US 9,003,617 B2Granted

Multi-chamber carabiner

AssigneeBlack Diamond Equipment, Ltd.

InventorsBenjamin Walker, Paul Oddou, Bill Belcourt, Paul Terry

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An automatically locking carabiner system including a frame, a gate, a gate biasing system, and a gate locking system. The frame and gate form a continuously enclosed inner region in a closed configuration with respect to the frame. When in an engaged state, the gate locking system is configured to automatically lock the gate in the closed configuration with respect to the frame. The gate locking system may include a trigger coupled to the frame such that the position of the trigger corresponds to the state of the gate locking system. The trigger may be positioned on an opposite side of the frame from the gate with respect to the inner region. The force required to disengage the gate locking system may be substantially opposite that which is required to transition the gate to the open configuration with respect to the frame.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A multi-chamber carabiner configured for use as a belay carabiner comprising:

a frame;
a gate pivotably coupled about a pivot location to the frame;
a closed configuration in which the gate and frame form at least one enclosed region;
an open configuration in which the gate is pivotably rotated within the at least one enclosed region to form a first opening;
a gate biasing system coupled to the frame and the gate, biasing the gate toward the closed configuration with respect to the frame;
and
wherein the frame includes a primary opening and a secondary opening, and wherein the gate includes a primary portion and a secondary portion, and wherein the primary portion of the gate extends from the pivot location across the primary opening of the frame in the closed configuration, and wherein the secondary portion extends from the pivot location across the secondary opening of the frame in the closed configuration;
and
wherein the primary and secondary portions of the gate are operably dependent so as to simultaneously pivot about the pivot location within the at least one enclosed region in the open configuration, and wherein the primary and secondary portions are elongated shaped regions extending from the pivot location, and wherein the secondary portion includes a length that is at least 150% of a width at the pivot location, and wherein the width extends across the pivot location to the at least one enclosed region.

6 more elements

A multi-chamber carabiner configured for use as a belay carabiner comprising:

a frame;
a gate pivotably coupled to the frame about a pivot location;
a closed configuration in which the gate extends from the pivot location across a primary opening of the frame to form at least one enclosed region;
an open configuration in which the gate is pivotably rotated within the at least one enclosed region to form a first opening;
a gate biasing system coupled to the frame and the gate, biasing the gate toward the closed configuration with respect to the frame;
and
a secondary gate pivotably coupled to the frame about the pivot location, wherein the at least one enclosed region includes a primary region and a secondary region, and wherein the frame includes a secondary opening between the primary region and the secondary region, and wherein the secondary gate extends across the secondary opening in the closed configuration, and wherein the secondary gate pivots about the pivot location within the secondary region in a secondary open configuration;
and
wherein the gate and secondary gate are operably dependent so as to simultaneously pivot about the pivot location within the at least one enclosed region in the open configuration, and wherein the gate and secondary gate are elongated shaped members extending from the pivot location, and wherein the secondary portion includes a length that is at least 150% of a width at the pivot location, and wherein the width extends across the pivot location to the at least one enclosed region.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/636,055Filed 11 Dec 2009
Published: US 2011/0138587 A116 Jun 2011
Granted: 14 Apr 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

F16B 45/037
Hooks with pivoting or elastically bending closing member: multiple locking cavities, each having a pivoting closing member
F16B 45/023
Hooks with pivoting or elastically bending closing member: the closing member pivoting about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the hook
F16B 45/027
Hooks with pivoting or elastically bending closing member: and having position-locking means for the closing member
Y10S 24/35
With third, detached member completing interlock: third member includes relatively movable, separate components