Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd. Inc.

Andrew McLean

Charles G Brainerd

John Bercaw

Jonny Woodward

Joseph Skrivan

An anti-balling system for a crampon ( ) to prevent balling and snow accumulation during snow and ice climbing includes a plate ( ) attached to the bottom of the crampon. The plate can be rigid and can have a lower surface ( ) formed of a material configured to prevent sticking of snow or ice to the lower surface of the plate. The plate can include at least one loop ( ) integrally formed at a front of the plate to receive a front point ( ) of the crampon. The plate can have a loop or window ( or ) to receive the center strap ( or ) of the crampon. The plate can be attached with bail ends ( and ) of a bail ( ). The lower surface of the plate can include a plurality of protrusions ( ) extending therefrom forming a plurality of raised section ( ) and a plurality of edges ( ) forming a nonskid surface configured to prevent the lower surface of the plate from sliding with respect to another object.

Anti-balling system

A carabiner includes an elongate extension formed generally into a prolate loop having a curved spine with an upper end and a lower end, an upper finger extending forwardly and downwardly from the upper end of the spine to terminate in a free end, a lower finger extending forwardly and upwardly in the shape of a hook to terminate in a free end, and an elongate pivot finger pivotally attached at a lower end to the free end of the lower finger to pivot between a closed position, in which an upper end of the pivot finger contacts the free end of the upper finger, and an open position, in which the upper end of the pivot finger is pivoted away from the free end of the upper finger toward the spine. The spine includes a fin or rib extending rearwardly therefrom, with the fin having a contact surface against which a person's thumb may rest when gripping the spine from the rear. This allows the person to orient, by feel, the carabiner for subsequent use.

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Park City, UT, United States of America

Andrew McLean