Device for climbing on extended support elements, such as ropes, with releasable automatically reclamping clasps

A device for climbing at least one weight-bearing element (1), said device comprising

• releasable clasps (4, 6) each comprising a housing having a top wall and side walls and means for clamping said at least one weight-bearing element (1) in response to a downward force acting thereon and means for releasing said at least one weight-bearing element (1) when said downward force is relieved;
• and
• connecting means (7, 8;
• 17) attached to said clasps (4,6) for holding a climber so that said climber is able to apply and relieve said downward force by shifting weight of said climber;
• wherein each of said clasps comprises a time servo-component (9) acting on said means for clamping said at least one weight-bearing element to again clamp said at least one weight-bearing element (1) when a predetermined time interval starting from relief of said downward pressure expires;
• wherein said time servo-component (9) is an elastic rubber member, a compression spring (20), a hydraulic spring or a pneumatic spring;
• and
• wherein said means for clamping comprise a yoke (3) and cotters (10) arranged in an interior space in said yoke on opposite sides of said at least one weight-bearing element (1), said yoke responding to said time servo-component (9) when said time servo-component acts on said means for clamping to engage the cotters (10) with said at least one weight-bearing element (1);
• and said means for releasing said at least one weight-bearing element comprises a vertical extending rod (15) connected to the yoke (3) mounted in said housing and extending upwardly through said top wall for manually lifting the yoke (3) to relieve the cotters (10) so that said cotters (10) do not bear on said at least one weight-bearing element (15).