Tie down tensioning device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A tie down tensioning device for holding a flexible elongated element under tension comprising:
- a housing comprising first and second opposed side walls;
a groove extending between an input and an output for receiving a flexible elongated element, said groove being defined between the opposed side walls and having two opposed interior side surfaces extending from a base that runs in a substantially axial direction, each side surface being provided with a plurality of ridges for gripping such a flexible elongated element received in the groove, said ridges being inclined from near the base away from the base along the side surfaces towards the output of the groove;
at least one aperture defined through the first and second opposed sidewalls roughly perpendicularly to the axial direction and configured to receive a securing element and substantially isolate the securing element from the flexible elongated element during a tie down operation in which (i) the securing element is secured to at least one substantially fixed object, (ii) a load end of the flexible elongated element engages a load and is secured to at least one substantially fixed object, and (iii) the load end of the flexible elongated element is tensioned; and
a locking feature to prevent the flexible elongated element from lifting out of the ridges during the tie down operation, wherein the locking feature is located near the output end of the groove and is adapted to permit a decrease in tension in the load end of the flexible elongated element only after the flexible elongated element is disengaged from the locking feature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A simple and inexpensive device for a reliable tie down tensioning which device enables the tie-down to be quickly and easily applied and the flexible element tensioned and just as quickly and easily removed.
45 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A tie down tensioning device for holding a flexible elongated element under tension comprising:
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a housing comprising first and second opposed side walls; a groove extending between an input and an output for receiving a flexible elongated element, said groove being defined between the opposed side walls and having two opposed interior side surfaces extending from a base that runs in a substantially axial direction, each side surface being provided with a plurality of ridges for gripping such a flexible elongated element received in the groove, said ridges being inclined from near the base away from the base along the side surfaces towards the output of the groove; at least one aperture defined through the first and second opposed sidewalls roughly perpendicularly to the axial direction and configured to receive a securing element and substantially isolate the securing element from the flexible elongated element during a tie down operation in which (i) the securing element is secured to at least one substantially fixed object, (ii) a load end of the flexible elongated element engages a load and is secured to at least one substantially fixed object, and (iii) the load end of the flexible elongated element is tensioned; and a locking feature to prevent the flexible elongated element from lifting out of the ridges during the tie down operation, wherein the locking feature is located near the output end of the groove and is adapted to permit a decrease in tension in the load end of the flexible elongated element only after the flexible elongated element is disengaged from the locking feature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A tie down tensioning device comprising:
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a housing comprising first and second opposed sidewalls defining a jamming cleat feature, the jamming cleat feature having two opposed interior side surfaces extending from an elongated base that runs in a substantially axial direction between an input and an output, said housing having an opening for ingress of a flexible elongated element into said housing and through a channel, the channel along at least a portion of its length completely surrounding at least a portion of the length of the flexible elongated element received therein, the channel is configured to guide the flexible elongated element into the input of the jamming cleat feature, each side surface of the jamming cleat feature being provided with a plurality of ridges for gripping the flexible elongated element, the ridges being inclined from near the elongated base away from the elongated base along the side surfaces toward the output of the jamming cleat feature; at least one hole defined through the first and second opposed side walls roughly perpendicularly to the axial direction around which the channel wraps for mounting of a securing element during a tie down operation in which (i) the securing element is secured to at least one substantially fixed object, (ii) a load end of the flexible elongated element engages a load and is secured to at least one substantially fixed object, and (iii) the load end of the flexible elongated element is tensioned; and a locking feature proximate the output of the jamming cleat feature to prevent the flexible elongated element from lifting out of the jamming cleat feature during the tie down operation, the locking feature being adapted to permit an increase in tension while the locking feature is engaging the flexible elongated element but adapted to permit a decrease in tension in the flexible elongated element only after the flexible elongated element is disengaged from the locking feature. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A tie down tensioning device comprising:
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a housing comprising first and second opposed sidewalls defining a jamming cleat feature having two opposed interior side surfaces extending from a base that runs in a substantially axial direction between an input and an output, said housing having an opening for ingress of a flexible elongated element into said housing and through a channel, the channel along at least a portion of its length completely surrounding at least a portion of the length of the flexible elongated element received therein, the channel is configured to guide the flexible elongated element into the jamming cleat feature before passing through the output end of said housing, each side surface of the jamming cleat feature being provided with a plurality of ridges for gripping the flexible elongated element, the ridges being inclined from near the elongated base away from the elongated base along the side surfaces toward the output of the jamming cleat feature; a first aperture defined through the first and second opposed sidewalls roughly perpendicularly to the axial direction around which the channel wraps for mounting of a securing element and for substantially isolating the securing element from the flexible elongated element during a tie down operation in which (i) the securing element is secured to at least one substantially fixed object, (ii) a load end of the flexible elongated element engages a load and is secured to at least one substantially fixed object, and (iii) the load end of the flexible elongated element is tensioned; and at least a second aperture defined through the first and second opposed sidewalls for mounting of another securing element. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification