GB2546091A

GB2546091A - Protector for a rope

Info

Publication number: GB2546091A
Application number: GB1600292.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edmondson Christopher
Original assignee: Heightec Group Ltd
Current assignee: Heightec Group Ltd
Priority date: 2016-01-07
Filing date: 2016-01-07
Publication date: 2017-07-12
Also published as: GB201600292D0

Abstract

A rope protector 5 comprises a plurality of plates, rings or other similar rigid members 1, flexibly jointed, preferably along their outer edges, to form a sheet-like member. The rope protector may comprise chainmail, plate-mail, splinted-mail, ring-mesh or ring-armor. At least one fixing point comprising a cord 6 and a spring-clip 4 may be provided for securing the protector to another object or to a rope. A fabric cover may be provided over a section of the body of the rope protector to help prevent the ingress of dirt or contaminants. The sheet-like member may be joined along opposing edges by a releasable fastener 2, such as hook and loop fattener, to form a tube for enclosing a rope around its circumference.

Description

Protector for a rope

The invention relates to a protector for a rope, cord, tape, web or similar elongate load supporting member collectively referred to hereinafter as rope.

Devices to protect a rope from damage by abrasion or cutting from contact with an abrasive or sharp surface are known. Such rope protectors are commonly used in climbing and abseiling or when securing loads to vehicles. Such protectors tend to be of one of two common types, flexible fabric or ridged metal. Flexible fabric protectors commonly comprise a sheet of one or more layers of textile fabric which wraps over an object which could damage the rope or wraps partly or wholly around the rope itself. Said protectors can be fitted in many different situations due to their physical flexibility. They are however limited by their resistance to physical damage. Certain types which comprise several different layers of material still only offer limited protection, even when high performance materials such as aramid fibre are used. Due to the nature of woven textiles the fibres in the fabric may be forced apart allowing the rope to be exposed. Protectors which wrap around the rope also have the disadvantage that they hide the rope from view such that it is hard to detect when the protector has been breached and rope damage is beginning to occur.

Rigid metal protectors offer much higher levels of protection and will generally withstand any sharp or abrasive edge commonly found in a mountain or industrial work environment. The problem with such protectors is that their ridgid construction limits their applicability as they cannot be formed to the shape required. Such protectors also cannot wholly encase the rope without hinged sections and other complex moving parts which can themselves constitute sharp or abrasive edges. In certain applications the whole circumference of the rope needs to protected as any part of it could contact and sharp or abrasive edge, particularly if the person or load suspended from the rope is swinging from side to side.

Wire mesh has been used to a limited extent but such protectors still have apertures large enough to expose the rope and allow damage. Even when the wire mesh is combined with a textile layer the textile will wear through exposing the rope and therefore allowing it to be damaged, in some cases the wire itself acts as a sharp or abrasive edge and causes damage directly. Wire mesh with smaller apertures prevents the protector from being flexible thereby removing any advantage over rigid metal.

The invention seeks to solve these problems by providing a rope protector with the flexibility of textile fabric but with the abrasion and cut resistance of metal.

According to the present invention there is provided a plurality of substantially rigid members flexibly jointed such that they form a sheet like member.

Preferably said sheet like member has at least one closure mechanism such that one area of said sheet may be selectivley affixed to another.

Preferably said sheet like member has at least one fixing point to allow it to be attached to another object.

Preferably said at least one fixing point has a clip or similar means to enable attachment to another object A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows flexibly jointed substantially rigid members

Figure 2 is a view of the rope protector when open

Figure 3 is a view of the rope protector when closed

As described in the accompanying drawings a rope protector comprises a plurality of plates, rings or other similar members (1). Each member being flexibly jointed to those adjoining it substantially along their outer edges. The resulting sheet forming the body of the rope protector (5). Such material is commonly known as chainmail, ring mesh, ring armour, platemail or splinted mail and is collectively referred to hereinafter as chainmail.

The surface of the sheet of chainmail presents a substantially smooth surface thereby preventing it from damaging the rope itself. Additionally the size and shape of said plates, rings or similar members (1) may be selected so as to provide apertures therebetween of appropriate size to prevent the rope contacting the abrasive or sharp surface in a given application. Said apertures between said members (1) also allow sight of the rope therethrough such that, should rope damage occur, the onset of said damage may be identified without removing the protector. A section of chainmail has an area of hook and loop fastener (2) securedly affixed to one side and an area of the corresponding hook and loop fastener (3) securedly affixed to another side such that when the two areas of fastener are joined, the rope protector (5) substantially forms a tube, enclosing the rope (7) around its circumference.

The size and shape of the body of the protector (5) may be varied in order to cover different areas or rope diameters.

At least one cord or similar means (6) is provided such that the protector may be affixed to an object or structure in order to cover the abrasive or sharp area to prevent it contacting the rope. Additionally at least one cord (6) may be provided with a spring clip (4) to assist in securing it to an object or structure.

Alternatively said at least one cord (6) potentially including said spring clip (4) may be used to securedly affix the protector to the rope (7).

Preferably, a fabric cover may be provided over a section of the body of the protector (5) to help prevent the ingress of dirt or other contaminants.

Claims

1. A protector for a rope comprising a plurality of substantially rigid members flexibly jointed such that they form a sheet like member.

2. A protector for a rope according to claim 1 wherein the sheet like member presents a substantially smooth surface.

3. A protector for a rope according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the size and shape of the ridged members is chosen to protect the rope in a given application or against a specific hazard such as an abrasive or sharp surface.

4. A protector for a rope according to any preceding claim wherein the ridged members provide apertures therebetween of appropriate size to prevent the rope contacting the abrasive or sharp surface in a given application. Said apertures between said members allowing sight of the rope therethrough such that, should rope damage occur, the onset of said damage may be identified without removing the protector.

5. A protector for a rope according to any preceding claim wherein the size and shape of the sheet like member is varied to protect in a given application, against a specific hazard or cover rope of different diameters.

6. A protector for a rope according to any preceding claim wherein the sheet like member has at least one closure mechanism such that one area of said sheet may be selectivley affixed to another.

7. A protector for a rope according to claim 6 wherein the closure mechanism is comprised of hook and loop fastener.

8. A protector for a rope according to claim 6 or 7 wherein the closure is such that when fastened, the protector substantially forms a tube capable of enclosing a section of the rope around its circumference.

9. A protector for a rope according to any preceding claim wherein the sheet like member has at least one fixing point to allow it to be attached to another object or to the rope.

10. A protector for a rope according to claim 9 wherein the fixing point is fitted with a cord.

11. A protector for a rope according to claim 9 or 10 wherein the fixing point has a clip or similar means to enable attachment to another object or to the rope.

12. A protector for a rope according to claim 11 wherein the clip is attached to the fixing point with a cord.

13. A protector for a rope according to any preceding claim wherein a fabric cover may be provided over a section of the sheet like member to help prevent the ingress of dirt or other contaminants.

14. A protector for a rope substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.