WO2014107417A1 - Carabiner with wear-resistant insert - Google Patents
Carabiner with wear-resistant insert Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2014107417A1 WO2014107417A1 PCT/US2013/078147 US2013078147W WO2014107417A1 WO 2014107417 A1 WO2014107417 A1 WO 2014107417A1 US 2013078147 W US2013078147 W US 2013078147W WO 2014107417 A1 WO2014107417 A1 WO 2014107417A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- carabiner
- insert
- wear
- main body
- resistant
- Prior art date
Links
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 24
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 24
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 229910000851 Alloy steel Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 claims description 9
- 239000000919 ceramic Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 229910000838 Al alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 abstract description 9
- 238000005299 abrasion Methods 0.000 abstract description 6
- 238000010348 incorporation Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 10
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 9
- 230000009194 climbing Effects 0.000 description 7
- 241001503987 Clematis vitalba Species 0.000 description 6
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000007743 anodising Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000011435 rock Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229910045601 alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000000956 alloy Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000002788 crimping Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910010293 ceramic material Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003203 everyday effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910001092 metal group alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
- F16B45/00—Hooks; Eyes
- F16B45/02—Hooks with pivoting or elastically bending closing member
- F16B45/036—Hooks with pivoting or elastically bending closing member with an elastically bending closing member
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
- F16B45/00—Hooks; Eyes
- F16B45/02—Hooks with pivoting or elastically bending closing member
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
- F16B45/00—Hooks; Eyes
- F16B45/005—Hooks; Eyes characterised by the material
Definitions
- the present invention relates to mechanical coupling mechanisms used especially for protection in the sport of climbing but also for other endeavors, and more specifically, to an improved carabiner that has a wear-resistant insert.
- Carabiners are indispensable tools for any rock or mountain climber.
- carabiners provide a secure mechanical connection between different objects in a variety of conditions encountered while climbing. For instance, rock climbers typically use many carabiners to quickly yet releasably couple one piece of equipment to another -as an example, a carabiner may be attached to protection such as a bolt, nut or cam, and a rope is then threaded through that carabiner or another one that is attached to it with webbing. Mountaineers use carabiners to quickly and releasably make an attachment between their climbing harness and a lead rope. Carabiners are also used as components of climbing equipment called
- carabiners are useful for the strong mechanical connections they provide in numerous other endeavors such as sailing.
- a typical carabiner is defined by a frame - often a C-shaped member - and a gate that selectively opens and closes the opening into the C-shaped member.
- the gate is typically spring-loaded so that it is biased into the closed position and many carabiners include a lock that is capable of locking the gate closed for safety.
- the carabiner defines a bounded internal region in which different objects may be attached or through which objects such as ropes are threaded.
- carabiners are made either of steel or aluminum alloys - the strength of the devices depend upon various factors such as the specific alloys used and the specific design of the carabiner and the gate.
- Most climbers prefer aluminum carabiners because they provide excellent strength characteristics and most especially because they are lighter than steel carabiners. Since most climbers carry numerous carabiners while climbing, saving weight is a very important consideration. That accounts in part for the popularity of aluminum carabiners. But in addition, aluminum carabiners are usually far more economical than their steel counterparts, further contributing to the frequent use of aluminum.
- the aluminum material used for the main frame has a significant limitation: the aluminum is relatively soft (at least compared to steel) and is prone to wear over time.
- carabiners are very often used in situations where a climbing rope is passed through the device - the rope rests on or passes through the interior portions of the carabiner. Often, and intentionally, the rope moves through the carabiner, which remains relatively stationary. As this happens, the rope rubs on the interior surface of the carabiner.
- the abrasion and friction of the rope abrading against the carabiner causes wear in the carabiner and this abrasion increases with the load on the rope.
- Rope-worn carabiners present a safety concern because the climber may not have properly inspected the device to insure that it is in proper condition and may not therefore be aware of a reduction in the strength of the device.
- the present invention relates to a carabiner having improved longevity due to the incorporation of a wear-resistant surface on the interior of the carabiner where ropes and the like typically cause wear and abrasion of the carabiner.
- the wear- resistant material may be formed of an insert that is attached to the interior surface of the carabiner with any conventional means of attachment, including for example bonding with adhesives or with friction fit.
- the wear-resistant material may further be applied as a coating applied to the load bearing surface of the carabiner.
- the carabiner body is a conventional device that is most typically fabricated from an aluminum alloy and the wear-resistant insert is a material that is harder than the aluminum, such as alloys of steel and/or ceramics, and has greatly improved wear characteristics.
- the insert adds negligible weight to the carabiner and therefore increases the life of the device without detracting from the usability of the device.
- FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a carabiner according to the present invention incorporating a wear-resistant insert.
- Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the carabiner illustrated in Fig. 1 , taken along the line 2 - 2, showing the carabiner with the gate removed.
- Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the carabiner shown in Fig. 1 , taken along the line 3 - 3 of Fig. 1 , so that the view is transverse to the cross sectional view of Fig. 2.
- FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a carabiner according to the present invention, showing the carabiner and the wear-resistant insert but omitting the gate.
- FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the carabiner of Fig. 4, showing the wear- resistant insert in place and attached to the carabiner main body.
- Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of a first alternative embodiment of a carabiner according to the present invention in which two separate wear-resistant inserts are utilized, the view of Fig. 6 analogous to the cross sectional view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2.
- FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of a second alternative embodiment of a carabiner according to the present invention in which a relatively longer wear-resistant insert or coating is utilized.
- the carabiner 10 illustrated herein is typical of an aluminum alloy carabiner but it will be readily understood by those of skill in the art that there are innumerable shapes and configurations used for carabiners and that there are many different types of "gates" used.
- the invention detailed herein is not limited to any particular shape or type of carabiner, but is instead applicable to all carabiners within the scope of the invention.
- the illustrated carabiner 10 is defined by a main body 12 having a generally C-shape with an opening 14 into the open interior portion 16 of the main body 12. All carabiners also include a gate 18 that closes the opening 14 - the gate is usually spring loaded or in some other way biased toward the closed position so that the opening is normally closed.
- the gate 18 shown in Fig. 1 is a wire-type gate that is attached to body 12 with its two ends oriented adjacent one another to facilitate a spring force on the wire.
- the gate 18 is attached to the carabiner at end 20 - the gate 18 extends between the end 20 and the opposed end 22 of the main body so that when the gate 18 is in the closed position the open interior portion 16 defines a completely bounded opening.
- the C-shape of carabiner 10 defines a lower curved portion 24 that is defined as the lower curved portion of the letter C, and an upper curved portion 26, which is the upper curved portion of the letter C.
- the carabiner according to the present invention includes a wear-resistant insert 30 that is attached to the carabiner 10 and which covers the primary load bearing surface, that is, interior surface 28.
- the interior surface 28 is thus defined by the wear- resistant insert in a carabiner 10 that includes the insert.
- the wear-resistant member 30 is fabricated of a material that has increased hardness relative to the hardness of the material that is used to fabricate main body 12 of the carabiner, and has improved wear- resistance.
- the wear-resistant member 30 is considered a separate part from the carabiner body. As noted above, anodizing material on an aluminum carabiner is harder than the aluminum in the body.
- the wear-resistant member used herein is a separate member that is attached to the body of the carabiner, which may be anodized.
- a carabiner 10 that incorporates a wear-resistant insert 30 has improved life span because the ropes and the like that are threaded through open interior portion 16 and bear on the interior surface 28.
- the wear-resistant insert 30 is a material that has increased hardness and wear-resistant properties relative to the aluminum.
- the wear-resistant insert 30 is formed so that it mates with the curved interior surface of the carabiner body onto which the insert is attached.
- the insert 30 may be attached to carabiner 10 in a number of appropriate manners. These include friction fit, crimping, bonding with appropriate adhesives, a combination of friction fit and bonding, with physical attachment such as screws and other similar fasteners, and, depending on the materials used for both the carabiner and the insert, welding.
- Fig. 3 it may be seen that the cross sectional configuration of the main body 12 is somewhat hourglass shaped.
- the insert 30 may be formed in a semicircular shape and the shape of the lower curved portion 24 of carabiner 10 is cooperatively formed so that the insert 30 is friction fit over the lower curved portion 24.
- Adhesive may be used to bond the insert to the carabiner.
- the adhesive should be appropriate to insure a strong bond between the insert and the main body in all conditions. Since frictional forces from a rope bearing on the insert can lead to elevated temperatures, the adhesive should maintain a strong bond over a broad temperature range.
- the insert may also include inwardly projecting tabs or bosses or other similar structures that engage cooperatively shaped and located recesses on the carabiner body to retain the insert in place on the carabiner.
- the insert may be attached to the main body by crimping the insert to the main body, and adhesive or fasteners may be used together with a crimped-on insert.
- the attachment strength of a crimped-on insert may be enhanced when inwardly projecting tabs on the insert engage cooperative recesses on the body.
- An insert may further completely encircle the main body and be attached with an adhesive or with a fastener; this type of insert is most easily accomplished when the main body is cylindrical in cross section.
- a second wear resistant insert 40 having a second, upper interior bearing surface 28 may be attached to the main body 12 at upper curved portion 26, which defines a secondary load bearing surface of the carabiner.
- upper curved portion 26 of the carabiner 10 is less often used as an attachment point and thus as surface that is prone to wear, sometimes it is advantageous to improve wear-resistance at the upper curved portion 26.
- the wear-resistant inserts 30 and 40 may be attached to the main body 12 in any of the manners described previously.
- FIG. 7 A third embodiment of a carabiner 10 incorporating a wear resistant insert 50 with an interior bearing surface 28 is shown in Fig. 7.
- the wear-resistant insert 50 covers substantially the entire inner bearing surface of the carabiner between ends 20 and 22. This has the advantage of provide increased wear resistance over the entire interior surface of the carabiner that could be damaged by wear.
- the insert 50 could be a separate insert piece as detailed above with respect to the embodiments previously described, or could be defined by a coating material applied to the interior- facing surface portion of the main body 12 rather than a separate insert piece. As noted above, many if not most aluminum carabiners are anodized and the anodizing material is harder than the raw aluminum alloy.
- the wear-resistant insert 50 is defined by a coating applied to the main body, the coating contemplated herein is an added layer of material that is both thicker and harder than an anodized coating, for example, a ceramic material. Moreover, the coating is specifically oriented on the carabiner to cover the wear surface.
- carabiners are often attached directly to bolt hangers.
- Bolt hangers are typically steel and have an opening into which the carabiner is engaged.
- the hard steel of the bolt hanger can easily damage an aluminum alloy carabiner.
- the carabiner includes a wear resistant insert as contemplated herein the wear and damage caused by the bolt hanger is significantly reduced.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
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Abstract
A carabiner has improved longevity due to the incorporation of a wear-resistant surface on the interior of the carabiner where ropes and the like typically cause wear and abrasion of the carabiner. The wear-resistant material may be formed of an insert that is attached to the interior surface of the carabiner with any conventional means of attachment, or as a coating. The carabiner body is a conventional device, typically fabricated from an aluminum alloy and the wear-resistant insert is a steel alloy or other material that is much harder than the aluminum, and has greatly improved wear characteristics.
Description
Carabiner with Wear-Resistant Insert
Technical Field
[001 ] The present invention relates to mechanical coupling mechanisms used especially for protection in the sport of climbing but also for other endeavors, and more specifically, to an improved carabiner that has a wear-resistant insert.
Background Information
[002] Carabiners are indispensable tools for any rock or mountain climber.
Among their many benefits, carabiners provide a secure mechanical connection between different objects in a variety of conditions encountered while climbing. For instance, rock climbers typically use many carabiners to quickly yet releasably couple one piece of equipment to another -as an example, a carabiner may be attached to protection such as a bolt, nut or cam, and a rope is then threaded through that carabiner or another one that is attached to it with webbing. Mountaineers use carabiners to quickly and releasably make an attachment between their climbing harness and a lead rope. Carabiners are also used as components of climbing equipment called
"quickdraws." These comprise two carabiners connected by a short sling of webbing and they are commonly used to connect a rope to fixed protection like bolts or to extend
gear placements to reduce rope drag. These are just a few examples; there are hundreds more ways that carabiners are used in the sports of rock climbing and mountaineering.
[003] Similarly, carabiners are useful for the strong mechanical connections they provide in numerous other endeavors such as sailing.
[004] Given their ubiquitous use in many sports and other facets of everyday life, there are many different types and designs of carabiners. That said, a typical carabiner is defined by a frame - often a C-shaped member - and a gate that selectively opens and closes the opening into the C-shaped member. The gate is typically spring-loaded so that it is biased into the closed position and many carabiners include a lock that is capable of locking the gate closed for safety. With the gate closed, the carabiner defines a bounded internal region in which different objects may be attached or through which objects such as ropes are threaded. There are of course many, many different variations on these general structural and operational themes.
[005] The mechanical properties of carabiners and the materials that are used for the main body frame and the gate of the carabiner are important considerations. Most often, carabiners are made either of steel or aluminum alloys - the strength of the devices depend upon various factors such as the specific alloys used and the specific design of the carabiner and the gate. Most climbers prefer aluminum carabiners because they provide excellent strength characteristics and most especially because
they are lighter than steel carabiners. Since most climbers carry numerous carabiners while climbing, saving weight is a very important consideration. That accounts in part for the popularity of aluminum carabiners. But in addition, aluminum carabiners are usually far more economical than their steel counterparts, further contributing to the frequent use of aluminum.
[006] It is important to always use carabiners in the proper manner. Among other considerations, a carabiner should never be loaded across its minor axis. That is, if we consider a C-shaped carabiner, the upright portion of the letter C is parallel to the long axis and the axis that is transverse to the long axis extends through the opening into the C, through the gate. Any load must be oriented along the long axis, not transverse to it.
[007] Although aluminum carabiners are widely used, the aluminum material used for the main frame has a significant limitation: the aluminum is relatively soft (at least compared to steel) and is prone to wear over time. Specifically, carabiners are very often used in situations where a climbing rope is passed through the device - the rope rests on or passes through the interior portions of the carabiner. Often, and intentionally, the rope moves through the carabiner, which remains relatively stationary. As this happens, the rope rubs on the interior surface of the carabiner. Of course, the abrasion and friction of the rope abrading against the carabiner causes wear in the carabiner and this abrasion increases with the load on the rope. This inherently weakens the carabiner and climbers know that their carabiners need to be replaced at regular intervals when they wear from rope abrasion. With quickdraws, rope movement
through the carabiner is very common given the particular uses of the equipment. Many aluminum carabiners are anodized and the anodizing material is harder than the raw aluminum alloy. However, the anodizing material is applied only very thinly - perhaps 1/1000th of an inch of material, and is still not as hard or wear-resistant as steel. While steel carabiners are heavier than their aluminum counterparts, they tend to wear less from rope abrasion, or at least more slowly, because the steel is harder than the aluminum alloys.
[008] Rope-worn carabiners present a safety concern because the climber may not have properly inspected the device to insure that it is in proper condition and may not therefore be aware of a reduction in the strength of the device.
[009] In view of the benefits derived from relatively light equipment such as aluminum carabiners, there is a need, therefore, for a carabiner that overcomes the limitations of existing devices and which is specifically less prone to wear from ropes and other devices that are attached to or threaded through the carabiner.
Summary of the Invention
[010] The present invention relates to a carabiner having improved longevity due to the incorporation of a wear-resistant surface on the interior of the carabiner where ropes and the like typically cause wear and abrasion of the carabiner. The wear- resistant material may be formed of an insert that is attached to the interior surface of
the carabiner with any conventional means of attachment, including for example bonding with adhesives or with friction fit. The wear-resistant material may further be applied as a coating applied to the load bearing surface of the carabiner. The carabiner body is a conventional device that is most typically fabricated from an aluminum alloy and the wear-resistant insert is a material that is harder than the aluminum, such as alloys of steel and/or ceramics, and has greatly improved wear characteristics. The insert adds negligible weight to the carabiner and therefore increases the life of the device without detracting from the usability of the device.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[01 1 ] The invention will be better understood and its numerous objects and advantages will be apparent by reference to the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the following drawings.
[012] Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a carabiner according to the present invention incorporating a wear-resistant insert.
[013] Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the carabiner illustrated in Fig. 1 , taken along the line 2 - 2, showing the carabiner with the gate removed.
[014] Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the carabiner shown in Fig. 1 , taken along the line 3 - 3 of Fig. 1 , so that the view is transverse to the cross sectional view of Fig. 2.
[015] Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a carabiner according to the present invention, showing the carabiner and the wear-resistant insert but omitting the gate.
[016] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the carabiner of Fig. 4, showing the wear- resistant insert in place and attached to the carabiner main body.
[017] Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of a first alternative embodiment of a carabiner according to the present invention in which two separate wear-resistant inserts are utilized, the view of Fig. 6 analogous to the cross sectional view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2.
[018] Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view of a second alternative embodiment of a carabiner according to the present invention in which a relatively longer wear-resistant insert or coating is utilized.
Detailed Description
[019] Preferred embodiments of the carabiner 10 according to the present invention are illustrated in the figures. The carabiner 10 illustrated herein is typical of an aluminum alloy carabiner but it will be readily understood by those of skill in the art that there are innumerable shapes and configurations used for carabiners and that there are many different types of "gates" used. The invention detailed herein is not limited to any particular shape or type of carabiner, but is instead applicable to all carabiners within the scope of the invention.
[020] The illustrated carabiner 10 is defined by a main body 12 having a generally C-shape with an opening 14 into the open interior portion 16 of the main body 12. All carabiners also include a gate 18 that closes the opening 14 - the gate is usually spring loaded or in some other way biased toward the closed position so that the opening is normally closed. The gate 18 shown in Fig. 1 is a wire-type gate that is attached to body 12 with its two ends oriented adjacent one another to facilitate a spring force on the wire. The gate 18 is attached to the carabiner at end 20 - the gate 18 extends between the end 20 and the opposed end 22 of the main body so that when the gate 18 is in the closed position the open interior portion 16 defines a completely bounded opening. In use, ropes, webbing and other devices are threaded through the bounded opening of the carabiner defined by the open interior 16. Because the gate is closed in normal use, a rope is retained within the open interior 16 of the carabiner 10. As alluded to above, there are many types of gates that are used in carabiners, including locking-type gates.
[021 ] For purposes herein, the C-shape of carabiner 10 defines a lower curved portion 24 that is defined as the lower curved portion of the letter C, and an upper curved portion 26, which is the upper curved portion of the letter C. While there are many, many different types and shapes of carabiners and manners in which they are used, regardless of the specific shape the interior surface of the lower curved portion 24 is the primary surface on which ropes impinge, and this part of the interior surface is thus the primary wear surface or primary load bearing surface that typically wears first and most significantly from use.
[022] The carabiner according to the present invention includes a wear-resistant insert 30 that is attached to the carabiner 10 and which covers the primary load bearing surface, that is, interior surface 28. The interior surface 28 is thus defined by the wear- resistant insert in a carabiner 10 that includes the insert. The wear-resistant member 30 is fabricated of a material that has increased hardness relative to the hardness of the material that is used to fabricate main body 12 of the carabiner, and has improved wear- resistance. The wear-resistant member 30 is considered a separate part from the carabiner body. As noted above, anodizing material on an aluminum carabiner is harder than the aluminum in the body. However, the wear-resistant member used herein is a separate member that is attached to the body of the carabiner, which may be anodized. A carabiner 10 that incorporates a wear-resistant insert 30 has improved life
span because the ropes and the like that are threaded through open interior portion 16 and bear on the interior surface 28.
[023] If the main body 12 is aluminum or an aluminum alloy, the wear-resistant insert 30 is a material that has increased hardness and wear-resistant properties relative to the aluminum.
[024] The wear-resistant insert 30 is formed so that it mates with the curved interior surface of the carabiner body onto which the insert is attached. The insert 30 may be attached to carabiner 10 in a number of appropriate manners. These include friction fit, crimping, bonding with appropriate adhesives, a combination of friction fit and bonding, with physical attachment such as screws and other similar fasteners, and, depending on the materials used for both the carabiner and the insert, welding. With reference to Fig. 3, it may be seen that the cross sectional configuration of the main body 12 is somewhat hourglass shaped. The insert 30 may be formed in a semicircular shape and the shape of the lower curved portion 24 of carabiner 10 is cooperatively formed so that the insert 30 is friction fit over the lower curved portion 24. Adhesive may be used to bond the insert to the carabiner. The adhesive should be appropriate to insure a strong bond between the insert and the main body in all conditions. Since frictional forces from a rope bearing on the insert can lead to elevated temperatures, the adhesive should maintain a strong bond over a broad temperature range. The insert may also include inwardly projecting tabs or bosses or other similar
structures that engage cooperatively shaped and located recesses on the carabiner body to retain the insert in place on the carabiner.
[025] Similarly, the insert may be attached to the main body by crimping the insert to the main body, and adhesive or fasteners may be used together with a crimped-on insert. The attachment strength of a crimped-on insert may be enhanced when inwardly projecting tabs on the insert engage cooperative recesses on the body. An insert may further completely encircle the main body and be attached with an adhesive or with a fastener; this type of insert is most easily accomplished when the main body is cylindrical in cross section.
[026] There are many materials that may be used for wear-resistant insert 30, including for example, a variety of steel alloys and other metals and metal alloys, ceramics, etc. The insert 30 adds relatively little weight to the carabiner 10 because the insert itself is relatively small and thin. The preferred light-weight aluminum carabiner 10 may thus have improved wear characteristics and long life without significant increase in weight. As the carabiner is used, ropes and other devices that extend through the carabiner interior 16 bear on the surface of the insert 30, which has greater resistance to wear caused by friction and other forces.
[027] A second illustrated embodiment of a carabiner 10 according to the present invention is shown in cross section in Fig. 6. In this embodiment, a second wear resistant insert 40 having a second, upper interior bearing surface 28 may be attached to the main body 12 at upper curved portion 26, which defines a secondary load bearing surface of the carabiner. Although the upper curved portion 26 of the carabiner 10 is less often used as an attachment point and thus as surface that is prone to wear, sometimes it is advantageous to improve wear-resistance at the upper curved portion 26. The wear-resistant inserts 30 and 40 may be attached to the main body 12 in any of the manners described previously.
[028] A third embodiment of a carabiner 10 incorporating a wear resistant insert 50 with an interior bearing surface 28 is shown in Fig. 7. In this case, the wear-resistant insert 50 covers substantially the entire inner bearing surface of the carabiner between ends 20 and 22. This has the advantage of provide increased wear resistance over the entire interior surface of the carabiner that could be damaged by wear. The insert 50 could be a separate insert piece as detailed above with respect to the embodiments previously described, or could be defined by a coating material applied to the interior- facing surface portion of the main body 12 rather than a separate insert piece. As noted above, many if not most aluminum carabiners are anodized and the anodizing material is harder than the raw aluminum alloy. If the wear-resistant insert 50 is defined by a coating applied to the main body, the coating contemplated herein is an added layer of material that is both thicker and harder than an anodized coating, for example, a
ceramic material. Moreover, the coating is specifically oriented on the carabiner to cover the wear surface.
[029] As another example of how the carabiner 10 according to the present invention provides benefit, carabiners (usually with quickdraws) are often attached directly to bolt hangers. Bolt hangers are typically steel and have an opening into which the carabiner is engaged. The hard steel of the bolt hanger can easily damage an aluminum alloy carabiner. However, when the carabiner includes a wear resistant insert as contemplated herein the wear and damage caused by the bolt hanger is significantly reduced.
[030] While the present invention has been described in terms of preferred and illustrated embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill that the spirit and scope of the invention is not limited to those embodiments, but extend to the various modifications and equivalents as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1 . A carabiner, comprising:
a body defining a bearing surface;
a wear-resistant surface on the bearing surface.
2. The carabiner according to claim 1 in which the wear-resistant surface is defined by a material that is harder than the first material.
3. The carabiner according to claim 1 wherein the wear-resistant surface comprises an insert that is attached to the body so that the insert covers the bearing surface.
4. The carabiner according to claim 3 wherein the insert is bonded to the body.
5. The carabiner according to claim 3 wherein the insert is attached to the body with a fastener.
6. The carabiner according to claim 3 wherein the insert is a steel alloy and the body is aluminum.
7. The carabiner according to claim 3 wherein the insert is ceramic and the body is aluminum.
1
8. The carabiner according to claim 3 wherein the body is aluminum and the insert is a coating applied to the body.
9. The carabiner according to claim 1 wherein the body defined plural bearing surfaces and including an insert on each such bearing surface.
10. A carabiner, comprising:
a main body having a gate, said main body and gate defining an open interior that is bounded by the gate and the main body, said main body further defining a first bearing surface defined by a portion of the main body facing the open interior;
a first wear-resistant insert covering at least a portion of the main body on the first bearing surface.
1 1 . The carabiner according to claim 10 in which the first wear-resistant insert is further defined by first member attached to the main body and cooperatively shaped to conform to a configuration of the first bearing surface.
12. The carabiner according to claim 1 1 in which the first member is attached to the main body with an adhesive.
13. The carabiner according to claim 1 1 wherein the main body defines a second bearing surface and including a second wear-resistant insert that is defined by a second
2
member attached to the main body and cooperatively shaped to conform to a configuration of the second bearing surface.
14. The carabiner according to claim 13 in which the second member is attached to the main body with an adhesive.
15. The carabiner according to claim 14 in which the first and second members are steel alloys and the main body is aluminum.
16. A carabiner, comprising:
a generally C-shaped curved body formed of aluminum, said curved body having first and second opposed ends defining an opening therebetween and an open center between an upper curved portion of said body and a lower curved portion of said body, said lower curved portion defining a primary bearing surface;
a gate attached to one of the first or second opposed ends and extending across the opening to the opposite of said first or second opposed ends to selectively open and close the opening into the open center; and
a wear-resistant covering on the primary bearing surface, said wear-resistant covering defined by a material that is harder than the aluminum used in the main body.
17. The carabiner according to claim 16 wherein the wear-resistant covering is defined by an insert attached to the main body.
3
18. The carabiner according to claim 17 wherein the insert is a steel alloy.
19. The carabiner according to claim 18 wherein the insert is bonded to the main body.
20. The carabiner according to claim 16 wherein the upper curved portion of said body defines a secondary bearing surface, and including a wear-resistant covering on the secondary bearing surface.
4
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US201361748502P | 2013-01-03 | 2013-01-03 | |
US61/748,502 | 2013-01-03 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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WO2014107417A1 true WO2014107417A1 (en) | 2014-07-10 |
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Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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PCT/US2013/078147 WO2014107417A1 (en) | 2013-01-03 | 2013-12-28 | Carabiner with wear-resistant insert |
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WO (1) | WO2014107417A1 (en) |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5463798A (en) * | 1992-11-02 | 1995-11-07 | Wurzer; Franz | Self-locking carabiner |
US5878834A (en) * | 1996-01-16 | 1999-03-09 | Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd | Formed sheet metal carabiner gate |
EP2256356A2 (en) * | 2009-05-27 | 2010-12-01 | ALUDESIGN S.p.A. | Anti-wear karabiner |
-
2013
- 2013-12-28 WO PCT/US2013/078147 patent/WO2014107417A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5463798A (en) * | 1992-11-02 | 1995-11-07 | Wurzer; Franz | Self-locking carabiner |
US5878834A (en) * | 1996-01-16 | 1999-03-09 | Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd | Formed sheet metal carabiner gate |
EP2256356A2 (en) * | 2009-05-27 | 2010-12-01 | ALUDESIGN S.p.A. | Anti-wear karabiner |
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