Flush cleat

• US 20090276981A1
• Filed: 05/07/2008
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David M. Thompson
• Original Assignee: David M. Thompson
• Inventors: Thompson, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,992,262 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 24/115.R
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 21/04 Fastening or guiding equipment for chains, ropes, hawsers, or the like means for fastening cables or ropes in general F16G11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 21/045 T-shaped cleats
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 11/02 with parts deformable to grip the cable or cables; Fastening means which engage a sleeve or the like fixed on the cable
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 11/046 by bending the cable around a surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/39 Cord and rope holders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3913 Knot engaging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3991 Loop engaging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4773 Cargo tiedown

Abstract

A rope cleat secures a rope to a structure. The cleat has a body with opposite first and second portions joined along a longitudinal central plane. The body has a U-shaped cavity inside it tapering between a large entrance leg and a smaller exit leg, which communicate at a confluent portion. A flange is integrally attached to the body first portion. The flange is mounted against the structure through a mounting hole. The flange has an entrance hole and an exit hole spaced apart and extending through the flange. The rope is easily inserted into the large entrance hole, through the U-shaped cavity, and out the smaller exit hole. A knot is then tied to secure the rope in the cleat. The cleat has registration pins on one body portion, and corresponding registration holes on the opposite portion. The pins align the body first and second portions for assembly with a screw.

Claims

1. A cleat, for use in connection with a structure and a rope, the structure having an upper surface and a mounting hole through the upper surface, the cleat comprising:

a body having a U-shaped cavity therein, the body being adapted for insertion into the mounting hole; and

a flange attached to the body, the flange having opposite upper and lower surfaces, the flange being adapted for mounting against the structure, the flange having an entrance hole and an exit hole spaced apart on the flange upper surface and extending through the flange, the entrance and exit holes communicating with the U-shaped cavity, the entrance and exit holes being adapted to pass the rope into the entrance hole, through the U-shaped cavity, and out the exit hole.

2. The cleat of claim 1, wherein:

the U-shaped cavity further comprises an entrance leg, an exit leg, and a confluent portion where the entrance leg and the exit leg communicate;

the entrance hole is larger than the exit hole; and

the entrance leg is larger than the exit leg;

whereby

the U-shaped cavity is tapered between the entrance leg and the exit leg.

3. The cleat of claim 1, wherein:

the body further comprises opposite first and second portions, the first and second portions being joined along a longitudinal central plane, the body first portion being integral with the flange lower surface; and

the U-shaped cavity further comprises a U-shaped central axis, the central axis lying in the central plane, the U-shaped cavity having a first half lying in the body first portion, and a second half lying in the body second portion.

4. The cleat of claim 3, further comprising:

registration pins on one of the body first and second portions, and corresponding registration holes on the opposite portion, the registration holes being adapted to receive the registration pins; and

the flange lower surface being generally flat.

5. A cleat, for use in connection with a structure and a rope, the structure having an upper surface and a mounting hole through the upper surface, the cleat comprising:

a body having opposite first and second portions, the first and second portions being joined along a longitudinal central plane, the body having a U-shaped cavity therein with a U-shaped central axis, the central axis lying in the central plane, the U-shaped cavity having a first half lying in the body first portion, and a second half lying in the body second portion, the body being adapted for insertion into the mounting hole; and

a flange attached to the body, the flange having opposite upper and lower surfaces, the body first portion being integral with the flange lower surface, the flange being adapted for mounting against the structure, the flange having an entrance hole and an exit hole spaced apart on the flange upper surface and extending through the flange, the entrance and exit holes communicating with the U-shaped cavity, the entrance and exit holes being adapted to pass the rope into the entrance hole, through the U-shaped cavity, and out the exit hole.

6. The cleat of claim 5, wherein:

the U-shaped cavity further comprises an entrance leg, an exit leg, and a confluent portion where the entrance leg and the exit leg communicate;

the entrance hole is larger than the exit hole; and

the entrance leg is larger than the exit leg;

whereby

the U-shaped cavity is tapered between the entrance leg and the exit leg.

7. The cleat of claim 5, further comprising:

registration pins on one of the body first and second portions, and corresponding registration holes on the opposite portion, the registration holes being adapted to receive the registration pins; and

the flange lower surface being generally flat.

8. A cleat, for use in connection with a structure and a rope, the structure having an upper surface and a mounting hole through the upper surface, the cleat comprising:

a body having opposite first and second portions, the first and second portions being joined along a longitudinal central plane, the body having a U-shaped cavity therein with a U-shaped central axis, the central axis lying in the central plane, the U-shaped cavity having an entrance leg with an entrance cross-sectional area, the U-shaped cavity having an exit leg with an exit cross-sectional area, the U-shaped cavity having a confluent portion where the entrance leg and the exit leg communicate, the entrance leg cross-sectional area being larger than the exit leg cross-sectional area, whereby the U-shaped cavity is tapered between the entrance leg and the exit leg, the U-shaped cavity having a first half lying in the body first portion, and a second half lying in the body second portion, the body being adapted for insertion into the mounting hole; and

a flange attached to the body, the flange having opposite upper and lower surfaces, the body first portion being integral with the flange lower surface, the flange being adapted for mounting against the structure, the flange having an entrance hole and an exit hole spaced apart on the flange upper surface and extending through the flange, the entrance hole communicating with the entrance leg, the exit hole communicating with the exit leg, the entrance hole being larger than the exit hole, the entrance and exit holes being adapted to pass the rope into the entrance hole, through the U-shaped cavity, and out the exit hole.

9. The cleat of claim 8, further comprising:

registration pins on one of the body first and second portions, and corresponding registration holes on the opposite portion, the registration holes being adapted to receive the registration pins; and

the flange lower surface being generally flat.