Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B27/00—Apparatus for climbing poles, trees, or the like
  • A63B27/02—Climbing devices for round poles or trees attachable to the feet

Definitions

• a pole climbing apparatus for use in the installation and repair of telephone lines and the like comprising an upper work platform and a lower climbing platform.
• U. S. 3,856/111 shows a hand-climber-accessory for tree-climbing platforms for hunters and a horizontal base plate having a tree engaging blade. Angularly disposed frame members extend from the base plate to support a second blade or strap to engage the opposite side of the tree.
• the hand-climber accessory is positioned on the tree above the platform and includes parallel bars to engage the tree. Blades are attached to the bars to engage the tree.
• a hunter standing on the base plate alternately adjusts the elevation of the hand-climber accessory with respect to the base plate and raises or lowers the base plate by lifting and lowering his feet to first disengage and reengage the platform with respect to the tree at a different elevation.
• U. S. 3,460,649 disclosed a similar climbing platform having a base plate positioned against the pole or tree. The operator places his arms around the pole or tree and pulls his feet upwardly to climb the pole or tree by raising the plate with respect to the pole or tree.
• U. S. 3,955,645 discloses another hand-held climbing device in combination with a standing platform for climbing a tree by lifting his body with his feet in foot straps on the platform. This pivots the platform away from the tree so that the platform may be slipped up into a new position. When the platform is then pressed against the tree, it will be held in place so that the hand-held climbing device may then be pivoted upward to release and shimmied up the tree.
• U. S. 3,463,320 illustrates a device for climbing a tree by this approximate method.
• the upper framework is shimmied up the tree against the force of a series of elastic vertical straps attached between the frame and a lower platform.
• the framework is then pivoted against the tree to lock it in place and the weight of the person is supported on the upper framework with the feet being raised so that the elastic straps may pivot the lower platform away from the tree to release it and raise it up the tree.
• the upper framework may then be raised by the person's hands to release it from the and shimmy it further up.
• U. S. 3,419,108 discloses a portable tree stand engaging a tree and held in place by means of a series of spikes on the platform.
• U. S. 2,392,538 and U. S. 2,842,300 show pivoting frameworks with a strap to engage a tree, the entire arrangement being moved upwardly by pivoting free from the tree and shimming up the tree under hand power.
• the combination of hand-held pole grippers and foot operated pole grippers are shown in U, S. 213,715.
• the present invention relates to a pole climbing apparatus for use in the installation and repair of telephone lines and the like comprising an upper work platform and lower climbing platform, More particularly, the upper work platform comprises an upper base plate including a first upper pole engaging element and a second upper pole engaging element coupled to the upper base plate by an upper interconnecting element comprising a pair of substantially parallel upper interconnecting members to position the upper work platform in a substantially horizontal position when in use.
• the upper base plate comprises a seat member while the first upper pole engaging element comprises a blade member including a plurality of pole engaging surfaces held in fixed spaced relation relative to the seat member to cooperatively form a leg opening therebetween.
• the second upper pole engaging element comprises a pair of support members coupled in substantially U- or V-shaped configuration supporting a blade member including a plurality of pole engaging surfaces.
• Each upper interconnecting member includes a plurality of apertures formed on the outer portion thereof to receive interlocking coupling elements attached to the pair of support members to permit lateral adjustment with poles or trees of various diameters.
• upright support members fixedly support the second upper pole engaging element diagonally upward relative to the first upper pole engaging element.
• the lower climbing platform is similarly constructed. Specifically the lower climbing platform comprises a lower base plate including a first lower pole engaging element formed on the inner portion thereof and a second lower pole engaging element coupled to the lower base plate by a lower interconnecting element comprising a pair of substantially parallel lower interconnecting members to position the lower climbing platform in a substantially horizontal position when in use.
• the lower base plate comprises a foot support member having a pair of feet engaging elements.
• the feet engaging elements each comprise foot holds and adjustable straps to cooperatively secure the operator's feet to the lower climbing plate when in use.
• the first lower pole engaging element comprises a blade member including a plurality of pole engaging surfaces.
• the second lower pole engaging element comprises a pair of support members coupled in substantially U- or V-shaped configuration supporting a blade member including a plurality of pole engaging surfaces.
• Each lower interconnecting member includes a plurality of apertures formed on the outer portion thereof to receive interlocking coupling elements attached to the pair of support members to permit lateral adjustment thereof to facilitate use of the pole climbing apparatus with poles or trees of various diameters.
• upright support members fixedly support the second lower pole engaging element diagonally upward relative to the first lower pole engaging element.
• the upper working platform and lower climbing platform are secured to the pole or tree.
• the operator then places his legs through the leg aperture and secures his feet to the lower climbing platform by feet engaging elements.
• the operator then stands up while lifting the upper work platform to provide maximum vertical separation between the upper work platform and lower climbing platform.
• While seated on the upper work platform the operator raises his legs lifting the lower climbing platform upwardly to reduce the vertical separation between the two platforms. This process is continued until the desired vertical height on the pole is reached.
• the operator may sit on the upper work platform.
• the operator may also stand on the lower climbing platform during use.
• the invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims,
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an upper working platform
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lower climbing platform
• FIG. 3 is a side view of a pole climbing apparatus in use.
• FIG. 4 is a detailed top view of the blade member.
• FIG. 5 is a detailed side view of the interlocking coupling element.
• FIG. 6 is a detailed side view of the clip.
• the present invention relates to a pole climbing apparatus for use in the installation and repair of telephone lines and the like comprising an upper work platform and lower climbing platform 10 and 12 respectively.
• the upper work platform 10 comprises an upper base plate generally indicated as 14 including a first upper pole engaging element generally indicated as 16 formed on the inner portion thereof and a second upper pole engaging element generally indicated as 18 coupled to the upper base plate 14 by an upper interconnecting element comprising a pair of substantially parallel upper interconnecting members each indicated as 20 to cooperatively position the upper work platform 10 in a substantially horizontal position when in use.
• the upper base plate 14 comprises a seat member 22 having a pair of substantially parallel side frame members each indicated as 24 extending outwardly from opposite sides thereof.
• the first upper pole engaging element 16 comprises a cross-bar element 26 extending between the side frame members 24 in fixed spaced relation relative to the seat member 22 to cooperatively form a leg opening 28 therebetween and a first upper blade member 30 removable attached to the cross-bar element 26 by fastener means 32, As best shown in Fig. 4, the first upper blade member 30 includes a base 34 having a first and second wing elements 36 and 38 respectively extending outwardly from opposite ends thereof to cooperatively form a first upper pole engaging channel 40 forming inner pole engaging surfaces 42 inclined outwardly and outer pole engaging surfaces 44 formed on the outer portion of wing elements 36 and 38.
• the second upper pole engaging element 18 comprises a second upper blade member 46 removable attached to a pair of support members 48 coupled in substantially U or V shaped configuration by fastner means 50.
• the second upper blade member 46 is substantially identical to the first upper blade member 30.
• fastner means 52 to balance the pivot movement of the upper work platform 10 during use.
• the second upper pole engaging element 18 may be collapsed.
• upright support members 58 coupled to side members 24 by fastner means 60 and pivotally attached to the upper interconnecting members 20 by fastner means 62, fixedly support the second upper pole engaging element 18 diagonally upward relative to the first upper pole engaging element 16,
• the removable blade members 30 and 46 may comprise metal or hard rubber type knife edges, serrated elements or friction pressure pads which permits selective use of poles constructed of various material.
• each interlocking coupling element 56 comprises a first locking element 64 having an elongated body and enlarged head 66 and 68 respectively having apertures 70 and 72 respectively formed in combination with a second locking element or clamp means 74.
• the clamp means 74 comprises a U-shaped member 76 having a first leg 78 attached to the enlarged head 68 through aperture 72 and a second leg 80 including loop 82 in surrounding relationship relative to elongated body 66,
• the interlocking coupling element 56 further includes a clip 84 having a first and second leg 86 and 88 respectively together with loop 90, First leg element 86 is configured to pass through aperture 70 to clamp support members 48 to upper interconnecting members 20 as elongated body 64 passed through apertures 54 and 92 formed in upper interconnecting members 20 and support members 48.
• the lower climbing platform 12 is similarly constructed. Specifically as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the lower climbing platform 12 comprise a lower base plate generally indicated as 94 including a first lower pole engaging element generally indicated as 96 formed on the inner portion thereof and a second lower pole engaging element generally indicated as 98 coupled to the lower base plate 94 by a lower interconnecting element comprising a pair of substantially parallel lower interconnecting members each indicated as 100 to position the lower climbing platform 12 in a sub stantially horizontal position when in use.
• a lower base plate generally indicated as 94 including a first lower pole engaging element generally indicated as 96 formed on the inner portion thereof and a second lower pole engaging element generally indicated as 98 coupled to the lower base plate 94 by a lower interconnecting element comprising a pair of substantially parallel lower interconnecting members each indicated as 100 to position the lower climbing platform 12 in a sub stantially horizontal position when in use.
• the lower base plate 94 comprises a foot support member 102 having a pair of feet engaging elements each generally indicated as 104.
• Feet engaging element 104 each comprise foot holds
• the first lower pole engaging element 96 comprises a cross-bar element 110 extending between the side frame members 112 and a first lower blade member 114 removable attached to the cross-bar element 110 by fastener means 116.
• the blade member 114 is identical to blade member 30 as best shown in Fig. 4.
• the second lower pole engaging element 98 comprises a second lower blade member 118 removable attached to a pair of support members 120 coupled in substantially U or V shaped configuration by fastner means 122.
• the second lower blade member 118 is substantially identical to the first upper blade member 30.
• Each lower interconnecting member 100 pivotally attached to the side frame members 112 by fastner means 124, includes a plurality of apertures 126 formed on the oifer portion thereof to receive fastner means or interlocking coupling elements 128 attached to the second lower pole engaging element 98 to permit lateral adjustment thereof to facilitate use of the pole climbing apparatus 10 with poles or trees of various diameters.
• fastner means 124 to balance the pivot movement of the lower climbing platform 12 during use. It should be noted that the feet engaging elements 104 are attached to the mid-portion of the foot support member 102 such that the forward portion of the eperator's feet are in line with the pivot point. Since the lower interconnecting member 100 are pivotally coupled to the foot support member 102, the second lower pole engaging element 98 may be collapsed for storage.
• the pole climbing apparatus 10 further includes blade covers means each generally indicated as 136, Each blade cover means 136 comprises a blade cover 138 movable between a covered and uncovered position.
• the outer loose portion of the blade cover 138 includes a velcro fastner 140 to selectively engage first or second velcro bases 142 and 144 respectively to selectively open or close the blade cover means 136 to cover or expose the various blade members.
• the upper working platform 10 and lower climbing platform 12 are secured to the pole or tree as shown in Fig, 3, Specifically upper and lower interconnecting members 20 and 100 respectively are passed on opposite sides of the pole and then the second upper and second lower pole engaging elements 18 and 98 respectively are secured to the upper work platform 10 and lower climbing platform 12 respectively as previously described.
• the operator then stands up while lifting the upper work platform 10 to provide maximum vertical separation between the upper work platform 10 and lower climbing platform 12. While seated on the upper work platform 10, the operator raises his legs lifting the lower climbing platform 12 upwardly to reduce the vertical separation between the two platforms 10 and 12. This process is continued until the desired vertical height on the pole is reached. Once in place the operator may sit on the upper work platform 10. Of course, as necessary or desired the operator may sit on the upper work platform 10. Of course, as necessary or desired the operator may sit on the upper work platform 10. Of course, as necessary or desired the operator may also stand on the lower climbing platform 12 during use. Thus the operator is able to freely manuever while working on the pole.
• the upper work platform 10 may be used to attach various work implements and tools within easy reach of the operator without additional equipment. Moreover, since the operator used his legs to climb, minimum effort is expended. To descend the pole, the operation is simply reversed.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
• Ladders (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=25492969

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (10)

Families Citing this family (10)

Citations (2)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 1979
  • 1979-09-17 AR AR278073A patent/AR216620A1/es active
  • 1979-09-21 BE BE2/58091A patent/BE878910A/fr unknown
  • 1979-09-25 FI FI792984A patent/FI792984A/fi not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1979-10-01 JP JP54501807A patent/JPS5811230B2/ja not_active Expired
  • 1979-10-01 WO PCT/US1979/000800 patent/WO1980000794A1/en unknown
  • 1979-10-12 AU AU51743/79A patent/AU5174379A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1979-10-16 GR GR60276A patent/GR70707B/el unknown
  • 1979-10-17 IT IT7969025A patent/IT7969025A0/it unknown
• 1980
  • 1980-05-07 EP EP19790901408 patent/EP0020533A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1980-05-29 DK DK231880A patent/DK231880A/da not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (2)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events