Method & apparatus for recovering anchor rope after rappelling

Abstract

Apparatus and method for retrieving an anchor strap or rope used in rappelling down a structure and including a pass-through attachment secured to a running end of the anchor strap or rope, a blocking attachment secured to the standing end of the anchor strap or rope, and a release member attachable to the standing end of a rappelling rope and passing through the pass-through attachment member with the rappelling rope, but incapable of passing through the blocking member when the running end of the rappelling rope is pulled to retrieve the rappelling rope and the anchor rope.

1 . Apparatus for retrieving an anchor strap after rappelling comprising 
 a pass-through attachment secured to the receiving end of anchor strap and sized for a rappelling rope to pass through;    a blocking attachment secured to the standing end of the anchor strap, said block attachment having an opening therethrough through which the rappelling rope is passed; and    a release member secured to the standing end of the rappelling rope, said release member being sized to pass through the pass-through attachment with the rappelling rope and being sized to be blocked against passage through the blocking attachment.    
   
   
       2 . Apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein 
 the pass-through attachment has an elongate opening, the blocking attachment has a circular opening therethrough and the release member is thin and sized to fit through the elongate opening and is too large to pass through said blocking attachment with said rappelling rope.    
   
   
       3 . Apparatus as in  claim 2 , wherein 
 the release member has a delta configuration and a tether line attached to an apex to secure the release member to the standing end of the rappelling rope.    
   
   
       4 . A method of retrieving an anchor rope after rappelling comprising 
 providing a pass-through opening at a running end of an anchor strap;    providing a blocking opening at a standing end of said anchor strap;    attaching a release member to the standing end of the rappelling rope; and    pulling on the running end of the rappelling rope to pull the rappelling rope and said release member through said pass-through opening and continuing pulling of said running end of said rappelling rope until the release member engages the blocking opening and further pulling of the running end of the rappelling rope to pull the anchor strap free.