Carabiner Gate Retrieval Mechanism for Ground Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Climbers often face the challenge of retrieving carabiners left attached to climbing routes after an incomplete climb, as they cannot safely descend with the equipment still coupled to the wall, leading to abandoned gear.
Innovation Solution
A carabiner retrieval system comprising a device with a neck, retention device, and retrieval cord retention structure, allowing the carabiner to be uncoupled from the climbing route by pulling a retrieval cord, enabling the climber to retrieve the carabiner from the ground.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the carabiner is left attached to the device on the climbing route for safe descent, then the climber can safely repel or lower down the wall, but the carabiner cannot be retrieved and must be abandoned on the wall
Solution Approach 1:
The carabiner system is divided into two independent components: the carabiner body that remains attached to the climbing route for safety, and the retrieval device with gate that can be independently activated to release the carabiner body. This segmentation allows the safety function to be maintained while enabling separate retrieval of the equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The retrieval device is pre-configured with a retrieval cord and retention structure that enables future retrieval action. The device is attached to the carabiner gate in advance during the climb, setting up the mechanism beforehand so that retrieval can be performed later from the ground without requiring additional equipment or complex procedures.
2Reliability
If the climber descends with the carabiner still coupled to the wall, then safety is maintained during descent, but the climber is unable to retrieve the carabiner from the ground
Solution Approach 1:
The retrieval cord acts as an intermediary element that transmits force from the ground level up to the carabiner gate. By pulling the retrieval cord from the ground, the climber can indirectly actuate the gate mechanism to open and release the carabiner, eliminating the need to physically reach the carabiner on the wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The retrieval device is designed to be self-actuating through the retrieval cord mechanism. When the retrieval cord is pulled, it automatically triggers the gate to open and the carabiner to release, without requiring manual intervention at the carabiner location or complex operating procedures.
3Reliability
If multiple carabiners are left on the climbing route, then the climbing route can be safely descended, but the equipment must be abandoned and the route cannot be cleaned
Solution Approach 1:
The retrieval device with its cord retention structure can be attached to any carabiner gate, making it a universal solution applicable to multiple carabiners. The same retrieval mechanism works regardless of which carabiner needs to be recovered, enabling systematic retrieval of multiple pieces of equipment from the same ground location.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to carabiners, carabiner retrieval devices and systems, and methods of retrieving a carabiner. In an embodiment, a carabiner retrieval device includes a neck, a retention device, and a retrieval cord retention structure. The neck has a length and includes a first end spaced from a second end along the length. The retention device extends from the first end of the neck at an obtuse angle relative to the length of the neck, and is configured to be attached to a gate of a carabiner. The retrieval cord retention structure extends from the second end of the neck, and is configured to retain a retrieval cord. When the retrieval cord is coupled to the retrieval cord retention structure and the retrieval cord retention device is attached to the gate of the carabiner, the gate opens responsive to the retrieval cord being pulled in a predetermined direction.