We disclose an invention that eases and assists a climber in the handling of a rope. This invention may be affixed to the climber at a suitable height and location on the climber's body to hold the rope, allowing the climber to take another section of the rope with the only other available hand. The invention is adapted for a quick and easy insertion and release of the rope from the device with the same upward movement that is performed to secure the rope to an upper anchor. The core components of the invention are a casing, a spring-loaded linkage assembly, and a toothed plate, which are configured as follows: a casing having a slot configured to receive a rope includes a hollow interior portion; the toothed plate is disposed within the hollow interior portion of the casing and is pivotably attached to the casing by the spring-loaded linkage assembly.

A cleat includes two cams (36) comprising mutually opposed convex surfaces rotatable about parallel axes which extend vertically in a rope-trapping position of the cleat, to bring the arcuate surfaces together and apart. The cams (36) are urged towards each other to trap a rope (66) therebetween. Each cam is also mounted to a horizontal cylinder (2) for rotation about an axis of the cylinder, in order to allow the rope (66) to rotate the arcuate surfaces by pulling in a line above this horizontal axis and to free the rope.

A connecting device (10) is disclosed for connecting an article (12) to a support (14). The connecting device (10) comprises a flexible elongate member (20) and a clamping arrangement (18) for clamping the flexible elongate member (20) around the article (12). The clamping arrangement (18) comprises a body (22) and a clamping element (34). The clamping element (34) is movable between clamping and non-clamping positions. In the clamping position, the clamping element (34) clamps the flexible elongate member (20) to the body (22), thereby attaching the article (12) to the clamping arrangement (18). In the non-clamping position, the flexible elongate member (20) is movable through the body (22).

Universal cable attachments for securing a cable in a secured position utilize a pair of counter-rotating lobes or one lobe and a counter surface to clamp against the cable. The lobes are configured such that they can accept a variety of cable diameters, thus eliminating the need for the provision of multiple sizes of unique cable attachments in certain applications. The lobes are configured such that they provide little or no resistance to a cable being inserted in an insertion direction and such that they lock against the cable when the cable is pulled in the opposite direction. The lobes may have eccentrically oriented tapered channels to accomplish the clamping function The lobes may include a plurality of differently sized plates to accomplish the clamping function.

A gripping device for retaining a cable includes a base, two opposed gripping arms projecting from the base towards respective end portions along an insertion direction and mutually spaced apart along a transversal direction perpendicular to the insertion direction. The gripping arms include retaining portions configured to receive the cable therebetween and insertion portions configured to allow insertion of the cable towards the retaining portions. The gripping device includes first protrusions projecting from the retaining portions, extending along a first direction angled with respect to the insertion direction and configured to act on the cable to retain the cable between the retaining portions. The gripping device includes second protrusions projecting from the insertion portions and extending along a second direction angled with respect to the insertion direction, where each of the second protrusions being tapered along the insertion direction towards the respective end portion.

An extensible mast allows a payload to be supported at a distance from a supporting device. The payload may be connected via a cable to one or more components in the supporting device. A cable rotation apparatus allows a cable to rotate during dispensation of the cable, such as during extension or retraction of the extensible mast, while minimizing strain on the cable. The apparatus comprises a stationary spool, a furling core, and a rotating spool. A beveled gear on each of the spools engages a pair of beveled gears in the furling core. As the rotating spool rotates with respect to the stationary spool, the furling core rotates at one-half the speed and the cable is dispensed from an opening in the rotating spool. The furling core incorporates a guide wheel that maintains an orderly transfer of the cable from one spool to another.

Improvements in a line brake with strap. The brake is a one-way brake that allows a user to pull the line through the brake to shorten the length of the line and when tension in the opposite direction is placed on the line, the brake prevents the length of the line from extending through the brake. The strap is flexible and can be completely opened to freely wrap around a post, pole, line, rail, cord, capstan, handrail, cleat, post, cord or anchor, where a free end of the pole can't be easily reached over, though, under or around. The strap has a key opening that prevents the strap from easily opening when the key is not linearly aligned and/or rotated. A tail on the strap further prevents accidental dislodging of the strap from the line brake.

A fastener is provided for receiving a cable. The fastener includes at least one through-going passageway for receiving the cable and at least one pawl like member that projects into the passage and is used for engaging the cable.

A cord lock includes a cord lock main body as a case which houses the same. The cord lock main body is made such that locking on the cord is released by a pulling operation to reduce an insertion amount of a portion of a male member into an insertion passage. The case forms a cylindrical shape with openings on both ends through which the cord can pass and combines with the cord lock main body side in a manner allowing the case to be reciprocally moved along the cylinder axis direction. When the case is moved forward, the pulling action is made with a first engage-abutting portion of the case engaging an engage-abutted portion. When the case is moved backward, the pulling operation is made with a second engagement portion of the case engaging the engagement portion of the case engage-abutted portion of the male member.

A securing device (10) for securing an elongate article (12) comprises a rotatable clamping member (22), and a support arrangement for supporting the clamping member (22). The clamping member (22) is rotatably mounted on the support arrangement. The securing device (10) defines a pathway (30) for the elongate article (12). The clamping member (22) is rotatably movable into the pathway (30). The support arrangement further includes an urging formation (20) for urging the clamping member (22) into a clamping position in said pathway (30).