GB2237548A - Tow rope - Google Patents

Abstract

A tow rope comprising a length of rope having an eye 21, 22 formed in each end part thereof; the rope being arranged so as to be folded back upon itself, at least twice, and being secured in said folded back arrangement by at least one clamp 26, 30 providing two spaced bight eyes 23, 24, each bight eye facing the nearer eye and further comprising two releasable shackle means 28 each arranged to releasably link one of said eyes to the nearer of the bight eyes to enable anchoring of the thus formed loop at a towing point on a vehicle. The multiple lengths 20 enable a relatively weak rope to be used. <IMAGE>

Description

A TOW ROPE DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a tow rope. In particular, the present invention relates to a tow rope for use in linking two vehicles together, so that one of the vehicles may pull the other.

In the event that a motor car should breakdown or become stuck, for example in a ditch adjacent to a carriageway, a tow rope is often used to link said vehicle to another, unimpeded motor vehicle. The second vehicle is then employed to pull the first, via the intermediate tow rope, perhaps to a repairer or, at least, out from its resting place in the ditch.

Tow ropes are often simple lengths of rope tied between vehicles, although manufactured rigid towing bars are also available. However the latter are expensive, bulky and cannot be used unless the vehicles being linked are provided with towing eyes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tow rope which is inexpensive and easily stored, in the manner of a length of rope, but which may be quickly and easily engaged and disengaged between vehicles in the manner of a towing bar, without the user having to tie and untie knots. The tow rope of the present invention is intended to be useable by ordinary motorists, and commercial vehicle drivers, without the need for skilled assistance.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a tow rope comprising a length of rope having an eye formed in each end part thereof, wherein the rope is arranged so as to be folded back upon itself, at least twice, and is secured in said folded back arrangement by at least one clamp to provide two spaced bight eyes, each bight eye facing the nearer eye and further comprising two releasable shackle means, each arranged to releasably link one of said eyes to the nearer of the bight eyes. The term bight eye is used throughout to define an eye formed in, or secured to a rope between the ends thereof, but not at either end.

When in use, both eyes are linked to their nearer bight eyes and the rope is then in the form of two loops joined by a connecting portion. The bight eyes are preferably located such that the loops are large enough to be placed around substantial members of a vehicle, allowing the tow rope to be used for linking vehicles which do not have towing eyes.

An advantage of the present invention is that, because any strain in the tow rope is transmitted through at least 2 lengths of rope and three between the bight eyes, rope of a lower breaking strain may be used in a tow rope for towing a vehicle of a given weight.

Preferably, the rope is folded back upon itself only twice and the distance between the bight eyes is less than half the distance between each bight eye and the nearer eye.

In an embodiment the eyes are formed by clamping folded over end parts of the rope. Preferably all the clamps are in the form of metal ferrules clamped around adjacent lengths of rope by means of a suitable press.

In an embodiment each releasable shackle means comprises a snap-link or karabiner which, optionally, may be formed integrally with a captive eye which, in turn, may be permanently engaged with either an eye or a bight eye, preferably with a bight eye.

The rope may be formed from natural or synthetic fibres, metal wire or a mixture thereof; preferably the rope is formed from metal wire.

In a preferred embodiment a flexible tubular protective sheath covers a portion of the rope between each bight eye and the nearer eye. The eyes and bight eyes may be reinforced with a metal thimble.

A specific embodiment will now be described, by way of example and with reference to the following drawings: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a tow rope in accordance with the present invention.

The tow rope 20 depicted in figure 1 is formed from approximately 8 metres of steel wire rope having a breaking strain in the order of 20 tonnes. The rope 20 is terminated at each end by first and second eyes 21 and 22. The rope 20 is folded back upon itself twice to from bight eyes 23 and 24. The eyes 21 and 22 are formed by metal ferrules 25 clamped around folded over end parts of the rope 20. The bight eyes 23 and 24 are completed by two metal ferrules 26 and 30 clamped around adjacent portions of the rope next to each bight eye 23 and 24 respectively.

The first bight eye 23 is formed approximately 3 metres from the first eye 21, facing the first eye 21; that is the loop of the bight eye 23 is closer to the first eye 21 than the ferrule 26 holding the bight eye 23 together. The second bight eye 24 is similary located with respect to the second eye 22 and ferrule 30.

Each of the bight eyes 23 and 24 is formed in engagement with an eye 27 of a captive eye karabiner or snaplink 28. The openable portion 35 of each snaplink 28 is dimensioned to be engaged with a respective eye 21 or 22.

In the use, the first eye 21 is passed through the towing eye of the vehicle to be towed and then clipped into engagement with the link 28 on the first bight eye 23. The second eye 22 is passed through the towing eye of the towing vehicle and then clipped into engagement with the link 28 fixed in engagement with the second bight eye 24. The towing vehicle may then tow the first vehicle.

If either vehicle is not equipped with a towing eye the portion of the rope between either eye 21 or 22 and its respective bight eye 23 or 24 may be passed around a suitably strong portion of said vehicle.

In an alternative embodiment a single ferrule is used in place of the ferrules 26 and 30. In such an embodiment the bight eyes are closer together than shown in figure 1, only being separated by the length of the single clamping ferrule, which is similar to one of ferrules 26 or 30.

Claims (12)

1. A tow rope comprising a length of rope having an eye formed in each end part thereof, wherein the rope is arranged so as to be folded back upon itself, at least twice, and is secured in said folded back arrangement by at least one clamp to provide two spaced bight eyes, each bight eye facing the nearer eye and further comprising two releasable shackle means, each arranged to releasably link one of said eyes to the nearer of the bight eyes.

2. A tow rope as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bight eyes are located such that, when both eyes are linked to their nearer bight eyes and the tow rope is in the form of two loops joined by a connecting portion, said loops are large enough to be placed around substantial members of a vehicle, allowing the tow rope to be used for linking vehicles which do not having towing eyes.

3. A tow rope as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the rope is folded back upon itself only twice and the distance between the bight eyes is less than half the distance between each bight eye and the nearer eye.

4. A tow rope as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the eyes are formed by clamping folded over end parts of the rope.

5. A tow rope as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the clamps are in the form of metal ferrules clamped around adjacent lengths of rope by means of a suitable press.

6. A tow rope as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein each releasable shackle means comprises a snap-link karabiner.

7. A tow rope as claimed in claim 6, wherein the snap-link or karabiner is formed integrally with a captive eye.

8. A tow rope as claimed in claim 7, wherein the captive eye is permanently engaged with either an eye, or a bight eye.

9. A tow rope as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the rope is formed from natural or synthetic fibres, metal wire or a mixture thereof; preferably from a metal wire.

10. A tow rope as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible tubular protective sheath covers a portion of the rope between each bight eye and the nearer eye.

11. A tow rope as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the eyes and bight eyes are reinforced with metal thimbles.

12. A tow rope substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.