Abstract: A simple, economical, and highly effective auto locking belay device is presented, certain embodiments of which contain no moving parts. The simplicity of the device is due to the fact that it derives certain functionality from its attachment carabiner that would normally be found within an auto-locking belay device itself. In its simplest form, the Device (10) comprises only a Body (14) with an Inner Channel (16) and a Pin (12_). The attachment carabiner supports the path of the rope through the device, constrains an axis of rotation around which the device rotates, and provides one of two surfaces between which the rope is pinched. The device is able to extract these functions from the carabiner due to a unique, and counter-intuitive, placement of the carabiner within the same geometric plane as the path of the rope through the device.

Abstract: An Interlocking Climbing Chock 10 is disclosed having at least one pair of opposing sides with complementary interlocking projections and recesses. Two instances of this Interlocking Climbing Chock 10 may be interlocked to form a larger interlocked climbing chock. The flexibility, provided by the subject invention, to form various sizes of climbing chocks while on a climb in order to meet the needs of that particular climb, offers the climber advantages both in safety and economy.

Abstract: A Safe Auto-Locking Belay Override Mechanism (24) is provided which causes an auto-locking belay device to lock a rope against movement if a belayer panics, as sometimes happens if a climber falls, after the belayer has overridden the normal function of the auto-locking belay device. The mechanism of the subject invention makes use of the realization that a belayer tends to grip an auto-locking belay device tightly when the belayer panics. The subject invention contains a pressure sensitive activation means that acts on an override means such that the normal function of the belay device will be overridden by only one of three different force levels. At either relatively low or relatively high levels of force exerted by the belayer on the pressure sensitive activation means, the auto-locking belay device will function normally and lock a rope against further movement in the event that the rope exerts sufficient force on the auto-locking belay device such as when a climber falls.

Abstract: An improved Belay Device is provided consisting of a Base (14), Rope Locking Ring (36), Cover (48), and Connecting Pin (58). The Base (14) contains a Protruding Cylindrical Core (18) with a Base Rope Channel (20). The Protruding Cylindrical Core (18) is received within a Central Hole (34) of the Rope Locking Ring (36). The Rope Locking Ring (36) contains an Upper Ring Rope Channel (38) and Lower Ring Rope Channel (40) that, in normal operating configuration, align with the Base Rope Channel (20) thus forming one continuous rope channel. An abrupt force on a rope passing through the device causes the Rope Locking Ring (36) to rotate with respect to the Protruding Cylindrical Core (18) thus destroying the alignment of the Lower Ring Rope Channel (40), Base Rope Channel (20), and Upper Ring Rope Channel (38). The rope thus becomes pinched or locked in the transition regions between these rope channels.