Reflective rope, hangers, cables, lifelines and methods for making the same

Abstract

The present invention discloses reflective ropes, hangers, cables, and lifelines and methods for making them.

1 . A reflective rope, used in the mining industry, comprising the combination of at least one carrier of rope material and at least one reflective tape.  
   
   
       2 . The reflective rope of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one carrier of rope material and said at least one reflective tape are combined into a form selected from the group consisting of a hollow braided rope, a solid braided rope, a twisted braided rope, and a plaited rope.  
   
   
       3 . The reflective rope of  claim 1 , wherein said reflective tape is between about 0.38 mm and about 1 mm in width.  
   
   
       4 . The reflective rope of  claim 2 , wherein said hollow braided rope comprises eight carriers of monofilament flame retardant polypropylene.  
   
   
       5 . The reflective rope of  claim 2 , wherein said rope is treated with a flame retardant.  
   
   
       6 . The reflective rope of  claim 4 , wherein said reflective tape is blended into two of said carriers of said polypropylene.  
   
   
       7 . The reflective rope of  claim 2 , wherein at least two of said carriers are marker carriers and wherein said reflective tape is blended into said marker carriers.  
   
   
       8 . The reflective rope of  claim 2 , wherein said rope is non conductive and flame retardant.  
   
   
       9 . The reflective rope of  claim 2 , further comprising, a hollow braid of eight carriers of monofilament flame retardant polypropylene, wherein said rope has at least two pies per inch of length; two of said eight carriers are marker carriers; and a reflective tape is blended into said two marker carriers.  
   
   
       10 . The reflective rope of  claim 9 , wherein said reflective tape is between about 0.38 mm and about 1 mm in width.  
   
   
       11 . The reflective rope of  claim 2 , also comprising a plurality of directional indicators spaced evenly along said rope and positioned such that said indicators are pointing along the central axis of said rope.  
   
   
       12 . A method of making a reflective rope, used in the mining industry, comprising braiding together at least two carriers of rope material, wherein at least one carrier comprises a reflective tape between about 0.38 mm and 1 mm in width.  
   
   
       13 . A method of making a reflective rope, used in the mining industry, comprising combining at least one carrier of rope material and at least one reflective tape.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said combination is of at least one carrier of rope material and at least one reflective tape into a form selected from the group consisting of a hollow braided rope, a solid braided rope, a twisted braided rope, and a plaited rope.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said reflective tape is between about 0.38 mm and about 1 mm in width.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said hollow braided rope comprises eight carriers of monofilament flame retardant polypropylene.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said rope is treated with a flame retardant.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said reflective tape is blended into two of said carriers of said polypropylene.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein at least two of said carriers are marker carriers and wherein said reflective tape is blended into said marker carriers.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said rope is non-conductive and flame retardant.