Abstract: A line clamp or stopping apparatus includes a housing one part of which serves to clamp or wedge a line subjected to high tension upwards of ten tons. The other part of the housing controls the first part. An eccentric wheel rotates freely within the first part in response to movements of the line and is guided within a space or gap between the wheel and a braking element. The control includes a toggle joint that applies significant forces on the brake when a safety is removed and a control lever is in a neutral or locking position. When the control lever is moved to the open or unlock or release position the toggle joint snaps and released the brake to increase the gap in the line receiving space to allow free movement of the line. A hydraulic brake can be used in place of the mechanical toggle joint.

Abstract: A failsafe device for raising/lowering articles includes a frame and a fastener for attaching the frame to a ceiling or wall to elevated an article above the floor. A pulley or sheave is mounted on the frame about a substantially horizontal axis when the frame is mounted on the ceiling or wall. A line is entrained over the pulley and has a substantially vertical lifting line portion attachable to the article to the lifted and a substantially vertical pulling line portion arranged to be pulled downwardly by a user to elevate the article and raised upwardly to lower the article. A cam is mounted on the frame on one side of the pulling line portion and has a line engaging surface.

Abstract: A failsafe stable cleat with automatic in-line line-locking includes a frame having proximate and a remote sides on substantially opposite sides of the frame and formed with a passageway, extending between the proximate and remote sides, for receiving a line and generally defining a cleat center line along which a line can move along a first line releasing direction from the proximate to the remote sides and a line pulling direction from the remote to the proximate sides; attaching members for attaching the frame to a support surface. A cam on the frame on one side of the passageway has a line engaging portion spaced a predetermined distance from the support surface, the cam being movable between a line releasing position and a line locking position.