EP2103329B1 - Foot ascender for climbing up a rope - Google Patents

Description

■ Technical field of the invention

• un élément bloqueur ayant un corps métallique équipé d'une goulotte de guidage de la corde, et une gâchette mobile montée à pivotement sur le corps autour d'un axe entre une position de fermeture et une position d'ouverture, respectivement pour presser la corde contre le fond de la goulotte lorsque le corps est sollicité dans le sens de la descente, et pour débloquer la corde dans le sens inverse de la remontée,
• un premier dispositif d'attache comprenant au moins un passant pour le passage d'une première sangle destinée à entourer la cheville de l'utilisateur, et un deuxième dispositif d'attache d'une deuxième sangle destinée à passer sous la semelle de la chaussure.

The invention relates to a foot blocker for climbing up a rope, comprising:

• a blocking member having a metal body equipped with a chord guiding chute, and a movable trigger pivotally mounted on the body about an axis between a closed position and an open position, respectively for pressing the rope against the bottom of the chute when the body is loaded in the direction of the descent, and to unlock the rope in the opposite direction of the ascent,
• a first attachment device comprising at least one passer for the passage of a first strap intended to surround the user's ankle, and a second device for attaching a second strap intended to pass under the sole of the shoe .

Such a blocker can be attached to the shoe of the right or left foot, and allows an easier ascent along a rope, in the field of mountaineering, climbing, caving, or work at height.

The first strap surrounds the kick, and is associated with a clamping loop, while the second strap passes under the shoe being secured to the first strap opposite the second passer.

■ State of the art

A foot blocker of the kind mentioned is represented on the Figures 1 to 3 , and is described in detail in the document FR 2,790,968 .

With reference to Figures 1 to 3 , a foot blocker, designated by the general reference 10, comprises a blocking element 12 associated with a pair of straps 14, 16 for attachment to a shoe. The blocking element 12 is provided with a C-shaped folded metal body 18, inside which is articulated a pivoting trigger 20 allowing upward movement along a rope 11. The trigger 20 comprises a wedging surface 22 pinned, for pressing the rope against a chute 24 when the body 18 of the blocking element 12 is biased down by the weight of the user. During the ascent along the rope, the trigger 20 pivots about the axis 26 in a clockwise direction to an open position to release the rope. A clamping loop 28 is associated with the first horizontal strap 14 for fixing the assembly to the foot of the user.

The body 18 of the blocking element 12 is made of sheet metal cut, stamped and folded, and comprises two fastening devices 30, 32 arranged in the flat part to allow the passage and adjustment of the straps 14, 16. The first device The upper fastener 30 is provided with four substantially parallel vertical slots 34 aligned horizontally defining two loops 36, 38 for the passage of the strap 14. The second lower fastener 32 comprises two horizontal and parallel slots 40 forming a loop 42 for the passage of the second vertical strap 16. A hole 44 is formed in the body 18 to allow the attachment of a carabiner. A return spring 46 is mounted on the shaft 26 to bias the trigger 20 towards the closed position.

The first loops 36, 38 extend orthogonally with respect to the second loop 42 being integrated in the flat part of the body between the trough 24 and the hinge axis 26 of the trigger 20. After its introduction, the first strap 14 extends perpendicularly with respect to the chute 24.

When the user goes up ( figure 3 ), the foot blocker 10 rubs against the upper edge of the chute 24, hindering the sliding of the blocker along the rope 11.

This sliding defect has the effect of reducing the speed of progression, and requires more effort from the user.

■ Object of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide an improved foot blocker to limit friction and improve the sliding of the rope during the ascent.

The foot blocker according to the invention is characterized in that the passage of the first strap in the first attachment device is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the guide chute of the rope, said angle being between 40.degree. ° and 75 ° so as to keep the bottom of the chute parallel to the path of the rope during the ascent.

According to a preferred embodiment, the angle of inclination of the first pass is close to 60 °. The first pass is formed by four parallel slots offset two by two in the direction of the height to define said angle of inclination.

Such an arrangement of the first passer places the first strap in a position preventing any friction of the rope against the upper edge of the chute. The rope remains parallel to the bottom of the chute, and the blocker slides freely when the user raises his legs for the ascent.

■ Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un bloqueur de pied connu selon l'art antérieur;
• la figure 2 montre une vue postérieure de l'élément bloqueur de la figure 1 sans les sangles ;
• la figure 3 représente la remontée d'un utilisateur avec le bloqueur de pied connu de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue identique de la figure 2 d'un bloqueur de pied selon l'invention ;
• la figure 5 montre une vue du bloqueur de pied de la figure 4 avec le système de sangles ;
• la figure 6 est une vue identique de la figure 3 avec le bloqueur pied selon l'invention.

Other advantages and features will emerge more clearly from the following description of an embodiment of the invention given by way of non-limiting example, and represented in the accompanying drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective view of a foot blocker known according to the prior art;
• the figure 2 shows a posterior view of the blocking element of the figure 1 without the straps;
• the figure 3 represents the ascent of a user with the foot blocker known from the figure 1 ;
• the figure 4 is an identical view of the figure 2 a foot blocker according to the invention;
• the figure 5 shows a view of the foot blocker of the figure 4 with the system of straps;
• the figure 6 is an identical view of the figure 3 with the foot blocker according to the invention.

■ Description of a preferred embodiment

On the Figures 4 to 6 , the same reference numbers will be used to designate parts identical or similar to those of Figures 1 to 3 .

The structure of the blocking element 12 is identical to that of the figure 2 , except for the positioning of the first attachment device 30 which is inclined downwards by a predetermined angle with respect to the chute 24. When the first strap 14 is put in place, the angle of the latter is advantageously between 40 ° and 75 ° with respect to the trough 24

The bottom of the chute 24 remains parallel to the path of the rope 11 during the ascent ( figure 6 ). The blocking element 12 can thus slide freely without any friction of the rope on the top of the chute 24.

The first attachment device 30 is formed by four parallel slots 34 forming two loops 36, 38 offset in pairs in the direction of the height to define said angle of inclination. The first strap 14 thus passes through the two loops 36, 38) in a direction inclined relative to the horizontal.

The second attachment device 32 is identical to that of the figure 2 and is formed by two parallel and superposed slots 40.

Claims (5)

1. A foot lock ascender (10) for ascending along a rope (11) comprising:

   - an ascender element (12) having a metal body (18) equipped with a throat (24) for guiding the rope, and a movable gate (20) fitted pivoting on the body (18) around a swivel-pin (26) between a closed position and an open position to respectively press the rope (11) against the bottom of the throat (24) when the body (18) is solicited in the descending direction and to release the rope in the opposite ascending direction,

   - a first attachment device (30) comprising at least one passage (36, 38) for a first strap (14) designed to wrap round the user's ankle to pass through, and a second attachment device (32) of a second strap (16) designed to pass under the sole of the user's shoe,

   characterized in that the passage of the first strap (14) through the first attachment device (30), is inclined by a predefined angle with respect to the guide throat (24) of the rope (11), said angle being comprised between 40° and 75° so as to keep the bottom of the throat parallel to the path of the rope when ascending.
2. A foot lock ascender according to claim 1, characterized in that the angle of incline of the strap passage (36, 38) of the first attachment device (30) is close to 60°.
3. A foot lock ascender according to claim 1, characterized in that the strap passage (36, 38) of the first attachment device (30) comprises at least two vertical slots (34) arranged perpendicularly with respect to two horizontal slots (40) of the strap passage (42) of the second attachment device (32).
4. A foot lock ascender according to claim 1, characterized in that the first attachment device (30) is formed by four parallel slots (34) forming two strap passages (36, 38) offset two by two in the heightwise direction to define said angle of incline.
5. A foot lock ascender according to claim 4, characterized in that the first strap (14) passes through the two strap passages (36, 38) in an inclined direction with respect to the horizontal.

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