Quick-Disconnect Belay Tether for Upright Tip Resistance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional devices connecting a user's harness to a belay tether struggle to maintain a desired upright attitude, especially when carrying equipment, and fail to provide a quick and easy release mechanism, particularly with one-handed operation in urgent or difficult conditions.
Innovation Solution
A tip-resistant system with a user tether and auxiliary tether, featuring a quick disconnect mechanism using cooperating rings and a lock member, allowing for easy connection and disconnection from the belay tether with minimal user engagement, such as one-handed operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional snap ring fastener is used to connect the harness connector to the belay tether, then the connection is secure and reliable, but the device becomes difficult to operate with one hand or in urgent situations
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener is divided into a housing with a snap ring and a separate actuator mechanism. The actuator can be pulled to release the snap ring, allowing one-handed operation while maintaining secure connection during normal use. This segmentation enables independent optimization of connection security and release ease.
Solution Approach 2:
A cord or release mechanism acts as an intermediary between the user's hand and the snap ring fastener. Pulling the cord triggers the release of the snap ring, providing a mechanical advantage that enables one-handed operation without compromising connection security during descent.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the user grasps the belay tether with one or both hands to maintain upright attitude, then the user can resist tipping backwards, but the user cannot quickly disconnect from the belay tether in urgent situations
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service by automatically maintaining the user in a stable upright attitude through the auxiliary tether connected to the equipment, freeing both hands. This allows the user to quickly disconnect the belay tether using the one-handed actuator mechanism without needing to maintain grip for balance.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary tether is pre-configured to connect equipment to the user tether, creating a hands-free stabilization system before any emergency occurs. This preliminary arrangement ensures the user can immediately disconnect in urgent situations without the time loss of manually managing both balance and release.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the auxiliary tether has a length less than the user tether, then the equipment is positioned closer to the user's center of gravity improving attitude control, but the system becomes more complex with additional connectors
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary tether connector is merged with the user tether connector design, using the same quick-connect mechanism and housing style. This standardization reduces the perceived complexity by making all connectors appear and operate uniformly, even though multiple connectors are present in the system.
Data Source
AI summary
A tip resistant system for use with a belay tether includes a user tether having a first length and configured to be connectable between a user and the belay tether. The user tether has a belay tether connector adjacent one end of the user tether, and a user connector adjacent an opposite end of the user tether. An auxiliary tether having a second length less than the first length of the user tether and configured to be connectable between the user and the user tether includes a user tether connector located adjacent a first end of the auxiliary tether, and an auxiliary user connector located adjacent a second end of the auxiliary tether opposite the user tether connector. The tip resistant system operates to maintain a user in a desired static attitude. A quick disconnect for use with a belay tether is also provided.