Self-Locking Escape Descent Control Device

A self-locking descent control device for controlled descent of a user along a rope, said device comprising:

• a clamp body;
• a control handle comprising an elongated lever having a proximal end and an opposing distal end spaced apart on a longitudinal axis of said elongated lever, said elongated lever being pivotally coupled to the clamp body at a pivot point near the proximal end of the lever;
• an attachment point carried on the clamp body and configured for connection thereof to body-worn equipment of the user for the purpose of bearing a body weight of the user on the rope when the device is in a locked condition;
• a set of rope passages opening through said elongated lever and laid out in series with one another along said longitudinal axis, said set of rope passages comprising a proximal rope passage residing at a proximal portion of the lever between the proximal end thereof and the pivot point, and a distal subset of rope passages residing at a distal portion of the lever between the distal end thereof and the pivot point;
• and
• a clamping surface on the clamping body that is positioned adjacent the proximal portion of the elongated lever on the same side thereof as the attachment point, whereby the rope is routable on a serpentine path through the set of rope passages, and onward from the proximal rope passage thereof through a space between the proximal portion of the elongated lever and the clamping surface to achieve automatic clamping of the rope therebetween under the body of weight of the user, thereby placing said device in said locked condition;
• wherein the clamp body comprises a tapered notch situated proximate to both the clamping surface and the proximal portion of the elongated lever to define a departure point through which the rope exits the clamp body, and at which the rope is wedged into a narrowed region of the tapered notch when clamped by the proximal portion of the elongated lever.

A self-locking descent control device for controlled descent of a user along a rope, said device comprising:

• a clamp body;
• a control handle comprising an elongated lever having a proximal end and an opposing distal end spaced apart on a longitudinal axis of said elongated lever, said elongated lever being pivotally coupled to the clamp body at a pivot point near the proximal end of the lever;
• an attachment point carried on the clamp body and configured for connection thereof to body-worn equipment of the user for the purpose of bearing a body weight of the user on the rope when the device is in a locked condition;
• a set of rope passages opening through said elongated lever and laid out in series with one another along said longitudinal axis, said set of rope passages comprising a proximal rope passage residing at a proximal portion of the lever between the proximal end thereof and the pivot point, and a distal subset of rope passages residing at a distal portion of the lever between the distal end thereof and the pivot point;
• and
• a clamping surface on the clamping body that is positioned adjacent the proximal portion of the elongated lever on the same side thereof as the attachment point, whereby the rope is routable on a serpentine path through the set of rope passages, and onward from the proximal rope passage thereof through a space between the proximal portion of the elongated lever and the clamping surface to achieve automatic clamping of the rope therebetween under the body of weight of the user, thereby placing said device in said locked condition;
• wherein the handle further comprises a movable extension coupled to the elongated lever and movable relative thereto between a working position extending an effective length of the control handle for use, and a stowed position reducing the effective length of the control handle for compact stowage between uses.