ES2796424B2 - Mechanical connector joining device for climbing - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

MECHANICAL CONNECTOR JOINT DEVICE FOR CLIMBING

TECHNICAL SECTOR

The present invention belongs to the field of equipment material for climbing and more specifically to that of mechanical connector joining devices.

The main object of the present invention is a device for joining mechanical connectors that allows two sections of different lengths to be obtained at the same time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The practice of climbing requires the use of safety elements that allow the climber to connect with the wall. On the one hand, the climber is wearing a safety harness to which a rope is attached. On the other hand, along the wall (whether made of rock, ice or artificial) there are fixed anchoring points, which can be permanent or temporary.

A climber can face the ascent of a wall in two ways: first or second. When first climbing, the rope is not previously attached to any fixed anchor point on the wall, but the climber is the one who must connect his rope to the anchor points as he progresses. These points are separated from each other by a certain distance. The climber will be at risk of free fall every time he surpasses the last anchorage point to which he was connected in height. When climbing second, the rope is previously attached to the anchor points of the wall, and especially to the last of them, the meeting ring or carabiner, which acts as a pulley. In this form of ascent, the climber has no risk of free fall, since he always has his rope connected to a point above him.

The fixed anchor points on the wall of the permanent type are those that remain fixed to the wall by mechanical means (threaded screw, expansion bolt, among others) or chemical (glue), so that, once installed, the climber does not have to remove or put them on during climbing. The installation of these elements requires the use of auxiliary means, such as an electric drill or glue. Examples of these elements are: parabolt, espit and chemical. They are those that are commonly used for the practice of sport climbing.

The fixed anchor points on the temporary wall are those that the climber places during the progression of the climb and are removed after its completion. This type of element is placed taking advantage of the shape and configuration of the wall. The installation of these elements does not require the use of auxiliary means. Examples of these elements are: fissurer and cam device. They are those that are commonly used for the practice of traditional or classical climbing.

All anchor points fixed to the wall, whether permanent or temporary, have a ring arranged to be attached to a mechanical connector or carabiner. Said ring can be metallic or textile.

In order to connect the climber's rope with the fixed anchor points on the wall, what we will call quick link systems are used in this patent. A quick link system is made up of two mechanical connectors (carabiners) and a quick link formed by a sewn flexible tape, strap or band, connecting the mechanical connectors. The quick coupling has two ends, with a loop at each, where the mechanical connectors are inserted. One of the mechanical connectors connects to the fixed anchor point on the wall, and the other mechanical connector connects to the climber's rope. Any person skilled in the art will know that this so-called quick link system is what is commonly known as "express tape".

To facilitate and simplify the writing and reading of this invention, the following terms will be used hereinafter:

• Carabiner: to refer to the mechanical connector, which can be a carabiner or link.

• Carabiner main body: to refer to the fixed part of the carabiner.

This part is shaped like an open ring.

• Carabiner trigger: to refer to the mobile part of the carabiner, which serves as a connection between the ends of the perimeter of the main body of the carabiner, closing the ring. At one end it can pivot in such a way that the opposite end can be disconnected, allowing the ring to be opened and other elements to be connected with the carabiner.

• Wall carabiner: to refer to the mechanical connector designed to connect with the fixed anchor point on the wall. They typically have a straight trigger.

• Rope carabiner: to refer to the mechanical connector intended to connect with the climber's rope. They typically have a curved trigger. • Quick joint: to refer to the joint device between mechanical connectors, which can be formed with a sewn flexible tape, strap or band.

• Quick link system: to refer to the set of two mechanical connectors and a quick link.

• Free distance: to refer to the distance between two consecutive rope carabiners. This distance should not be confused with the distance between consecutive fixed wall anchor points.

• Free fall: to refer to the fall in which, before it occurs, the fixed anchor point of the wall that will secure the climber is below the point where the climber ties the rope to the harness.

Currently there are various configurations of quick link system, with different shapes, dimensions and materials for both carabiners and quick links. However, they all have a common feature: they have a single wall carabiner, a single one-section quick connect with two loops (one at each end), and a single rope carabiner.

During a first climb, the climber will be secured to each fixed anchor point on the wall only when he attaches the wall carabiner of the quick link system to the fixed anchor point on the wall and connects his rope with the rope carabiner. This carries a risk for the climber, especially when the distance between the fixed anchor points on the wall is very large, which increases the probability, length and severity of a free fall.

In climbing practice, it is very common for the quick link systems to be connected to the fixed anchor points of the wall even when the ascent has been completed, so that the same climber or a different one, on the same day or another , you can perform the ascent first without having to place them; it will only connect your rope to the rope carabiners of the quick link systems as you reach them. Even if the quick link systems are already attached to the fixed anchor points on the wall, the risk of free fall still exists.

In first-class climbing, one way of reducing the free distance, and therefore the probability, length and severity of a free fall, would be to place the fixed anchor points on the wall very close to each other, a few meters away. This solution is not practical, because if the usual lengths of the climbing routes (20 meters) are considered, a very high number of fixed anchor points would be necessary, which implies a high visual impact, a high investment in material and a great physical effort to carry and place them.

To avoid free distance and therefore free fall, there are currently auxiliary devices that allow the climber to connect a quick link system to the next anchor point from a great distance. To do this, the climber must anchor himself to a fixed anchor point on the wall using an auxiliary anchoring element, and have both hands free to manipulate the auxiliary device, a quick link system and the rope. The auxiliary device is a tubular object of variable length, commonly called a “rod”, which at one end allows to hold a quick link system with the rope passed over the rope carabiner and to keep the wall carabiner with the trigger open. The climber holds and manipulates the auxiliary device from the opposite end to insert the wall carabiner of the quick link system into the ring of the next fixed anchor point. After inserting it, the auxiliary device allows the disconnection of itself with the quick link system, and also closes the trigger of the wall carabiner. With this, the climber's rope is connected to the next fixed anchor point and has avoided that section of free fall.

This auxiliary device (rod) has three main drawbacks. The first is that it forces the climber to interrupt the climbing activity, understanding how Such is the activity in which he supports himself to the wall only by means of his limbs or other parts of his body. The second is that the auxiliary device has a maximum length that limits its use to a certain distance between fixed anchor points on the wall. And the third is that it is an object of such dimensions and weight that it makes the climber uncomfortable during the ascent. For these reasons, this device is commonly used to place the quick link systems in the fixed anchor points of the wall to later make a first ascent without carrying said auxiliary device.

In order to reduce the free distance, this patent focuses its attention on the current state of the art of joining devices between mechanical connectors, that is, quick joints. Document ES2025377 refers to a quick strap attachment element for climbing, the main characteristic of which is its ring-shaped configuration by means of a flexible band or strap whose opposite ends are joined together by a seam, making the attachment of the strap element. attachment to the anchor point by means of a first fixing carabiner buckle trapped in a loop or ring of the attachment element.

The device described in the aforementioned document and other existing ones not described mainly have the following deficiency: the quick connection only has a single section of two ends, with a loop at each one, which limits the connection of a single wall carabiner and a single rope carabiner. This implies that the climber will only be able to opt for a single length of quick link (and thus a single length of quick link system) at each fixed anchor point on the wall.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has the task of presenting a joining device between mechanical connectors that allows two sections of different lengths to be obtained at the same time, capable of solving the aforementioned deficiency, in addition to providing other novelties. We will call this device double quick junction.

The task is solved by a double quick connection according to claim 1. Other advantageous configurations of the device are the subject of the dependent claims.

The double quick joint of the present invention is divided into two sections with different lengths: long section and short section. The double quick joint has three ends: a common end, a long-span end, and a short-span end. Each end features a loop for connecting a carabiner: at the common end a wall carabiner, at the long end a rope carabiner, and at the short end another rope carabiner. The short length will be such that its corresponding rope carabiner end is close to the common end, and the long length will be considerably longer.

The novelty of the present invention is the possibility of composing a quick link system with a second additional length of quick link section for a single wall carabiner. We will call this composition a double quick link system, consisting of a wall carabiner, a double quick link, and two rope carabiners.

If we consider the placement of double quick coupling systems on the fixed anchoring points on the wall, we see that the double quick coupling allows dividing the free distance in a section of two fixed anchoring points on the wall by two. By dividing this length in two, the two lengths obtained are logically less than the original length. Therefore, it has been possible to reduce the free distance to climb and, consequently, the probability, length and severity of the free fall. This is the main advantage of the double quick joint. For the same fixed wall anchor point, with a double quick link system the climber can be connected by means of two rope carabiners located at two different heights.

Commonly, the climber will connect the double quick link systems to one or more fixed anchor points on the wall (depending on the risk of falling of each section) during the descent of the climbing route, well after having previously climbed it first. , or having accessed the highest anchor point of the climbing route (meeting) by other means, skirting the wall, for example. After having placed the double quick-links systems, the climber will be able to make a safer first ascent, with clearer distances less than those that would exist if there were no double quick-links, and without having to interrupt the climb. ascension, as when it occurs when using the aforementioned auxiliary device (cane).

When the climber ascends first and encounters a double quick link system, the safest practice is the one in which the climber connects his rope first with the long-leg rope carabiner, and then when he reaches it, with the short section rope carabiner. However, the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned practice, the climber being able to connect his rope to a single rope karabiner (of the long or short section) or to both.

The double quick join presents another advantage for first and second climbing. The long section of the double quick connection serves as an auxiliary element for the climber's ascent, holding on to it. There are times when the climber cannot advance in his ascent due to physical limitations, due to the difficulty of the climb. In these cases, the long section will provide the climber with additional assistance in ascending to the short section rope carabiner.

Up to now, reference has been made to the basic configuration of the double quick joint: two sections with different lengths (long section and short section) and three ends (common end, long section end and short section end). Now, it is possible to make another advantageous configuration in which the long section has more than one end. Additional ends or loops (for additional rope carabiners) may be provided along the length of the long span to allow a subdivision of the length of the long span. This will further divide and reduce the clearance distance.

The present invention provides an advantageous advance in the safety of climbing, especially first, where the greatest risks of the practice of said activity are concentrated. It is worth mentioning that both novice and expert climbers can benefit from this safety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help A better understanding of the characteristics of the invention is attached as an integral part of said description, a set of drawings in which, with an illustrative and non-limiting nature, the following has been represented:

Figure 1.- Shows a front view of the double quick coupling object of the invention.

Figure 2.- Shows a side view of the double quick coupling object of the invention.

Figure 3.- Shows an enlarged front view of the double quick coupling object of the invention. In order to show the enlarged view, the long section is represented cut, due to its great length.

Figure 4.- Shows an enlarged side view of the double quick coupling object of the invention. In order to show the enlarged view, the long section is represented cut, due to its great length.

Figure 5.- Shows a front view of a double rapid link system with the double rapid link object of the invention. In order to show the view, the long section is represented cut, due to its great length.

Figure 6.- Shows a side view of a double rapid link system with the double rapid link object of the invention. In order to show the view, the long section is represented cut, due to its great length.

Figure 7.- Shows a front view of a representation of a climber first ascending a wall.

Figure 8.- Shows a front view of the double quick coupling object of the invention with additional ends or loops in the long section.

Figure 9.- Shows an enlarged front view of the detail of an additional end in the long section.

Figure 10.- Shows a side view of the double quick coupling object of the invention with additional ends or loops in the long section.

Figure 11.- Shows an enlarged side view of the detail of an additional end in the long section.

Below is a list of the different elements represented in the figures that make up the invention:

1 = double quick coupling

2 = flexible tape

3 = long section

4 = short section

5 = common end

6 = long span end

7 = short span end

8 = seam

9 = double fast link system

10 = wall carabiner

11 = rope carabiner

12 = wall

13 = climber

14 = harness

15 = rope

16 = quick link system

17 = ring of the fixed anchor point on the wall

18 = end or extra loop of long leg

A = clearance in the absence of double quick coupling

B = clear distance between the rope carabiner of the quick link system and the end rope carabiner of the long section of the next double quick link system

C = clear distance between the end rope carabiner of the long section and the end rope carabiner of the short section of a double quick link system

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforementioned figures, and in accordance with the numbering adopted, an example of a preferred embodiment of the invention can be seen in them, which comprises the parts and elements that are indicated and described in detail below.

Thus, as can be seen in Figures 1 to 4, a possible preferred embodiment of the double quick connection (1) essentially comprises the following elements:

• A flexible tape (2), which can be a tape, strap or flexible band

• A long section (3)

• A short section (4)

• A common end or loop (5) where a wall carabiner will be attached • A long span end (6) where a rope carabiner will be attached • A short span end (7) where a rope carabiner will be attached • Seams (8) connecting the various sections of tape to each other

As can be seen in Figures 1 to 4, the double quick joint (1) has been formed with a single flexible tape (2) with two ends, making the appropriate turns, folds and seams (8). This preferred embodiment allows double quick connections (1) of various lengths of long section (3), short section (4), common end (5), long section end (6) and short section end (7), depending on the total length of the flexible tape (2) and the turns, folds and seams (8) that are made.

Figures 5 and 6 show a practical example of a double quick link system (9) composed of a double quick link (1), a wall carabiner (10) connected to the common end (5), a rope carabiner (11) connected to the end of the long section (6) and a rope carabiner (11) connected to the end of the short section (7).

Figure 7 shows a schematic representation of a climber (13) with the rope (15) tied to his harness (14) first ascending a wall (12). A section is represented in which a quick link system (16) has been placed in the ring (17) of a fixed anchoring point on the wall, and a double quick link system (9) in another ring (17) of a fixed anchor point on the wall. This representation makes it possible to illustrate the advantage of dividing the free distance (A) into two lower free distances (B and C) thanks to the double quick connection of the present invention.

Figures 8 to 11 show the double quick joint (1) with additional ends (18) in the long section (3) joined by seams (8). In said figures a possible way of making the additional ends (18) is shown by means of additional flexible two-pointed tapes (as many tapes as additional ends) joined to the long section (3) by sewing (8). However, it is possible to obtain the additional ends (18) without having additional flexible tapes. In this case, with the flexible tape (2) that makes up the double quick joint (1), the additional ends by appropriate twists, folds and sewing of the flexible tape (2) in the positions where the additional ends (18) are to be located.

The invention, within its essentiality, may be put into practice in other embodiments that differ in detail from those indicated by way of example, and which will also achieve the protection sought. It can therefore be made in any shape and size, and with the most suitable materials, since all this is included in the spirit of the claims.

Claims (2)

1. Device for joining mechanical connectors for climbing or double rapid joining (1) characterized by being formed with a flexible tape (2) with two ends that, through the appropriate twists, folds and seams (8), forms a long section (3), a short section (4), a common end (5), a long section end (6) and a short section end (7). Device according to claim 1, characterized by having one or more additional ends (18) in the long section (3) joined by means of seams (8), either with additional flexible tape with two ends or with the same flexible tape (2 ) of the double quick joint (1), making the appropriate turns, folds and seams (8).