Wire or rope tightener

• US 3,874,638 A
• Filed: 09/27/1973
• Issued: 04/01/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Albert T. Berg Jr, Howard Langlie
• Original Assignee: Albert T. Berg Jr, Howard Langlie
• Inventors: Langlie, Howard, Berg, Albert T. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Simpson, Othell M.
• Application Number:
  US05/401,346
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 254/51,161 242/152,153 24/71.1,71.2,71.3 140/123.5,106 256/37,40
• US Class Current: 254/243
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 51/143 Hand-held string-tensioning devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 11/12 Connections or attachments, e.g. turnbuckles, adapted for straining of cables, ropes, or wire straining wire in general B21F9/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 24/91 One-piece

Abstract

A slightly angulated elongated body has a slotted capstan projecting from one side thereof, the slot forming two segmental legs about which the rope or wire to be tightened is wrapped or wound. Each leg has a notch formed therein adjacent the body so that spaced portions of the wire can be seated therein. At each end of the elongated body, projecting from the same side thereof as the capstan projects, is a hook having a curved surface so that the wire is automatically deflected or cammed during the tightening procedure. The hooks retain the wire taut after the tightening has been completed, and also enable the wire to be tightened in stages where there is an appreciable amount of slack. To effect the tightening, a pair of serrated tabs project from the other side of the elongated body, each tab being concavo-convex so as to provide a curved surface for the accommodation of a person'"'"''"'"'s fingers during the twisting or tightening operation. The tab curvature faces in the same direction as the hook at that particular end projects, although oppositely to the capstan notch nearer thereto.

Claims

1. A one-piece plastic rope or wire tightener comprising an elongated panel body having upper and lower edges, a slotted generally cylindrical capstan projecting integrally from one side of said body, a first integral hook extending along the upper edge of said panel body toward said capstan from one end of said panel body, said first hook having a first portion projecting outwardly from said body and a second portion initially curving downwardly froM said first portion and then extending in a generally parallel relation with respect to said panel body, a second integral hook extending along the lower edge of said panel body toward said capstan, said second hook having a first portion projecting outwardly from said body and a second portion initially curving upwardly from the first portion of said second hook and then extending in a generally parallel relation with respect to said panel body, said hooks terminating in a spaced relationship with respect to said capstan, and respective means adjacent the ends of said body projecting integrally from the other side of said body for twisting said body in order to wrap a portion of the wire or rope to be tightened about said capstan.

2. A tightener in accordance with claim 1 in which said respective means includes a pair of spaced tabs for grasping by a person'"'"''"'"'s hand to effect a twisting of said body but terminating in a spaced relationship in the region of said capstan, the spaced relationship of said tabs being less than that of said hooks.

3. A tightener in accordance with claim 2 in which said capstan is provided with at least one notch adjacent said body for seating the rope or wire to be tightened.

4. A tightener in accordance with claim 2 in which said tabs extend from said panel body intermediate its said upper and lower edges and are concavo-convex over their entire length, the concave side in each instance facing in the same direction as the hook nearer thereto faces.

5. A tightener in accordance with claim 4 in which each hook has a curved surface for camming against the rope or wire when said body is twisted.

6. A tightener in accordance with claim 4 in which said tabs have serrations formed thereon which extend in substantially parallelism with said body over the entire length thereof.

7. A tightener in accordance with claim 6 in which said body angles slightly away from said capstan.

8. A tightener in accordance with claim 7 in which the plastic is nylon.

9. A one-piece plastic rope or wire tightener comprising an elongated body composed of generally rectangular panels forming an obtuse angle with respect to each other, a generally cylindrical capstan projecting integrally along an axis extending perpendicularly from one side of said body where said panels are integrally joined, said capstan having a slot therein which forms segmental legs, each leg having a notch at the end thereof adjacent said body for seating portions of the rope or wire to be tightened and a flange at the end thereof remote from said body for retaining a number of turns of rope on said capstan, the notch in one leg facing in one direction and the notch in the other leg facing in an opposite direction, an elongated hook on each panel located at the end thereof remote from said capstan and extending toward said capstan over a given length of said body, said hooks facing in opposite directions with respect to the notches that they are nearer to and having portions extending generally parallel to said elongated body, and wings or tabs projecting from the opposite side of said body from the ends of said body through a greater length than the length of the hook it is associated with for grasping by a person'"'"''"'"'s hand so as to twist said capstan to tighten a rope or wire that has been inserted into said slots and which is seated in said notches, said wings or tabs residing generally in a plane which includes said capstan axis.

10. A tightener in accordance with claim 9 in which said hooks are formed with curved portions extending throughout their length for camming against the rope or wire during the tightening procedure in permitting said portions to be retained in said hooks after the rope or wire has been tightened around the capstan.

11. A tightener in accordance with claim 10 in which said tabs are slightly curved, the tab adjacent one hook being curved in the direction that said hook faces and the tab adjacent the other hook being curved in the directioN that said other hook faces.

12. A tightener in accordance with claim 11 in which said plastic material is molded nylon.