US2039185A

US2039185A - Climbing-iron

Info

Publication number: US2039185A
Application number: US30929A
Authority: US
Inventors: Pfistershammer Josef
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1934-07-18
Filing date: 1935-07-11
Publication date: 1936-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 1953-04-28
Also published as: GB448013A; FR792447A; NL42546C

Description

pwl 28, w36. J. PFISTERSHAMMER 259399385 CLIMBING IRON Filed July ll, 1955 Patented Apr. 28, 1936 tiNiiED STATES PATE'E1 OFFIQE Application July 11, 1935, Serial No. 30,929 In Germany July 18, 1934 3 Claims.

Applications have been led in Germany on the 18th July 1934, in Belgium on the 10th August 1934 and in Rouinania on the 29th October 1934.

This invention relates to climbing-irons for 5 use in climbing masts, posts, and columns of all kinds and of all cross-sectional shapes, and has for its main object to provide climbing-irons which are adaptable for use on a wide range of sizes and shapes of column, and of different materials, which will not in any way injure or `affect the appearance of the surface of the object climbed, which put a minimum of strain on the wearer during climbing, which are capable of prolonged service without the renewal or touching up of parts, and which may be worn in walking without undue inconvenience and without becoming damaged or fouled. Other objects will become apparent in the course of the ensuing description.

Various types of climbing-irons have already become known for use in climbing wooden, concrete, and iron masts. It is also known to make adjustable climbing-irons with tapered arms adapted to embrace the mast to be climbed and capable of being adjusted to suit different sizes of one particular cross-sectional shape of mast.

The disadvantages of all hithertoknown climbing-irons are, in the first place, that they can only be used on one kind of mast, and that of one shape of cross-section only, while for instance in putting up overhead lines it is usual to employ different kinds of masts such as wooden poles for the straight stretches and iron, wood, or concrete masts at the angles, ends, and cross- 35 ing points, and, secondly, that in the case of wooden and concrete masts the mast itself, and in the case of iron masts the paint is damaged by the climbing-irons.

It is also already known to make climbing- 40 irons with resilient bearing surfaces which do not injure the mast, but these irons are so expensive to manufacture and so cumbrous in use that they have not become adopted in practice.

The present invention avoids these drawbacks, and affords new and hitherto unrealized advantages. The essential feature of the invention is that the tapered arms which embrace the mast are of hollow cross-section, while these adjustable embracing arms and the countersupporting or thrust plates of the irons are provided with inwardly open hollow spaces adapted to hold and to support elastically supple gripping elements of high frictional resistance. A further feature of the invention is that the said elastic elements have a plurality of similar gripping surfaces, are arranged to be reversible and readilyexchangeable, and are thus capable of prolonged service without the necessity for any altering or touching-up work. To permit of the wearer walking without having to take off the irons, the embracing arms are adapted to be folded over inwards, and the counter supporting plates to be folded upwards.

A form of construction embodying the invention is shown, by way of example, in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a pair of climbing-irons in accordance with the invention, in the operative position strapped to the boots of the climber and used in climbing a pole.

Fig. 2 shows one of these climbing-irons in side elevation, as seen from the inner side.

Fig.` 3 shows the same climbing-iron in plan View.

Fig. 4 shows one of the elastic gripping elements in cross-section.

Fig. 5 is a section taken through the embracing arm on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

The basic shape of the climbing-iron according to the present invention is similar to that of known types of climbing-irons for use on wooden and concrete masts. In accordance with the invention, the iiying embracing arm a, which is provided with an adjustable joint e, consists of a hollow body of great resistance to bending and torsional strains tapered towards the outer end having throughout its entire length a groove or channel open on the inner side towards the object to be climbed. This channel is adapted to receive and to retain a series of supple elastic gripping elements d of soft rubber or the like threaded in a close row upon a curved round section rod c. These elastic gripping elements d project well out of the channel which partly encases them, and thus constitute a composite gripping member which is resilient and supple in al1 directions, but which at the same time is held fast against displacement and turning.

In the counter supporting plate i, which takes up the thrust of the embracing arm a, there are provided, in suitable open voids or sockets, similar elastic gripping elements or studs d likewise projecting inwards at right angles to the surface 0f the object to be climbed. Screws 7c, which pass through the elastic gripping elements d wards and replacing of the same when worn f away on both sides. This same purpose is fulfilled by the detachable curved rod c on to which the elastic gripping elements d of the embracing arm a are threaded. It will be clear that the gripping elements become ever more rmlypressed into their seating in the channel of the embracing arm by the pressure exerted thereon in use. At the inner, end of the arm a, the continuation of which from the joint e onwards is formed of a thick-walled tube b of steel, there is provided the counter supporting plate z' which is pivotally mounted in the two bearing eyes Z but held fast against displacement by the set-ring action of the stirrup n carrying the foot-plate m. By virtue of this manner of assembling the counter supporting plate, the elastic gripping elements d secured therein are enabled to become adapted accurately to the surface of the mast in the various oblique settings of the climbing-iron, and more particularly to the conicity and unevenness of the mast. For the purpose of walking on wet ground with the climbing irons strapped to the boots, the pivoted counter supporting plate is turned up bodily, and thus protected against soiling and clogging. The wing nuts o permit of suitable adjustment of the resistance of the counter supporting plate i to rotation in its bearings.

By operation of the hand screw f, which bears against the cam of the joint e, the gripping span of the embracing arm a can be adjusted to suit different sizes of mast and different degrees of conicity. In the c`ase of very high masts of considerable conicity, the gripping span of the embracing arms can be reduced during climbing and expanded against during descent. For walking with the climbing irons strapped to the boots, the arm ais folded over inwards towards the footplate m.

For climbing ice-covered or perfectly smooth masts, the elastic gripping elements, which consist preferably of soft rubber, can be covered with soft leather in the form of a hose drawn thereover or with any other material having higher frictional resistance than soft rubber. At the same time, the softness and suppleness of the gripping elements should not be materially reduced by these measures.

The gripping elements d may also be of other, for example triangular, cross-sectional shape, in which case the channeled sheet steel holding arm, which is here shown as of U-shaped section, must be of suitably different section. In any case, provision should be made for using the sides of these elements in succession, '1n the manner described above.

The climbing-irons here described and shown, are suitable for use on masts of all kinds and of all cross-sectional shapes. Wooden masts, tubular iron masts of round, rectangular, elliptical, triangular, or other cross-section, and also concrete masts of round, angular, or the known starshaped cross-section, can be climbed with their aid well and safely, without damaging the masts or ruining the paint. It is not necessary to keep a variety of special climbing-irons in readiness, to meet varying needs. With the use of the climbing-irons according to the present invention Wooden masts do not become roughened and subject to more rapid rotting, and fitters are not liable to become injured by splinters. The hollow cross-section of the tapered embracing arms is also of particular importance, since by virtue thereof the entire weight of the climbing-irons, and more particularly the weight, at the tip of the climbing-iron which tires the wearer of large climbing-irons very markedly, is very considerably reduced, without any sacrifice of strength.

I claim:

1. Climbing-irons for use on masts and columns of all kinds, of the type having tapered arms adapted to embrace the object climbed and movably adjustable counter supporting plates, characterized by the fact that the tapered embracing arms are of hollow cross-section and provided with a longitudinal channel lled with elastic gripping elements projecting far out on the inner side towards the object climbed, and by the fact that the said counter supporting plates are provided with vertically disposed grooves similarly lled with elastic gripping elements projecting far inwards.

2. Climbing-irons as claimed in claim l, characterized by the fact that the said elastic gripping elements are of equilateral cross-section, and adapted to become pressed, in use, into the grooves provided for them of suitable cross-sectional shape to ensure that they are held fast against rotation and displacement, and that, after the wearing away of one gripping surface, each of the remaining sides may be used as a gripping surface by the mere reversing of the said gripping elements.

3. Climbing-irons as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the counter supporting plate is capable of being brought into an elevated position, and thereby protected against fouling when worn over wet ground.

JOSEF PFISTERSHAMMER.