GB2259100A

GB2259100A - Rope clip

Info

Publication number: GB2259100A
Application number: GB9118110A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Theophane; Charles Simon Agg; Michael Hamilton Russell
Original assignee: DUCKBILL ANCHORS Ltd
Current assignee: DUCKBILL ANCHORS Ltd
Priority date: 1991-08-22
Filing date: 1991-08-22
Publication date: 1993-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 2011-08-22
Also published as: GB9118110D0; GB2259100B

Abstract

A Y-shaped rope clip, for forming a loop in a rope end, has one arm 17 whose bore 18 receives a rope end secured by arm compression. The other clip arm 19 has bore 20 connecting with slot 21 which also runs along the clip leg. In use, a rope end secured in bore 18 is passed around an object, e.g. a transplanted tree to be guyed, and the cable is placed in slot 21 and pulled until a cable stop (22, Figs. 2, not shown) sits in bore 20. <IMAGE>

Description

CLIPS The invention relates to a clip, which is particularly useful for use with tensioned ropes and cables.

Ropes, cables and the like are used in many applications as guys for anchoring a variety of objects. It is required with respect to a number of anchored objects that the rope, cable or the like is discrete and is held securely under tension. One example is the anchoring of tree transplants which must be anchored securely in an upright position, at low cost, and may be easily installed without damage to the tree or root ball.

One method used to date involves the positioning of earth anchors, having cables attached thereto, about the root ball. The cables are attached at one end to the anchors and their other free ends are looped around the trunk and lower branches of the tree. The ends of the cables are fastened back onto the cable itself by means of unsightly rope grips. The cables are then tensioned to stabilise and anchor the tree. Such rope grips tend to be unsightly and difficult to install.

According to the present invention there is provided a clip comprising a substantially Y-shaped body having first and second arms and a leg means for attaching the first arm of said body to a cable, rope or the like, an axial bore in an end of the second arm of said body and a slot extending along the length of the second arm and the leg for receiving, in use, said cable, rope or the like, which slot communicates with said axial bore where they coincide.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, by way of example only, of a preferred embodiment of the invention, the description being made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a tree anchoring system; FIGS. 2a-d schematically illustrate the steps of installing a tree anchoring system using a clip according to the present invention; FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a clip according to the present invention; FIG. 4 is a front end elevation of the clip of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a sectional side elevation of the clip of FIG. 3 on the line V-V of FIG. 4; and FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the opposite side of the clip to that shown in FIG. 3.

Referring first to FIG. 1 there is shown a tree 10 anchored in an upright position by means of cables 11 fastened to anchors (not shown) embedded within the ground. The cables 11 are secured around the trunk and lower branches of the tree 10, which is protected from damage by means of collars 12 located on the cables 11. The cables 11 are tensioned with tensioning means 13.

The ends of the cables 11 are secured back onto the cables 11 themselves after being looped around the tree 10. The securing means comprise clips 15 which are attached to the loose ends 16 of the cables 11.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, there is illustrated in further detail a clip 15. The clip 15 is generally Y-shaped. One arm 17 of the clip 15 has a bore 18 therein for receiving the loose end 16 of a cable 11 which is secured therein by the compression of the arm 17. Inspection hole 14 is provided for enabling inspection of the positioning of the wire.

The second arm 19 of the clip 15 provides the means for attaching a clip 15 to the cable 11 after it has been looped about the tree 10. The secured arm 19 has an axial bore 20 drilled in the end thereof which extends over a part of the length of the arm 19. Along the entire length of arm 19 is a slot 21 which is of a suitable dimension of receive the cable 11 and which communicates with the bore 20 over the length of the bore 20.

Affixed to the cable 11 at an appropriate point is a stop flange 22 which is of a diameter which fits within the bore 20 in the second arm 19 of the clip 15, but which is larger than the maximum diameter of the slot 21.

In use, the cable is placed about a tree trunk so that it rests in the cleft of a branch. The cable 11 is positioned within the slot 21 of the clip 15 and pulled through until the stop flange 22 sits firmly against the lower end of bore 20. The cable 11 is then attached to the ground anchor and tensioned with the tree in an upright position to firmly anchor it into position.

It will be acknowledged that the clip 15 may be used in many other applications where guys are required under tension which loop about an article to be secured, such as tents, rigging, fencing and other anchoring systems.

By using the clip a neat anchoring system can be achieved which is easy and quick to install at low cost. The anchoring system can be supplied with the clip, stop flange cable and anchor separately or pre-connected.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A clip comprising a substantially Y-shaped body having first and second arms and a leg means for attaching the first arm of said body to a cable, rope or the like, an axial bore in an end of the second arm of said body and a slot extending along the length of the second arm and the leg for receiving, in use, said cable, rope or the like, which slot communicates with said axial bore where they coincide.

2. A clip as claimed in claim 1 further comprised a stop flange having means to secure it, in use, to a cable, rope or the like which has a diameter less than that of the axial bore in the second arm of said body and greater than the maximum radial dimension of the slot.

3. A clip as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the means for attaching the first arm of said body to a cable, rope or the like, comprise an axial bore within the first arm and fixing means for securing the cable, rope or the like therein.

4. An anchoring system comprising a clip as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 secured to one end of a cable, rope or the like.

5. An anchoring system as claimed in claim 4 in which an other end of said cable, rope or the like is attached to anchoring means.

6. A method of an object comprising the steps of looping one end of a cable, rope or the like, to which a clip as claimed in any one of claim 1 to 3 is attached about said object, placing a portion of the cable below the loop within the slot in the surface of the second arm, of said clip, sliding the cable along the slot until a stop flange attached to the cable between the loop and the clip seats against a lower end of the bore in said second arm.

7. A method of anchoring an object as claimed in claim 6 further comprising the step of attaching another end of said cable, rope or the like to an anchor point and tensioning the rope, cable or the like.

8. A clip as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

9. An anchoring system as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.