Belaying descending device for climbing or mountaineering

#The invention relates to a belaying descending device for climbing or mountaineering, in particular for belaying the leading or second climber, and for controlled descending along a single or double rope.

#Known belaying systems are formed either by a figure-of-eight descender made of moulded or forged aluminum alloy or by plates with one or two oblong slits. In the event of the climber falling, blocking is performed by friction effect on the rope, stopping the climber's fall.

#Some of these plates are associated to a securing cable in the form of a loop extending perpendicularly to the plane of the plate. Others comprise holes for attaching a snap-hook, but all the holes and slits are located in the same plane.

#Other advantages and features will become more clearly apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention given as a non-restrictive example only and represented in the accompanying drawings, in which:

#FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of the belaying descending device according to the invention;

#FIG. 3 shows a side view of FIG. 1;

#With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, a belaying descending device 10 for climbing or mountaineering comprises a metal body 12 composed of a central flange-plate 14 whereon a U-shaped bracket 16 is fitted so as to two define adjacent slits 18, 20 for the rope to pass through.

#The body 22 of the bracket 16 is provided in the middle zone with two centering grooves 24, 26 aligned in the plane of the flange-plate 14 and each having a slightly larger thickness than that of the flange-plate 14. The ends of the two symmetrical wings 28, 30 of the bracket 16 are provided with circular holes 32 designed to receive an assembly means 34, for example a rivet, passing coaxially through two sleeves 36, 38 and the flange-plate 14 in the transverse direction. Each sleeve 36, 38 forms a fixed stop means that closes the corresponding slit 18, 20 opposite the body 22 and in the narrow part of the bracket 16. A boss 39 is arranged on each sleeve 36, 38 to improve blocking of the rope in the event of a fall.

#The flange-plate 14 extends in the vertical mid-plane and comprises a first opening 40 in the form of a securing bow and a second opening 42 for attaching a snap-hook in case of belaying the second climber. An additional hole 44 of rectangular shape is also provided in the flange-plate 14 to enable the passage of the assembly means 34 and insertion of two pins 46 salient in the transverse direction from each sleeve 36, 38. The central part of the hole 44 is circular and presents a slightly larger diameter than that of the rivet.