Rope fastener

• US 5,033,169 A
• Filed: 05/22/1990
• Issued: 07/23/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Straight Line Sports, LLC
• Original Assignee: Straight Line Water Sports, Inc.
• Inventors: Bindon, Jeffrey P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sakran, Victor N.
• Application Number:
  US07/525,780
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 24/129 R, 24/129 A, 24/129 B, 24/115 H, 24/115 K, 403/213
• US Class Current: 24/129.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 11/00 Means for fastening cables or ropes to one another or to other objects; Caps or sleeves for fixing on cables or ropes attaching ropes or cables to lift cars or cages B66B7/08, to winch drums or barrels B66D1/34; ground anchors E02D5/00; anchoring devices for prestressed members E04C5/00; rope clamps in earth drilling E21B19/12
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 11/143 Hooks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3916 One-piece
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3924 Sheet material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3987 Loop, adjustable

Abstract

A rope fastener includes a body having a pair of parallel apertures slidably receiving two adjacent rope segments defining a loop. The fastener further includes an abutment lug disposed in line with the longitudinal axis of the body. The abutment lug has a first portion extending generally vertically from a second end of the top surface of the body and a generally planar second portion which is connected to the first portion and which extends toward a first end of the body. The first portion may include lateral grooves which receive the loop. The abutment lug is engaged by the loop by folding over the rope to form an attachment loop.

Claims

1. A device for fastening a rope having a loop defined by first and second sections extending from said device, said device comprising:

a. a body having a central longitudinal axis, a top surface, first and second ends, and a pair of spaced apertures extending longitudinally through said body and slidably receiving the respective first and second sections of said rope; and

b. An abutment lug comprising a first portion extending generally vertically from said top surface of said body adjacent said second end thereof, and a generally planar second portion connected to said first portion and extending towards said first end of said body parallel to said longitudinal axis, said planar second portion having top and bottom surfaces with said bottom surface being flat and uniformly spaced from the top surface of said body, said space being approximately equal to the thickness of said rope whereby said loop can first be extended over an object to which the rope is to be secured, and then over said lug into said space, whereby the pulling of said rope sections in a direction away from said loop serves to move said loop through said space into contact with said first portion of said lug, other portions of said loop being tightly wrapped around said object to which the rope is to be secured, said loop being loosened by moving said rope sections toward said loop so that sufficient slack is formed in said loop to permit said loop to be moved outwardly away from said abutment lug.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said apertures are parallel with one another and are arranged symmetrically about said central longitudinal axis of said body.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said apertures are cylindrical.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said second portion of said lug has an outer free end which is rounded so as to guide said loop into said space.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein lateral sides of said first portion of said abutment lug are concavely shaped to form grooves into which said loop seats for more firm engagement.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said body and said abutment lug are integrally molded from a plastics material.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said first portion of said lug has a front surface which is concavely shaped to form a groove for better seating of said loop.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein lateral sides of said first portion of said lug are concavely shaped to form grooves, which cooperate with said groove formed in the front surface of said first portion of said lug so as to form a substantially continuous groove which functions to provide better frictional retention of said rope.