US2031615A - Climbing assembly - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 25, 1936. E. G. M KINNEY CLIMBING ASSEMBLY Filed June 10, 1932 Patented Feb. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 22 Claims.

This invention relates to climbing assemblies and more particularly to improvements in pole climbers.

In the known type of pole climbers utilizin hooks or spurs which are kicked into a pole or the like, certain disadvantages exist among which may be noted the hacking of the pole by the hooks Or gafis which raduany reduces the life of the pole. Further, there is the danger with this type of device of the lineman falling as, for example, when the gaffs slip out of the pole, due to de- Iecti've wood or to improper use of the device or to electrical shock suffered by the lineman coming into contact with live wires.

Accordingly, an object of my invention is the provision of a pole climbing assembly which is V efficient in use and which substantially eliminates the danger of the lineman falling. A further object is the provision of a pole climbing device incorporating a flexible connection be tween the member which is attached to the foot of the user and the spur or equivalent element held to the pole, whereby the linemans legs are flexibly held and are movable within reasonable limits. A further object is the provision of a. climbing device by the use of which a lineman may be held to the pole in case of shock without danger of twisting his knees or the like, as would occur in the case of fall were the stirrup or foot member held rigidly to the pole. A further 7 object is the provision of a novel form of pole attachment for use in a climbing assembly, which attachment may be driven into or otherwise associated with the pole prior to raising the same or which may, with equal facility, be secured progressively to a raised pole by the lineman as he climbs the same. A further object is the provision of a pole climbing assembly incorporating a fixed attachment to a pole and a climbing stirrup having an element cooperating with the pole attachment, in which the element may be readily associated with the attachment but is substantially incapable of accidental removal therefrom. A further object is the provision of a climbing attachment for concrete poles, steel poles, towers, smoke-stacks, and the like. A further object is the provision of a novel form of ladder with which may be associated a climbing device carried on the feet of the climber.

Other objects will be in part obvious from the annexed drawing and in part hereinafter indicated from the following analysis of the invention, in which reference is made to the accompanying drawing illustrating an embodiment of myidea,

In the drawingv Fig. 1 is a side view, certain parts being shown in section, of my preferred form of climbing assembly;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the devices shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is illustrative of a modified form of climbing assembly;

Fig. 4 is a section along lines 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a partial top view of the assembly of 10 the Fig. 3 modification;

Fig. 6 is a partial side elevation of a ladder or equivalent structural element provided with climbing attachments in accordance with my invention.

Referring to the drawing and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, I provide a stirrupmember generally indicated at IU adapted to bev positioned beneath the linemans instep and fastened about the ankle by a strap II or equivalent se 0 curing means. The stirrup Ill comprises an L- shaped element of strap iron or steel, the horizontal leg of which is provided on its under face with a longitudinal reinforcing rib l2. The relatively outer end of this leg is extended upwardly as at 25 13 and provided with a loop or eye l4 forming a point of securement for the attaching strap. The vertical leg H: of the L-shaped stirrup member I0 is provided with an aperture l6 as will be hereinafter fully described.

Welded or otherwise secured to the parts 10 and I5 of the stirrup member is an auxiliary L- shaped strap H, the vertical leg I8 of which extends parallel and in spaced relation to the vertical leg I5 as aforesaid and which is provided with an opening I9 in alignmentwith the opening or aperture l6 of the stirrup portion I5. The horizontal leg 20 of the auxiliary strap member extends to the top edge of the stirrup portion I5 and is suitably secured thereto as by welding. Connection between the lower end of the auxiliary strap member IT and the horizontal leg portion of the stirrup I6 is made as by welding, as'at 2|. An eye 22 is secured at the junction of the leg l8 and horizontal leg portion I0 and forms an anchor for the strap ll.

Projecting through the said aperture I6, I arrange a rotary stud 25 having a threaded shank portion and a head 26 which is arranged in the space between the vertical strap portions l5 and '50 I8 of the stirrup member, the stud being adapted for insertion through the aperture [9 of the leg i8, which, for convenience in assembly, is of greater diameter than that of the stud head 26.

,A lock nut 26a is threaded to the threaded shank '55 ,le sAB. whic at read dst xte portion of the stud 25 and cooperates to hold thereon a spur element 21 having a pointed shank 21a. In order to permit rotation of the spur element 21 and stud 25 relative to the stirrup, the portion 25a of the stud which bears on the inner surface of the aperture I6 is suitably machined.

By means of a lug fixed to and rotatable with the head 26 of the stud, I may secure to the stud a. spring 3| which is anchored at its other end to an eye 32 fixed tothe strap portion 28 of the stirruprmember. Thus, the spur 21, together with the stud 25, is flexibly and rotatably connected to the stirrup member I0, the spring 3| serving to maintain the spur in a normal operative position prior to its insertion in the socket, to be de scribed in the following.

According to my invention, I provide as an attachment to a pole to be climbed a series of spikes 35 substantially as illustrated, the said spikes having a pointed shank portion 36 of preferably square section and a head portionil. .The head portion m ore, clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, is provided with an aperture ;3.8, advantageously of oval'shape, and'forming' a socket into which the spurt! maybeinserted. In order that the spur maybe substantially rigidly held in the socket 36,

,I, prov i dethe socket opening withstraight walls 39 (see'Fig. 2) The spur 21 is of corresponding cross-sectional formation as the socket aperture .38: tii'rning f the'spurabout its'lOngitudinal axis is prevented. In order to aid in .l'n erting the spur 2 1 into the sockethead 31 of .thespikefIlm'ay slope or incline the upper walls 5,0;pfthesocketaperture 38. Thus the .point 21a of 'the spur is guidedinto seating relation in the socket aperture.

In orderjtoI p'reventcrushingof the woodof the pole -as heavyweights are carried by thespike 3 5, I proi'gide pressure wings or plates 42 which extendhorizontally,frpmfthe under faceof the spike. :I have found jitfurther desirable to ,providethe spike with notches 4 3 along jitslrelatively ,upper edges to keep the spike' jfrom working out offthe pole. diie to 'contin ied use.

,I n th e modified form or construction illustrated inFigs.3,f'4 and {51 haxte shown equivalentform ,of connection befiwefin the spike 35a and the According to this modifist ruplmember 1.0a.

, cation thes pjikefid is providedwith an'upwardly extending spur which crosssection is preferably rectangularlfsiee Fig.4). Otherwise the spike ,is substanti lly similar to the spike illustratedQin'QFig'. 1, being v provided with the lower bearingplate lla and notches 13a. The stirrup memberftlldcar'ries, instead of I the spur as in the p,r'efvicius'Ifor m, va socketjlfipdal ted to fit over and be held by the spur '45. Said socket is o d int g ally or othe wis n a lo at d Q sha'pfid ,strapelement 4] between the vertical The tlid isQprovided witha head 2'61) and s rotatably :comiect'ed to the'stirrup 'llla and to the socket supp'orting'element fllby means of holding nuts 0 and 5l'. fl'hus'thesocketiqii and stud 25a may be 'securely cooperated with the spur 45 of the spike'35a' with the stirrup 1 0a permitted aro'tary ,movement about theaxisof thestucl. 25a.

1A spring'52 hayingone end 'i'ixed'to a lug 53 onithesofcketcarryingelement .41 and its other ,end' fixedin a,lug, 54 fpnned onthe stirrup mem ,ber maintains] the socket 461 in normally operative 'positionfand furtherserveslto return these parts to, their normal position [of thest'irrupjmember.

after turning movement gy reference Fig. the socket A6 is provided with an interior concavity having vertical walls 56 through a portion of the depth of the cavity, the said walls curving outwardly as at 57 adjacent the socket mouth, thus to permit ready insertion of the spur 45 into the socket opening.

It is believed that the operation of the climbing assembly as aforesaid will be readily understood by those familiar with the art. The stirrup ll! or Illa is attached to the foot of the lineman by suitably manipulating the holding strap H over the ankle and instep of the foot. The spikes 35, 35a are driven into the poles preferably before placing the same into the ground and form a permanent and lasting attachment to the pole. In the construction of Figs. 1 and 2, the spurs 21 carried by the stirrups are cooperated with the socket openings 38 in the spikes and the foot is thus removably held to the pole. The flexible connection between the spur 21 and the stirrup, ac cording to which the spur and stirrup are relatively rotatable about an axis which .extends transversely of the foot, permits adegree of movement of the foot and leg of the lineman, whilev at the same time preventing any accidental removal of the spurfrom the spikesocket. In the modified construction illustrated in Figs. 3.and 4, the socket carried by the .stirrupis disposed over andabout the spur 45carried by the spike 35a, the ,operation of the assembly being otherwise that of the constructionshown in Figs. .1 and 2.

As previously indicated, the-invention may also be utilized for clir'nb'ingtowers, steel'posts, ce-

ment.posts smo-kestacks, and theflike, by the provision in such elements tobe climbed ofattachments i i-the nature of spikes 3.5 or 35a. 'In Fig. 5

;I have shown a, structural element 58 provided with such.attachmentsl3'lb, illustrated as a socket,

and which may be infthenaturev of, a spike. or may becast or formed.'integrally. therewith or suitably secured thereto. "-Itwill be readily appreciated thatfthestirrup member as illustrated inFig. 1"

may be progressively'cooperated with the attachments 31b, permittingthelineman or workman jtoie adilyflclimb the element 58. Itwillbe fur- .ther'se'en tliatithe' element 58.may take the form Yof a ladder such as 'wou'ldhave utility when .associate'dwith a tower, for example,,. such ,ladder being constructedwith or. forming .an integral part of the tower construction.

:Without further analysis theforegoing will so fully reyeal thegistfofth'is invention that others can by applying current knowledgejreadilyadapt it for various applicationswithout omitting certain features thatgifrom thestandpointof the .prior art, fairly -constitute essential character- 'istics of .the generic .orlspecific' aspects of this 'inxizention and therefore such adaptations should and, are. intended to .begcomprehended within the 7 meaning and range, of equivalency of the follow- ,ing claims.

said members carrying an element adapted to be detachably secured to one of the first-named elements, certain of said elements being provided with sockets and other of said elements provided with spurs for insertion in said sockets, and means to prevent relative movement between a spur and a socket into which it is inserted.

3. In a climbing assembly, the combination of a series of fixed elements on the object to be climbed, stirrup members and means for securing said members to the feet of the climber, each of said members carrying an element adapted to be detachably secured to the first-named elements, and a flexible connection between the stirrup members and the elements carried thereby.

4. In a climbing assembly, the combination of a series of fixed elements on the object to be climbed, stirrup members and means for securing said members to the feet of the climber, each of said members carrying an element adapted to. be detachably secured to the first-named elements, a fiexible connection between the stirrup members and the elements carried thereby, and means to maintain the stirrup members in a predetermined position in relation to the elements carried thereby.

5. In a climbing assembly, the combination of an element secured in fixed relation on the object to be climbed, a stirrup member and means for securing said member to the foot of the climber, an element carried by said stirrup member adapted to be detachably secured to said firstnamed element, means tending to maintain the last-named element and the stirrup member in predetermined angular relationship, and the first and last-named elements being so formed as to prevent relative turning between said elements upon such securement.

6. In a climbing assembly, the combination of an element secured in fixed relation on the object to be climbed, a stirrup member and means for securing said member to the foot of the climber, an element carried by said stirrup member adapted to be detachably secured to said firstnamed element, and a rotatable connection between the stirrup member and the element car ried thereby, said connection including provisions for preventing free rotation between the stirrup member and the element carried thereby.

7. In a climbing assembly, the combination of an element secured in fixed relation on the object to be climbed, a stirrup member and means for securing said member to the foot of the climber, an element carried by said stirrup member adapted to be detachably secured to said firstnamed element, a rotatable connection between the stirrup member and the element carried thereby, and means to restore said stirrup member and said element carried thereby to a normal position after relative rotation therebetween.

8. In a climbing assembly, the combination of an element secured in fixed relation on the object to be climbed, a stirrup member and means for securing said member to the foot of the climber, an element carried by said stirrup member adapted to be detachably secured to said firstnamed element, one of said elements being provided with a socket and the other element with a spur engaging in said socket, and means to prevent relative movement between a spur and a socket into which it is engaged.

9. In a climbing assembly, the combination of an element secured in fixed relation on the object to be climbed, a stirrup member and means for securing said member to the foot of the climber,

carried thereby, said connection including provisions for preventing free rotation between the stirrup and the element carried thereby.

10. In a climbing assembly, the combination of an element secured in fixed relation on the object to be climbed, a stirrup member and means for securing said member to the foot of the climber, an element carried by said stirrup member adapted to be detachably secured to said first-named element, one of said elements being provided with a socket and the other element with a spur engaging in said socket, a rotatable connection between the stirrup and the element carried thereby, and means to restore said stirrup and said element to a normal position after relative rotation therebetween.

1 1. In a climbing assembly, the combination of a spike adapted to be driven into a pole to be climbed, the spike provided with a head extending exteriorly of the pole, a stirrup member adapted for attachment to the foot of the climber, means extending from said stirrup adapted for detachable securement with the spike head, and a flexible connection between the stirrup and said means.

12. In a climbing assembly, the combination of a spike adapted to be driven into a pole to be climbed, a head thereon provided with a socket, a stirrup member adapted for attachment to the foot of the climber, a spur carried by the stirrup for insertion into the socket of the spike head, and a flexible connection between the stirrup and the spur carried thereby.

13. In a climbing assembly, the combination of a. spike adapted to be driven into a pole, the spike having a head formed as a spur, a stirrup member adapted for attachment to the foot of the climber, a socket carried by the stirrup member for detachable securement to the spur of the spike, and a flexible connection between the stirrup member and the socket carried thereby.

14. A climbing attachment for poles and the like comprising a spike having a shank portion of substantially rectangular cross section and a head portion, the shank portion being provided with a pressure plate extending from. its lower face and with notches along its upper face, the head portion being provided with a socket opening.

15. A climbing element for poles and the like comprising a spike having a shank portion of substantially rectangular cross section and a head portion, the shank portion being provided with a pressure plate extending from its lower face and with notches along its upper face, the head portion being formed as a spur.

16. In a climbing device of the character described, an L-shaped stirrup member adapted for attachment to the foot of the climber and including a horizontal leg and a vertical leg, a strap eye arranged adjacent the juncture of said legs, a strap having an end anchored in said eye, a buckle eye arranged adjacent the other end of said horizontal leg, a buckle anchored thereto, the strap being adapted to extend forwardly over the instep of the foot and thence rearwardly around the ankle and thence forwardly and across the instep for securement at its free end with said buckle.

1'7. In a climbing device, a stirrup member and means for securing said member to the foot of the climber, an element carried by said stirrup member and adapted for engagement with the object being climbed, means tending to maintain the element and the stirrup member in predetermined angular relationship, and a flexible connection between the stirrup member and said element, whereby said stirrup member may be turned with respect to said element during such engagement.

18. In a. climbing device, a stirrup member and means for securing said member to the foot of the climber, an element carried by said stirrup member and adapted for "engagement with the object being climbed, a flexible connection between the stirrup member and said element, whereby said stirrup member may be turned with respect to said element during such engagement, and means resisting such turning movement.

19. In a climbing device, a stirrup member and means for securing said member to the foot of the climber, an element carried by said stirrup member and adapted for engagement with the object being climbed, means providing for relative turning movement between the stirrup member and the element during such engagement, and means operative upon disengagement of the element from the object being climbed to restore the stirrup member and element to predetermined angular relationship.

20. In a climbing device, a stirrup member and means for securing said member to the foot of the climber, an element carried by said stirrup member and adapted for engagement with the object being climbed, a rotatable connection between the stirrup member and the element carried thereby, and means to restore said stirrup member and said element to a normal position after relative rotation therebetween.

21. In a climbing device, a stirrup member, means for securing said member to the foot of the climber, a spur carried by said stirrup member and rotatable with respect thereto about an axis which extends transversely of the foot of the climber, and means operative between the stirrup member and spur for normally restraining said spur against rotation about said axis.

22. In a climbing device, a stirrup member, means for securing said member to the foot of the climber, and a socket element carried by said stirrup and adapted for engagement with a. spur element on the object being climbed, the socket member being rotatable with respect to the stirrup member and about an axis which extends transversely of the foot of the climber.

EDWARD G. MCKINNEY.

Images