Device for stiffening a quickdraw to extend the reach of a rock climber

Abstract

The device comprises a tube having a hole and an open ended slot at the upper end of the tube. The sling of a quickdraw passes through the lower end of the tube and exits the hole. A lower carabiner is clipped to the sling below the lower end of the tube. An upper carabiner is clipped to the sling above the hole. The upper carabiner is attached to the device by pressing the upper carabiner into the slot, which deflects and rebounds to capture the spine of the upper carabiner. The reach of the climber is extended by holding onto the lower end of the tube instead of holding onto the upper carabiner.The upper carabiner is detached from the tube by deflection of the slot when the climber pulls the tube away from the upper carabiner after clipping the upper carabiner to a fixed piece of protection.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention

[0001] The invention is in the field of rock climbing and pertains particularly to a device for stiffening a quickdraw to extend the reach of a rock climber.Description of Related Art

[0002] A common safety device employed by rock climbers is known as a quickdraw. A quickdraw is a device that consists of an upper carabiner and a lower carabiner, each clipped to a loop of webbing known as a sling. A climber typically carries at least as many quickdraws on a climbing harness as there are fixed pieces of protection installed on a given climbing route. It is understood that the term “carabiner” encompasses the traditional definition of a carabiner as defined in the figures herein, as well as any generally hook shaped device that can be secured to a rope or to a fixed piece of protection. It is understood that the term “sling” encompasses a strand of webbing sewn in one loop as well as a strand of webbing that is sewn together in a middle portion to form a loop at each end, which is known as a dogbone. It is understood that the term “fixed piece of protection” encompasses any device that is secured to a rock or other climbing surface for the purpose of enabling the use of carabiners and quickdraws while rock climbing.

[0003] As the climber approaches each fixed piece of protection on a climbing route, the upper carabiner of a quickdraw is clipped to the fixed piece of protection and the lower carabiner of that same quickdraw is clipped to the rope that is attached to the harness worn by the climber. This process is repeated with additional quickdraws as a second person, known as a belayer, feeds rope, until the climber reaches the last piece of protection at the end of the climbing route. The repeated sequence of clipping an upper carabiner of a quickdraw to a fixed piece of protection and clipping the lower carabiner of that quickdraw to the climbing rope limits the distance a climber might fall before being caught by the rope that is secured by the belayer.

[0004] There are many situations when climbers might prefer to extend their reach to clip a fixed piece of protection from a lower position on the rock than a higher position. This may occur when fixed pieces of protection are widely spaced, when fixed pieces of protection are positioned sub-optimally, when climbers are short, when the technical grade of the climb is at the limit of the climber, or when the lower position seems more secure to the climber than advancing to a higher position.

[0005] A disadvantage of the conventional quickdraw is that it requires the climber to hold onto the upper carabiner to clip it to a fixed piece of protection. The reach of the climber cannot be extended by holding onto the sling or by holding onto the lower carabiner because the sling is flexible and because the sling is only loosely coupled to the upper carabiner. The loose coupling of the sling to the upper carabiner is intentional to minimize the effect of rope drag. As a climber advances, the rope drags through the lower carabiner, which can cause the lower carabiner and the sling to move. The loose coupling of the sling to the upper carabiner prevents rope drag from disrupting the position of the upper carabiner within the fixed piece of protection and potentially causing a dangerous cross loading event. It is important that carabiners are loaded axially along the spine of the carabiner. Carabiners that are certified for climbing are labeled with their rated strength when loaded axially along the spine and when cross loaded transverse to the spine. Carabiners are typically about three times weaker when cross loaded than when loaded axially.

[0006] Devices that enable a climber to extend their reach and clip quickdraws to fixed pieces of protection from the ground are known as stick clips. Commercial stick clips are presently available from several known manufacturers. Stick clips are intended to be used from the ground before the climber has started climbing. A stick clip can be effective in clipping a quickdraw to the first or second fixed piece of protection to prevent a climber from hitting the ground in case of a fall early on the route. Stick clips are not meant to be carried or used while climbing. Stick clips are large and cumbersome for transporting on a climbing harness. A stick clip is used in conjunction with a quickdraw. A stick clip is not a substitute for a quickdraw.

[0007] A device related to stick clips can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,510,599 (AmRhein). Other information relevant to address the problem of attaching carabiners to out-of-reach fixed pieces of protection in general can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,409.240 (Ferguson), U.S. Pat. No. 3.913,515 (Hernsjo et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4.793,646 (Michaud, Jr.), U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,059 (Regamey), U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,399 (Albright), U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,611(Wanat), U.S. Pat. No. 5,116.260 (Upchurch), U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,207 (Reed), 3,098,462 (Holzman), U.S. Pat. No. 2,979,013 (Whittall), U.S. Pat. No. 2,116,880 (Lee), U.S. Pat. No. 1,852,629 (Sturges), U.S. Pat. No. 1,536,701 (Buckingham et al.), and U.S. Pat. No. 149,575 (Clendaniel et al.).

[0008] Methods and devices for stiffening a quickdraw to extend the reach of a rock climber while on a climbing route have been implemented in a number of ways as documented below.

[0009] In the book titled “Crag Survival Handbook” the author describes a stiff quickdraw using a special triggered-gate upper carabiner, malleable wire, and tape (Samet). This description was republished on the website “Climbing” under the title “That high clip just out of reach? You need a “stiffie”! “(Samet). A triggered-gate carabiner has a trigger mechanism that holds the spring loaded gate in an open position until triggered by the action of clipping the triggered-gate carabiner to a fixed piece of protection.

[0010] On the user forum of the rock climbing website “MountainProject”, under a thread titled “Stick clips for short people on sport routes”, one member mentions a long quickdraw with tape and a plastic drinking straw or twig attached with climbing tape (John Badila). Another member mentions taping a twig to a long quickdraw (BrianWS). Another member mentions using a wooden ruler wrapped in webbing and finished with tape or a piece of tubular webbing stiffened by sliding a narrower stiffening rod inside the webbing (Suburban Roadside). Another member mentions a hollow dogbone with a wooden dowel inserted to make a long stiff quickdraw (20 kN). Another member mentions taping tongue depressors to long quickdraws (drmergurl Cornejo). Another member mentions the use of a twig and tape as well as miniblinds plastic with tape or PVC pipe (Lena chita). Another member mentions taping a stick to a quickdraw (Carter Smith).

[0011] On the same forum, under a thread titled ““stiffie” quick draw”, one member mentions taping a stick to a quickdraw and using a triggered-gate upper carabiner (wisam). Another member mentions using cardboard, tape, and a triggered-gate upper carabiner (Paul L).

[0012] On the same forum, under a thread titled “Long stiff draw”, one member describes a long stiff quickdraw made with flexible metal rulers, tubular webbing, tape, and a triggered-gate upper carabiner, as well as a stiff quickdraw made with a wooden ruler enclosed with a mountain bike handlebar grip and electrical tape (George Bracksieck).

[0013] On the same forum, under a thread titled “Kong Panic Quickdraw, homemade? Long / stiff dogbone to clip out of reach hangers”, one member mentions using clear vinyl tubing over the dogbone to make a stiff quickdraw (Trevor). Another member mentions using a stiff quickdraw made with stiff plastic tubing from a bicycle spoke shipping container as well as a stiff quickdraw made with plastic and duct tape (highaltitudeflatulentexplosion). Another member mentions taping a stick to the spine of both carabiners to make a stiff quickdraw (Beean).

[0014] On the same forum, under a thread titled “Quickdraw with a long stiff dogbone”, one member suggests making a stiff quickdraw by taping stiff plastic or copper wire to a quickdraw and using a triggered-gate carabiner (Greg R). Another member mentions a method of stiffening a quickdraw that employs PVC pipe with notches at both ends and duct tape (Logan Peterson). Another member suggests stiffening a sling with aquarium hose (Noel Z).

[0015] On the user forum of the rock climbing website “UKclimbing”, under a thread titled “rigid quickdraws”, one member mentions using plastic electrical conduit to make a stiff quickdraw (hms). Another member mentions using hose pipe and using electrical conduit or plastic plumbing pipe (3leggeddog). Another member mentions a stiff quickdraw with a bit of wire taped to it with duct tape (Kiwiprincess).

[0016] One the climbing website “AlpineSavvy”, under an article titled “DIY-Make a “cheater” quickdraw for reachy clips”, a stiff quickdraw is described using a rubber part that is intended for use on a lower carabiner on an upper carabiner with a triggered gate and suggests the stiffness can be further enhanced with tape and plastic cut from a bottle (unattributed author).

[0017] Commercial devices with stiffened slings are presently available from several known manufacturers. The disadvantage of these commercial devices, as well as most of the homemade devices, is that the stiffened sling is tightly coupled to the upper carabiner. Because the upper carabiner cannot be disengaged from the stiffened sling, rope drag through the lower carabiner can cause the upper carabiner to move such that it could become dangerously cross loaded in the event of a fall if a climber were to proceed above these devices. For this reason, climbers are advised to exchange these devices for a conventional quickdraw before climbing above the fixed piece of protection. Another disadvantage introduced by the known commercially available devices is that all of them utilize specialized upper carabiners with triggered gates that remain open until the carabiner is clipped, making them more complex and heavier than conventional carabiners.

[0018] One of these manufacturers also makes products with a stiffened sling that replace the upper carabiner with the connector found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,201 (Bonaiti). While a climber can safely climb above these devices, they are more complex, bigger, and heavier than conventional quickdraws. As reported by a member of “MountainProject” in the previously cited thread titled “Stick clips for short people on sport routes”, the size of these devices, make it difficult to impossible to exchange the device for a conventional quickdraw in some fixed pieces of protection (rocknice2). This means a climber would have to unclip the device before exchanging the device with a conventional quickdraw, leaving the climber momentarily unprotected by that fixed piece of protection.

[0019] Although it is not mentioned, the device found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,036,780 (Geninati) enables a climber to climb above the device by untwisting the sling to minimize the coupling of the notched tube to the upper carabiner. A disadvantage of this device is that the sling cannot be untwisted unless the upper carabiner is detached from the fixed piece of protection, or the lower carabiner is detached from the rope. In either scenario, the climber is not protected by the device during the cumbersome untwisting process. Another disadvantage of this device is the cumbersome twisting process required to prepare the device for use.

[0020] On “MountainProject” under the previously cited thread titled “Stick clips for short people on sport routes”, one member mentions seeing someone use a PVC pipe with notches at the upper end (Steverett). Another member, who may or not be that someone, mentions using a PVC pipe with a notch cut across the upper end (LLati Wonki). Neither member mentions twisting the sling to hold the upper carabiner against the PVC pipe or using a special triggered-gate upper carabiner. Instead, the climber must orient the upper carabiner in the notches and then simultaneously hold onto the PVC pipe and pull down on the sling to provide sufficient friction in the notches of the PVC pipe to counteract the force of opening the spring-loaded gate of the upper carabiner as it is clipped to a fixed piece of protection. After the climber clips the upper carabiner to a fixed piece of protection and releases the PVC pipe and sling, the PVC pipe slides down the sling due to gravity, allowing the climber to advance above the device after the lower carabiner has been clipped to the rope. A disadvantage of this device is that, while the climber is on the climbing route, two hands are required to orient the upper carabiner into the notches to prepare it for use. Another disadvantage of this approach is that it depends on the inconsistent and cumbersome process of simultaneously holding the PVC pipe while maintaining tension on the sling.

[0021] While the numerous documented approaches demonstrate interest among the rock climbing community, there is presently no device that stiffens a quickdraw to extend the reach of a rock climber that meets the following criteria simultaneously: simple, lightweight, easily transportable on a climbing harness, operable with one hand, easily exchanged for a conventional quickdraw, and reduces the potential cross loading of the upper carabiner when climbing above the device.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0022] A quickdraw is a common safety device used in the field of rock climbing. A quickdraw consists of an upper carabiner and a lower carabiner, each clipped to a loop of webbing known as a sling. The upper carabiner is loosely coupled to the sling to avoid the potential for cross loading the upper carabiner in the event of a fall. A disadvantage of the conventional quickdraw is that this loose coupling requires the climber to hold onto the upper carabiner instead of holding onto the lower carabiner or sling when clipping the upper carabiner to a fixed piece of protection.

[0023] It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a device that stiffens a quickdraw to extend the reach of a rock climber. A further objective of the present invention is to provide a device that has no moving parts. A further objective of the present invention is to provide a device that is usable with conventional slings and conventional carabiners. A further objective of the present invention is to provide a device that is scalable for various lengths of slings. A further objective of the present invention is to provide a device that is usable with various widths of slings. A further objective of the present invention is to provide a device that is lightweight. A further objective of the present invention is to provide a device that when installed onto a quickdraw is carried on a rock climbing harness in the same manner as a conventional quickdraw. A further objective of the present invention is to provide a device that when installed onto a quickdraw can be used with one hand while climbing. A further objective of the present invention is to provide a device that when installed onto a quickdraw is easily exchanged for a conventional quickdraw without first unclipping from a fixed piece of protection.

[0024] A device for stiffening a quickdraw to extend the reach of a rock climber is disclosed. The device comprises a tube having a length less than the length of the sling of the quickdraw. The tube has a stiffness sufficient to support the upper carabiner of the quickdraw while clipping the upper carabiner to a fixed piece of protection. The tube further comprises a lower end providing a handle to extend the reach of the rock climber. The tube further comprises a hole wherein the sling of the quickdraw passes through the lower end of the tube and emerges from the hole. The lower carabiner is clipped to the sling below the lower end of the tube and the upper carabiner is clipped to the sling above the hole. The tube further comprises an upper end comprising a slot. The slot has an open upper end and a wider lower end wherein the upper carabiner of the quickdraw is attached to the tube by the deflection and rebound of the slot around the spine of the upper carabiner when the spine of the upper carabiner is pressed into the slot by the rock climber. The upper carabiner is detached from the tube by deflection of the slot when the rock climber pulls the tube away from the upper carabiner after clipping the upper carabiner to a fixed piece of protection. Detaching the tube from the upper carabiner reduces the risk of cross loading the upper carabiner due to rope drag through the lower carabiner as the climber advances above the device.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a side view of the preferred embodiment of the device installed onto a quickdraw.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a quickdraw and the uninstalled preferred embodiment of the device.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of a quickdraw and the preferred embodiment of the device.

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a front view of the preferred embodiment of the device.

[0029] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the device.

[0030] FIG. 6 shows a side view of the preferred embodiment of the device.

[0031] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the device installed onto a quickdraw and attached to the upper carabiner with the upper carabiner clipped to a fixed piece of protection.

[0032] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the preferred device installed onto a quickdraw and detached from the upper carabiner with the upper carabiner clipped to a fixed piece of protection.

[0033] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the device with the hole omitted and the upper end of the tube angled relative to the lower end of the tube.

[0034] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the alternative embodiment of the device installed onto a quickdraw and attached to the upper carabiner with the upper carabiner clipped to a fixed piece of protection.

[0035] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the alternative embodiment of the device installed onto a quickdraw and detached from the upper carabiner with the upper carabiner clipped to a fixed piece of protection.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which show specific example embodiments in which the present teachings may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to practice the present teachings. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present teachings. The following description is merely exemplary.

[0037] The preferred embodiment of a device 210 that stiffens a quickdraw 200 to extend the reach of a rock climber is shown in FIG. 1-8.

[0038] The quickdraw 200 comprises a lower carabiner 140, a sling 120, and an upper carabiner 130. The upper carabiner 130 comprises a spine 331, a base 332, a gate pivot 333, a spring-loaded gate 334, and a hook end 335.

[0039] The preferred embodiment of the device 210 comprises a tube 110 comprising a lower end 230 and an upper end 220 and a hole 411. The lower end 230 of the tube 110 provides a handle to extend the reach of the rock climber. The sling 120 of the quickdraw 200 passes through the lower end 230 of the tube 110 and the sling 120 emerges from the hole 411 in the tube 110. The lower carabiner 140 is clipped to the sling 120 below the lower end 230 of the tube 110, the upper carabiner 130 is clipped to the sling 120 above the hole 411 in the tube 110.

[0040] The preferred embodiment of the device 210 further comprises a slot 412 in the upper end 220 of the tube 110. The slot 412 comprises an open upper end 413 and a wider lower end 414. The upper carabiner 130 is attached to the tube 110 by the deflection and rebound of the slot 412 around the spine 331 of the upper carabiner 130 when the spine 331 of the upper carabiner 130 is pressed into the slot 412 by the rock climber.

[0041] In this state, in preparation for climbing, the rock climber clips the upper carabiner 130 to the harness worn by the rock climber. On the route, the climber unclips the upper carabiner 130 from the harness worn by the rock climber. The rock climber's hand slides from the upper carabiner 130 to the lower end 230 of the tube 110. By holding onto the lower end 230 of the tube 110, instead of holding onto the upper carabiner 130, the reach of the rock climber for clipping the upper carabiner 130 to a fixed piece of protection 700 is extended. After the upper carabiner 130 has been clipped to the fixed piece of protection 700, the climber clips the lower carabiner 140 to the rope attached to the harness of the climber. Before advancing above the device 210, to reduce the risk of cross loading the upper carabiner 130, either the climber detaches the upper carabiner 130 from the device 210 by pulling the tube 110 away from the upper carabiner 130, or the climber exchanges the quickdraw 200 with the installed device 210 for a conventional quickdraw to preserve the quickdraw 200 with the installed device 210 for further use higher on the route.

[0042] In the preferred embodiment of the device 210, the length of the tube 110 is less than the length of the sling 120 to provide clearance such that the device 210 can be detached from the upper carabiner 130 by pulling the tube 110 away from the upper carabiner 130. To further reduce the risk of cross loading the upper carabiner 130, the upper end 220 of the tube 110 has a tapered tip 415 such that the tube 110 deflects off of the spine 331 of the upper carabiner 130 in case rope drag through the lower carabiner 140 causes the tube 110 to move and contact the upper carabiner 130 as the climber advances.

[0043] In the preferred embodiment of the device 210, the tube 110 has a stiffness sufficient to support the upper carabiner 130 of the quickdraw 200 while clipping the upper carabiner 130 to the fixed piece of protection 700. For a given length, stiffness is dictated by material and geometry. In the preferred embodiment of the device 210, the tube 110 is comprised of polyethylene and the tube 110 is uniformly round, though this is not meant to imply limitations on materials or geometry of the tube 110. Fully functional prototypes of the preferred embodiment of the device 210 were built and tested comprising polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and chlorinated polyvinyl chloride.

[0044] In the preferred embodiment of the device 210, the tube 110 has internal dimensions sufficient to encompass the spine 331 of the upper carabiner 130 and for passage of the sling 120. The hole 411 in the tube 110 has dimensions sufficient for passage of the sling 120. The slot 412 has a length less than the length of the spine 331 of the upper carabiner 130. The open upper end 413 of the slot 412 has a width less than the width of the spine 331 of the upper carabiner 130. The wider lower end 414 of the slot 412 has a width at least the width of the spine 331 of the upper carabiner 130 and a length at least the height of the base 332 of the upper carabiner 130 at the spine 331 of the upper carabiner 130.

[0045] An alternative embodiment of the device 210 is shown in FIG. 9-11.

[0046] In the alternative embodiment of the device 210, the hole 411 in the tube 110 is omitted, and the width of the wider lower end 414 of the slot 412 is increased for passage of the sling 120. In the alternative embodiment of the device 210, the sling 120 of the quickdraw 200 passes though the lower end 230 of the tube 110 and the sling 120 emerges from the wider lower end 414 of the slot 412 in the tube 110. In the alternative embodiment of the device 210, the upper end 220 of the tube 110 is angled relative to the lower end 230 of the tube 110. In the alternative embodiment of the device 210, the angled upper end 230 holds the upper carabiner 130 in a position that elevates the hook end 335 of the upper carabiner 130 to further extend the reach of the rock climber.

[0047] Prototypes of the alternative embodiment of the device 210 were built, tested, and found to be fully functional for the width of the sling 120 and the size of the upper carabiner 130 that were used. In the preferred embodiment of the device 210, passing the sling 120 through the hole 411 instead of through the wider end 414 of the slot 412 ensures that the fit of the upper carabiner 130 in the slot 412 is independent of the width of the sling 120. In the alternative embodiment of the device 210 the angled upper end 220 of the tube 110 provides a small increase in reach relative to the length of the tube 110.

[0048] Other alternative embodiments of the device 210 not shown comprise enhancements for gripping the lower end 230 of the tube 110 comprising ribs, flanges, contours, textures, ergonomic shapes, tape, rubber sleeves, foam sleeves, and combinations thereof.

[0049] Other alternative embodiments of the device 210 not shown include the tube 110 comprising multiple parts fastened together such as a lower end 230 comprising a material that is extruded and an upper end 220 comprising a different material that is molded.

[0050] Prototypes of both the preferred embodiment and the alternative embodiment of the device 210 were built with extruded tubing. A hacksaw was used for cutting the length of the tube 110. A drill press with router bits was used to form the hole 411 and the slot 412 in the tube 110. A hacksaw and a pen knife were used to form the tapered tip 415 of the tube 110. The angle of the upper end 220 of the tube 110 of the alternative embodiment of the device 210 was formed by hand after heating the tube 110 in an oven. The methods used for building prototypes of both the preferred embodiment and the alternative embodiment of the device 210 are not meant to imply limitations on manufacturing methods. Higher volume manufacturing methods comprising CNC machines, laser cutters, blow molds, rotational molds, and injection molds are viable.

[0051] It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.

Claims

1. A device for stiffening a quickdraw to extend the reach of a rock climber, the device comprising:a tube, the tube having a stiffness sufficient to support the upper carabiner of the quickdraw while clipping the upper carabiner to a fixed piece of protection, the tube further comprising:a lower end, the lower end providing a handle to extend the reach of the rock climber;a hole wherein the sling of the quickdraw passes through the lower end of the tube, the sling emerges from the hole, the lower carabiner of the quickdraw is clipped to the sling below the lower end of the tube, the upper carabiner is clipped to the sling above the hole; andan upper end, the upper end comprising a slot, the slot having an open upper end and a wider lower end wherein the upper carabiner is attached to the tube by the deflection and rebound of the slot around the spine of the upper carabiner when the spine of the upper carabiner is pressed into the slot by the rock climber.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the length of the tube is less than the length of the sling such that the upper carabiner is detached from the tube by deflection of the slot when the rock climber pulls the tube away from the upper carabiner after clipping the upper carabiner to a fixed piece of protection.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a tapered tip at the upper end of the tube.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising an upper end of the tube that is angled relative to the lower end of the tube.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the tube is comprised of multiple attached parts.

6. A device for stiffening a quickdraw to extend the reach of a rock climber, the device comprising:a tube, the tube having a stiffness sufficient to support the upper carabiner of the quickdraw while clipping the upper carabiner to a fixed piece of protection, the tube further comprising:a lower end, the lower end providing a handle to extend the reach of the rock climber; andan upper end, the upper end comprising a slot, the slot having an open upper end and a wider lower end wherein the sling of the quickdraw passes through the lower end of the tube, the sling emerges from the wider lower end of the slot, the lower carabiner of the quickdraw is clipped to the sling below the lower end of the tube, the upper carabiner is clipped to the sling above the lower end of the slot, and the upper carabiner is attached to the tube by the deflection and rebound of the slot around the spine of the upper carabiner when the spine of the upper carabiner is pressed into the slot by the rock climber.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the length of the tube is less than the length of the sling such that the upper carabiner is detached from the tube by deflection of the slot when the rock climber pulls the tube away from the upper carabiner after clipping the upper carabiner to a fixed piece of protection.

8. The device of claim 6 further comprising a tapered tip at the upper end of the tube.

9. The device of claim 6 further comprising an upper end of the tube that is angled relative to the lower end of the tube.

10. The device of claim 6 wherein the tube is comprised of multiple attached parts.

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