AU760796B2 - A device for attachment to a rope - Google Patents

Description

WO 01/31227 PCT/AU00/01308 A DEVICE FOR ATTACHMENT TO A ROPE Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for attachment to a rope. In one form the invention relates to a device for linkage with a rope in order to secure the rope and will primarily be described with reference to this context. When the term "rope" is used herein it refers to any rope, cord, string, cable or the like formed from two or more twisted strands. It should be remembered, however, that the invention has broader use in rope joining applications for joining of a rope either to itself, to another rope or to another object as an improvement to known rope tying methods.

Background Art Methods for securing ropes are known in the art. The knotting of ropes around hooks or other securing means is normally effected by manually securing the ropes and relying on the strength or sophistication of the knot used. Many persons are not adept at rapid knot tying using coarse rope, which of course can lead to the knot eventually untying or slipping.

Some devices are known in the art for clamping or fastening to a rope. The devices disclosed in US Patent 4745663 and Australian patent applications 35565/68, 26665/71, 85044/91 and 45080/96 all have clip, clamp or fastening portions of a specified width or thickness, which are not adapted to grip a rope. This is a disadvantage of such apparatus since without extreme frictional engagement with the rope, the devices can slide or dislodge from the rope surface when placed under tension, and particularly so if the rope is greased, muddy or wet.

WO 01/31227 PCT/AU00/01308 2 It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a device for attachment to a rope formed from two or more twisted strands, the device including a holding section which includes a first member and a second opposing member, the rope being received between the members in a frictional holding arrangement when fitted therebetween, wherein at least one of the members is adapted such that it is locatable within a groove defined between adjacent strands in the rope in order to hold the rope at the device, and wherein the holding arrangement defines: an opening between the first member and second opposing member for receiving the rope therethrough and for directing the rope to a throat that is adjacent to the opening; and a yoke from which the throat extends and which is adapted for receiving the rope therein once it has passed through the throat.

The device provides an improved method for securing ropes which readily facilitates their tying and untying in a simple and rapid fashion along with an improvement in the safety aspects of disengaging joined ropes without loss or destruction of the rope. When ropes are mounted in the device typically no slippage can occur when the ropes are placed under strain since the rope groove receives at least the first member therein and is retained WO 01/31227 PCT/AU00/01308 3 thereby. However, the ropes may easily be detached by hand using a reverse pushing action.

Preferably the throat has a width less than the diameter of the rope and the yoke is also adapted for maintaining the rope therein. More preferably the throat has a width less than the diameter of one strand of the rope.

Preferably the frictional holding arrangement is an interference type of holding arrangement.

Preferably either the rope and/or the throat deform to enable passage of the rope into the yoke.

Preferably the first and second members generally define a V shape in plan elevation. Preferably the first and second members are formed from a single piece of material.

Preferably at least one of the members is adapted to be joined to a further linkage means located at an end of the device remote from the holding arrangement.

Preferably the further linkage means comprises a ring structure, a clip, or a second like holding device to hold onto the or another rope.

Preferably the groove is received in the holding section in a substantially parallel relationship to a longitudinal axis of the members.

Preferably the device is formed from a material that is resilient to allow repeated insertion and removal of rope or ropes.

Brief Description of the Drawings Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: WO 01/31227 PCT/AUOO/01308 -4- Figure 1 shows a plan view of one embodiment of a device for attachment to a rope in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 1 attached in use to a rope; Figure 3 shows a side view of a portion of the embodiment of Figure 1 attached in use to a rope; Figure 4 shows a perspective schematic view of a further embodiment of a device for attachment to a rope in accordance with the invention; Figure 5a shows a plan schematic view of a further embodiment of a device for attachment to a rope in accordance with the invention; Figure 5b shows a plan schematic view of a further embodiment of a device for attachment to a rope in accordance with the invention; Figure 5c shows a plan schematic view of a further embodiment of a device when attached to a series of ropes in accordance with the invention; Figure 6a shows a plan schematic view of a further embodiment of a device for attachment to a rope in accordance with the invention; Figure 6b shows a plan schematic view of a further embodiment of a device for attachment to a rope in accordance with the invention; Figure 6c shows a plan schematic view of a further embodiment of a device for attachment to a rope in accordance with the invention; Figure 6d shows a plan schematic view of a further embodiment of a device for attachment to a rope in accordance with the invention; WO 01/31227 PCT/AU00/01308 5 Figure 6e shows a plan schematic view of a further embodiment of a device when attached to a rope in accordance with the invention; Modes for Carrying out the Invention Referring to the drawings, a device 10 is shown for attachment to a rope 12, where the rope 12 is formed from two twisted strands 14, 15. However the device is able to be attached to a rope comprised of any number of twisted strands and its use on a rope having three twisted strands is also typical. The device 10 includes a frictional or interference rope holding arrangement in the form of holding section 16 which has a first member 18 and a second opposing member 20. The rope 12 is fitted between the members 18 and 20 in a frictional or interference holding arrangement (see Figure The second opposing member 20 is adapted such that it is locatable within a groove 30 defined between adjacent strands 14 and 15 in the rope 12 in order to retain the device 10 at the rope 12. In the particular embodiment shown the members 18 and 20 are formed from one piece of material to form a hooklike device.

The holding section 16 comprises an opening 22 defined between the first member 18 and second opposing member 20 for receiving the rope 12 therethrough. Member 20 is deflected outwardly at its free end so that opening 22 directs the rope 12 to a throat 24 when inverted therein. The throat 24 is a narrow region which typically has a width less than the diameter of one strand of the rope 12. Most typically the throat 24 has a width equivalent to two thirds of the diameter of one strand of the rope 12. A yoke region 26 from which the throat 24 extends finally receives the rope 12 once it has passed through the throat 24. Typically the yoke region 26 has a WO 01/31227 PCTAU00/01308 -6length equivalent to two rope strand diameters, although any length is within the scope of the invention, particularly if multiple ropes are to be accommodated in the yoke, as shown in Figure 6(e).

In a typical mode of use, the rope 12 and/or the members 18, 20 at throat 24 deform sufficiently to enable passage of the rope 12 into the yoke region 26. The yoke region is typically sized so that the rope is then frictionally secured in the holding section 16. The materials of manufacture of the device 10 are typically resilient to allow repeated insertion and removal of rope 12 without permanently deforming (eg mild or stainless steel, moulded plastic) First member 18 can be joined to a further linkage means located at an end of the device 10 remote from the holding section' 16. The further linkage means is depicted as a ring structure 28 in Figure 1, although, as shown in Figure 4 it can also comprise a second like holding section 16 to enable the device 10 to be retained at or onto the same rope 12 or onto another rope. Alternatively the further linkage means can comprise any other suitable linkage device of any shape to enable connection of the apparatus to another cord or the like, to a surface, or to for example a clasp, hook, snap fit coupling etc. Some examples of alternative linkage means are depicted in Figures 6a, b, c and d, although this is not an exhaustive set of examples.

As shown in Figure 2 and in more detail in Figure 3, in order to enhance frictional or interference engagement a groove 30 (defined between adjacent rope strands 14, locates itself substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis 32 of the members 18 and 20 typically with at least the first member 18 and/or the second member 20 being WO 01/31227 PCT/AU00/01308 7adapted for lying within the groove (where preferably at least part of the innermost surface of the yoke region 26 locates in the groove As shown in Figures 5a, b and c, first member 18 can also be joined to any number of holding sections similar to holding section 16 to enable the device 10 to hold onto the same rope or another rope. The holding sections can be at remote ends of member 18, or located at any point along member 18, as shown in Figure 5c. In a further embodiment of the device shown in Figure 6e, a number of ropes may be positioned into the yoke region 26 of the device.

The devices as described are particularly useful as a means of joining two ropes in order to secure them together. In nautical applications when a knot is tied in a rope to secure attachment to an anchor rope, or another moorage rope, for example, a tautly pulled knot often cannot be undone when placed under strain, so that eventually ropes need to be cut to be untied. This is often a dangerous task and, even if attempts are made to untie the knot using pliers or a screwdriver, the rope can be permanently damaged. Sometimes even if the rope is untied, a permanent kink in the rope results, thus reducing the strength of the rope. Use of the devices described can ensure that ropes can be unhitched speedily without damage. This provides a convenient and safe alternative to cutting tightly strained ropes.

The devices described are also advantageous in that when ropes are mounted in the holding section 16 no slippage can occur when the ropes are placed under strain since the rope groove 30 receives at least first member 18 therein and is held thereby. This is particularly advantageous if the ropes are greased, muddy or wet.

WO 01/31227 PCT/AU00/01308 8 However, the ropes may easily be detached by hand using a reverse pushing action. Further applications for the devices which require the securing of ropes include safety ropes in rock climbing, or securing load restraints on trucks etc.

It is preferred that the devices be formed from strong and resilient materials to ensure good securement of the rope and to withstand the environment of use. A material such as stainless steel is suitable in an environment exposed to the weather or marine conditions, although hard plastic-type material is also suitable. The device may also be formed from a single piece of material which is then best formed as appropriate.

In the embodiments of the invention shown, the attachment to a rope can provide improvement in the speed of operation in rope tying applications, along with an improvement in the safety aspects of disengaging joined ropes without loss or destruction of the rope. The apparatus provides an improved method for securing ropes which readily facilitates their tying and untying in a simple and rapid fashion.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to a number of preferred embodiments it should be appreciated that the invention can be embodied in many other forms.

For the purposes of this specification it is to be clearly understood that the word "comprising" means "including but not limited to", and that the word "comprises" has a corresponding meaning.

Claims (7)

1. 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the throat has a width less than the diameter of the rope and the yoke is also adapted for maintaining the rope therein.
2. 3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the frictional holding arrangement is an interference type of holding arrangement.
3. 4. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein either the rope and/or the throat deform to enable passage of the rope into the yoke. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first and second members generally define a V shape in plan elevation. WO 01/31227 PCT/AU00/01308 10
4. 6. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first and second members are formed from a single piece of material.
5. 7. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one of the members is adapted to be joined to a further linkage means located at an end of the device remote from the holding arrangement.
6. 8. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the further linkage means comprises a ring structure, a clip, or a second like holding device to hold onto the or another rope.
7. 9. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the groove is received in the holding section in a substantially parallel relationship to a longitudinal axis of the members. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is formed from a material that is resilient to allow repeated insertion and removal of rope or ropes.