Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL Name of Applicant: Hills Industries Limited Actual Inventors: Matthew Joseph Reilly Phil Baughan Address for Service: C/- MADDERNS, 1st Floor, 64 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Invention title: ATTACHMENT ASSEMBLY Details of Associated Provisional Application No: 2006906642 dated 28 November 2006 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us. PatAU131 I PRIORITY The present application for patent claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2006906642 entitled "ATTACHMENT ASSEMBLY" filed 28 November 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in 5 its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the fastening of a cord to a member. In a particular form, the invention relates to an attachment assembly that allows a 10 cord to be adjustably fastened to a member. REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS FOR PATENT The present invention is related to the following application for patent: 15 Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2006906643 entitled "A FRAME MEMBER FOR PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT" filed 28 November 2006. The entire content of this application is hereby incorporated by reference. 20 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Often it is a requirement to fasten a line, rope, cable or cord to another member in order to retain the cord with respect to the member. One example of this requirement is the fastening of climbing ropes to a rigid playground 25 structure. Additionally, other items of playground equipment such as swinging devices, climbing rings, rope bridges and the like are often attached to playground structures by fastening one or more free ends of support ropes or cords that are attached to the playground equipment. 30 One method to fasten a rope to a playground structure is to simply loop a free end of the rope about a frame member that makes up the structure or 2 alternatively through a suitable aperture that is located on the structure and then tie the free end of the rope off with a knot. However, this is not suitable in most instances, as a knot may function to weaken the rope and may be subject to abusive or abrasive wear in use, especially in the case of outdoor 5 playground equipment. Additionally, if adjustment of the length of rope is required, the knot will require undoing and retying which is difficult, inconvenient and potentially unsafe where the rope is required to support a person's weight. 10 Although many clamping and tie-off devices are known in the art there is still a need for an attachment assembly that provides a useful alternative to these devices, especially where ease of adjustment is required. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 15 In a first aspect the present invention accordingly provides an attachment assembly for fastening a cord to a member, the attachment assembly including: an open ended housing having a first inlet aperture for threading a free end of the cord through the open ended housing to exit the open end of the 20 open ended housing, the open ended housing further including an outlet aperture for further threading the free end of the cord that has been received back through the open end of the open ended housing after having been looped through or about the member; and adjustable locking means substantially located within the open ended 25 housing to adjustably lock the cord in position with respect to the open ended housing. Preferably, the adjustable locking means includes adjustable engagement means, the adjustable engagement means to adjustably frictionally engage the 30 cord. 3 Preferably, the adjustable engagement means includes a moveable engagement member having at least one engagement surface and wherein the engagement member in a first non locking position allows the cord to freely move through the open ended housing and in a second locking position the at 5 least one engagement surface of the engagement member frictionally engages with the cord. Preferably, the cord is caused to frictionally engage with the at least one engagement surface by the interaction of the open ended housing with the 10 cord when the moveable engagement member is in the second locking position. Preferably, the open ended housing includes opposed tapered portions and wherein the moveable engagement member is a wedge member and the at 15 least one engagement surface includes a pair of tapered faces arranged correspondingly to the opposed tapered portions, and wherein in the second locking position the wedge member is brought into wedging engagement with the opposed tapered portions of the open ended housing to frictionally engage the cord. 20 Preferably, the pair of tapered faces include a series of teeth or undulations. In a second aspect the present invention accordingly provides an attachment assembly for pivotably fastening a cord to a member, the attachment 25 assembly including: a bearing member having fixing means to fix the bearing member to the member, the bearing member also including a first bearing surface; a pivot member having a second bearing surface, the second bearing surface adapted to rotatably slide with respect to the first bearing surface 30 thereby allowing the pivot member to pivot with respect to the bearing member; and 4 an open ended housing to receive an extension portion extending from the pivot member, the open ended housing having a first inlet aperture for threading a free end of the cord through the open ended housing to exit the open end of the open ended housing, the open ended housing further 5 including an outlet aperture for further threading the free end of the cord that has been received back through the open end of the open ended housing after having been looped about the pivot member, wherein the extension portion and the open ended housing are operable in combination as an adjustable locking means to adjustably lock the cord in position. 10 Preferably, the extension portion includes at least one engagement surface and wherein the extension portion in a first non locking position allows the cord to freely move through the open ended housing and in a second locking position the at least one engagement surface of the extension portion 15 frictionally engages with the cord. Preferably, the cord is caused to frictionally engage with the at least one engagement surface by the interaction of the open ended housing with the cord when the extension portion is in the second locking position. 20 Preferably, the at least one engagement surface includes tapered portions arranged to mate with opposed side wall portions of the open ended housing. Preferably, in the second locking position, the pair of tapered portions is 25 brought into wedging engagement with the opposed side wall portions of the open ended housing to frictionally engage the cord. Preferably, the tapered portions include respective side channels to locate the cord. 30 5 Preferably, the opposed side wall portions include respective cord receiving channels to locate the cord. In a third aspect the present invention accordingly provides a pivot 5 arrangement including: a bearing member having a first bearing surface; a removable pivot member having a second bearing surface, the second bearing surface adapted to rotatably slide with respect to the first bearing surface, wherein the pivot member is removable from the bearing by rotating 10 the pivot member to a predetermined angle with respect to the bearing member. Preferably, the first bearing member includes a substantially cylindrical outer surface and wherein the first bearing surface is a part circumferential channel 15 located on the outer surface that is formed by first and second flange portions. Preferably, the first flange portion is part circular and defines a clearance region located between the ends of the first flange portion. 20 Preferably, the second flange portion is full circular. Preferably, the removable pivot member includes a substantially cylindrical inner surface and wherein the second bearing surface includes a part circumferential rib formed on the inner surface of the pivot member. 25 Preferably, on rotation of the pivot member with respect to the bearing member to the predetermined angle, the circumferential rib of the pivot member is aligned to the clearance region of the bearing member, thereby allowing the pivot member to be removed from the bearing member. 6 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Illustrative embodiments of the present invention will be discussed with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: 5 FIGURE 1 is an exploded view of an attachment assembly according to a first illustrative embodiment of the present invention; FIGURE 2 is an assembled view of the attachment assembly illustrated in Figure 1; FIGURES 3a to 3g is a series of views of an open ended housing comprising a 10 first component of the attachment assembly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2; FIGURES 4a to 4g is a series of views of a wedge member comprising a second component of the attachment assembly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2; FIGURE 5 is a disassembled view of an attachment assembly according to a second illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 15 FIGURE 6 is an assembled view of the attachment assembly illustrated in Figure 5; FIGURES 7a to 7f is a series of views of a bearing member comprising a first component of the attachment assembly illustrated in Figures 5 and 6; FIGURES 8a to 8g is a series of views of a pivot member comprising a second 20 component of the attachment assembly illustrated in Figures 5 and 6; FIGURES 9a to 9f is a series of views of an open ended housing comprising a third component of the attachment assembly illustrated in Figures 5 and 6; and FIGURE 10 is a front perspective view of a playground structure 25 incorporating a swing supported by a pair of attachment assemblies as illustrated Figures 5 to 9. In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 7 DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, there are shown disassembled and assembled views of an attachment assembly 100 according to a first 5 illustrative embodiment of the present invention. Attachment assembly 100 is employed in this example to attach a cord 200 to a member 300 which in this example is a round/circular tubular frame member. Attachment assembly 100 includes an open ended housing 10, a wedge member 20 which seats within open ended housing 10 and a bolt and nut arrangement 30, 35. 10 Referring now to Figure 3, there are shown various views of open ended housing 10 which includes at a first end 10b a pair of opposed cord-receiving apertures comprising an inlet aperture 11a and an outlet aperture 11b, and a central bolt hole 12 having a countersunk region 13 to receive the head 32 of 15 bolt 30. As would be apparent to those skilled in the art, apertures 11a and 11b are reversible and either aperture is able to function as an outlet or an inlet. Housing wall 10a extends from first end 10b and is generally elongate in cross-section having opposed flared wall portions 10d and opposed protruding wall portions 16 extending to open end 10c, thereby functioning to 20 provide an internal channel 17 in which wedge member 20 is able to be slidably received. Opposed wall portions 10d function to provide tapered internal cord receiving passages 14, 15 which extend from apertures 11a, 11b to the open end 10c of open ended housing 10. 25 Referring now to Figure 4, there are shown various views of wedge member 20 which is comprised of a wedge shape body 21 having opposed end tapered faces 22 having a series of teeth or undulations 23 which each provide a frictional engagement surface and central ribs 26 which locate in internal channel 17 of open ended housing 10. A centrally located bolt hole 24 extends 30 through body 21 ending in a hexagonal countersunk region 25. 8 Referring once again to Figures 1 to 4, attachment assembly 100 is first assembled by seating wedge member 20 in open ended housing 10 and inserting bolt 30 into bolt hole 12 of open ended housing 10 and further through bolt hole 24 of wedge member 20 and partially tightening a threaded 5 section 31 of bolt 30 into nut 35 which is located within hexagonal countersunk region 25 of wedge member 20. The free end 210 of cord 200 is then threaded through inlet aperture 11a past the wedge member 20 which is in a partially tightened or non locking position and out the open end 10c of open ended housing 10 and in this case around tubular member 300 and back 10 through the open end 10c of housing past the wedge member 20 and exiting outlet aperture 11b. Cord 200 can then be drawn to the appropriate length and open ended housing 10 pushed up against tubular member 300. Bolt 30 can then be 15 tightened using an Allen key which engages Allen key recess 33 located in the head 32 of bolt 30 in the process drawing downwards the wedge member 20 as it slides in cavity 17, thereby functioning as a moveable engagement member, towards the first end 10b of housing 10. The opposed tapered faces 22 are then brought into wedging engagement with the tapered internal cord 20 receiving passages or tapered portions 14 where the cord 200 resides, thereby frictionally engaging these portions of the cord 200 between wedge member 20 and the housing 10. In this illustrative embodiment, teeth or undulations 23 further increase the frictional resistance provided by this wedging action. 25 In this manner, the moveable wedge member 10 functions as an adjustable locking means that locks the cord 200 in position with respect to the housing. Should readjustment be required then bolt 30 may simply be loosened such that wedge member 20 is able to partially retract and cord 200 be repositioned as required by feeding either more or less length of cord 200 through inlet 30 aperture 11a and outlet aperture 11b. 9 A brief consideration of the above described embodiment will indicate that this attachment assembly provides an extremely simple and economical means to attach a cord to a member which is readily adjustable. 5 Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, there are shown disassembled and assembled views of an attachment assembly 400 according to a second illustrative embodiment of the present invention. Attachment assembly 400 includes a bearing member 40, a pivot member 50 and a cover or open ended housing 60 and in this example is attached to a round/circular tubular 10 member 300. Attachment assembly 400 functions to not only attach cord 200 to tubular member 300 but also to allow cord 200 to pivot about tubular member 300 in a manner that does not substantially cause wear to cord 200 at the pivot point. 15 Referring now to Figure 7, there are shown various views of bearing member or collar 40 which is of a generally cylindrical outer surface 47 and having an inner surface 46 that is shaped to fit a tubular member. As would be apparent to those skilled in the art, the profile of inner surface 46 may be adapted depending on the sectional shape of the member to which attachment 20 assembly 400 is being fitted. Collar 40 at a first side 40a includes a first part circular flange 41 extending approximately + and - 600 from the top of collar 40 and a clearance region 45. At the opposed side 40b, there is located a second full circular flange 42 25 defining a part circumferential channel 43 between flanges 41, 42 which functions as a first bearing surface. Collar 40 is fixed to tubular member 300 by virtue of a fastener through bolt hole 45 having a countersunk region 49 which functions to locate collar 40 on tubular member 300. 30 Referring now to Figure 8, there are shown various views of a pivot member or thimble 50 having an inner cylindrical surface 59 having a centrally located 10 part circular rib 53 extending approximately both + and - 1200 from the top of thimble 50 leaving a remaining gap 52 between the ends of rib 53. Part circular rib 53 functions as a second bearing surface. Thimble 50 at first and second sides 50a, 50b includes opposed flanges 51 which define the boundary 5 for a circular cord receiving channel 58 that is semi-circular in cross-section. Thimble 50 further includes a tapered extension portion 54 incorporating opposed side channels 56 which continue on from cord receiving channel 58. Tapered extension portion 54 includes a centrally located bolt hole 55 and an internal push fit recess 57 to receive nut 75. 10 Referring now to Figure 9, there are shown various views of a cover or open ended housing 60 having at a first end 60a a pair of opposed cord receiving apertures comprising an inlet aperture 61a and an outlet aperture 61b, and a centrally located bolt hole 62 having a countersunk region 63 to accept bolt 70 15 and bolt head 72. Cover 60 includes a pair of outwardly tapering side walls 60c that taper towards an opposed open end 60b where side walls 60c function to define internal cord receiving channels 64, 65 having a generally semi-circular cross-section and which extend respectively from apertures 61a, 61b. A pair of opposed arcuate abutment regions 66 define the front and rear 20 ends of opposed open end 60b of cover 60 generally forming an internal cavity 67 in cover 60. Referring once again to Figures 5 to 9, attachment assembly 400 is first assembled by sliding bearing member or collar 40 along tubular member to 25 the position required and attaching by virtue of a fastener through bolt hole 45. Pivot member or thimble 50 is then connected to collar 40 by once again first sliding thimble 50 along tubular member 300 until it reaches collar 40 on the first end 40a of collar. 30 The next step is to rotate the tapered extension portion 1800 to an upwards vertical position so that part circular rib 53 of thimble 50 is aligned with 11 clearance region 45 of collar 40. Furthermore, at this point the part circular flange 41 of collar 40 will be aligned with the gap 52 of thimble 50. Thimble 50 can then be further moved into a central position with respect to collar 40 with rib 53 of thimble 50 abutting circular flange 42 of bearing 40 and then be 5 allowed to rotate 1800 downwards with rib 53 being captured by part circular flange 41 and circular flange 42 in channel 43. In this manner, these components are able to rotatably slide with respect to each other, thereby forming a pivot arrangement whereby thimble 50 can be pivoted about tubular member 300. 10 To attach the cord to the pivot arrangement to form the attachment assembly in accordance with the second illustrative embodiment of the present invention, first a free end 210 of cord 200 is threaded through the inlet aperture 61a of cover 60, along internal cord receiving channel 64 and then 15 along the respective side channel 56 of tapered extension portion 54 over thimble 50 where it locates in circular cord receiving channel 58 along opposed side channel 56 and then along cord receiving channel 65 and through outlet aperture 61b of cover 60. 20 A nut 75 is placed in push fit recess 57 and the cover 60 is brought up into wedging engagement with tapered portion 54 which seats within cavity 67 of cover 60, thereby functioning to wedge cord 200 firmly between opposed side channels 56 or engagement surface of tapered potion 54 of thimble 50 and respective cord receiving channels 64, 65 of cover 60. Bolt 70 is then used to 25 fasten cover 60 to thimble 50 by insertion of bolt shaft 71 through bolt holes 62 and 55 of cover 60 and tapered extension portion 54 of thimble 50 respectively, at which stage bolt 70 may be tightened into nut 75 which is retained within thimble 50. 30 In this illustrative embodiment, bearing or collar 40 is fabricated from a lubricated grade of Nylon 66 (BASF Ultramid A3R) which functions to 12 lubricate the first and second bearing surfaces. This helps to reduce friction and noise. Pivot member or thimble 50 is fabricated from acetal copolymer. By incorporating different materials for the first and second bearing surfaces this helps to reduce noise produced during motion of the pivot arrangement. 5 Open ended housing or cover 60 is formed from polypropylene incorporating a UV stabiliser. As would be apparent to those skilled in the art, the various components described throughout the specification may be fabricated in a variety of suitable materials depending on the exact environmental requirements. 10 As would be appreciated by those skilled in the art, attachment assembly 400 provides a pivot arrangement for a cord 200, where the cord 200 can pivot about tubular member 300 without causing wear to the cord. Furthermore, attachment assembly 400 allows for the convenient adjustment of the length 15 of cord 200 by simply loosening off open ended housing 60 from the locking position to the non locking position and either drawing through or passing out a further length of cord through apertures 61a, 61b as required. Referring now to Figure 10, there is shown a playground structure 500 20 incorporating a frame member as described in Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2006906643 entitled "A FRAME MEMBER FOR PLAY EQUIPMENT" filed 28 November 2006. Playground structure includes a swing 510 supported by a pair of ropes or cords 511 by attachment assemblies 400. Cyclic testing of attachment assembly 400 with a load of 45 kg through an 25 angle of 1000 over one million cycles indicated no apparent wear to the rope or plastic components, thereby representing a significant improvement over prior art devices. Further shown are attachment assemblies 100 in accordance with the first illustrative embodiment of the present invention utilised to support climbing rings 130 by virtue of ropes or cords 200 to frame members 30 300. 13 The use of the term "cord" throughout the specification is defined to include any continuous flexible line such as a rope, line or even webbing. It will be understood that the term "comprise" and any of its derivatives (eg. 5 comprises, comprising) as used in this specification is to be taken to be inclusive of features to which it refers, and is not meant to exclude the presence of any additional features unless otherwise stated or implied. Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been 10 described in the foregoing detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth and defined by the following claims. 14