Patent attributes
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. The rope may be released by exerting pressure on a Handle (44) extending outward from the Rope Locking Ring (36). The improved Belay Device has a rope path which passes directly through the axis of rotation of the Rope Locking Ring (36). Relative to the prior art, this feature offers the capability to have a smaller distance between the axis of rotation and the rope pinch area, thus providing greater leverage.
