belay device for climbing with at least one rope. The belay device comprises a first plate having a first lobe with the rope wrapping at least partially about the first lobe and a second plate having a second lobe. A connection mechanism connects the first plate to the second plate through a rotation point with the rotation point positioned inside the second lobe. A first channel is defined by the first plate and the first lobe and the second plate and the second lobe with the rope moveable through the first channel wherein tension on the rope rotates the first plate and the second plate relative to each other thereby narrowing the first channel and impeding movement of the rope through the first channel. 
   In addition, the present invention is a system for controlling the ascent and descent of a climber. The system comprises at least one rope, at least one carabiner, and a first plate. A second plate is rotatably secured to the first plate about a rotation point and has an aperture for receiving the carabiner. Inhibiting means on the first plate and the second plate define a channel wherein upon tension of the rope, the aperture and the rotation point are offset and the aperture is aligned in the direction of the rope tension. 
   The present invention further includes a method for inhibiting a climber from falling during climbing. The method comprises providing at least one rope, providing at least one carabiner, providing a belay device having a first plate rotatably secured to a second plate, forming a first lobe on the first plate and a second lobe on the second plate, inserting a portion of the rope into the belay device about at least a portion of the first lobe with the rope slidable about the first lobe, attaching the carabiner to the belay device, applying a force to the rope in a direction generally away from the carabiner, rotating the first plate relative to the second plate, inhibiting movement of the rope through the belay device between the first lobe and the second lobe, and rotating the first plate relative to the second plate in an opposite direction to separate the first lobe and the second lobe thereby allowing the rope to slide through the belay device. 
   Other aspects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a belay device for climbers, constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view illustrating the belay device for climbers of  FIG. 1 , constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is an elevational side view illustrating the belay device for climbers of  FIG. 1 , constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the belay device in an unlocked position with the rope being free to move through the belay device; 
       FIG. 4  is an elevational side view illustrating the belay device for climbers of  FIG. 1 , constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the belay device in a locked position with the rope being impeded in its movement through the belay device; 
       FIG. 5  is an elevational side view illustrating a climber using the belay device for climbers of the present invention to control the ascent or descent of another climber; 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded view illustrating another embodiment of the belay device for climbers, constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded view illustrating still another embodiment of the belay device for climbers, constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 8   a  is a side view illustrating yet another embodiment of the belay device for climbers, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with a handle in the rope-impeded second position; 
       FIG. 8   b  is a side view illustrating the belay device for climbers of  FIG. 8   a , constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the handle being moved into the released first position; 
       FIG. 9  is an exploded view illustrating the belay device for climbers of  FIG. 8 , constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 10  is another exploded view illustrating the belay device for climbers of  FIG. 8 , constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view illustrating still yet another embodiment of the belay device for climbers, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the belay device usable with two ropes; and 
       FIG. 12  is an exploded view illustrating the belay device for climbers of  FIG. 11 , constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-10 , the present invention is a belay device, indicated generally at  10 , for use in climbing activities and the like. The belay device  10  of the present invention is moveable from a released first position to an impeded second position and can be used by climbers and others during any type of climbing activity including, but not limited to, mountaineering, rock climbing, safety descents during emergencies and rescues, etc. Other uses for the belay device  10  are also within the scope of the present invention. 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the belay device  10  of the present invention includes a swivel plate  12  having a swivel lobe  14  and a handle  16  extending from the swivel plate. The handle  16  can be formed as part of the swivel plate  12  or can be fixedly attached to the swivel plate  12 , depending on the desires of the manufacturer. 
   In addition, the belay device  10  of the present invention includes a base plate  18  pivotally connected to the swivel plate  12 . Preferably, the base plate  18  also includes a base lobe  20  and a carabiner receiving hole  22  for receiving a carabiner (not shown). Preferably, both the swivel lobe  14  and the base lobe  20  are integrally formed with the swivel plate  12  and the base plate  18 , respectively. 
   The belay device  10  of the present invention further includes a connecting pin  24  extending through the swivel plate  12  and the base plate  18  thereby allowing the swivel plate  12  to rotate relative to the base plate  18  and the base plate  18  to rotate relative to the swivel plate  12 . The connecting pin  24  extends through aligned pin-receiving apertures  26  in the swivel plate  12  and the base lobe  20  of the base plate  18 . The connecting pin  24  can be secured through the swivel plate  12  and the base plate  18  with a nut or other fastening means. 
   As mentioned above, at least one of the plates  12 ,  18  is rotatable about the connecting pin  24 . In an embodiment of the belay device  10  of the present invention, the connecting pin  24  can be integrally formed with the swivel plate  12  and extend therefrom into the hole in the base lobe  20  of the base plate  18 . 
   When the belay device  10  is assembled, the plates  12 ,  18  and the lobes  14 ,  20  define a channel  28  through which a rope  29  is fed. Because the swivel plate  12  and the base plate  18  can rotate with respect to each other about the connecting pin  24 , the swivel lobe  14  and the base lobe  20  can be brought closer together to impede the movement of the rope  29  through the belay device  10 , or separated to allow the rope  29  to move through the belay device  10  more freely. 
     FIG. 3  illustrates the belay device  10  of the present invention while in use where the rope  29  is free to move through the belay device  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the swivel lobe  12  and the base lobe  20  are sufficiently separated, widening the channel  28 , allowing the rope  29  to move freely through the belay device  10 . Putting pressure on the handle  16 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , increases the separation between the swivel lobe  14  and the base lobe  20 . 
     FIG. 4  illustrates the belay device  10  of the present invention while in use where the rope  29  is impeded in its movement through the belay device  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the swivel lobe  14  and the base lobe  20  are urged toward each other, narrowing the channel  28  through which the rope  29  moves thereby slowing or stopping movement of the rope  29  through the belay device  10 . 
   It should be noted that the carabiner receiving hole  22  and the pivot point through the base lobe  20  are offset. In fact, when the rope is under tension, the carabiner receiving hole  22  is aligned in the direction of the rope tension thereby allowing movement of the swivel plate  12  and the base plate  18  relative to each other and causing narrowing of the channel  28 . 
   When there is a pull on the rope  29  (e.g., the upper portion of the rope  29  shown in  FIG. 4  is placed under tension), such as would occur if the climber attached to the rope  29  fell, the swivel plate  12  will naturally be pulled upward by the rope  29  (as indicated by the arrow in FIG.  4 ). This upward movement of the swivel plate  12  narrows the channel  28  and either slows or stops movement of the rope  29  through the belay device  10 . 
   It should be noted that the swivel lobe  12  and the base lobe  20  can be of a wide variety of shapes to better grip the rope  29  when urged toward each other and are not limited by the shapes described and illustrated herein. In fact, the swivel lobe  12  and the base lobe  20  can be identically shaped or shaped differently from each other. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a plurality of teeth  30  can be added to the base lobe  20  of the base plate  18  and/or the swivel lobe  14  of the swivel plate  12 . The teeth  30  are preferably disposed along the surface of the lobe  14  or  20  that helps define the channel  28  through which the rope  29  moves through the belay device  10 . Consequently, the teeth  30  enhance the grip the belay device  10  exerts on the rope  29 , particularly if the channel  28  is narrowed and the rope  29  slowed or stopped due to the climber&#39;s fall or other emergency. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the base plate  18  can have a slot  32  around its peripheral edge. A tab  34  on the swivel plate  12  rides along this slot  32  when the swivel plate  12  and the base plate  18  move relative to each other providing additional stability to the belay device  10 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 8-10 , in another embodiment of the belay device  10  of the present invention, the handle  16  is rotatably secured to the base plate  18  rather than the swivel plate  12 . The handle  16  is rotatable and includes a spring mechanism  36  for biasing the handle  16  into the impeded second position. When the handle  16  is in the impeded second position, the swivel plate  12  and the base plate  18  are positioned such that the channel  28  is narrowed about the rope  29  to impede the travel of the rope  29  through the channel  28 . When the handle  16  is moved toward a second position, the swivel plate  12  and the base plate  18  are moved such that the channel  28  is widened allowing the rope  29  to freely travel through the channel  28 . If the climber attached to the rope  29  fell, the handle  16  will return to the impeded second position with the swivel plate  12  being pulled upward by the rope  29  narrowing the channel  28  and either slowing or stopping movement of the rope  29  through the belay device  10 . 
   The swivel plate  12  of the belay device  10  of the present invention includes a handle pin  38 . A downward force on the handle  16  engages the handle pin  38  in a slot  17  on the handle  16  resulting in the base plate  18  moving in opposite rotation of the swivel plate  12  causing the base lobe  20  and the swivel lobe  14  to further separate and widen the channel  28 . The handle pin  38  can be formed on the swivel plate during manufacture of the belay device or be a separate piece added after manufacture is completed. 
   In addition, the base plate  18  includes a shelf  50  for following a guide  52  on the swivel plate  12 . The guide  52  maintains the base plate  18  relative to the swivel plate  12  during rotation of the swivel plate  12  relative to the base plate  18 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the belay device  10  of the present invention includes a second swivel plate  40  rotatably mounted to the opposite side of the base plate  18 . The second swivel plate  40  includes a second swivel lobe  42  and the base plate  18  includes a secondary base lobe  44  thereby forming a second channel for receiving a second rope  48 . Operation of the belay device  10  of this embodiment of the present invention is similar to the operation described above. 
   In all embodiments, preferably, the swivel plate  12 , the swivel lobe  14 , the base plate  18 , and the base lobe  20  are formed from metal although forming the swivel plate  12 , the swivel lobe  14 , the base plate  18 , and the base lobe  20  from other materials including, but not limited to, plastic, fiberglass, ceramics, resin, etc., are within the scope of the present invention. 
   In sum, the present invention is a belay device  10  for climbing. The belay device includes a first plate  12  having a first lobe  14 ; a second plate  18  having a second lobe  20 ; a connecting pin  24  connecting the first plate  12  and the second plate  18  together and allowing the first plate  12  and the second plate  18  to rotate relative to each other; and a channel defined by the first plate  12 , the second plate  18 , the first lobe  14 , and the second lobe  20  through which a rope  29  moves through the belay device  10 . Tension on the rope  29  rotates the first plate  12  to narrow the channel  28  by moving the first lobe  14  and the second lobe  20  toward each other thereby impeding or inhibiting movement of the rope  29  through the belay device  10 . 
   The foregoing exemplary descriptions and the illustrative preferred embodiments of the present invention have been explained in the drawings and described in detail, with varying modifications and alternative embodiments being taught. While the invention has been so shown, described and illustrated, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, and that the scope of the present invention is to be limited only to the claims except as precluded by the prior art. Moreover, the invention as disclosed herein, may be suitably practiced in the absence of the specific elements which are disclosed herein.

Technology Category: a