Fall-arresting device

A fall-arresting device intended to prevent any load that has to be moved around at a height from falling, comprising:

• a body which has a curved runner, adapted to be engageable over and movable along a flexible rigid retaining support;
• two jamming cams mounted so that they can pivot on the body into a retracted position and an active position, wherein when the device is adapted to be engaged over the retaining support, in the retracted position the cams allow the retaining support to run between them and the runner and, in the active position the cams are adapted to clamp the retaining support between them and the runner so as to prevent the device from moving along the retaining support;
• and
• a system for actuating at least one of the cams in the event of the load falling, bringing the at least one of the cams into the active position;
• the device being one wherein:
• the body has an elongate opening, the length of which is adapted to be parallel to the retaining support when the device is engaged over the retaining support, the opening being intended to accommodate a member that allows the load to be harnessed to the device;
• the two cams are spaced apart;
• and
• the system for actuating the cams comprises two fingers, each of which is an integral part of a cam, each finger projecting on the opposite side to the runner, extending through the opening, and having a length such that it lies in the path followed by said connector in said opening in the event of the load falling, so that the connector acts on the finger in the event of such a fall so as to bring the cam connected to the finger into the active position.