Abstract: An improved camming stem system including a head member, a plurality of cam lobes, a connection system, and a retraction system. The cam lobes may be selectively rotatable between an extended state and a retracted state with respect to at least one axle of the head member. The connection system may create an elongated, substantially rigid region by intercoupling the head member with a loop. The connection system is configured to create an elongated partially rigid region by intercoupling the head member with a loop, wherein the connection system comprises a twisted cable coupled between the head member and the loop, and wherein the loop is oriented substantially parallel to the at least one axle, and wherein the twisted cable includes a twisting radial angle of at least 90 degrees.

Abstract: An automatic carabiner gate locking system and method of operation. The system includes a frame, a gate, a gate biasing system, and a gate locking system. The gate locking system further includes a set of rotatable latching sleeves disposed over the gate. When the gate is in the closed state, the latching sleeves independently rotate between an unlocked state in which the gate is free to pivot and a locked state in which the gate may be prevented from pivoting with respect to the frame. The locked state further includes rotationally orienting the latching sleeves over the gate frame coupling region. The unlocked state further includes rotationally separating the latching sleeves to expose a locking recess over the gate recess, thereby allowing the gate to pivot. A second embodiment of the present invention relates to a method of automatically locking a carabiner gate.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to an improved camming stem system including a head member, a plurality of cam lobes, a connection system, and a retraction system. The cam lobes may be selectively rotatable between an extended state and a retracted state with respect to at least one axle of the head member. The connection system may create an elongated, substantially rigid region by intercoupling the head member with a loop. The retraction system is configured to selectively engage the retracted state with a trigger assembly which is slidably externally coupled to the connection system. The trigger assembly further includes a coupling member coupled with the plurality of cam lobes via a plurality of retractor wires, at least one trigger cable fixably coupled to the coupling member, a trigger coupled to the at least one trigger cable, a sleeve member intercoupled between the coupling member and the trigger.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is related to a harness system including a waist member and a leg loop member. The two leg loop members are configured to encircle the legs of the user and are coupled to the waist member. The leg loop members each comprise a net-leg region, a waist coupling region, and two net-waist transition regions. The net-leg region comprises a load bearing net structure having a plurality of independent recesses defined by an intercoupled mesh material. The waist member may also include a similar net-waist region, leg coupling region, and two net-leg transition regions. The net-leg and net-waist regions may include at least one of edge tape, shape mesh, proximal fabric, and distal fabric. The net-waist transition regions and the net-leg transition regions may comprise either a non-stitch transition or a stitch coupling to the waist and leg coupling regions respectively.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to an improved camming stem system including a head member, a plurality of cam lobes, a connection system, and a retraction system. The cam lobes may be selectively rotatable between an extended state and a retracted state with respect to at least one axle of the head member. The connection system may create an elongated, substantially rigid region by intercoupling the head member with a loop. The connection system is configured to create an elongated partially rigid region by intercoupling the head member with a loop, wherein the connection system comprises a twisted cable coupled between the head member and the loop, and wherein the loop is oriented substantially parallel to the at least one axle, and wherein the twisted cable includes a twisting radial angle of at least 90 degrees.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to an improved camming stem system including a head member, a plurality of cam lobes, a connection system, and a retraction system. The cam lobes may be selectively rotatable between an extended state and a retracted state with respect to at least one axle of the head member. The connection system may create an elongated, substantially rigid region by intercoupling the head member with a loop. The retraction system is configured to selectively engage the retracted state with a trigger assembly which is slidably externally coupled to the connection system. The trigger assembly further includes a coupling member coupled with the plurality of cam lobes via a plurality of retractor wires, at least one trigger cable fixably coupled to the coupling member, a trigger coupled to the at least one trigger cable, a sleeve member intercoupled between the coupling member and the trigger.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is related to a harness system including a waist member and a leg loop member. The two leg loop members are configured to encircle the legs of the user and are coupled to the waist member. The leg loop members each comprise a net-leg region, a waist coupling region, and two net-waist transition regions. The net-leg region comprises a load bearing net structure having a plurality of independent recesses defined by an intercoupled mesh material. The waist member may also include a similar net-waist region, leg coupling region, and two net-leg transition regions. The net-leg and net-waist regions may include at least one of edge tape, shape mesh, proximal fabric, and distal fabric. The net-waist transition regions and the net-leg transition regions may comprise either a non-stitch transition or a stitch coupling to the waist and leg coupling regions respectively.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to an improved camming stem system including a head member, a plurality of cam lobes, a connection system, and a retraction system. The cam lobes may be selectively rotatable between an extended state and a retracted state with respect to at least one axle of the head member. The connection system may create an elongated, substantially rigid region by intercoupling the head member with a loop. The connection system includes a cord continuously wrapped around the head member and loop. The continuous configuration of the cord around both the head member and the loop creates the necessary minimum tensile strength for operation of the camming system. The cord may be wrapped around a rivet or one or more axles of the head member. Independent regions of the cord may be spliced together to form the continuous configuration.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is related to a harness system including a waist member and a leg loop member. The waist member is configured to encircle the naval region of the user and form a continuous loop. The leg loop member is configured to encircle the legs of the user. The leg loop member nay also be coupled to the waist member via a third loop. The leg loop member includes a continuous cord with at least two unbraided regions and at least one splice coupling. The unbraided regions are disposed between braided regions and are disposed on the leg loop member to correspond to the user's legs. The unbraided regions further comprise a plurality of separated strands oriented substantially parallel and equidistant to one another.

Abstract: The present invention relates a carabiner system including a frame and a gate. The frame includes an opening between a pivot region and a keyed region. The keyed region of the frame may be hookless. The gate is pivotably coupled to the frame across the opening to form a continuously enclosed inner region in the closed configuration. The gate is also pivotably coupled about the pivot region of the frame forming a gap between the gate and frame in an open configuration. The gate further includes a key-lock region, a gate region, and an attachment region which are integrally formed together without any type of coupling between regions. The gate region includes a plurality of elongated members between the key-lock region and attachment region. The plurality of elongated members may include non-circular cross sections and varying thicknesses and tolerances designed to optimize functionality, weight, and appearance.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to an assisted braking belay system with a housing, camming mechanism, and clutch mechanism. The housing may include a substantially enclosed rope channel through which a rope may extend to the climber. The camming mechanism is moveably coupled to the housing and configured to automatically engage a camming surface upon the rope across the rope channel if the rope translates through the channel at a particular acceleration rate. The clutch mechanism may function as a secondary locking mechanism to engage the camming surface of the camming mechanism upon the rope across the rope channel.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to an avalanche safety system including an inflatable chamber, activation system, inflation system, harness, and a container. The inflatable chamber is a three-dimensionally, partially enclosed region having an inflated state and a compressed state. The inflated state may form a particular three dimensional shape configured to protect the use from impact and/or provide flotation during an avalanche. The inflation system is configured to transmit ambient air into the inflatable chamber. The harness may be a backpack that enables a user to transport the system while engaging in activities that may be exposed to avalanche risk. The container is releasably coupled to the harness including a coupled and a separate state. The container independently includes a container chamber that is selectively enclosable by a container opening. The releasable coupling between the container and the harness may include a periphery zipper type coupling.

Abstract: A pole system comprising a continuous elongated frame forming both structural and functional geometries relating to the handle and shaft portions. The continuous elongated frame may include an internal cavity and a variable wall thickness along the lengthwise dimension. The handle portion of the continuous elongated frame includes a cap region, grip region, and a retention region. The independent regions of the handle portion may include substantially different cross sectional shapes to facilitate the corresponding functional characteristics. For example, the grip region may include an ergonomic tapered oval cross sectional shape to facilitate optimal engagement with a user's hand. The shaft portion of the continuous elongated frame is disposed between the handle portion and the bottom end of the continuous elongated frame. The tip is either integrated as a portion of the continuous elongated frame or translatably coupled via a lower pole member.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is related to a harness system including a waist member and a leg loop member. The waist member is configured to encircle the naval region of the user and form a continuous loop. The leg loop member is configured to encircle the legs of the user. The leg loop member nay also be coupled to the waist member via a third loop. The leg loop member includes a continuous cord with at least two unbraided regions and at least one splice coupling. The unbraided regions are disposed between braided regions and are disposed on the leg loop member to correspond to the user's legs. The unbraided regions further comprise a plurality of separated strands oriented substantially parallel and equidistant to one another.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to an active camming device including a head member, a set of cam lobes, a connection system, and a retraction system. The cam lobes are configured to rotate between a retracted state and a spring biased extended state. The connection system includes a lengthwise cable coupled to the terminal. The retraction system is uniquely configured to enable selective engagement of the retracted state of the cam lobes with respect to the cam head. The retraction system includes slidably externally coupling a trigger and retraction sleeve to the cam lobes over the cable. A set of independent sleeves are also slidably coupled to the cable over the retraction sleeve between the trigger and cam lobes. The independent sleeves may be conically shaped and oriented to adjacently internest with one another so as to protect the retraction sleeve during operation of the refraction system.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to an avalanche safety system including an inflatable chamber, activation system, inflation system, and a harness. The inflatable chamber is a three-dimensionally, partially enclosed region having an inflated state and a compressed state. The inflated state may form a particular three dimensional shape configured to protect the user from burial and provide flotation during an avalanche. The activation system is configured to receive a user-triggered action to activate the system. The inflation system may include an air intake, battery, fan, and internal airway channel. The inflation system is configured to transmit ambient air into the inflatable chamber. The harness may be a backpack that enables a user to transport the system while engaging in activities that may be exposed to avalanche risk. The harness may include hip straps, shoulder straps, internal compartments, etc.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to a modular garment harness system including a lower body garment, a waist member, a leg loop member, and a coupler. The waist member may act as both a belt and waist portion of the harness by encircling the waist region of the lower body garment. The waist member may be coupled to the lower body garment so as to enable a user to single handedly adjust the internal circumference of the waist region. The leg loop member and coupler are modular components in that they may be easily stored and engaged when full harness operation is necessary. The coupler may enable a user to intercouple the anterior middle region of the leg loop member, the posterior middle region of the leg loop member, and the fixed gap formed between the waist member and lower body garment.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to a carrying system with an enclosure member and a shoulder attachment system. The shoulder attachment system includes a first and second shoulder strap individually coupled to the external surface of the enclosure member. The bottom ends of the first and second shoulder straps are intercoupled via a coupling member. The coupling member is slidably routed through a sleeve member within the internal region of the enclosure member. The sleeve member includes an internal channel having a cross-sectional shape that substantially matches the cross-sectional shape of the coupling member, thereby minimizing frictional resistance as the coupling member is translated through the sleeve member. The slidable intercoupling between the bottom ends of the first and second shoulder straps with respect to the enclosure member enables articulation of one shoulder strap to be balanced by corresponding articulation of the opposite shoulder strap.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to a snow shovel system with an extended and collapsed state. The system includes a blade member, handle, lower shaft member, and upper shaft member. One end of the lower shaft member is coupled to the blade member and the other is slidably coupled with the upper shaft member. A first end of the upper shaft member is coupled to a handle and the second end is slidably coupled with the lower shaft member. The slidable coupling between the lower and upper shaft members includes an extended state and a collapsed state in which the handle is separated from the blade member a greater distance in the extended state. The collapsed state includes translating a portion of the lower shaft member beyond the first end of the upper shaft member.