Securing ring and corresponding manufacturing process
A securing ring, such as a belay loop, including a plurality of layers of ring-shaped surface sections, an outermost ring-shaped surface section being fixed to at least one of the layers below. The ring-shaped surface sections are formed from surface sections of a flat tubular element folded or rolled upon one another. A corresponding process for the manufacture of the securing ring involves the folding or rolling up of a flat tubular element.
1. A securing and load-bearing ring comprising:
several layers of ring-shaped surface sections;
said sections comprising an outermost ring-shaped surface section fixed to at least another of said sections below;
said ring-shaped surface sections being formed from surface sections of a flat tubular element folded or rolled upon one another thereby to form the securing and load-bearing ring;
said securing and load-bearing ring having a strength to support a weight of at least about 120 lbs.
2. A securing and load-bearing ring according to claim 1 , wherein:
the ring-shaped surface sections merge into one another along a circumference of the securing ring.
3. A securing and load-bearing ring according to claim 1 , wherein:
the securing ring is made of bi-axially braided material.
4. A securing and load-bearing ring according to claim 3 , wherein:
the braided material comprises nylon, liquid crystal polymer, polyester and/or polyethylene fibers.
5. A securing and load-bearing ring according to claim 3 , wherein:
the braided material comprises at least two different types of fiber made of different materials.
6. A securing and load-bearing ring according to claim 1 , wherein:
the outermost ring-shaped surface section has an edge running along the circumference of the securing and load-bearing ring, the outermost ring-shaped surface section being fixed by securing said edge to the ring.
7. A securing and load-bearing ring according to claim 6 , wherein:
said edge is secured by lamination or stitching.
8. A securing an load-bearing ring according to claim 1 , wherein:
said securing and load ring has a strength to support a weight of less than about 300 lbs.
9. A securing and load-bearing ring according to claim 1 , wherein:
said several layers of ring-shaped surface sections comprise three or more layers.
10. A securing and load-bearing ring according to claim 1 , wherein:
said several layers of ring-shaped surface sections comprise five, six, or seven layers.
11. A process for manufacturing a securing and load-bearing ring according to claim 1 , said process comprising:
manufacturing the securing ring comprising:
cutting a flat tubular braid material to a predetermined length to obtain a flat tubular element;
expanding the tubular element using a form;
starting from a first circumferential edge of the tubular element, folding or rolling surface sections of the tubular element upon one another along an axial direction of the tubular element up to a second circumferential edge of the tubular element to create a ring shape;
securing the second circumferential edge to the created ring shape by means of lamination or stitching.
12. A process for manufacturing a securing and load-bearing ring according to claim 11 , further comprising:
adding adhesive to the first and second circumferential edges after said expanding and before said folding or rolling.
13. A connecting or load-bearing device comprising:
a connecting or load-bearing ring comprising:
several layers of ring-shaped surface sections;
said sections comprising an outermost ring-shaped surface section fixed to at least another of said sections below;
said ring-shaped surface sections being formed from surface sections of a flat tubular element folded or rolled upon one another;
a load-bearing component in addition to the connecting or load-bearing ring.
14. A climbing harness comprising:
a waist band;
a pair of leg loops;
a belay loop joining the leg loops to the waist band, said belay loop comprising:
three or more layers of ring-shaped surface sections;
said sections comprising an outermost ring-shaped surface section fixed to at least another of said sections below;
said ring-shaped surface sections being formed from surface sections of a flat tubular element folded or rolled upon one another in a direction axial of the flat tubular element.
15. A securing and load-bearing ring according to claim 1 , wherein:
the several layers of ring-shaped surface sections provide the securing and load-bearing ring with a spiral cross section.
16. A securing and load-bearing ring according to claim 1 , wherein:
the several layers of ring-shaped surface sections provide the securing and load-bearing ring with a substantially round spiral cross section.
17. A securing and load-bearing ring according to claim 1 , wherein:
the securing and load-bearing ring has a torus shape.
18. A securing and load-bearing ring according to claim 1 , wherein:
the securing and load-bearing ring extends continuously and is devoid of any seam from a radially inner surface, around an axially facing edge, to a radially outer surface.
19. A securing and load-bearing ring according to claim 1 , wherein:
the ring-shaped surface sections are formed from surface sections of a flat tubular element folded or rolled upon one another in a direction axial of the flat tubular element.
20. A securing and load-bearing ring comprising:
several layers of ring-shaped surface sections;
said sections comprising an outermost ring-shaped surface section fixed to at least another of said sections below;
said ring-shaped surface sections being formed from surface sections of a flat tubular element folded or rolled upon one another thereby to form the securing and load-bearing ring;
the securing and load-bearing ring being a belay loop structured and arranged for use in a climbing harness.
21. A connecting or load-bearing device according to claim 13 , wherein:
one of the additional components is a waist belt.
22. A connecting or load-bearing device according to claim 21 , wherein:
the waist belt extends through the connecting or load-bearing ring.
23. A connecting or load-bearing device according to claim 21 , wherein:
two of the additional components comprise a pair of leg loops.
24. A connecting or load-bearing device according to claim 23 , wherein:
the waist belt is connected to the connecting or load-bearing ring and a link strap extends from one of the pair of leg loops to another of the leg loops, the link strap being connected to the connecting or load-bearing ring.
25. A connecting or load-bearing device comprising:
one or more components comprising a connecting or load-bearing ring comprising:
several layers of ring-shaped surface sections;
said sections comprising an outermost ring-shaped surface section fixed to at least another of said sections below;
said ring-shaped surface sections being formed from surface sections of a flat tubular element folded or rolled upon one another;
the connecting or load-bearing device being a harness.
26. A connecting or load-bearing device according to claim 13 , wherein:
the several layers of ring-shaped surface sections provide the connecting or load-bearing ring with a spiral cross section.
27. A connecting or load-bearing device according to claim 13 , wherein:
the connecting or load-bearing ring has a torus shape.
28. A connecting or load-bearing device according to claim 13 , wherein:
the connecting or load-bearing ring extends continuously and is devoid of any seam from a radially inner surface, around an axially facing edge, to a radially outer surface.
29. A connecting or load-bearing device according to claim 13 , wherein:
the ring-shaped surface sections are formed from surface sections of a flat tubular element folded or rolled upon one another in a direction axial of the flat tubular element.
30. A climbing harness according to claim 14 , wherein:
the several layers of ring-shaped surface sections provide the securing ring with a substantially round spiral cross section.