U.S. patent application number 12/012191 was filed with the patent office on 2009-07-30 for rope climbing device.
Invention is credited to Feng Chia Liang.
Application Number | 20090188753 12/012191 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40898093 |
Filed Date | 2009-07-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090188753 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Liang; Feng Chia |
July 30, 2009 |
Rope climbing device
Abstract
A rope climbing device includes a housing having a compartment
for slidably receiving a rope, a lever pivotally coupled to the
housing with a spindle and having one or more teeth for engaging
with the rope and for selectively securing the housing to the rope,
and a foot-hold attached to the lever for engaging with the foot of
the user and for forcing the teeth of the lever to selectively
engage with the rope, and a pressing device may selectively engage
with the rope when the tooth of the lever is disengaged from the
rope for preventing the housing of the rope climbing device from
sliding downwardly relative to or along the rope inadvertently.
Inventors: |
Liang; Feng Chia; (Taichung,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHARLES E. BAXLEY, ESQUIRE
90 JOHN STREET, SUITE 309
NEW YORK
NY
10038
US
|
Family ID: |
40898093 |
Appl. No.: |
12/012191 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
182/133 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 27/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
182/133 |
International
Class: |
A63B 27/00 20060101
A63B027/00 |
Claims
1. A rope climbing device comprising: a housing including a
compartment formed therein for slidably receiving a rope, a lever
pivotally coupled to said housing with a spindle and including at
least one tooth for selectively engaging with the rope and for
selectively securing said housing to the rope, and including a
foot-hold for engaging with a foot of a user and for forcing said
at least one tooth of said lever to selectively engage with the
rope, and a pressing device for selectively engaging with the rope
when said at least one tooth of said lever is disengaged from the
rope.
2. The rope climbing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
pressing device includes an arm pivotally coupled to said housing,
and includes a pressing member coupled to said arm for engaging
with the rope.
3. The rope climbing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
pressing member is a gear.
4. The rope climbing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
pressing member is a ratchet gear.
5. The rope climbing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein a pawl
is pivotally coupled to said arm with a pivot pole and biased to
engage with said ratchet gear for limiting said ratchet gear to
rotate unidirectionally relative to said arm.
6. The rope climbing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a spring
member is attached to said arm for biasing and forcing said
pressing member to engage with the rope.
7. The rope climbing device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said
spring member is engaged with said lever.
8. The rope climbing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
pressing member is pivotally coupled to said arm with a rod, and
said housing includes a panel having a curved slot formed therein
for slidably receiving said rod and for limiting said arm and said
pressing member to rotate relative to said panel of said
housing.
9. The rope climbing device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said
panel is pivotally coupled to said housing with a pivot axle for
supporting said spindle.
10. The rope climbing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
lever includes a curved groove formed therein, and a shaft is
attached to said housing and slidably engaged in said curved groove
of said lever for limiting said shaft to slide along said curved
groove of said lever and for limiting said lever to rotate relative
to said housing.
11. The rope climbing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a frame
is attached to said housing for supporting said spindle.
12. The rope climbing device as claimed in claim 11, wherein a
fastener is engaged with said housing and said frame for securing
said frame to said housing.
13. The rope climbing device as claimed in claim 12, wherein a
latch is pivotally coupled to said frame with a pivot pin, and a
spring member is attached to said frame and engaged with said latch
for biasing said latch to engage with said fastener in order to
lock said fastener to said frame and for preventing said fastener
from being disengaged from said frame.
14. The rope climbing device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said
frame includes a hub having an inner thread formed in said hub, and
said fastener includes a shank having an outer thread formed
thereon for engaging with said inner thread of said hub and for
detachably securing said frame to said housing.
15. The rope climbing device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said
hub includes a slit formed therein, and said latch is engageable
into said slit of said hub for selectively engaging with said
fastener.
16. The rope climbing device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said
fastener includes a notch formed therein for selectively engaging
with said latch.
17. The rope climbing device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said
frame includes a flap bent from said frame for supporting said
spindle.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a rope climbing device, and
more particularly to a rope climbing device including a resilient
or spring-biased engaging device for selectively engaging with the
rope and for facilitating the movement of the rope climbing device
along the rope and for preventing the rope climbing device from
sliding or moving downwardly relative to or along the rope
inadvertently
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Typical rope climbing devices are provided for use in
climbing up or down a taut rope and comprise closely similar handle
and pedal units each including two pivotally connected members
between which the rope passes and by which the rope may be
alternatively clamped and released through suitable manipulation of
the user.
[0005] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,938,620 to Nothiger discloses
one of the typical rope climbers also comprising a handle unit and
a pedal unit each including two pivotally connected members for
engaging with the taut rope and for alternatively clamping and
releasing the taut rope, and thus for allowing the handle and pedal
units to climb up or down the taut rope.
[0006] However, the two hands and/or the two feet of the user
should be moved up or down along the taut rope simultaneously and
may not be moved separately. In addition, once the two pivotally
connected members of either the handle unit or the pedal unit are
separated from each other or disengaged from the taut rope, no
other retaining devices may attach or couple the handle and pedal
units to the taut rope such that the handle and pedal units may
slip downwardly along the taut rope inadvertently.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,791 to Hong discloses another typical
rope climber comprising two grooved wheels having the outer
circumferences in close contact and capable of rotating in opposite
directions for sliding up and down a cable or rope.
[0008] However, similarly, the two hands and/or the two feet of the
user also should be moved up or down along the taut rope
simultaneously and may not be moved separately. In addition, once
the two grooved wheels are separated from each other or disengaged
from the cable or rope, no other retaining devices may attach or
couple the rope climber to the cable or rope such that the rope
climber also may slip downwardly along the cable or rope
inadvertently.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,669 to Lew et al. discloses a further
typical rope climbing and sliding device comprising a handle
assembly having a pair of handles, and a stirrup assembly having
two foot-holds for sliding up and down a cable or rope, and a
harness depending from the handle assembly for supporting the
users.
[0010] However, similarly, the two hands and/or the two feet of the
user also should be moved up or down along the cable or rope
simultaneously and may not be moved separately. In addition, once
the handles or the foot-holds are separated from each other or
disengaged from the cable or rope, no other retaining devices may
attach or couple the rope climbing and sliding device to the cable
or rope such that the rope climbing and sliding device also may
slip downwardly along the cable or rope inadvertently.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,625 to AstvasaDoorian discloses a still
further typical rope climbing device that attaches to a person's
feet for assisting with ascending or descending along a rope,
comprising a frame including a housing and a base member coupled
together, and a slide member partially enclosed in the housing and
slidable along the frame and having hooks for engaging with a rope
with two pivoting cams, and the downward force on the base member
resulting from the user's weight moves the slide member upward
relative to the frame.
[0012] However, when the hooks and/or the pivoting cams are
separated from each other or disengaged from the cable or rope, no
other retaining devices may attach or couple the rope climbing
device to the rope such that the rope climbing device also may slip
downwardly along the rope inadvertently.
[0013] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate
the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional rope climbing
devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a rope climbing device including a resilient or spring-biased
engaging device for selectively engaging with the rope and for
facilitating the movement of the rope climbing device along the
rope and for preventing the rope climbing device from sliding
downwardly relative to or along the rope inadvertently.
[0015] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is
provided a rope climbing device comprising a housing including a
compartment formed therein for slidably receiving a rope, a lever
pivotally coupled to the housing with a spindle and including at
least one tooth for selectively engaging with the rope and for
selectively securing the housing to the rope, and including a
foot-hold for engaging with a foot of a user and for forcing the
tooth of the lever to selectively engage with the rope, and a
pressing device for selectively engaging with the rope when the
tooth of the lever is disengaged from the rope.
[0016] The pressing device includes an arm pivotally coupled to the
housing, and includes a pressing member coupled to the arm for
engaging with the rope. The pressing member may either be a gear or
a ratchet gear.
[0017] A pawl may further be provided and pivotally coupled to the
arm with a pivot pole and biased to engage with the ratchet gear
for limiting the ratchet gear to rotate unidirectionally relative
to the arm.
[0018] A spring member may further be provided and attached to the
arm for biasing and forcing the pressing member to engage with the
rope. The spring member may be engaged with the lever.
[0019] The pressing member is pivotally coupled to the arm with a
rod, and the housing includes a panel having a curved slot formed
therein for slidably receiving the rod and for limiting the arm and
the pressing member to rotate relative to the panel of the housing.
The panel is pivotally coupled to the housing with a pivot axle for
supporting the spindle.
[0020] The lever includes a curved groove formed therein, and a
shaft is attached to the housing and slidably engaged in the curved
groove of the lever for limiting the shaft to slide along the
curved groove of the lever and thus for limiting the lever to
rotate relative to the housing.
[0021] A frame may further be provided and attached to the housing
for supporting the spindle. A fastener may further be provided and
engaged with the housing and the frame for securing the frame to
the housing.
[0022] A latch may further be provided and pivotally coupled to the
frame with a pivot pin, and a spring member is attached to the
frame and engaged with the latch for biasing the latch to engage
with the fastener in order to lock the fastener to the frame and
for preventing the fastener from being disengaged from the
frame.
[0023] The frame includes a hub having an inner thread formed in
the hub, and the fastener includes a shank having an outer thread
formed thereon for engaging with the inner thread of the hub and
for detachably securing the frame to the housing.
[0024] The hub includes a slit formed therein, and the latch is
engageable into the slit of the hub for selectively engaging with
the fastener. The fastener includes a notch formed therein for
selectively engaging with the latch. The frame includes a flap bent
from the frame for supporting the spindle.
[0025] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed
description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is a partial exploded and cross sectional view of a
rope climbing assembly in accordance with the present
invention;
[0027] FIG. 2 is a partial cross sectional view illustrating one of
the rope climbing devices of the rope climbing assembly;
[0028] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rope climbing
device;
[0029] FIG. 4 is a partial exploded view of the rope climbing
device;
[0030] FIGS. 5, 6 are further partial exploded views of the rope
climbing device;
[0031] FIG. 7 is a partial cross sectional view taken along lines
7-7 of FIG. 3; and
[0032] FIGS. 8, 9, 10 are partial cross sectional views similar to
FIG. 2 illustrating the operation of the rope climbing device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0033] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a
rope climbing assembly 1 in accordance with the present invention
comprises one or more (such as two) rope climbing devices 10 for
attaching to cables or ropes 80, 88 respectively and for engaging
with the person's feet respectively and for assisting with
ascending or descending along the ropes 80, 88. As shown in FIGS.
2-6, each of the rope climbing devices 10 include a housing 11
having a chamber or recess or compartment 12 formed therein for
slidably receiving the ropes 80, 88, and having a channel 14 formed
in one side portion 13 thereof, and the housing 11 include a panel
20 pivotally coupled to the other side portion 16 of the housing 11
with a pivot axle 15. Alternatively, the panel 20 may also be
solidly secured to the housing 11 and formed integral as one piece
or one part or one portion of the housing 11.
[0034] The panel 20 includes two holes 21, 22 formed therein for
receiving a spindle 23 and a shaft 24 respectively, and includes a
curved slot 25 formed therein for slidably receiving a rod 26. The
housing 11 further includes a frame 30 for attaching to the side
portion 13 of the housing 11 and having a hub 31 extended outwardly
therefrom, and having a bore 32 formed in the hub 31 for aligning
with the channel 14 of the housing 11, and having an inner thread
33 formed in the bore 32 of the hub 31, and having a slit 34 formed
in one side portion of the hub 31 and communicating with the bore
32 of the hub 31, and having a flap 35 bent or folded or extended
from the frame 30 and substantially parallel to the panel 20, and
having two holes 36, 37 formed in the flap 35 for receiving the
spindle 23 and the shaft 24 respectively, and having a curved slot
38 formed in the flap 35 for slidably receiving the rod 26.
[0035] A fastener 40 includes a shank 41 slidably engaged through
the channel 14 of the housing 11, and includes an outer thread 43
formed on one end 42 of the shank 41 for threading or engaging with
the inner thread 33 of the hub 31 and/or of the frame 30 and for
detachably securing the frame 30 to the side portion 13 of the
housing 11, and includes a notch 44 formed in the one end 42 of the
shank 41. A latch 45 has one end 46 pivotally coupled to the frame
30 with a pivot pin 39, and a spring member 47 is attached to the
frame 30 and engaged with the latch 45 for biasing or forcing the
latch 45 to engage into the slit 34 of the hub 31 and/or of the
frame 30 and for selectively engaging into the notch 44 of the one
end 42 of the shank 41 (FIG. 7), in order to lock the shank 41 of
the fastener 40 to the hub 31 of the frame 30 and for preventing
the fastener 40 from being disengaged from the frame 30. Similarly,
the frame 30 may also be solidly secured to the housing 11 and
formed integral as one piece or one part or one portion of the
housing 11.
[0036] A lever 50 includes a hole 51 formed therein for receiving
the spindle 23 and for allowing the lever 50 to be pivoted or
rotated relative to the panel 20 and the frame 30 of the housing
11, and includes a curved groove 52 formed therein for slidably
receiving the shaft 24 which is limited to slide along the curved
groove 52 of the lever 50 for limiting the lever 50 to rotate
relative to the panel 20 and the frame 30 of the housing 11, and
includes one or more teeth 53 extended therefrom for selectively
engaging with the ropes 80, 88 (FIGS. 1, 2, and 8), and for
selectively anchoring or locking or securing the housing 11 to the
ropes 80, 88. Another spring member 54 is attached to the spindle
23 and engaged with the lever 50 and the shaft 24 or the frame 30
or the housing 11 for biasing or forcing the teeth 53 of the lever
50 away from the ropes 80, 88 (FIGS. 9, 10).
[0037] A foot-hold 55 is pivotally attached or coupled to the lever
50 for engaging with or for supporting the feet of the users, and
thus for allowing the foot-hold 55 to be stepped and forced
downwardly by the feet of the users, and thus for allowing the
teeth 53 of the lever 50 to be selectively forced to engage with
the ropes 80, 88 with the feet of the users in order to solidly
anchor or lock or secure the housing 11 to the ropes 80, 88, and
thus for allowing the users to climb up the ropes 80, 88 with the
rope climbing devices 10 alternatively. The rope climbing device 10
further includes a bearing or compressing or pressing means or
device 6 pivotally coupled or attached to the lever 50 and/or the
housing 11 with the spindle 23 for selectively engaging with the
ropes 80, 88 (FIGS. 1, 2, 10) particularly when the teeth 53 of the
lever 50 are disengaged from the ropes 80, 88 and for frictionally
retaining the housing 11 and the lever 50 and the foot-hold 55 to
the ropes 80, 88.
[0038] For example, the pressing means or device 6 includes one or
more (such as two) arms 60 pivotally coupled or attached to the
lever 50 and/or the housing 11 with the spindle 23 for allowing the
arms 60 to be pivoted or rotated relative to the lever 50 and/or
the housing 11, and includes a pressing member 61, such as a gear
or a ratchet gear 61 rotatably coupled to the arms 60 with the rod
26 for selectively engaging with or pressing onto the ropes 80, 88,
and the rod 26 is slidably engaging with the curved slot 25 of the
panel 20 and the curved slot 38 of the flap 35 of the frame 30 of
the housing 11 for limiting the arms 60 and the pressing member 61
to rotate or to move relative to the panel 20 and the frame 30 of
the housing 11 and/or for guiding the pressing member 61 to
selectively engage with the ropes 80, 88 or to be selectively
disengaged from the ropes 80, 88.
[0039] A pawl 62 is pivotally coupled to the arms 60 with a pivot
pole 63 and arranged to be selectively engaged with the ratchet
gear 61 or the pressing member 61 for limiting the pressing member
61 to rotate relative to the arms 60 and for allowing the pressing
member 61 to rotate relative to the arms 60 unidirectionally, and
includes a spring member 64 attached to the pivot pole 63 and
engaged with the arms 60 and the pawl 62 for biasing or forcing the
pawl 62 to engage with the pressing member 61 in order to control
or to limit the pressing member 61 to rotate relative to the arms
60, and includes a hand grip 65 for being depressed or actuated by
the user to selectively disengage the pawl 62 from the pressing
member 61, in order to control the engagement of the pawl 62 with
the pressing member 61. A further spring member 66 may further be
provided and attached to the arms 60 and engaged with the lever 50
for biasing or forcing the arms 60 and the lever 50 away from each
other and/or for biasing or forcing the pressing member 61 to
engage with the ropes 80, 88.
[0040] In operation, as shown in FIG. 8, when the foot-hold 55 of
one or a first of the rope climbing devices 10 is stepped and
forced downwardly by the foot of the user, the lever 50 may also be
forced to pivot relative to the housing 11 and to force the teeth
53 of the lever 50 to engage with the ropes 80, 88 for allowing the
user to climb up the ropes 80, 88 with the rope climbing devices 10
alternatively. The foot-hold 55 of the other or second rope
climbing device 10 will be released when the user steps the first
rope climbing device 10. When the foot-hold 55 is released, the
spring member 54 may bias or force the teeth 53 of the lever 50
away from the ropes 80, 88 as shown in FIG. 9, and the arms 60 and
the pressing member 61 may be biased or forced to frictionally
engage with the ropes 80, 88 for preventing the housing 11 of the
rope climbing devices 10 from sliding downwardly relative to or
along the ropes 80, 88 and thus for allowing the housing 11 to be
moved up the ropes 80, 88 only.
[0041] When it is required to move the housing 11 downwardly along
the ropes 80, 88, as shown in FIG. 10, the lever 50 and the
foot-hold 55 may be pivoted or rotated upwardly relative to the
housing 11 by such as the foot of the user, and the lever 50 may be
forced to engage with the hand grip 65 or the pressing member 61 in
order to selectively disengage the pawl 62 from the pressing member
61, and thus for allowing the pressing member 61 to be released and
to be freely rotated relative to the housing 11 and the ropes 80,
88, and thus for allowing the housing 11 to be freely moved or slid
up and down along the ropes 80, 88 to any required positions. It is
to be noted that the provision and the engagement of the pressing
member 61 with the ropes 80, 88 may prevent the housing 11 of the
rope climbing device 10 from sliding downwardly relative to the
ropes 80, 88 inadvertently when the foot-hold 55 of the rope
climbing device 10 is released.
[0042] Accordingly, the rope climbing device in accordance with the
present invention includes a resilient or spring-biased engaging
device for selectively engaging with the rope and for facilitating
the movement of the rope climbing device along the rope and for
preventing the rope climbing device from quickly sliding relative
to or along the rope.
[0043] Although this invention has been described with a certain
degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present
disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous
changes in the detailed construction and the combination and
arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
* * * * *