AU6132000A - A cord tie-off fitting - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

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****Name of Applicant: Hills Industries Limited *oooo* oo method of performing it known to us.

PatAU131 This invention relates to a cord tie-off fitting, and in particular to a fitting which enables a cord to be easily and quickly secured to the fitting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The main application for the invention is in relation to clothes line frames where a single cord is threaded back and forth between two side arms with the ends of the cord tied off or secured to the side arms. Although this is the main use for the invention, there will be numerous other applications to which the invention would be equally suited.

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Clothes line frames normally comprise a square or rectangular tubular frame 0i where a pair of opposing sides have a series of spaced apertures through the tubes. A cord is secured at one end of a side and extends to the opposite side. It is threaded through a corresponding aperture and then through the next aperture in that same **side so that the cord can then extend back across the frame to the other side. This soee threading process is repeated until there are the required number of cords extending 0 across the frame. The end of the cord is then placed through the remaining aperture 00 'and tied to the tube.

A plastic coated multi-strand rope is the cord that is normally used. The load applied to such cord can result in a considerable stretching and loosening of the cords. This is unsightly and using the current tie-off procedure, is inconvenient to easily re-tension the line.

Accordingly, it is an aim of this invention to provide a cord tie-off fitting which enables the cord to be readily released from the fitting to thereby allow retensioning of the cord throughout the frame. The fitting is designed to allow the cord to be quickly and easily reconnected to the tie-off fitting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In its broadest form, the invention is a cord tie-off fitting comprising: a body, an aperture in said body through which said cord passes; and a cord retainer on said body that releasably retains said cord so that said cord external of said aperture is held with respect to said body.

Preferably, the fitting has the cord forming at least one right angle bend between the aperture and the cord retainer. This results in the tensile force within the cord being applied normal to the aperture. Preferably, the retainer applies a compressive force to the cord and prevents movement of the cord through the fitting.

In the clothes line application described above, the cord can easily be released from the cord retainer and the excess cord pulled out so that it is re-tensioned within e the frame. The cord can then be quickly and easily re-secured to the tie-off fitting.

The body may comprise a fitting which is separately attached to a member to 0 enable the cord to be secured with respect to that member. The body may be moulded from a polymeric material.

The invention may also comprise a retaining band which in combination with the body creates a loop or ring-like member that can be placed over a bar or tube.

Both the body and the retaining band can be shaped so that the resultant opening is the same shape as the cross-section of the bar or tube which may be round, square or elliptical. The retaining band is also provided with an aperture that aligns with the aperture in the body so that the cord can be placed directly through the fitting and the bar or tube.

The cord retainer is preferably formed within the body and comprises a transverse slot across the body. The slot may be shaped so that the cord is a tight fit within the slot so that a compressive force is in turn applied to the cord.

The cord retainer may be spaced from the aperture so that there is a short span of cord from the opening of the aperture to the cord retainer. The body may be provided with a combination of recesses and/or guides which accommodate the short length of cord between the opening of the aperture and the cord retainer.

As an alternative to a body combined with a retaining band, the body may be alternatively fixed to the member by other means such as threaded fasteners or :0 0 rivets. In addition, the body may be incorporated within the member to which the cord is secured. For example, the body may form a portion of a bar or tube within which an aperture and a cord retainer is formed.

e•o *The body may also be formed with additional recesses or channels for storing -o• the free end of the cord that extends from the cord retainer to avoid the cord end Shanging freely from the cord retainer. A short length of cord can be used to enable the required tension to be manually applied. This short length of cord will need to be of sufficient length to enable it to be grasped by hand. This length will be in excess of the length of cord that will extend from the aperture and be held within the cord retainer. The further recesses or channels will also result in additional right angle bends within the cord. Each additional right angle bend further assists in locking the cord to the tie-off fitting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order for the invention to be fully understood, a preferred embodiment will now be described. However, it should be realised that the invention is not to be confined or limited to the exact features of this embodiment. This embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 shows a side view of the tie-off fitting, Fig 2 shows a plan view of the tie-off fitting, Fig 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the tie-off fitting about line A-A as shown in Fig 2, and Fig 4 shows a perspective view of a tie-off fitting on a tubular frame member with an attached cord.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The tie-off fitting 10 comprises a ring-like fitting moulded from polymeric material.

The body 11 has formed within it an aperture 12 and a cord retainer 13. Also formed e in the body 11 are a pair of channels 14. A retaining band 15 extends from the cord retainer 13 to the other end of the body adjacent one of the channels 14. This produces a ring-like structure which can be located over a tubular member.

The tubular member (shown in Fig 4) has an aperture in each wall through which a cord 16 passes. The aperture 12 in the body 11 aligns with one of the apertures in the tube. The retaining band 15 also has an aperture 17 that aligns with the other aperture in the tube. This enables the cord 16 to pass through both the tieoff fitting 10 and the tube.

A channel 18 extends from the aperture 12 to one side of the tie-off fitting The depth of channel 18 equals the thickness of the cord 16 so that the cord is held recessed below the outer surface of the body 11.

The thickness of the body 11 varies across its width. A thicker centre portion as shown in Fig 3 is bordered on either side by flanges 20. The channel 18 forms a gap in the flange 20 so that the cord 16 can locate underneath the flange 20 and be out of view.

The cord retainer 13 comprises a slot 22 that extends across the thicker portion of the body 11. The flanges 20 also extend either side of the slot 22. There are gaps in the flanges 20 which enable the cord, which is beneath the flange 20 to locate within the slot 22.

The slot 22 is narrower by comparison to the diameter of the cord 16. This results in a compressive force being applied to the cord 16 when it is located within the slot 22. This in turn applies a retaining force to the cord 16, which in combination with right angle bends of the cord 16 at the exits of aperture 12 and channel 18 and at the entrance to slot 22, result in the cord being securely held. The upper opening of the slot 22 is also narrowed to further assist retention of the cord 16.

oo o Channels 14 are used to retain the free end of the cord that extends out of the cord retainer 13. They also result in further right angle bends of cord 16 which assist in locking the cord 16 to the tie-off fitting 10. Clearly, the length of cord contained within the cord retainer and that extends from the cord retainer to the aperture 12 would be of insufficient length to enable it to be grasped to apply the necessary tension to the cord 16. A longer length of cord is required to enable it to be firmly grasped. This additional length is accommodated by threading it through the first ochannel 14 and then through the second channel 14. The cord 16 locates beneath the flange 20 as it extends from the end of the slot 22 to the first channel 14. The cord 16 is also located beneath a flange 20 as it extends from the first channel 14 to the second channel 14. This then enables the additional length of cord to be conveniently stored and held out of view.

Fig 4 shows a schematic arrangement of a tie-off fitting 10 on a tubular frame member. The figure shows the path taken by the cord 16.

Once the required tension is applied to the cord 16, it is moved into the channel 18 and located beneath the flange 20. The cord is then forced into the slot 22 which securely holds and maintains the tension within the cord 16. The free end of the cord 16 can then be threaded into the first and second channels 14 and pulled tight so that the cord is held beneath the flanges 20. Any excess length of cord can be trimmed as required.

If the cord 16 requires re-tensioning, then it is an easy process to remove the cord 16 from the channels 14, disengage the cord from the slot 22 which then enables the cord to be pulled through the apertures 12 and 17. The cord is then reaffixed as described above.

Clearly, the invention provides a quick and convenient means for retensioning clothes lines in rectangular frames. There will also be other applications for the invention where the features of the tie-off fitting 10 are equally suited.

Claims (16)

1. A cord tie-off fitting comprising: a body, an aperture in said body through which said cord passes; and a cord retainer on said body that releasably retains said cord so that said cord external of said aperture is held with respect to said body.

2. A cord tie-off fitting according to claim 1 wherein the path of said cord changes direction at least twice between said aperture and said cord retainer.

3. A cord tie-off fitting according to claim 2 wherein said cord exits said aperture i at a right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said aperture and turns through a further right angle to enter said cord retainer.

4. A cord tie-off fitting according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a channel in said body extending from said aperture to an edge of said body where said channel is transverse to the longitudinal axis of said aperture. *oo* A cord tie-off fitting according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said cord retainer comprises a slot in said body where at least the opening of said slot is narrower than the diameter of said cord so that said cord is held in said slot.

6. A cord tie-off fitting according to claim 5 wherein the width of said slot causes compression of said cord to wedge said cord in said slot.

7. A cord tie-off fitting according to claim 5 wherein said slot is spaced from said aperture.

8. A cord tie-off fitting according to claim 4 wherein said cord retainer comprises a slot in said body that is spaced from said aperture and a first flange extending along said edge of said body between said channel and said slot, said cord locating under said flange when it extends from said channel to said slot.

9. A cord tie-off fitting according to claim 8 wherein said slot is parallel to said channel. A cord tie-off fitting according to either claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the opening of said slot is narrower than the diameter of said cord so that said cord is held within said slot.

11. A cord tie-off fitting according to any one of claims 8 to 10 further comprising a second flange on the edge of said body opposite to the first said flange so that said •i cord is located below said second flange as it exits said cord retainer.

12. A cord tie-off fitting according to claim 11 further comprising a recess in said ***body for storage of excess cord extending from said cord retainer.

13. A cord tie-off fitting according to claim 12 wherein said recess comprises a pair of apertures extending through said body, said cord being threaded through said pair of apertures to store said excess cord. @0 0.

14. A cord tie-off fitting according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a retaining band, that, in combination with said body, forms a loop. A cord tie-off fitting according to claim 14 wherein said loop is circular.

16. A cord tie-off fitting according to claim 14 wherein said loop is elliptical or oval shaped.

17. A cord tie-off fitting according to claim 14 wherein said loop is a square or rectangular shape.

18. A cord tie-off fitting according to any one of claims 14 to 17 further comprising an aperture in said band that aligns with said aperture in said body.

19. A cord tie-off fitting according to any one of the preceding claims used on a clothes line to enable re-tensioning of said clothes line where said clothes line comprises said cord. A cord tie-off fitting as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Dated this 27 th day of September, 2000 o* HILLS INDUSTRIES LIMITED By its Patent Attorneys MADDERNS