In recent years, there has been a great deal of discussion about the need for protection against injuries caused by elevator cars leaving the floor with the doors open and overspeeding in the up direction. That's why Hollister-Whitney introduced the Rope Gripper™, a remarkable device used to grab elevator suspension ropes to stop the elevator in the event of a mechanical or electrical failure. It is imperative if an ascending elevator overspeeds in the up direction and also if the elevator leaves the floor with the doors opened.

The Rope Gripper™ has many unique features, such as a gently applied but powerful "grip" which doesn't damage the rope or cause any undue stress to the machine or traction sheave. Protection is assured even when slipping traction occurs. The Rope Gripper™ provides easy alignment with adequate clearances between the rope and self grooving "grip" linings and provides power compensation with a constant but powerful force to the rope even as the linings wear. Only four wires are required to the elevator controls and installation is simple. The Rope Gripper™ is mechanically activated and hydraulically reset.