Shuttle for a Climbing Protection System

A shuttle (20) for a climbing protection system (10) wherein the shuttle (20) can be connected to a user and is guided along a cable, rope, or other elongate support member (12) as the user climbs and grips the elongate support member (12) in response to the user falling, the shuttle (20) comprising:

• a frame (22);
• a guide structure (24) on the frame (22) and configured to receive an elongate support member (12) and to guide the shuttle (20) along the elongate support member (12) as a user attached to the shuttle (20) climbs;
• a clamping member (26) mounted on the frame (22) for movement between a free position wherein the shuttle (20) can move freely along the elongate support member (12) received in the guide structure (24) and a clamping position wherein the clamping member (26) engages against the elongate support member (12) in the guide structure (24) to resist movement of the shuttle (20) relative to the elongate support member (12), the clamping member (26) configured to move from the free position to the clamping position in response to a downward movement by the user attached to the shuttle (20);
• an anti-inversion member (30) mounted on the frame (22) for movement between a first closed position wherein the anti-inversion member (30) blocks the elongate support member (12) from being received into the guide structure (24) with the shuttle (20) in an non-desired orientation relative to gravity, and an open position wherein the anti-inversion member does not block the elongate support member (12) from being received in the guide structure (24);
• and
• wherein:
• the clamping member (26) is movable to an opening position from the free position, the clamping member (26) in the opening position engages the anti-inversion member (30) to maintain the anti-inversion member (30) in the open position with the shuttle (20) in a desired orientation relative to gravity, and
• the anti-inversion member (30) is configured to move to the first closed position under the force of gravity in response to the shuttle (20) being placed in the non-desired orientation relative to gravity after the clamping member (26) has been moved to the opening position with the shuttle (20) in the desired orientation relative to gravity.