[ Top | 1998 | Return to Slot Blocks ]
I made this in 2005 using Neil Graham's 1999 United States Patent # Des. 408,048 (filed in 1997) as a guide.
Graham's features two slots on the left side (as photographed) and a perpendicular carabiner hole. This arrangement is reminiscent of the Triton, Bukashka, and Raptor. I'm not sure what purpose the base serves, and the patent included artwork only, so there is no description.
Patent drawings do not include dimensions, so I estimated the dimensions by scaling to an assumed slot width. I believe that my device should be a bit longer, but the block of 6061-T6 I had handy limited the overall length that I could make this.
[ Top | 1997 | Return to Slot Blocks ]
I made this in 2005 using Neil Graham's 1999 United States Patent # Des. 413,786 (filed in 1998) as a guide.
The 1998 design turns the left side perpendicular to the base while retaining the angled carabiner slot. The base now has two long belay holes. There are many rigging combinations that jump to mind: not only is this reminiscent of the Triton, Bukashka, and Raptor, but some of the rigging ideas used for the Cassin #217, Kong Gi-gi, and New Alp Magic come to mind. Although it is bulky, this is a flexible piece of gear, and an improvement over the 1997 design.
Patent drawings do not include dimensions, so I estimated the dimensions by scaling to an assumed slot width. This time, I think that the block of 6061-T6 that I had available was large enough to make a reasonably faithful copy of the inventor's intent.
SlotBlockBelay806.html/070304
©2007, Gary D. Storrick