Abstract:
An accessory for a remotely-operated rope-threading tool for threading a rope through a distant eye or around an object out of reach, such as for elevating tarps into trees, or placing fall protection lines, or securing a distant object. The accessory is a bi-directional shuttle and receiver mechanism that enables the rope to be passed repeatedly and indefinitely between the two curved arms that extend out from the body in unison, allowing for multiple eyes or targets to be threaded without the need to retrieve the tool to reset the shuttle. This invention also applies more generally to the transfer of a shuttle between any two converging members. The shuttle's connection means is activated on one end while the shuttle's connection means is deactivated on the other end. At no time are both connections deactivated, allowing the shuttle to become detached from the tool; the shuttle is continually attached to the tool.
Abstract:
A tool for threading a rope through a distant eye or around an object out of reach, such as for elevating tarps into trees, or placing fall protection lines, or securing a distant object. The tool has two curved arms that extend out from the body in unison and converge at a point where the end of the rope is passed from one arm to the other. The arms are then retracted back into the body, pulling the rope through the eye or around the object. The arms are extended by pulling one control line and retracted by pulling a second control line. The tool is typically mounted on the end of a pole, although other mountings are possible. The shape of the tool enables ropes to be threaded through a large number of eye configurations and around objects of varying sizes, even if there are obstructions adjacent the eye.