Passive Climbing Protection Device Comprised Of Multiple Components Confined To A Single Stem Which Nest To Create Chocks Of Differing Sizes

Abstract

A passive climbing protection device can be comprised of multiple components that are confined to a single stem which nest to create chocks of differing sizes. The multiple components are sized to enable each smaller component to be nested within the next largest component. Different sized chocks can be formed by simply sliding one or more larger components away from one or more smaller components leaving the smaller components to form a chock of the desired size. Accordingly, the passive climbing protection device provides multiple differently sized chocks on a single stem to enable a large range of placements to be covered with a single device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/719,069 which was filed on Oct. 26, 2013.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to passive climbing protection devices such as climbing chocks, nuts, and stoppers (hereinafter referred to generally as chocks). In particular, the present invention is directed to a passive climbing protection device comprised of multiple components that are confined to a single stem which nest to create chocks of differing sizes.

BACKGROUND

Climbers may employ various types of protection devices to secure themselves to a rock wall. These protection devices are commonly categorized as either active or passive protection devices. In either case, the protection device is typically inserted into a crack in the rock wall and secured between opposing surfaces of the crack. Once secured, the protection device can be used as an attachment point for supporting the weight of the climber.

Active protection devices employ a chock comprised of moving mechanical parts. The relative motion of parts allows for reduced effective width of the device for insertion into the crack, a self-enlarging effective width at rest within the crack, and reduced effective width for removal from the crack. Active protection devices are capable of a continuous size range. Common examples of active protection devices include the cam and the ball nut. Passive protection devices, on the other hand, employ a chock comprised of a single mechanical part having a width sufficient to allow the chock to be wedged within a crack.

Both active and passive protection devices are individually confined to a stem. The stem of a protection device may be a sling, cable, wire, or rigid member that extends from the mechanical part(s), shifting the attachment point away from the mechanical part(s). Typically, a carabiner is attached to the end of the stem opposite the wedged-in mechanical part(s) to allow the climber to secure a rope from the protection device.

FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate various types of passive climbing chocks 101a-101c. Each of climbing chocks 101a-101c is secured to a stem 102a-102c respectively. FIG. 1A illustrates an irregular tube-shaped chock 101a having a textile sling 102a as the stem, FIG. 1B shows a trapezoidal chock 101b having a metal cable 102b as the stem, and FIG. 1C illustrates a wedge chock 101c having a wire 102c as the stem.

Because passive protection devices, such as the chocks shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, have a fixed size and shape, a single passive protection device can only be used for a limited range of placements. Because of this, a climber will typically carry various climbing chocks of different shapes and sizes during a climb to ensure that he has an appropriate chock for each placement.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention is generally directed to a passive climbing protection device comprised of multiple components that are confined to a single stem which nest to create chocks of differing sizes. The multiple components are sized to enable each smaller component to be nested within the next largest component. Different sized chocks can be formed by simply sliding one or more larger components away from one or more smaller components leaving the smaller components to form a chock of the desired size.

Accordingly, the passive climbing protection device provides multiple differently sized chocks on a single stem to enable a large range of placements to be covered with a single device. The present invention is therefore more compact and easier to use than in prior art approaches which require the climber to carry many more devices to encompass the same range of placements.

In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a passive climbing protection device that includes a stem and multiple components secured to the stem which nest to form chocks of differing sizes.

In another embodiment, the present invention comprises a passive climbing protection device that includes a stem and multiple components attached to the stem. The multiple components include a smallest component and a largest component. The largest component has a cavity within which the smallest component can be inserted when the largest component is used to secure the device to a climbing surface.

In another embodiment, the present invention comprises a passive climbing protection device that includes a stem, a first component secured to the stem, and a second component secured to the stem. The second component has a cavity into which the first component inserts when the second component is slid overtop the first component to thereby enable the second component to be used to secure the device to a climbing surface. The second component is slidable along the stem to expose the first component to allow the first component to be used to secure the device to the climbing surface

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the invention. The features and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A illustrates a prior art irregular tube shaped chock with a textile sling for a stem;

FIG. 1B illustrates a prior art trapezoidal chock with a metal cable for a stem;

FIG. 1C illustrates a prior art wedge chock with a wire for a stem;

FIGS. 2A-2E illustrate one embodiment of a passive climbing protection device comprised of multiple nested components that are confined to a single stem;

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of a passive climbing protection device comprised of multiple nested components having a hexagonal shape that are confined to a single stem;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate another embodiment of a passive climbing protection device that includes a component with unenclosed sides; and

FIGS. 5A-5E illustrate another embodiment of a passive climbing protection device that includes a component with a single side and a locking mechanism for locking the single-sided component to a smaller component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is generally directed to a passive climbing protection device comprised of multiple components that are confined to a single stem which nest to create chocks of differing sizes. The multiple components are sized to enable each smaller component to be nested within the next largest component. Different sized chocks can be formed by simply sliding one or more larger components away from one or more smaller components leaving the smaller components to form a chock of the desired size.

Accordingly, the passive climbing protection device provides multiple differently sized chocks on a single stem to enable a large range of placements to be covered with a single device. The present invention is therefore more compact and easier to use than in prior art approaches which require the climber to carry many more devices to encompass the same range of placements.

In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a passive climbing protection device that includes a stem and multiple components secured to the stem which nest to form chocks of differing sizes.

In another embodiment, the present invention comprises a passive climbing protection device that includes a stem and multiple components attached to the stem. The multiple components include a smallest component and a largest component. The largest component has a cavity within which the smallest component can be inserted when the largest component is used to secure the device to a climbing surface.

In another embodiment, the present invention comprises a passive climbing protection device that includes a stem, a first component secured to the stem, and a second component secured to the stem. The second component has a cavity into which the first component inserts when the second component is slid overtop the first component to thereby enable the second component to be used to secure the device to a climbing surface. The second component is slidable along the stem to expose the first component to allow the first component to be used to secure the device to the climbing surface

FIGS. 2A-2E illustrate one embodiment of a passive climbing protection device 200 comprised of multiple nested components confined to a single stem. Device 200 includes three four-sided components 201a-201c that are secured to a stem 202. Although stem 202 is shown as comprising two side-by-side lengths of material that extend through each component 201a-201c, stem 202 can equally comprise a single length of material. A loop 202a can be formed at an end of stem 202 using a yoke 203. Yoke 203 can also serve to limit the movement of components 201a and 201b along stem 202. In some embodiments, component 201c may also be configured to slide along stem 202; however, in many cases, it may be desirable to secure the smallest component at the end of stem 202 to facilitate removal of larger components from overtop the smallest component.

FIGS. 2C-2E illustrate how device 200 enables multiple chocks of differing sizes to be created on a single stem thereby enabling device 200 to be used in a wide range of placements. In FIG. 2C, components 201a and 201b have been slid along stem 202 so that component 201c is the only component positioned at the end of stem 202. In this configuration, component 201c can be used in a similar manner as prior art chocks are used to secure device 200 within the crack as shown.

FIG. 2D illustrates that only component 201a has been slid back leaving components 201b and 201c positioned at the end of stem 202. In this position, the combination of components 201b and 201c can be used in a similar manner as prior art chocks to secure device 200 within the crack. As shown, the shape and size of component 201 c allows it to be contained within component 201b while component 201b is used to secure device 200 within the crack. In some embodiments, component 201c can be configured to reinforce component 201b such as by having a size and shape that match (or substantially match) the size and shape of the cavity in component 201b. In this way, components 201b and 201c will effectively function as a single solid piece.

FIG. 2E illustrates that component 201a is positioned overtop of components 201b and 201c. As stated above, in some embodiments, component 201b can have a size and shape that substantially match the size and shape of the cavity in component 201 a so that component 201b serves to reinforce component 201a during use.

Device 200 can therefore provide passive climbing protection over a wide range of placements (i.e. the range of widths between the smallest width of component 201c to the largest width of component 201a). Device 200 is also easy to carry and use during climbing. For example, because a single device can provide coverage for a wide range of placements, the climber can carry fewer devices. Also, when the climber needs to place a protection device, the climber can likely accomplish the placement using the single device 200 without having to obtain and test many different devices until one of the appropriate size is found. Further, because the effective width of device 200 can be adjusted by simply sliding the components back along stem 202, identifying the proper sized chock to use can be accomplished quickly and simply. This is an important consideration because oftentimes the climber only has one free hand with which to accomplish the placement.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of a passive climbing protection device 300 comprised of multiple nested components 301a-301c confined to a single stem 302. Components 301a-301c function in a similar manner as components 201a-201c described above. However, the hexagonal shape of components 201a-201c provides a greater number of effective widths than with rectangular components. Also, stem 302 is shown as comprising a single length of material that extends through each component 301a-301c on one end and terminates at the opposite end in a loop 302a that is secured by yoke 303.

Although devices 200 and 300 are each shown as including three components, a device in accordance with the present invention could also be configured with two, four, or more components. Accordingly, the present invention encompasses passive protection devices having any number of nested components that are confined to a stem. Further, a device in accordance with the present invention can include components having any polygonal shape.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate another embodiment of a passive climbing protection device 400. Device 400 includes components 401a, 401b that are secured to stem 402. Unlike components 201a and 201b shown in FIGS. 2A-2E, component 401a is not enclosed on two sides. In other words, component 401a is configured to have a width in one axis that is the same (or at least less than) the width of component 401b. In this way, component 401a only extends the effective width of component 401b in a single axis.

Although device 400 is shown as including two components, more than two components could also be used in this configuration. In such cases, the additional components may be configured similar to component 401a (i.e. not enclosed on two sides) or may be configured similar to components 201a, 201b (i.e. enclosed on all sides). Similar embodiments may also employ components of different shapes (e.g. hexagonal components) where one or more of the components are not enclosed on all sides.

FIGS. 5A-5E illustrate another embodiment of a passive climbing protection device 500. Device 500 includes components 501a and 501b with component 501a being enclosed only on a single side (i.e. component 501a only has a single side). One advantage of this design is that the effective width of component 501b can be increased in smaller increments since the width of only a single side is increased.

As best shown in FIG. 5C, device 500 can employ a locking mechanism to restrain movement between components 501a and 501b. In the depicted embodiment, the locking mechanism comprises a protrusion 505 on the inside surface of component 501a and a corresponding groove 506 on the outside surface of component 501b. However, the locking mechanism can also comprise any irregularity in the surfaces of components 501a, 501b that restrains relative movement of the components (e.g. a groove in component 501a and a protrusion in component 501b). Because component 501a comprises a single side and therefore lacks the ability to squeeze overtop of component 501b, the locking mechanism can serve to secure component 501a to component 501b.

Device 500 can also include additional components which may be configured similar to any of components 201a, 401a, or 501a. For example, a component enclosed on all four sides similar to component 201a can be sized and shaped to fit overtop of component 501a when component 501a is placed overtop of component 501b. Similarly, a component enclosed on only two sides similar to component 401a can be sized and shaped to fit overtop of component 501a when component 501a is placed overtop of component 501b. In such cases, the two sides of the additional component can be configured to be placed overtop of either set of sides of the combination of components 501a, 501b (e.g. to be placed vertically or horizontally with respect to device 500 as shown in FIG. 5D). Also, a component having a single side can be used overtop of component 501a. In such cases, the component can be configured so that its side is positioned opposite the side of component 501a and may also include a protrusion or groove that conforms to a groove or protrusion in component 501b. Accordingly, the present invention encompasses embodiments where one type of the disclosed components is used in combination with another type on the same device.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims

1. A passive climbing protection device comprising:

a stem; and

multiple components secured to the stem which nest to form chocks of differing sizes.

2. The passive climbing protection device of claim 1, wherein larger components are configured to slide along the stem to allow smaller components to form a chock of a desired size.

3. The passive climbing protection device of claim 1, wherein the components have a polygonal shape.

4. The passive climbing protection device of claim 3, wherein the components have one of a four-sided shape or a six-sided shape.

5. The passive climbing protection device of claim 1, wherein one or more of the larger components has one or more sides that are not enclosed.

6. The passive climbing protection device of claim 5, wherein the one or more larger components have two sides that are not enclosed.

7. The passive climbing protection device of claim 5, wherein the one or more larger components have one side that is enclosed.

8. The passive climbing protection device of claim 7, wherein the one or more larger components having one side that is enclosed include one of a groove or a protrusion that corresponds to a protrusion or groove respectively on a smaller component to restrain movement of the one or more larger components with respect to the smaller component.

9. A passive climbing protection device comprising:

a stem;

multiple components attached to the stem, the multiple components including a smallest component and a largest component, the largest component having a cavity within which the smallest component can be inserted when the largest component is used to secure the device to a climbing surface.

10. The passive climbing protection device of claim 9, wherein the largest component is configured to slide along the stem to expose the smallest component to allow the smallest component to be used to secure the device to a climbing surface.

11. The passive climbing protection device of claim 9, wherein the largest component includes one or more sides that are not enclosed.

12. The passive climbing protection device of claim 11, wherein the smallest component includes a groove or protrusion that corresponds to a protrusion or groove respectively formed on the largest component to restrain movement between the largest and smallest component.

13. The passive climbing protection device of claim 9, wherein the largest component comprises a single side having a protrusion that inserts into a corresponding groove formed in the smallest component to lock the largest component overtop the smallest component.

14. The passive climbing protection device of claim 9, further comprising:

one or more intermediate components that are each configured to be nested within the largest component.

15. The passive climbing protection device of claim 11, wherein one or more of the intermediate components has one or more sides that are not enclosed.

16. A passive climbing protection device comprising:

a stem;

a first component secured to the stem;

a second component secured to the stem, the second component having a cavity into which the first component inserts when the second component is slid overtop the first component to thereby enable the second component to be used to secure the device to a climbing surface, the second component being slidable along the stem to expose the first component to allow the first component to be used to secure the device to the climbing surface.

17. The passive climbing protection device of claim 16, wherein the second component includes one or more sides that are not enclosed.

18. The passive climbing protection device of claim 16, further comprising:

a third component secured to the stem, the third component having a cavity into which the second component inserts when the third component is slid overtop the second component to thereby enable the third component to be used to secure the device to the climbing surface, the third component being slidable along the stem to expose the second component.

19. The passive climbing protection device of claim 18, further comprising:

one or more additional components, each additional component having a cavity into which another of the components inserts when the additional component is slid overtop the other component to thereby enable the additional component to be used to secure the device to the climbing surface.

20. The passive climbing protection device of claim 16, wherein the first and second components have one of four sides or six sides.