Ice screw having breakaway or flexing crank handle
US7347403B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 11, 2003 |
| Grant date | Mar 25, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 16, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S248/925
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
The present invention features an ice screw for use in ice climbing, wherein the ice screw comprises: a hollow shaft having a plurality of screw threads formed thereon for securing the ice screw to a body of ice; a hanger coupled to the hollow shaft for receiving a carabiner and supporting a climber; and a flexing crank handle coupled to an aperture or eye formed within the hanger, wherein the flexing crank handle functions as a crank arm for screwing the ice screw into the body of ice, and wherein the flexing crank arm displaces or flexes from a resting, cranking position to a plurality of flexed positions in response to a load induced thereon. The flexing crank handle reduces the chance for cross-loading of an attached carabiner due to the existence of a crank handle without requiring any manual manipulation (e.g., folding) of the crank handle once the ice screw is inserted into the ice structure.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.