WO2005094946A1

WO2005094946A1 - Foot operated ascenders

Info

Publication number: WO2005094946A1
Application number: PCT/IN2004/000089
Authority: WO
Inventors: Krishnaswamy Varadaraj Deenadayalan
Original assignee: Deenadayalan Krishnaswamy Vara
Priority date: 2004-04-02
Filing date: 2004-04-02
Publication date: 2005-10-13

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a foot operated ascender comprising of two brackets (2) and (3) which are looped to the fixed climbing rope (1), each of the said brackets being provided with a pair of clamps (A, B) having means designed to move freely and to get firmly locked up on the said rope (1), one of the brackets is connected to a pedal through a link rod (4) and the other bracket is connected to another pedal directly.

Description

FOOTOPERATEDASCENDERS

Technical Field:

This invention relates to foot operated Ascenders, which helps anybody to climb or reach a height. For example it helps Mountaineers, Fire Fighters, Rescue, Defence personnel and construction workers in climbing vertically using ropes.

PRIOR ART:

It is known that ascenders are rope-climbing aids used by mountaineers, fire fighters, rescue and defence personnel for climbing vertically using ropes. The ascenders available at present are mostly of the hand held cam based clamp type specific to right hand and left hand use. Climbers hold the ascenders one each in their hands and clamp them one after the other on the rope for firm grip while climbing the rope.

These hand held ascenders have the following disadvantages:- 1) Heavy strain on the arms of climbers as the entire body weight is borne by the arms during the climbing.

2) Unsafe as the ascenders are disengaged from one position and engaged to another position on the rope by left hand and right hand alternately while climbing. Any improper holding in the process will lead to slippage and fatal fall of the climbers.

3) Slow, strenuous and requires immense concentration.

4) Hands are constantly engaged in holding the ascenders and not free to carry out any other hand operations. This impedes fire fighting, rescue and defence operations. 5 ) Ascenders are right hand and left hand specific and interchangeability will lead to accidents. US Patent No. 5, 400, 869 describes a foot operated ascender. The said invention is characterised in that the climber uses a gearing down effect to the effort exerted on the leg loop, such that the modulus of said force necessary for an ascending step corresponds appreciably to two thirds of the weight of the climber. However the system is not very effective as only one leg is made use to extend force to lift the climber and every time the clamp is to be disengaged from one position to engage to other position. The system is complicated and not fast and effective.

OBJECT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION: The object of the present invention is to develop a unique foot operated ascenders with which rope climbing is made safe, fast, effortless and almost as simple as climbing a ladder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS: Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the foot operated ascender of the present invention; and Figs. 2 to 5 illustrates the rope climbing using the foot operated ascender of the present invention.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION. FOOT OPERATED ASCENDERS:

The ascender developed by the inventor comprises of two brackets, 2 & 3 and are they are looped to the fixed climbing rope (1) as shown in the schematic diagram 1. Each of the brackets are provided with a pair of clamps A and B, which are designed to move freely in the upward direction when pushed up and to get firmly locked up on the climbing rope (1) by means of the self jamming cams 7 provided in the clamps A and B when pulled down. Bracket 2 is connected to a pedal 5 (D-ring) through a link rod 4 and the Bracket 3 is connected to pedal 6 directly.

The ascender works on simple foot movement in which the two brackets are looped to the climbing rope as described above. The climber holds the climbing rope by his hand (s) and positions his right and left feet in the pedals 5 and 6 as shown in fig-2.

As the climber moves up with one of his feet, the bracket connected to the pedal (say bracket-2) moves up effortlessly through the rope and get firmly locked up on the rope as the climber pushes his foot down after lifting up to a convenient height. Now, with one feet the climber steps up on the pedal, while stepping on the pedal, the climber with his other foot moves the bracket-3 to next higher position in the rope and steps on to it with. The repetition of the leg movements the climbing is achieved.

Climbers climb the rope with the foot operated ascenders as detailed in the following steps:

1) The climbing rope -1 is passed through the bracket 2 and bracket 3 as shown in Figs-1/2.

2) The climber positions his foot in the D - rings, 5 & 6 and holds the rope as shown in Fig-3. 3) He slides up a bracket-3 (Pedal-5) with his feet and locks the bracket at a convenient height (approvement 250 mm) by pressing down his feet as shown in Fig-4.

4) Now the bracket firmly grips the rope with clamps. The climber steps up on the locked pedal (5) like stepping on a ladder.

5) Simultaneously climber uses his other leg to slide up the bracket 2 and locks it at a convenient height as indicated in Fig-5.

6) The climber repeats the steps at 4 & 5 alternatively and ascends the rope safely.

Climbing with the foot operated ascenders has the following advantages: 1) One hundred percent safe as the ascenders are always engaged on to the rope and held with two clamps at any point of time. 2 ) Quick and effortless, as the climbing is made with legs and the legs bears the body weight. 3) Not much concentration is required as the climbing is made by simple foot movements and the mechanism is fail safe.

4) Combined with belays and harness, the climber can stay firmly at any height without holding the rope, and free to perform any hand operations.

5) The ascenders can also be hand operated, in the same manner if the situation demands.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Foot operated ascenders comprising of two brackets 2 and 3 which are looped to the fixed climbing rope 1, each of the said brackets being provided with a pair of clamps having means designed to move freely and to get firmly locked up on the said rope 1, one of the brackets is connected to a pedal through a link rod 4 and the other bracket is connected to another pedal directly.

2. Foot operated ascenders as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means designed to move freely and to get firmed locked up on the climbing rope is a self- jamming cam.

3. Foot operated ascenders substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.