Hoist line protector

• US 8,359,714 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2010
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grover Edward James Harper
• Original Assignee: Grover Edward James Harper
• Inventors: Harper, Grover Edward James
• Primary Examiner(s): BRITTAIN, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US12/659,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20110025082A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 24136 R-136 B, 241/15.M, 241/15.R, 241/29.R, 247/156, 187/411, 403/374.1, 403/211, 403/314, 294/102.1
• US Class Current: 24/136.R
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 1/34 Crane hooks
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 11/046 by bending the cable around a surface
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 11/06 with laterally-arranged screws F16G11/02, F16G11/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/39 Cord and rope holders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3969 Sliding part or wedge

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus for enclosing the free distal end of a flexible tensile member supporting an object. The flexible tensile member has a first portion in tension for suspending the object therefrom and a free end substantially perpendicular thereto with the object therebetween. The apparatus comprises a body having a passage sized to slidably receive the first portion of the flexible tensile member therein a bottom edge adapted to engage the object and a void for enclosing the free distal end of the flexible tensile member wherein the bottom edge is engaged with the object.

Claims

1. An apparatus for enclosing the free distal end of a flexible tensile member supporting an object, the flexible tensile member having a first portion in tension for suspending said object from said flexible tension member and a free end substantially parallel to said first portion with said object between said first portion and said free end, the apparatus comprising a body having a passage sized to slidably receive said first portion of said flexible tensile member therein, a bottom edge adapted to engage the object and a void for enclosing said free distal end of said flexible tensile member wherein said bottom edge is engaged with the object, wherein said void comprises a bore through said body extend from said bottom edge to an opposed top edge.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said passage is formed between a pair of opposed walls extending from said body.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said pair of opposed walls each include an end flange at a distal end thereof, said end flanges being oriented towards each other.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said pair of opposed walls are axially spaced apart from each other along said first portion of the flexible tension member.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said pair of opposed walls have a transverse gap therebetween.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said gap corresponds substantially to a thickness of the flexible tension member.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bore is tapered from said bottom edge to said top edge.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said bore has a substantially constant thickness across a plane defined by said first and second portions of said flexible tensile member and a taper in a direction along said plane.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bottom edge includes a keeper for maintaining said bottom edge proximate to the object.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said keeper comprises a bore for receiving a fastener extending under a portion of said object.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said keeper comprises a latch for engaging a portion of said object.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said body is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of metal or plastic.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said flexible tension member comprises a cable.