US2013327908A1PendingUtilityA1
Aerial safety system

Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jun 11, 2012Filed: Jun 11, 2012Published: Dec 12, 2013
Est. expiryJun 11, 2032(~5.9 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Peter Brown
A62B 35/0068A01M 31/02A63B 27/00A62B 35/0037E06C 1/34
PatentIndex Score
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References
Claims
Abstract

An apparatus to assist with placing a climbing device and safety tether into a tree or other tall upwardly extending object and then securing the climbing device and safety tether to that object, by use of a gripping ring dimensioned to substantially encircle the object and having gripping members disposed along its inner surface to engage with the object, where the gripping ring has a climbing device attachment component to attach the climbing device, such as a ladder or a rope, to the gripping ring, a safety tether attachment component to attach the safety tether to the gripping ring, and a positioning device attachment component to allow a positioning device, such as a pole, to be used to properly position the gripping ring.
Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
I claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus to be used with an upwardly extending object, said upwardly extending object having a height and a substantially circular cross section, said apparatus suitably adapted to assist with placing a climbing device into said upwardly extending object and securing the climbing device thereto, said apparatus comprising
 a gripping ring, said gripping ring being substantially rigid and shaped to substantially encircle the upwardly extending object, extending a minimum of 270 degrees, forming an open interior,
 said gripping ring having one or more gripping members, each said gripping member attached to the gripping ring and extending inward into the open interior formed by the gripping ring, and 
 said gripping ring having a climbing device attachment component, said climbing device attachment component extending outward from the gripping ring and being suitably adapted to secure the climbing device to the gripping ring; 
   whereby the climbing device is attached to the gripping ring at the climbing device attachment component and the gripping ring is placed onto the upwardly extending object such that the gripping ring substantially encircles the upwardly extending object and the one or more gripping members of the gripping ring engage with the upwardly extending object, holding the gripping ring in place on the upwardly extending object.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the gripping ring is substantially circular. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the gripping ring is comprised of a first arm, a second arm, and a pivot member,
 said first arm having a first end and a second end and being substantially curved from its first end to its second end such that an inner portion of said first arm is concave, and 
 said second arm having a first end and a second end and being substantially curved from its first end to its second end such that an inner portion of said second arm is concave, and 
 with said first end of said first arm being in pivotal connection by the pivot member with said first end of said second arm, such that the first and second arms are capable of moving in relation to each other. 
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the gripping ring further comprises a latching mechanism,
 said latching mechanism suitably adapted to placed in a locked mode and in an unlocked mode, 
 whereby when the latching mechanism is in the locked mode the first and second arms of the gripping ring are maintained in fixed relation to each other, and 
 when the latching mechanism is in the unlocked mode the first and second arms of the gripping ring are able to move in relation to each other, 
 wherein the gripping ring has a closed state and an open state, 
 with the closed state of the gripping ring being an orientation of the first and second arms of the gripping ring such that the second end of the first arm is in closest proximity to the second end of the second arm, and 
 with the open state of the gripping ring being an orientation of the first and second arms of the gripping ring such that the second end of the first arm is further away from the second end of the second arm than when the gripping ring is in the closed state. 
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a means for remotely placing the latching mechanism into the unlocked mode. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the second end of the first arm of the gripping ring engages with the second end of the second arm of the gripping ring when the gripping ring is in the closed state. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the second end of the first arm of the gripping ring has a substantially hollow interior and an end aperture allowing access into said interior, and the second end of the second arm of the gripping ring is suitably adapted to be inserted into the interior of the second end of the first arm through the end aperture of the first arm. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the latching mechanism is automatically placed into locked mode when the gripping ring is placed into the closed state. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the latching mechanism comprises
 a locking pin, a locking pin housing, a locking pin spring, a first locking aperture, and a second locking aperture, 
 with the locking pin being a substantially rigid and elongate shaft and having a head at a first end of the shaft and an insertion point at a second end of the shaft opposite the first end, 
 the locking pin housing having an open interior suitably adapted to accommodate the shaft of the locking pin within said interior, with the locking pin shaft capable of movement within said interior, the locking pin housing being located on and fixedly attached to the second end of the first arm of the gripping ring, with the head of the locking pin located outside the locking pin housing distal from the gripping ring, 
 the locking pin spring being located within the interior of the locking pin housing and encircling the locking pin such that the locking pin spring biases the locking pin towards the gripping ring, 
 the first locking aperture being formed into the second end of the first arm of the gripping ring, said first locking aperture being located proximate to the locking pin housing and in communication with the interior of the locking pin housing, said first locking aperture being suitably dimensioned to accommodate the insertion point of the locking pin, and 
 the second locking aperture being formed into the second end of the second arm of the gripping ring, said second locking aperture being suitably dimensioned to accommodate the insertion point of the locking pin; 
 whereby the latching mechanism is placed in the locked mode when the second end of the first arm of the gripping ring is engaged with the second end of the second arm of the gripping ring by the locking pin spring moving the locking pin shaft within the locking pin housing towards the gripping ring such that the insertion point of the locking pin extends into and through the first locking aperture and into the second locking aperture, thereby preventing the first arm of the gripping ring from disengaging from the second end of the second arm of the gripping ring, and 
 the latching mechanism is placed in the unlocked mode by movement of the locking pin shaft within the locking pin housing away from the gripping ring such that the insertion point of the locking pin is withdrawn from the second locking aperture, thereby enabling the second end of the first arm of the gripping ring to disengage from the second end of the second arm of the gripping ring. 
 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the latching mechanism is adapted to be operated remotely to move the locking pin shaft within the locking pin housing away from the gripping ring. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a release member, said release member being substantially planar and having a first end, a second end, a substantially flat bottom edge, and a top edge, the top edge being located opposite the bottom edge, such that at the first end of the release mechanism the distance between the top edge and the bottom edge is less than the distance between the top edge and the bottom edge at the second end of the release mechanism, with the distance between the top edge and the bottom edge for all points between the first end and second end of the release mechanism being greater than the distance between the top edge and the bottom edge at the first end and less than the distance between the top edge and the bottom edge at the second end,
 wherein the release member is placed onto the locking pin housing between the locking pin housing and the head of the locking pin, with the bottom edge of the release member proximate to the locking pin housing and the top edge of the release member proximate to the head of the locking pin, such that when the release member is moved in a first direction the head of the locking pin rides up along the top edge resulting in the locking pin being moved away from the gripping ring, and when the release member is moved in a second direction opposite the first direction the head of the locking pin rides down along the top edge allowing the locking pin spring to move the locking pin toward the gripping ring, 
 whereby the latching mechanism is operated remotely to move the locking pin shaft within the locking pin housing away from the gripping ring by movement of the release member in the first direction. 
 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the release member further comprises pair of planar bodies, each said planar body of substantially the same size and configuration as the other, oriented substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other by a distance just slightly greater than a diameter of the shaft of the locking pin,
 wherein the two planar bodies are attached to each other at their respective ends resulting in there being a channel between the two planar bodies suitably sized to allow the shaft of the locking pin to move within said channel. 
 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the locking pin further comprises a detent, said detent formed into the shaft of the locking pin and located proximate to the insertion point of the locking pin, said detent suitably adapted to engage with the locking pin housing,
 such that when the detent is engaged with the locking pin housing the locking pin spring is compressed and the insertion point of the locking pin is outside the second locking aperture, and 
 when the second end of the first arm of the gripping ring engages with the second end of the second arm of the gripping ring the detent is disengaged from the locking pin housing and the locking pin spring moves the locking pin such that the insertion point of the locking pin extends into the second locking aperture. 
 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the second end of the second arm of the gripping ring has a substantially hollow interior and an end aperture allowing access into said interior, and the second end of the first arm of the gripping ring is suitably adapted to be inserted into the interior of the second end of the second arm through the end aperture of the second arm. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the latching mechanism comprises
 a locking pin, a locking pin housing, a locking pin spring, a first locking aperture, and a second locking aperture, 
 with the locking pin being a substantially rigid and elongate shaft and having a head at a first end of the shaft and an insertion point at a second end of the shaft opposite the first end, 
 the locking pin housing having an open interior suitably adapted to accommodate the shaft of the locking pin within said interior, with the locking pin shaft capable of movement within said interior, the locking pin housing being located on and fixedly attached to the second end of the first arm of the gripping ring, with the head of the locking pin located outside the locking pin housing distal from the gripping ring, 
 the locking pin spring being located within the interior of the locking pin housing and encircling the locking pin such that the locking pin spring biases the locking pin towards the gripping ring, 
 the first locking aperture being formed into the second end of the first arm of the gripping ring, said first locking aperture being located proximate to the locking pin housing and in communication with the interior of the locking pin housing, said first locking aperture being suitably dimensioned to accommodate the insertion point of the locking pin, and 
 the second locking aperture being formed into the second end of the second arm of the gripping ring, said second locking aperture being suitably dimensioned to accommodate the insertion point of the locking pin; 
 whereby the latching mechanism is placed in the locked mode when the second end of the first arm of the gripping ring is engaged with the second end of the second arm of the gripping ring by the locking pin spring moving the locking pin shaft within the locking pin housing towards the gripping ring such that the insertion point of the locking pin extends into and through the first locking aperture and into the second locking aperture, thereby preventing the first arm of the gripping ring from disengaging from the second end of the second arm of the gripping ring, and 
 the latching mechanism is placed in the unlocked mode by movement of the locking pin shaft within the locking pin housing away from the gripping ring such that the insertion point of the locking pin is withdrawn from the second locking aperture, thereby enabling the second end of the first arm of the gripping ring to disengage from the second end of the second arm of the gripping ring. 
 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the latching mechanism is adapted to be operated remotely to move the locking pin shaft within the locking pin housing away from the gripping ring. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a release member, said release member being substantially planar and having a first end, a second end, a substantially flat bottom edge, and a top edge, the top edge being located opposite the bottom edge, such that at the first end of the release mechanism the distance between the top edge and the bottom edge is less than the distance between the top edge and the bottom edge at the second end of the release mechanism, with the distance between the top edge and the bottom edge for all points between the first end and second end of the release mechanism being greater than the distance between the top edge and the bottom edge at the first end and less than the distance between the top edge and the bottom edge at the second end,
 wherein the release member is placed onto the locking pin housing between the locking pin housing and the head of the locking pin, with the bottom edge of the release member proximate to the locking pin housing and the top edge of the release member proximate to the head of the locking pin, such that when the release member is moved in a first direction the head of the locking pin rides up along the top edge resulting in the locking pin being moved away from the gripping ring, and when the release member is moved in a second direction opposite the first direction the head of the locking pin rides down along the top edge allowing the locking pin spring to move the locking pin toward the gripping ring, 
 whereby the latching mechanism is operated remotely to move the locking pin shaft within the locking pin housing away from the gripping ring by movement of the release member in the first direction. 
 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the release member further comprises pair of planar bodies, each said planar body of substantially the same size and configuration as the other, oriented substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other by a distance just slightly greater than a diameter of the shaft of the locking pin,
 wherein the two planar bodies are attached to each other at their respective ends resulting in there being a channel between the two planar bodies suitably sized to allow the shaft of the locking pin to move within said channel. 
 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the locking pin further comprises a detent, said detent formed into the shaft of the locking pin and located proximate to the insertion point of the locking pin, said detent suitably adapted to engage with the locking pin housing,
 such that when the detent is engaged with the locking pin housing the locking pin spring is compressed and the insertion point of the locking pin is outside the second locking aperture, and 
 when the second end of the first arm of the gripping ring engages with the second end of the second arm of the gripping ring the detent is disengaged from the locking pin housing and the locking pin spring moves the locking pin such that the insertion point of the locking pin extends into the second locking aperture. 
 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the gripping ring further comprises a ring spring and a retention assembly,
 said ring spring connected to the first arm of the gripping ring proximate to the first end of the first arm of the gripping ring, said ring spring suitably adapted to bias the second end of the first arm toward the second end of the second arm, thereby moving the second ends of the first and second arms relative to each other, placing the gripping ring in the closed state, and 
 said retention assembly located on an outer surface of the gripping ring, said retention assembly suitably adapted to hold the first arm of the gripping ring in fixed relation to the second arm of the gripping ring, thereby overcoming the biasing tendency of the ring spring and holding the gripping ring in the open state, and said retention assembly further adapted to release the first arm from the second arm, thereby permitting the ring spring to move the second ends of the first and second arms of the gripping ring relative to each other. 
 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the ring spring comprises a first end and a second end, with the first end of the ring spring connected to the first arm of the gripping ring proximate to the first end of the first arm of the gripping ring and the second end of the ring spring removably attached to the second arm of the gripping ring proximate to the first end of the second arm of the gripping ring. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the second end of the ring spring is suitably adapted to be removably attached to an inner attachment point located on the inner portion of the second arm of the gripping ring to bias the second end of the first arm of the gripping ring toward the second end of the second arm of the gripping ring, and the second end of the ring spring is suitably adapted to be removably attached to an outer attachment point located on an outer portion of the second arm of the gripping ring to bias the second end of the first arm of the gripping ring away from the second end of the second arm of the gripping ring. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the gripping ring further comprises a spring tensioner, said spring tensioner being in connection with the ring spring and being suitably adapted to either increase or decrease the tension of the ring spring, such that when the tension in the ring spring is increased the ring spring exerts a greater biasing tendency and when the tension in the ring spring is decreased the ring spring exerts less biasing tendency, enabling easier removal and attachment of the second end of the ring spring to the second arm of the gripping ring. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the retention assembly is adapted to be operated remotely to release the first arm from the second arm. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the retention assembly comprises a hook and eye,
 with the hook attached to an outer portion of the first arm of the gripping ring and the eye attached to an outer portion of the second arm of the gripping ring, 
 with the hook having an end suitably adapted to removably engage with the eye. 
 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each of the one or more gripping members comprises one or more substantially triangular teeth, with the apex of each triangular tooth oriented inward into the open interior formed by the gripping ring. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the gripping ring comprises four gripping members,
 with a first pair of gripping members being attached to the first arm of the gripping ring and located substantially midway between the first end of the first arm and the second end of the first arm, the two gripping members of the first pair being spaced apart from each other, and 
 a second pair of gripping members being attached to the second arm of the gripping ring and located substantially midway between the first end of the second arm and the second end of the second arm, the two gripping members of the second pair being spaced apart from each other. 
 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the gripping ring comprises two gripping members,
 with a first gripping member being attached to the first arm of the gripping ring and located substantially midway between the first end of the first arm and the second end of the first arm, and 
 a second gripping member being attached to the second arm of the gripping ring and located substantially midway between the first end of the second arm and the second end of the second arm, 
 wherein the first gripping member is positionable such that it is capable of either being positioned towards the second gripping member or being positioned away from the second gripping member. 
 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the climbing device attachment component is a substantially rectangular three sided bracket extending outward from the gripping ring. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29  wherein the climbing device attachment component is pivotally attached to the gripping ring, whereby the climbing device attachment component is suitably adapted to pivot in an upward direction relative to the gripping ring. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the gripping ring further comprises a safety tether attachment component located on an outer portion of the gripping ring, said safety tether attachment component suitably adapted to secure a safety tether to the gripping ring. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the gripping ring further comprises a positioning device attachment component located on an outer portion of the gripping ring, said positioning device attachment component suitably adapted to removably attach a positioning device to the gripping ring. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a positioning device adapter, said positioning device adapter suitably adapted to be removably attached to a positioning device, and said positioning device adapter further suitably adapted to removably attach the positioning device to the gripping ring. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an anchoring device, said anchoring device having a first end and an second end, said first end of the anchoring device being suitably adapted to being attached to the gripping ring, said second end of the anchoring device being suitably adapted to being attached to an anchoring object located below the gripping ring when the gripping ring is placed on the upwardly extending object,
 whereby the anchoring device is capable of maintaining tension between the gripping ring and the anchoring object.
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