FR2818913A1 - Mechanical interface part for climbing anchoring pin comprises ball joint which engages slotted hole in anchoring pin fixing lug - Google Patents

Abstract

The mechanical interface (26) comprises means for coupling to the ice axe or anchoring pin (10). One of the coupling parts, a ball joint (24) is located on the interface part and engages a slotted hole (22) in a fixing lug on the pin.

Description

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Domaine technique de l'invention L'invention est relative à une pièce mécanique d'interface comprenant des moyens d'accrochage à un outil d'escalade ou d'alpinisme, notamment un piolet ou une broche d'amarrage, ladite pièce étant reliée à la main de l'utilisateur. Mechanical interface part for a climbing or mountaineering tool.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a mechanical interface part comprising means for attaching to a climbing or mountaineering tool, in particular an ice ax or a mooring pin, said part being connected to the user's hand.

State of the art Document FR-A-2730415 relates to a retractable wrist strap which can be connected to a handle of an ice ax by an articulated link with multidirectional movement. A ball joint with a spherical surface is mounted on a rod, and the wrist strap is fitted with a cap hook for housing the ball joint. An actuation lever is provided on the hook of the strap to ensure the locking or unlocking of the articulated link. The implementation of such equipment is complicated, and the strap is adaptable only for an ice ax.

Other documents describe an ice spindle having a hooking lug with a twisted extension, which is provided with an orifice for the passage of a strap. The rotation of the tab for screwing in the spindle is carried out either by means of a wheel mounted idly on the tab (FR-A-

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 2709972), or by means of an additional folding lever (FR-A-2758992), also secured to the tab.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION A first object of the invention consists in producing a mechanical interface part serving both as a fixing and actuating member, independently of the type of tools.

The mechanical interface part according to the invention is characterized in that one of the elements of the hooking means located on said part is arranged to adapt to a conjugate element placed respectively: on the ice ax to constitute a device for attachment for a detachable wrist strap, and on the spindle to serve as a retractable crank intended to ensure the screwing and / or unscrewing of said pin.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the attachment means comprise a ball joint element cooperating with a buttonhole composed of an extended enlarged opening of a narrowed portion, respectively for the introduction and the blocking of the element of ball joint.

The ball joint element can be secured to one end of said part.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the buttonhole is formed in a curved lug of said piece.

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Un deuxième objet de l'invention concerne également un outil agencé pour recevoir la pièce mécanique d'interface précitée. L'outil peut être préférentiellement : - soit un piolet ou toute sorte d'outil à grimper sur la glace ou le rocher, - soit une broche à glace, ou tout autre amarrage se vissant dans la glace ou le rocher.

A second object of the invention also relates to a tool designed to receive the aforementioned mechanical interface part. The tool can preferably be: - either an ice ax or any kind of tool for climbing on ice or rock, - or an ice spindle, or any other mooring screwing into ice or rock.

In the case of an ice-cream spindle, two solutions are possible: - either the buttonhole is housed in the twisted wing of the fixing tab; - Either the ball joint element protrudes from the twisted wing of the fixing lug in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel.

In the case of an ice ax, the interface piece cooperates directly with an opening made in the core of a fixing bracket.

It is clear that other tools can be used with the mechanical interface part according to the invention.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other advantages and characteristics will emerge more clearly from the description which follows of an embodiment of the invention given by way of nonlimiting example, and represented in the appended drawings, in which: - the figures 1 to 3 are perspective views of an ice spindle equipped with a wrist strap according to the invention, respectively before, during and

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 at the end of insertion of the ball joint element in the buttonhole of the fixing tab; - Figures 4 to 6 show identical views of Figures 1 to 3 of an alternative embodiment of the ice spindle, in which the buttonhole is secured to the strap; - Figure 7 shows an elevational view of an ice ax equipped with a strap according to the invention, the ball joint element being integral with the strap; - Figure 8 is a side view of Figure 7; - Figures 9 and 10 are identical views of Figures 7 and 8 of a variant of the ice ax, in which the buttonhole is secured to the wrist strap.

Description of a preferred embodiment.

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, an ice-cream spindle 10 is composed of a tubular metal barrel 12 with an external helical thread 14 terminated by a drill bit 16, and a fixing lug 18 arranged opposite the drill bit 16.

The fixing lug 18 is crimped to the head of the barrel 12 extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the barrel 12. The end flange 20 of the fixing lug 18 is twisted upwards forming a U , and is provided according to the invention with a retaining buttonhole 22 intended to cooperate with a ball element 24 fixed to the end of a mechanical interface part 26.

The angled retaining buttonhole 22 has an enlarged opening 22a substantially circular, extended by a narrowed opening 22b

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 oblong, respectively for the introduction and blocking of the ball joint element 24 of the mechanical interface part 26. The enlarged circular opening 22a is advantageously placed in the intermediate part of the fixing lug 18 in a U shape, while the oblong narrowed opening 22b is located in the terminal extension of the end wing 20.

The ball joint element 24 comprises a ball 24a extended by a substantially cylindrical shank 24b, the end of which is connected to the mechanical interface part 26. The diameter of the ball 24a is greater than the spacing of the narrowed opening 22b oblong, while the tail 24b can slide with play in said opening 22b.

The attachment of the mechanical interface part 26 to the fixing lug 18 of the ice spindle 10 is carried out by introduction of the ball 24a of the ball joint element 24 into the circular opening 22a according to a translational movement indicated by arrow F1 (Figures 1 and 2). Then a quarter-turn pivot upwards (arrow F2, FIG. 3) causing the tail 24b to pass through the oblong narrowed opening 22b. In this position, the ball element 24 is trapped in the fixing lug 18, and extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel 12, so as to constitute a crank for the actuation in rotation of the ice spindle 10.

According to the variant of FIGS. 4 to 6, the ball element 24 and the buttonhole 22 are identical, but reversed with respect to their positioning on the ice spindle of FIGS. 1 to 3. The ball element 24 projects from the the twisted end wing 20 of the tab 18, being oriented parallel to the barrel 12. The buttonhole 22 is provided in a lug 28 curved at right angles, forming part of the mechanical interface part 26.

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 The installation of the mechanical interface part 26 occurs by lowering the lug 28 along the arrow F3, by introducing the circular opening 22a on the ball of the ball joint element 24, followed by pivoting towards the high in the direction of arrow F4 to ensure the double function of retractable fixing and of actuation member in rotation.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, the mechanical interface part 26 is adaptable to a wrist strap 51 of an ice ax 30, which has a grip handle 32 and a notched blade 34 fixed to the head of the handle 32 by means 36. The mechanical interface part 26 is attached to a U-shaped bracket 38, which is secured to the ice ax 30 by means of a fixing screw 40 passing through a transverse orifice provided in the handle 32. An opening 23 is formed in the central core of the stirrup 38, and the ball element 24 is mounted at the end of the mechanical interface part 26 in the form of a bar 42 fixed to the strap of the wrist strap 51.

est prévue dans un ergot recourbé 42 de la pièce 26.In the embodiment of the ice ax of FIGS. 9 and 10, the buttonhole 22

is provided in a curved lug 42 of the part 26.

Claims (8)

claims  1. Mechanical interface part comprising means for attaching to a climbing or mountaineering tool, in particular an ice ax (30) or a mooring pin (10), said part (26) being connected by hand of the user, characterized in that one of the elements of the hooking means located on said part, is arranged to adapt to a conjugate element placed respectively: on the ice ax (30) to constitute a fixing device for a detachable wrist strap (51), and on the spindle (10) to serve as a retractable crank intended to ensure the screwing and / or unscrewing of said pin. 2. Mechanical interface part according to claim 1, characterized in that the two combined elements of the hooking means simultaneously form in the assembled position a fixing device for retaining the spindle (30) on said interface part ( 26). 3. Mechanical interface part according to claim 1, characterized in that the attachment means comprise a ball joint element (24) <Desc / Clms Page number 8>  cooperating with a buttonhole (22) composed of an enlarged opening (22a) extended by a narrowed part (22b), respectively for the introduction and the blocking of the ball joint element (24). 4. Mechanical interface part according to claim 3, characterized in that the ball joint element (24) is secured to one end of said part (26). 5. Mechanical interface part according to claim 3, characterized in that the buttonhole (22) is formed in a lug (28) curved from said part (26). 6. Mechanical interface part according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a strap or a cord serves as a connecting member between said part and the hand of the user. 7. Mechanical interface part according to claim 3, characterized in that

 that the ball joint element (24) projects from a twisted wing (20) of the fixing lug (18) of the tool in a direction substantially parallel to the screwing and / or unscrewing movement. 8. Climbing or mountaineering tool intended to receive a mechanical interface part (26) according to one of claims 1 to 7.