Rope arrest-and-release device for use on utility poles

A rope arrest-and-release device comprising:

• (a) a housing with a front, a back, and an internal recess, the housing comprising:
• (i) a pair of front vertical rollers situated on either side of the housing at the front of the housing, wherein each of the front vertical rollers rotates circumferentially about a first vertical roller pin that is installed vertically within the housing, and wherein each of the front vertical rollers is configured to rotate forward at its base;
• (ii) a pair of rear vertical rollers, each rear vertical roller being situated directly behind one of the front vertical rollers, wherein each of the rear vertical rollers rotates circumferentially about a second vertical roller pin that is installed vertically within the housing;
• and
• (iii) two pairs of horizontal rollers, each pair of horizontal rollers being situated on the either side of the housing inwardly of the front and rear vertical rollers on the side of the housing and oriented so that the horizontal rollers extend from the back to the front of the housing, wherein the horizontal rollers on each of the sides of the housing are vertically parallel to one another and configured to allow a rope to pass between the horizontal rollers;
• (b) a cam block assembly configured to fit within the internal recess in the housing, the cam block assembly being configured to be removable and reversible, the earn block assembly comprising:
• (i) a cam;
• (ii) a cam block, the cam being at least partially situated within the cam block;
• and
• (iii) a spring, the cam being configured to rotate upward when the spring is relaxed and downward when the spring is compressed, the cam being further configured to pinch the rope against an inside ceiling of the housing when the cam is in an upward position;
• and
• (c) means for attaching the device to a utility pole.