A ROPE TIDY
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rope tidy, more particularly but not exclusively br use by rock climbers.
Background
Increasing numbers of users are seeking ever greater thrills, interest and variety from exercise. As a consequence many users are taking up extreme sports as a means or regime of exercise. For example many users have taken up rock or ice climbing.
A particular problem with climbing relates to ropes, whereby a first more experienced user or lead climber will climb free with a second user behind. The leader will climb from the ground up with rope directly attached to his harness wherein the second user belays the leader by feeding out enough rope to allow upward progression without undue slack. As the leader progresses he clips the rope through intermediate points of protection or pitches, such as active cams, or passive protection such as nuts; this limits the length of a potential fall. The leader also may clip into pre-drilled bolts. Thus longer climbs are broken up into several pitches. At the top of a pitch, the leader sets up an anchor and then belays the second up to the anchor, and the second user removes equipment placed along the way in order to use it again on the next pitch.
The rope behind second user as they climb will be left unused and typically will dangle. Whilst belaying, rock climbers must pile rope at their feet or whilst climbing multi-pitch routs on the edge of a ledge or over it. This is a problem because the * * rope can get in the way or even get caught.
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. Prior Art * . S
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Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following: * 35 *. , I. * .1 Granted United Kingdom patent 36 2 434 040 (CZAJOR) discloses a cable hanger having a mounting end for attachment to a support structure and a cable support portion coupled to the mounting end, the cable support portion having at least three spaced parallel legs defining side-by-side receiving slots therebetween, each receiving slot having a closed bottom end and an open top end and adapted to receive and locate loops of a cable formed into a coil.
Granted United States patent US 6 345 418 (BERTRAND et al) discloses a rope hook, comprising: substantially U-shaped rope holding member having a first upright arm and a second upright arm defining an opening therebetween, means associated with said first arm for connecting said member to an object; closure means for closing said opening into said U-shaped rope holding member to secure a coiled rope in said u-shaped rope holding member; and a length of tubular webbing material having a longitudinal internal passageway therethrough, wherein said means for connecting said member to an object comprises a section of said tubular webbing material folded over itself to define a first closed loop, and said U-shaped rope holding member is contained within said internal passageway.
Granted United States patent US 5 429 321 (SKYBA) discloses a device for receiving! storing and redispensing a flexible elongated article having a circular cross-section with a generally uniform diameter comprising a body portion containing a slot for sequentially receiving single loops of the elongated article, means for attaching the device to a supporting surface, the slot having a constricted portion with the width of said slot at said portion sufficiently less than the diameter of the elongated article to restrain movement thereof along the lineal axis of the elongated article while permitting insertiofl and removal pf the article in said slot in a direction :. perpendicular to said axis, said constricted portion having a thickness substantially less than the overall thickness of said bddy portion that defines said slot.
In contrast the present invention provides a personally portable means to allow a user to safely, quickly and easily store rope whilst belaying.
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* Summary of the Invention * *
According to the present invention there is provided a rope tidy comprising an elongate body providing user attachment means and an arm with a first and second end, wherein said arm is attached to said body by a hinge such that the arm is moveable about said hinge so that the first end moves from a first position close to the body to a second position remote from the body.
In this way the first end of the arm can project from the body when the arm is in the second position, and a user is able to hang items from the arm when the arm is in the second position. For example, a coil of rope can be hung from the arm. The items are preferably hung from the first end of the arm. Typically the body and arm are elongate and dispose in use to substantially form an L-or V-shape.
The hinge is typically robust and may be supported bya secondary brace or internal mechanism which ensures that increased weight may be maintained on the hook without risk of failure or displacement.
Said brace or mechanism may act to minimise movement of the arm, and may include replaceable sacrificial parts, to allow safety breakage. In preferred embodiments the arm is moveable incrementally, with a plurality of fixed rotation points.
Typically said user attachment means comprises an attachment means capable of anchoring the body on a user, a body, and the arm and body together comprise an extendable hook for rope wherein the hook has a displaceable section, namely the arm.
In this way a user climbing a rock face is able to store or hang their rope as they ascend, and the rope becomes superfluous.
Ideally therefore the rope may be entered onto the arm or into the hook with minimal effort, movement or displacement wherein the rope is ideally looped through or over the hook repeatedly.
The arm is ideally hinged from the body, wherein the arm may be extended to the second position so as to easier allow the rope to be hung from the hook when in use. * * .
Advantageously the hook furthermorepossesses a shape that prevents movement of the rope when held. For example the shape of the arm in particular may include raised and lowered parts corresponding to rope loops, and the arm ideally curves away from the body when the arm is in the second position.
In some further embodiments there may be shaping or material for arresting movement of the rope loops. Said shaping or material may include resiliently deformable sections, shaping or coating such as rubber or silicone, that may be used to grip the rope or otherwise minimise movement, or other shaping inclined to cause bunching of the rope and consequent bunching and added friction therein.
Advantageously the attachment means is secure and stable in regards a user, for example wherein it is attached to the user at a position reliant upon an existent or independent safety apparatus, for example in cooperation in use with a user's belt, harness or other strapping, being openable from said apparatus.
The means is furthermore capable of allowing variation of orientation of the tidy or more particularly the hook, in particular in order that the hook may maintain a stable vertical and horizontal orientation, thereby minirnising movement of the rope held within and on the hook under gravity.
In particular the hook is ideally able to dangle freely under gravity so that the user is always able to ascertain where and how to place the rope into the hook, regardless of the user's orientation.
In some embodiments the tidy, means and/or hook are articulated, so that they are capable of movement in more than one axis simultaneously.
The hook may therefore have a swivel andtor hinge joint in common with the *" attachment means and further embodiments in addition or the alternative allow the attachment means to attach directly to the user or the users clothing and this attachment or clothing may in itself produce articulation or movement potential, wherein articulation is allowed by movement of the clothing. *S0 * .
The attachment means can be used to either anchor the tidy to the rack face or onto S S I. . . the users harness. In order to aid in attachment to a surface and minimise chances of the body spinning or turning relative to said attachment or surface, and maximise chances of the arm projecting effectively from a service, the body advantageously comprises appropriate shaping in preferred embodiments, for example wherein members project orthogonally to the body.
In preferred embodiments the displaceable hook section, or arm, can be advantageously displaced in a single movement, and may be spring biased so as to aid displacement, or replacement according to direction of bias, for example wherein in some embodiments the spring bias may act to open the arm to the second position or close the arm to the first position. In some embodiments magnets are used to limit movement from said first position.
In some embodiments the arm may be displaced incrementally, for example being mounted on a ratchet so as to suit user preference of shaping of the hook.
In some embodiments in order to effect or allow replacement of the arm there is provided a slider or button, wherein said slider must be displaced to effect replacement of the arm to the first position or to allow the arm to move to the second position. Said arm is also ideally spring biased so that it returns after replacement to lock the section wherein the arm will displace the slider during replacement, wherein the slider is displaced as the arm is placed in the first position.
In some embodiments arm may be displaced by introduction of a new loop of rope, that is to say automatically, and for example replaced manually after said introduction, so as to prevent the rope leaving the hook without user movement of the slider.
In yet further mobile embodiments the hook may open as the arm displaces as rope is pushed against it, and spring biasing causes the arm to close the hook automatically when released. In such manner or in further embodiments the hook may be expandable or comprise extendable material or form.
r*:* 30 Advantageously in such embodiments or fixed arrangements of the hook the arm in replacement or shaping will pull the rope into the hook and consequently maintain it ** : in the tidy.
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Accordingly the arm is hinged at the second end on the body, and the arm is of an arcuate shaping that encourages bunching of the looped rope without interfering with the hinge as the hinge operates and the distal first end folds into the body.
In preferred embodiments the hook defines a large or expandable closed lacuna, wherein said lacuna is able to hold a quantity of looped rope securely. In some embodiments the lacuna may be expandable to allow for increasing quantity of rope duringa climb.
Ideally the attachment means includes a displaceable portion or gate, and also includes a closure, incorporating preferably spring-biased displacement and/or locking of said gate. Said closure, displacement and locking is ideally temporary and caused by tolerance fit of parts, more particularly gate and body, of the means, however in further more preferred embodiments the locking is separate to the displaceable portion or gate and acts to prevent its displacement, for example comprising a sliding collar, thereby causing locking of the means, either to cause detachment or prevent attachment, In preferred embodiments therefore the closure includes a displaceable lock or catch that acts to prevent the tidy becoming accidentally detached from the person or user.
Said closure ideally therefore acts to prevent displacement of the gate and consequently prevent opening of the attachment means. In some embodiments the closure may be secured into place after the closure has been displaced to prevent displacement of the gate.
Such securement may be achieved by screw threading or other complex, counter-intuitive motion, wherein the attachment means is required to be stable, safe and ** ** secure and only removed at end of climbing activities.
In further embodiments the attachment means is rigid and continuous and a karabiner or similar is provided independently. Said attachment means ideally is enabled to freely rotate on a spindle.
fl...I -In some embodiments the attachment means may be held in place by magnetic portions or otherwise comprise elements adding resistance to free rotation with regards to the body, leading to greater tidiness and additionally or alternatively allowing the user to set the orientation of the hook with respect to their climbing attitude.
The tidy is ideally very lightweight and unobtrusive to not get in the user's way, and able to clip into a carabineer from any angle; to be free moving until weight in the form of rope is applied to the hook when the arm will lock into the second position and become secure.
The tidy may have a maximum load limit, where after the arm will then break away if added force or weight is exerted or applied on it. For example, wherein a person falling onto the tidy would displace the arm and be safe from injury and harm to the user.
The arm of the tidy where applicable is made from a strengthened polyurethane or rubber for added safety to prevent injury.
After the arm breaks away from the body, the body in some embodiments is arranged to come apart to facilitate replacement of parts of the arm, body or hook.
Brief Description of Figures
Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the tidy in closed position; Figures 2 show two end views of the embodiment; Figure 3 shows isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the tidy in open position; Figures 4 show side views of the embodiment in closed and open position; And Figures 5 show a second embodiment of the tidy.
Detailed Description of Figures
The pictured and preferred embodiment allows rock climbers to safely store excess rope whilst belaying or climbing and can be clipped onto a harness or anchored into the rock face itself.
With reference to the figures the body 1 includes a displaceable arm 2 so as to form a hook. The second end of the arm 2 is hinged at a hinge 7 on the body, and the first end is held to the body 1 in a first position by the slider 4.
The body includes substantially orthogonal brace members 9, for when the tidy is attached to a surface and twisting is undesirable.
The slider has a corrugated surface to aid a user in sliding and may be arcuately shaped proximate the attachment means to aid in engagement and movement in one direction1 reaching an apex and arcuately shaped to enable the first end of the arm 2 to displace the slider automatically when approaching the first position. A nub 14 is provided to aid in displacement of the slider 4 or otherwise space the first end 15 of the arm from the body 1 when in a first position.
The arm is arcuate in profile describing a lacuna 8 when the arm is in the first position.
the attachment means is a karabiner 3, with a displaceable gate 5. Said karabiner is mounted on an articulation, or ring capable of swivelling, flapping or rotating. * 25
In further embodiments articulation may be reduced or avoided to prevent over-or * dual-balance on the articulation tending to unbalance the hook in use. * .
** *, The means rotates 360 degrees until weight is applied, whereafter it is envisaged will * 30 be held in a fixed position.
*:::: The hook in the pictured embodiment has an arm 2 held in place and released by a * robust sprung catch 4. This benefits the user by only having to use one finger to * release the arm for use of the hook.
A user would slide the slider 4 across to release the arm 2 from the body 1 and allow the arm to drop down into its fixed, open hook position.
As a safety feature, in some embodiments the hook may be arranged so that the arm 2 breaks away from a fixed open or second position if extensive force is exerted, such as a user falling. The arm 2 will then hang down loose from the body.
In some embodiments the arm is secured to the body so that if under the full force of a person falling onto it, will snap off leaving the person uninjured.
The hook is made from stainless steel and/or titanium for strength, and in the pictured embodiment features two rubber grips on the arm which provide friction when rope is being held.
Ideally the arm is of sufficient length to be able to hold approximately 60m of looped rope.
In some embodiments a synthetic plastics and/or hollow body allows for an ultra-* lightweight product, wherein ideally the arm and an internal skeleton comprise metal or alloy.
With reference to the second embodiment the body is envisaged to be approximately 5mm in width, and the arm 2 is separated into two parts which affix to the body 1 outside. The arm is then mounted on a cog 10 with incremental divisions, wherein the slider 4 is moved to release a sprung blade 11 into the cog 10. In use therefore the slider 4 is pulled to release arm rotation.
In some embodiments the cog 10 and blade 11 may comprise a ratchet mechanism, *4 wherein return arm rotation does not require manual slider movement.
The cog 10 and arm 2 include through-holes 12 wherein a pin (not shown) may be inserted through the holes 12 and under extraordinary levels of force on the arm 2 or otherwise urging the first end 14 or the arm 2 beyond the second position the pin is U"..
liable to break, to release the arm 2 or more particularly first end 15.
The attachment means 13 comprises a rigid hoop, capable of rotation.
The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. * S
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