Belay device and method of use

A belay device comprising:

• a casing designed to receive a rope loop, the casing defining at least one opening for strands of the rope loop to pass through and an attachment point designed to attach the belay device to an anchor point;
• a pad fixed to the casing and delineating the at least one opening;
• a roller fixed to the casing by means of a first rotation shaft and arranged in the casing, the roller being mounted rotating in two rotation directions, the roller being mounted movable in the casing, along a first direction of movement between a first roller position, a second roller position and a third roller position, the second roller position being closer to the at least one opening than the first roller position, the third roller position being closer to the pad than the second roller position, the first rotation shaft being mounted movable with respect to the casing and/or deformable in order to move the roller in the casing;
• a rotation clamp configured to allow rotation of the roller in both rotation directions when the roller is in the first roller position, the rotation clamp being configured to block at least one of the two rotation directions of the roller when the roller is in the second roller position and when the roller is in the third roller position, the roller and/or the first rotation shaft being in contact with a stop fixed to the casing to block said at least one of the two rotation directions of the roller when the roller is in the second roller position and when the roller is in the third roller position, the roller and/or the first rotation shaft being at a distance of said stop when the roller is in the first roller position;
• a first spring having a first end coupled to the casing and a second end coupled to the roller to bias the roller toward the first roller position, the first spring transforming a force of the loop of rope on the roller into a position of the roller in the casing, the first spring forming all or part of a mechanical link connecting the roller with the casing, the first spring moving the roller away from the at least one opening;
• rope loop against the pad when the roller is in the third roller position, a position of the rope clamp depending on a position of the roller at least when the roller is between the second roller position and the third roller position;
• a handle mounted movable between a first handle position and a second handle position, the handle being fixed to the casing;
• wherein in the third roller position, the handle is functionally coupled to the casing and to the roller so that a force applied on the handle to move the handle generates a force on the roller to move the roller away from the opening.