Abstract: An avalanche probe for locating and rescuing people buried by an avalanche is collapsible, having several probe segments which allow the probe to be folded to a compact unit that can be quickly and easily assembled for use. A connecting cord passes through the probe segments and fastens to a probe tip. Applying tension to the cord draws the segments into alignment. A clamping mechanism maintains the tension on the cord in such a manner that the probe segments are fixedly and securely held against one another. The clamping mechanism provides two interpenetrating elements, an outer element and an inner element having a passage therethrough. At least one clamping element passes into the central passage and is forcibly engaged with the cord as the interpenetration of the elements increases.

Abstract: Search device for locating a transmitter, in particular an avalanche-victim search device (1), such that for scanning a search area the search device (1) is swiveled by a user through a range of search angles that covers the region to be searched, which independently determines the position of an avalanche victim or several such victims in a reliable and economical manner, with a magnetic-field sensor that sends to a signal-processing means sensor signals related to the earth's magnetic field that are then sent on as processed signals to the output unit, and to every search direction there is assigned a fixed search angle relative to the earth's magnetic field, so that at every time it is possible to associate the signal received from a transmitter with a fixed search angle.