Carabiner, especially for climbing and mountaineering
The carabiner design addresses the issue of incomplete closure by incorporating a retractable active part on the closing finger, ensuring full closure and preventing unintended opening even when the locking member is active.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2023006380
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-06-20
- Publication Date
- 2025-05-30
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-06-20
AI Technical Summary
Existing carabiners with automatic locking mechanisms can inadvertently prevent the closing finger from fully closing, especially when under load, due to automatic actuation of the locking member at any time.
A carabiner design featuring a retractable active part on the closing finger that allows complete closure even when the locking member is in the active position, by retracting upon contact with the locking member and returning to its non-retracted position to prevent opening.
Ensures the closing finger can be fully closed in all circumstances, including under load and with automatic actuation of the locking member, while preventing unintended opening.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Carabiner, in particular for climbing and mountaineering
[0001] The present invention relates to a carabiner, in particular for climbing and mountaineering.
[0002] It relates in particular to a carabiner comprising a so-called open annular body having an access opening inside said body, a closing finger of said opening connected to said body by an articulated connection for a movement of said closing finger between a closed position and an open position of said access opening, a locking member of the closing finger in the closed position, this locking member being configured to move from an inactive position to an active position, under the effect of pressure exerted on said locking member from the inside of said body towards the outside of said body, this locking member forming, in the active position, a locking stop for the closing finger against which an active part of the closing finger abuts during a movement of the closing finger from the closed position to the open position of the access opening.
[0003] Carabiners whose body is generally C-shaped with a closing finger hingedly connected to the body are well known as illustrated for example by patent EP 1 710 464. In such a carabiner, it is important that the closing finger is securely held in the closed position and cannot be opened inadvertently. This secure closing of the closing finger is essential when the carabiner is under load, that is to say, constitutes the interface between, for example, a taut rope passing through the carabiner and personal equipment, such as a harness worn by an operator. In this context, carabiners have appeared on the market which, when under load, allow the automatic actuation of a locking member of the closing finger without intervention by the operator.The disadvantage of such automatic actuation of the locking member is that it can occur at any time, including when the closing finger is in the open position, thus preventing the closing of the closing finger.
[0004] An aim of the invention is to propose a carabiner whose design allows complete closure of the closing finger in all circumstances, including under conditions of automatic actuation of the locking member of the closing finger.
[0005] To this end, the invention relates to a carabiner comprising a so-called open annular body having an access opening to the interior of said body, a finger for closing said opening connected to said body by an articulated connection for a release placing said closing finger between a closed position and an open position of said access opening, a member for locking the closing finger in the closed position, this locking member being configured to move from an inactive position to an active position, activatable under the effect of pressure exerted on said locking member from the inside of said body towards the outside of said body, this locking member forming in the active position a locking stop for the closing finger against which an active part of the closing finger abuts during a movement of the closing finger from the closed position to the open position of the access opening, characterized in that the active part of the closing finger in bearing contact with the locking member, in the activated state of the locking member and driven in movement of the closing finger from the closed position to the open position of the access opening,is a retractable part configured to retract by contact with the locking member, in the active position of the locking member when the closing finger passes from the open position to the closed position of the closing finger, to allow the closing finger to pass from the open position to the closed position including in the active position of the locking member.
[0006] The design of the closing finger allows, due to the presence of a retractable part, to bring the finger into the closed position including in the active position of the locking member. The closing of the closing finger can thus take place in all circumstances. However, once the closing finger is in the closed position, any opening of the closing finger in the active position of the locking member is impossible.
[0007] According to one embodiment of the invention, the retractable active part of the closing finger is a part mounted, for the passage from a non-retracted position to a retracted position, movable by sliding in a slide provided in the closing finger, and the closing finger comprises a member, such as a spring, for returning said retractable active part to the non-retracted position.
[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention, the retractable active part of the closing finger is arranged at the so-called free end of the closing finger opposite that coupled to the body by an articulated connection.
[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the locking member has a ramp-forming cam surface with which the retractable active part of the closing finger is, in the active position of the locking member, in bearing contact, when the closing finger moves from the open position to the closed position of the access opening, this cam surface being interrupted at least in the closing end-of-travel position of the closing finger for the retractable active part of the closing finger to move from a retracted position to a non-retracted position.
[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, the articulated connection connecting the closing finger of said opening to said body for movement of said closing finger between a closed position and an open position of said access opening is a pivoting connection and the closing finger is configured to move from the closed position to the open position of the access opening by pivoting movement towards the inside of said body.
[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the locking member is, for its passage from an inactive position to an active position, a pivoting member pivotally coupled to said body, this locking member extending inside said body along an internal peripheral surface of said body.
[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the articulated connection connecting the closing finger of said opening to said body for movement of said closing finger between a closed position and an open position of said access opening being a connection pivoting about an axis, the locking member is, for the passage from an inactive position to an active position, mounted to pivot about an axis parallel to the pivot axis of the articulated connection of the closing finger to the body.
[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the carabiner comprises an additional member for locking the closing finger in the closed position, this additional locking member, called the second locking member, being mounted to move between a first so-called unlocked position in which the closing finger is free to move between its open and closed positions and a second so-called locking position in which the closing finger is held in the closed position, this second locking member being equipped with an elastically deformable member for returning it to the second locking position.
[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the second locking member is formed by a pivoting lever provided with a locking light cooperating with a locking light arranged in said body, said lights delimiting between them a housing for receiving at least a part of the closing finger of dimension and / or shape adjustable according to the position occupied by the second locking member.
[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, the housing for receiving at least part of the closing finger formed by said lights is, in the first position of the second locking member, a circular housing trapping the part of the closing finger arranged in said housing, to ensure that the closing finger is held in the closed position, this housing forming, in the second locking position of the second locking member, an elongated guide path capable of being traveled by the part of the closing finger arranged in said housing, in the driven by movement of the closing finger between its closed and open positions. Brief description of the drawings
[0016] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings in which:
[0017] [Fig-1] represents a perspective view of a carabiner in the closed position of the closing finger and inactive position of the locking member, the second locking member being in the first position, that is to say in the locking position of the closing finger in the closed position;
[0018] [Fig.2] represents a partial perspective view of a carabiner in positions closed by the closing finger and inactive by the locking member, the second locking member having been omitted;
[0019] [Fig.3] represents a perspective view of a carabiner in exploded position of the elements constituting it;
[0020] [Fig.4] represents a partial perspective view of a carabiner in position exploded view of its constituent elements;
[0021] [Fig.5] represents a perspective view of a carabiner illustrating the passage of the closing finger from the closed position to the open position in the inactive position of the locking member and in the second position of the second locking member, that is to say in the non-locking position of the closing finger;
[0022] [Fig.6] represents a partial perspective view of a carabiner illustrating in closed position of the closing finger, the transition from the inactive position to the active position of the locking member;
[0023] [Fig.7] represents a partial perspective view of a carabiner in position closed by the closing finger and in the active position of the locking member, with a detailed view of the stop formed by the locking member;
[0024] [Fig.8] represents a partial perspective view of a carabiner illustrating the passage from the open position to the closed position of the closing finger in the active position of the locking member.
[0025] As illustrated in [Fig.l], the carabiner 1, object of the invention, comprises an open annular body 2 made here in the shape of a C. This body can be made of metal or plastic. The opening of the C, constituted by the space left free between the two ends of the C, forms an opening 4 for access to the interior of the body 2. This interior of the body 2 is used to receive a force transmission element, such as a rope 20, which, in the state positioned in the body, partially surrounds said body 2 in a manner known per se. This rope 20 is illustrated schematically in [Fig.6].
[0026] A finger 3 for closing the opening 4 for access to the interior of the body 2 is connected to the body 2, in particular to one end of the C of the body 2, by an articulated connection 5. This articulated connection 5, which connects the closing finger 3 of the opening 4 to said body 2 for movement of the closing finger 3 between a closed position and an open position of the access opening 4, is a pivoting connection. The closing finger 3 is configured to move from the closed position to the open position of the access opening 4 by pivoting movement towards the interior of the body 2.
[0027] The pivot axis of the pivoting connection 5 extends perpendicular to the plane of the C of the body 2 of the snap hook 1. In the closed position, the free end of the closing finger 3, opposite that connected to the body 2 by the articulated connection 5, comes, by one of its sides, into bearing contact with the other end of the C of the body to close said opening 4 of the body 2, as can be seen in [Fig.2]. A spring 18, visible in [Fig.3], returns the closing finger 3 to the closed position.
[0028] The carabiner 1 comprises a member 6 for locking the closing finger 3 in the closed position. This locking member 6, visible in [Fig. 4], can be activated under the effect of pressure exerted on the locking member 6 from the inside of the body 2 in the direction of the outside of the body 2. This locking member 6 forms, in the active position, a stop 7 for locking the closing finger 3 against which an active part 8 of the closing finger 3 abuts during a movement of the closing finger 3 from the closed position to the open position of the access opening 4.
[0029] In the examples shown, this locking member 6 is, for its passage from an inactive position to an active position, a pivoting member coupled to the body 2 to pivot about an axis XX'. Again, the pivoting axis XX' of the locking member 6 extends perpendicular to the plane of the C of the body 2. This pivoting axis XX' is also parallel to the pivoting axis of the articulated connection 5 of the closing finger 3 to the body 2. This locking member 6 extends inside the body 2 along an internal peripheral surface of the body 2. In particular, this locking member 6 extends along the part of the C of the body 2 adjoining the end of the C, against which the free end of the closing finger 3 bears in the closed position of the closing finger 3.
[0030] This locking member 6 is a two-armed pivoting lever with one of the arms, called the first arm, extending from the pivot connection of the locking member 6 to the body 2 towards one end of the C, to form a role of stop for the closing finger 3, while the other arm, called the second arm, extends from the pivot connection of the locking member 6 to the body 2 towards the bottom of the C, this second arm being concave with a concavity oriented towards the inside of the C to form a hollow for receiving a rope 20 or equivalent.
[0031] It is understood that thanks to the rope 20 which partially surrounds the carabiner 1 at this level, when the carabiner 1 is subjected to a load, a pivoting movement of the locking member 6 is generated in the direction of a separation of the first arm of the body 2 and a bringing together of the second arm of the body 2, in this position separated from the first arm corresponding to the active position of the locking member 6, a stop 7 for locking the closing finger 3 against which the closing finger 3 abuts when moving the closing finger 3 from the closed position to the open position as can be seen in [Fig.7], so that any movement of the closing finger 3 from the closed position to the open position is prevented in the active position of the locking member.
[0032] This locking member 6 is equipped with a return member 17 in the inactive position. This return member 17 is here formed by a spring interposed between the body 2 and the second arm of the locking body 6. The rope 20 therefore acts against this return member 17 during its tension during which it generates pressure on the second arm of the locking member 6 in the direction of a move closer to the second arm of the body 2 and as a result of a move away from the first arm of the body 2.
[0033] This first arm forms, at its free end in the position separated from the body 2 corresponding to the active position of the locking member 6, a stop 7 for locking the closing finger 3 against which an active part 8 of the closing finger 3 abuts during a movement of the closing finger 3 from the closed position to the open position of the access opening 4.
[0034] This active part 8 of the closing finger 3 is in bearing contact with the locking member 6, in the closed position of the closing finger 3 and, in the activated state, that is to say in the active position, of the locking member 6, and in the driven state in movement of the closing finger 3 from the closed position to the open position of the access opening 4. This active part 8 is a retractable part 8 which can be retracted by bearing contact with the locking member 6, in the active position of the locking member 6, when the closing finger 3 passes from the open position to the closed position of the closing finger 3 to allow the closing finger 3 to pass from the open position to the closed position including in the active position of the locking member 6, as illustrated in [Fig.8].
[0035] This retractable active part 8 of the closing finger 3 is arranged at the so-called free end of the closing finger 3 opposite that coupled to the body 2 by an articulated connection 5. This retractable active part 8 of the closing finger 3 is a part mounted, for the passage from a non-retracted position to a retracted position, movable by sliding in a slide 9 formed in the closing finger 3.
[0036] Indeed, the closing finger 3 is, at its free end, a hollow finger to allow a slide 9 to be provided inside the finger, inside which the retractable active part 8 of the closing finger 3 can slide.
[0037] The closing finger 3 comprises a member 10, such as a return spring, of the retractable active part 8 of the closing finger 3 in the non-retracted position, i.e. a position in which the active part 8 projects from the slide 9 provided at the free end of the closing finger 3.
[0038] The locking member 6 has, for its part, a cam surface 11, forming a ramp, with which the retractable active part 8 of the closing finger 3 is, in the active position of the locking member 6, in bearing contact when the closing finger 3 passes from the open position to the closed position of the access opening 4. This cam surface 11 is interrupted at least in the closing end-of-travel position of the closing finger 3 for the retractable active part 8 of the closing finger 3 to pass from a retracted position to a non-retracted position. This cam surface 11 is formed by the surface of the first arm of the locking member 6 opposite the surface of the first arm, facing the body 2, and with which the unlocking member 6 is applied to the body 2 in the inactive position.
[0039] [Fig. 8] illustrates the retraction of the active part 8 of the closing finger 3. As illustrated in [Fig. 8], the active part 8 of the closing finger 3 is returned by the return member 10 to the non-retracted position, that is to say projecting from the slide 9 provided at the end of the closing finger 3. When the closing finger 3 moves from the open position to the closed position, if the locking member 6 is in the active position under the effect of a rope 20, as illustrated in [Fig. 8], this active part 8 of the closing finger 3 slides against the first arm of the locking member 6 which is spaced from the body 2 to form a cam profile followed by the active part 8 of the closing finger 3 during its pivoting movement from the open position to the closed position.
[0040] This cam profile is shaped so as to generate, by bearing contact with the active part 8 of the closing finger 3, a sliding movement of the active part 8 inside the slide 9, in the direction of erasure against the action of the return member 10. This erasure takes place until the active part 8 of the closing finger 3 has passed the end of the first arm of the locking member 6 and is no longer in contact with this first arm.
[0041] The active part 8 of the member of the closing finger 3 can then, under the effect of the return member 10, return to the non-retracted position, that is to say projecting from the slide provided at the free end of the closing finger 3, so that any movement in the opposite direction, that is to say from the closed position to the open position of the closing finger 3, is prevented, this active part 8 of the closing finger 3 coming to abut against the end of the first arm of the locking member 6.
[0042] Only the release of the traction exerted by the rope 20 allows the locking member 6 to return, under the effect of its return member 17, to the inactive position in which the first arm of the locking member 6 is brought closer to the body 6 and no longer forms a stop arranged on the trajectory followed by the active part 8 of the finger 3. closing when the closing finger 3 moves from the closed position to the open position.
[0043] In the example shown in Figures 3 and 5, the carabiner 1 comprises an additional member for locking the closing finger 3 in the closed position. This additional locking member, called the second locking member 12, is mounted to move between a first position, called the unlocked position, in which the closing finger 3 is free to move between its open and closed positions and a second position, called the locking position, in which the closing finger 3 is held in the closed position. This second locking member 12 is equipped with an elastically deformable member 16 for returning to the second position, such as a spring.
[0044] This second locking member 12 is formed by a pivoting lever. This pivoting lever is arranged outside the C formed by the body 2 on the bottom part of the C of the body 2. This second locking member 12 pivots around an axis parallel to the pivoting axis of the closing finger 3 or of the locking member 6. The pivoting axis of the second locking member 12 is arranged at the end of the lever constituting the second locking member 12 opposite that linked to the closing finger 3.
[0045] Indeed, in the examples shown, the closing finger 3 is a bent finger which extends at a right angle beyond the articulated connection 5 to form two parallel arms connected to each other at their end by a rod 19 visible in [Fig. 3]. This rod 19 is capable of passing through the body 2 and the second locking member 12. In particular, this rod 19 passes through the body 2 and the second locking member 12 at the level of openings provided respectively in the body and in the second locking member 12, these openings being described in more detail below.
[0046] The second locking member 12 is therefore provided with a locking light 13 visible in [Fig. 3]. The latter has, in the example shown, the shape of a bean. Similarly, the body 2 has a light 14, also in the shape of a bean and of a length here less than that of the light 13. These two lights overlap at least partially and delimit between them a housing 15 for receiving at least a part of the closing finger 3, in this case the rod 19 connecting the two arms of the bent part of the closing finger 3.
[0047] This housing 15 is of adjustable size and / or shape depending on the position, in particular angular position, occupied by the second locking member 12. In fact, the slots 13 and 14 overlap more or less depending on the angular position taken by the second locking member 12. The second locking member 12 is a member that can be manually actuated by pressure exerted on the second locking member from the outside towards the inside of the body 2. This pressure allows a pivoting movement of the second locking member 12. from a first position to a second position against a return member 16 tending to return the second locking member 12 to the first position.
[0048] In the first position of the second locking member 10, that is to say in the state of not being requested by the operator, the housing 15 for receiving the rod 19 of the closing finger 3 formed by the slots 13 and 14 is a circular housing trapping the part of the closing finger 3 arranged in said housing 15, namely the rod 19, to ensure that the closing finger 3 is held in the closed position. Thus, any pivoting movement of the closing finger 3 in this first position of the second locking member 12 is prevented.During the pivoting movement of the second locking member 12 towards the second position, by bringing the second locking member 12 closer to the body 2 against the action of the return member 16, such as a spring, arranged between the second locking member 12 and the body 2, the relative positioning of the slots 13 and 14 is modified to increase the surfaces of the slots 13 and 14 which overlap.
[0049] Thus in the second position of the second locking member 12, the lights 13 and 14 provide between them an elongated guide path, capable of being traveled by the part of the closing finger 3 arranged in said housing, namely the rod 19, in the driven state in movement of the closing finger 3 between its closed and open positions.
[0050] It is therefore necessary, to allow the closing finger 3 to move from the closed position to the open position, to actuate, in a first step, the second locking member 12 from its first position to its second position, for example by pressing the second locking member 12 with the hand against the body 2, to then be able to pivotally move, for example with a finger of the hand, the closing finger 3 from the closed position to the open position. The release of the closing finger 3 causes, under the effect of the return member 18, an automatic return of the closing finger 3 to the closed position.
[0051] If in the meantime, the carabiner 1 has been put under tension and the locking member 6 is in the active position, the return of the closing finger 3 to its completely closed position requires the operator to act on the closing finger 3 by exerting pressure on the closing finger 3 in the direction of the closed position to allow, by means of support contact between the active part 8 of the closing finger 3 and the locking member 6, an erasure of the active part 8 of the closing finger 3 inside the slide until the contact with the locking member 6 is interrupted.
[0052] In this position of interruption of contact with the locking member 6, which corresponds to the closed position of the closing finger 3, the active part 8 of the closing finger 3 is returned to the non-erased position and any movement of the finger 3 closing from the closed position to the open position is prevented by contact of the active part 8 of the closing finger 3 with the end of the locking member 6 which, in the active position, forms a stop 7 for locking the closing finger 3 in the closed position. This impossibility of movement is visible in [Fig.7].
[0053] To allow the closing finger 3 to move from the closed position to the open position, it is necessary to wait for the locking member 6 to return to the inactive position under the action of the member 17 for returning the locking member 6 to the inactive position, this return occurring when the pressure exerted by the rope 20 on the locking member 6 is released.
[0054] The closing finger 3 can, again in this inactive position of the locking member 6, move from the closed position to the open position, as illustrated in [Fig.5], subject to prior actuation of the second locking member 12 as described above.
[0055] In summary, the passage of the closing finger 3 from the closed position to the open position requires that the locking member 6 be in the inactive position and that the second locking member 12 be actuated by the operator and brought into the second position. The passage of the closing finger 3 from the open position to the closed position can be obtained in all circumstances, regardless of the inactive or active position of the locking member 6.
Claims
Claims
1. Carabiner (1) comprising a body (2) called open annular having an opening (4) for access to the interior of said body (2), a finger (3) for closing said opening (4) connected to said body (2) by an articulated connection (5) for moving said closing finger (3) between a closed position and an open position of said access opening (4), a member (6) for locking the closing finger (3) in the closed position, this locking member (6) being configured to move from an inactive position to an active position, under the effect of pressure exerted on said locking member (6) from the interior of said body (2) towards the exterior of said body (2), this locking member (6) forming, in the active position,a stop (7) for locking the closing finger (3) against which an active part (8) of the closing finger (3) abuts during a movement of the closing finger (3) from the closed position to the open position of the access opening (4), characterized in that the active part (8) of the closing finger (3) in bearing contact with the locking member (6), in the activated state of the locking member (6) and driven in movement of the closing finger (3) from the closed position to the open position of the access opening (4), is a retractable part (8) configured to retract by bearing contact with the locking member (6) in the active position of the locking member (6), during the passage of the closing finger (3) from the open position to the closed position of the closing finger (3), to allow the passage of the closing finger (3) from the open position to the closed position including in the active position of the member (6) lockdown.,
2. Carabiner (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the retractable active part (8) of the closing finger (3) is a part mounted, for the passage from a non-retracted position to a retracted position, movable by sliding in a slide (9) formed in the closing finger (3), and in that the closing finger (3) comprises a member (10), such as a spring, for returning said retractable active part (8) to the non-retracted position.
3. Carabiner (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the retractable active part (8) of the closing finger (3) is arranged at the so-called free end of the closing finger (3) opposite that coupled to the body (2) by an articulated connection (5).
4. Carabiner (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the locking member (6) has a ramp-forming cam surface (11) with which the retractable active part (8) of the closing finger (3) is, in the active position of the locking member, in bearing contact when the closing finger (3) moves from the open position to the closed position of the access opening (4), this cam surface (11) being interrupted at least in the closing end-of-travel position of the closing finger (3) for the retractable active part (8) of the closing finger (3) to move from a retracted position to a non-retracted position.
5. Carabiner (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the articulated connection (5) connecting the closing finger (3) of said opening (4) to said body (2) for movement of said closing finger (3) between a closed position and an open position of said access opening (4) is a pivoting connection and in that the closing finger (3) is configured to move from the closed position to the open position of the access opening (4) by pivoting movement towards the inside of said body (2).
6. Carabiner (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the locking member (6) is, for its passage from an inactive position to an active position, a pivoting member pivotally coupled to said body (2), this locking member (6) extending inside said body (2) along an internal peripheral surface of said body (2).
7. Carabiner (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the articulated connection (5) connecting the closing finger (3) of said opening (4) to said body (2) for movement of said closing finger (3) between a closed position and an open position of said access opening (4) being a connection pivoting about an axis, the locking member (6) is, for the passage from an inactive position to an active position, mounted to pivot about an axis parallel to the pivot axis of the articulated connection (5) of the closing finger (3) to the body (2).
8. Carabiner (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the carabiner (1) comprises an additional locking member for the closing finger (3) in the closed position, this additional locking member, called the second locking member (12), being mounted to move between a first position called unlocked in which the closing finger (3) is free to move between its open and closed positions and a second so-called locking position in which the closing finger (3) is held in the closed position, this second locking member (12) being equipped with an elastically deformable member (16) for returning it to the second locking position.
9. Carabiner (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the second locking member (12) is formed by a pivoting lever provided with a locking light (13) cooperating with a locking light (14) arranged in said body (2), said lights (13, 14) delimiting between them a housing (15) for receiving at least a part of the closing finger (3) of dimension and / or shape adjustable according to the position occupied by the second locking member (12).
10. Carabiner (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the housing (15) for receiving at least a part of the closing finger (3) formed by said slots (13, 14) is, in the first position of the second locking member (12), a circular housing trapping the part of the closing finger (3) arranged in said housing (15), to ensure that the closing finger (3) is held in the closed position, this housing (15) forming, in the second locking position of the second locking member (12), an elongated guide path capable of being traveled by the part of the closing finger (3) arranged in said housing (15), in the state in which the closing finger (3) is driven to move between its closed and open positions.