US2496249A - Line tightener - Google Patents

Description

Jam., a, 3%@ M. E. LAWRENCE 214969249 LINE TGHTENER Filed Jan. 29, 1946 Patented Jan. 3l, 1950 UHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LINE TIGHTENER Marion E. Lawrence, Long Beach, Calif., assignmto Harmon E, Farr, Long Beach, Calif.

Application January 29, 1946, Serial No. 644,075

(Cl. 25d-161) 2 Claims. l

This invention relates to line tightening and holding devices and particularly to an improved device for adjustably tensioning lines, ropes, cables and the like to maintain them taut.

One object of the present invention is to provide a line tensioning and holding device having a rotary Winding member adapted to receive the end of a line and to be readily rotated to wind up the line and apply the desired degree of tension thereto.

Another object is to provide a line tensioning and holding device having automatic means for retaining the rotary member in adjusted position to prevent retrogressive movement thereof and so maintain the line taut.

Another object is to provide a device of ythe type indicated comprising a frame member adapted to be mounted against a line support, a winding member rotatable on said frame and to which an end of a line is secured, and angularly related handles slidably carried by said winding member for rotating the winding member to Wind the line thereon, said handles being adapted to automatically and successively engage said support to prevent reverse rotation of the winding member.

Another object is to provide a device .of the type indicated adapted for fuse in tensioning various types of lines and cables and one which may be mounted in several Ways with Aor without the use of separate fasteningmeans. l

VAnother objectiswto provide a Hdevice of4 the type indicated which mayloe applied -to use with its rotary winding member arranged either horizontally or vertically so 'that lines 'maybe ten'- sioned between vertical posts' or horizontal supiporting arms.

Another object is tol provide adevice of the type indicated which is composed of a minimum number of parts adapted for economical manufacture and convenient' assembly without the use of screws, rivets or other extraneous parts, and one which isA proof against derangement and getting out of order. 4

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the following part of the specification which describes the line tightening and holding device as embodied in a preferred form of construction, by way of example, and as illustrated bythe accompanying drawing. Referring to the drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a line tightening and holding device embodying the novel features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device showing it applied to a wall or other at surface for tensioning a line between the wall and a line support remotely spaced therefrom;

Fig. 3 is a part-sectional front elevational view oi the device showing the means for mounting the rotary line-winding member and indicating the manner in which the end of the line is attached to said winding member; and

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the device, taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, showing the device applied to use in tensioning a line between a tubular support and a point removed therefrom.

In supporting ropes, cables and the like, such as those used for clotheslines, tennis and badminton net lines, arbors and fences, and radio antennae it is desirable to tension said lines to maintain them taut. Various devices have been employed for tensioning such lines, one commonly used type consistingof a manually rotatable drum or reel towhich one end of the line is: attached to be Wound up thereon when the drum is rotated. In such devices a pawl and ratchet means is usually provided for preventing reverse rotation of the drum and sagging of the line. In another similar wind-up device, the winding drum is automatically rotated by means of a helical wind-up spring to maintain the line taut. Such prior line tensioning devices are complicated in construction, being composed of a relatively large number of parts which are subject to wear and breakage.` When such devices are used outof-doors and exposed to the weather their parts soon rust and deteriorate to render the devices unsuitablemior use, MOreOVer, prior devices of these types are unsuited for use with steel cables, such as are used :for radio antennae, electric fences and clotheslines and which require a relatively high degree o f tension to maintain them taut. Furthermore, these devices are limited in use inasmuch as they must be secured to a flat surface and cannot be fastened to circular posts or other line supports having irregular contours. To overcome the faults of these devices, it has been the practice to use turnbuckles for tensioning cables and other lines. While turnbuckles provide eicient means for tightening mostl lines, they occupy space in the line which could otherwise be utilized to advantage and When the line has stretched to a length which cannot be readily taken up by the turnbuckle it is the usual practice to disconnect the turnbuckle from the line, sever a length from the line and again attach the end of the line to the eye of the turnbuckle. A further disadvantage of the conventional clothesline turnbuchles is that they provide, at the most, only several inches of take-up for the line. AS is well known, turnbuckles are located in and form, in eect, a part of the line and thus it is usually necessary to provide screw-eyes or similar fastening means which are fastened to the line supporting structure and to which one end oi the turnbuckle, or a length of cable extending from the turnbuckle, is secured.

The present invention was conceived as a means for obviating the faults of previously used devices. The improved device comprises, in general, a substantially U-shaped frame member adapted for attachment to a line Support and having a base and side members Vprojecting from said base. A cylindrical winding member is rotatably mounted in the side members and employed for winding up and tensioning the line which is attached thereto. One or more handles are sliclably mounted .on the winding member to 'facilitate manual rotation thereof, said handle or 'handles being `adapted to engage against the line support or against means on the frame member to Aretain the winding member in any position of adjustment.

Referring to the drawing, my improved line tightening and holding device comprises a substantially U-s'haped frame member Vhaving a base portion l which 'is Vrecessed on one side to provide spaced upads or eet i and having spaced side ,members or arms S and S 'projecting from the opposite 'side oi the base portion. The base portion ,6 of .the frame .member 5 is provided with a Centrally .disposed rectangular opening lb, and

a kpair 'oi holes ll for receiving vmounting screws or bolts. The side members S and t ofthe frame member ii `have aligned bearing apertures l2 'for rotatably receiving a 'winding member 55.

The winding member t5, which is shown Vmost clearly in Fig. 3, Vcomprises a cylindrical rod or shaft hav-ing 4bearing portions it rotatably mounted in the bearing apertures fl 2 -oi the frame member 5 and having 1a central reduced lportion i7 around 'which the wire cable Aor Aothf-:r line V'|18 is :adapted to be wound. the `winding member iii project llaterally beyond the Aside members '3 and 9 of the frame 5 Vandrone .of the ends t9 is 'enlarged slightly i-n yd-ia-n'ieter, thereby Iproviding a shoulder '2i which `abuts the side member 53 of the trame. A hole 2d extends through `the member :iii rom the reduced portion if? Vto "the lprojecting 4end It at an ang-le -to the axis of the member l5, the "hole serving as the means for attaching 'the lend of `the cable o; ine i3 to the winding member in -a manner to be later explained.

'Holes i 'extend dia-metrically through the pro- 'ecting ends le and 2e -o the member l5, atright angl-es to each other, 'for the purpose oi 'receiving operating rods -or handles 2 and The handles 2i and 23 are dapped or -iattened adjacent their ends, after being inserted through the holes 125, to provide projections 129 for retainingthe handles inplace while permit 'ng sliding :movement theren 'of in the'holes 25. It will be seen by reference to Fig. -3 that the rotar7 winding member Iii is held against axial displacement in 4one direction through the engagement oi its shoulder 'iii which abuts the side member of the trame 5, and against axial Ymaw-ement in the opposite direction -by the handle 2% which is positioned adjacent the side member A3 of the frame.

The improved line holding and tensioning de" vice is applied to use in the manner neX-t ex plained. Assuming that a l-ine or cable isto ex- The lends l .it vof ."f

tend between a post or other support, not herein shown, and the side oi a building or other nat object, represented by the dot-and-dash lines 32 in l and 2, the device may be mounted against the outer surface ci the building and fastened in place by screws 33 passing through the holes il of the base 6 and screwed into the side `o the building. With the device thus secured in place, the end lof the line E is threaded through the hole 25 of the winding member I5 and the end of the line which projects through 'the hole 2Q is preferably left intact for future usebnt, if desired, it may be cut off the line tightened as next explained.

"lowind up ythe 'line I il and apply tension there to, the handles 2l and 32S are successiveiy turned 'to rotate lthe winding mcrnhe.` S5 to cause the line ,to .be wound on its central portion il. It will be observed from the drawing that the distance between the side of the building 32 or other relatively aft support and -the a of the winding member considerably less than the length of `the handles 2l and 28 so Athat each handle kmay 'successively' 'tur-ned 1h/rough approximately 1 e'ty ldegrees to wind a Quarter turn of the line the winding member i5. Stated another way, as each 'handle is turned from -a substantial-ly vertical to a substantiai-ly `hori zonta'l position, l'the other handle 'will -be moved from a substantially horizontal to a substantially vertical position, each 'handle slid-ing its hole 25 to permit such turning movement. As each handle A27 :or Z approaches .a substantially verw tical :position it will slide downward-ly its hole 25 under the innuence foi" fgravlityrso that one ol @the handles vwill always be in a .depending posin 'tion Lto adapt it 4to engage :against the 'wall 32, I.or yother line support, to .prevent reverse rotation :of I:the winding member "i-: .and u2 inding o `:the iline l.

1 illustrates the .line vI8 4attached to the winding member I5 by initially winding it thereon in counter-clockwise direction, lit being wunder# Istood that 'the vother end of vsaid line is suitably joined *to another remotely spaced line support, not herein shown. It will be observed that one handle 21 extends substantially horizontally -f-rom the winding member 'l5 while the other 'handle "2B-extends downwardly from the member in position to cause its lower end to engage against `the wall 32 or other line support to prevent rotation of the ywinding member in clockwise vdirection which 'would cause the lin-e i8 to unwind therefrom. To tension the Iline IB, the handle 23 -is grasped b y lthe Yoperator and `turned through an angle yof approximately ninety degrees to Vwind a quarter turn of the line IS upon the winding member '15 whereupon the other 'handle '21, .which 'has 'been `turned to substantially vertical position willslide .downwardlyiin its bearinghole 25 under the influence nf ,gravity to the `position shown'by full lines inFig. .2. The handle 27 is then used as the means for rotating the winding .member LT. .through the .next ninety degrees .and .as this handle .is lmoved to :a substantially horizontal position .the `otherhandle 2i! will approach a sub- ,stantially vertical position and slide downwardly .inlitsbearing hole 25. Ceiling of the line i8 upon the 'winding member may lhe continued by .alternately turningthe .handles :2J and -28 and .as each .handleiis turned, the ,other handle will be automatically Ymoved into :a `.position wherein its lower end engages the line support 32 to prevent vreverse rotation `rof the member I5 as shown by `the avisame full lines in Fig. i and the dot-and-dash lines 35 in Fig. 2. It is thus seen that the handles Z'l and 28 act automatically and positively to check rotation of the winding member I5 to maintain the propel' tension and prevent unwinding of the line I8. If the line stretches during use it may be tightened by rotating the winding member in the manner above explained. On the other hand, if it is necessary to relieve the tension applied to the line I8 or to remove the line from the winding member l5 the member may be rotated in reverse direction by alternately sliding the handles 2! and 28 upwardly in their bearing holes 25 and turning them in clockwise direction.

When the device is to be used on a tubular line support such as that indicated at 36 in Fig. 4, holes 3T! are drilled through the support and the line 3B, indicated by dot-and-dash lines, threaded through the holes. The 4support 36 may constitute a vertical post or the crossarm of a clothesline support and in either case the line tightening device is placed against the opposite side of the support with its pads 1 engaging the periphery thereof as shown in Fig. 4. The line 38 may then be passed through the rectangular opening it and attached to the winding member I5 in the manner previously explained. .As the member l5 is rotated in counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, the line 38 will be coiled thereon to be tensioned and the handles 2'! and 28 will successively and automatically engage against the periphery of the tubular support 36 as indicated by the dot-and-dash lines 39 in Fig. 4 to prevent reverse rotation of the member and unwinding of the line. It will be noted from the above that when the line tensioning device is applied to use on a tubular line support the tension of the line serves to hold the device in place and thus the employment of screws, bolts or the like is unnecessary. It is also apparent that the frame member 5 will be shifted circumferentially of the tubular line support 38 due to tension in the line 38, as shown in Fig. 4, so that greater supportis provided at the side of the device opposite to the point of winding to counteract the torsional force applied against the handles 2'! and 28 during the winding operation. The device may be used in a similar manner when a line is to be secured to the side wall of a building by first drilling a small hole in the side wall and inserting the line through the hole. The device is then placed against the interior of the side wall and the end of the line attached to the winding member i5, after which the line may be wound on the member by alternately .operating the handles 2l and 28 Vin the manner previously explained. Thus, the line tightening device may be applied to use without the necessity of fastening it in place by means of screws, bolts or the like.

It will be observed from the foregoing that my invention provides an extremely simple, yet highly efficient line tensioning and holding device. The device is composed of a minimum number of parts with the frame member and winding member adapted to be manufactured as die-castings and the operating handles made from rod stock. The parts are assembled without the use of screws. rivets or other extraneous parts liable to become broken to render the device useless. The diecast parts are resistant to rust and corrosion and the operating handles are suitably plated so that the device may be used out-of-doors without danger of rusting. 'Ihe device is exceptionally strong and durable and especially adapted for 6. use in tightening wire cables which are usually subjected to considerable tension to maintain'A them taut, it being noted that the rotative force' applied to the winding member through the operating handles is sufficient to exert considerable pull on the line.

As a particular feature of improvement, the present invention provides a very ecient means for retaining the winding member in adjusted position to prevent reverse movement of the winding member and unwinding of the line therefrom. By utilizing the operating handles for this purpose the necessity of providing complicated pawl and ratchet mechanism or similar rotation checking devices, subject to wear and breakage,`

is entirely avoided. However, it is within the concept of my invention to provide suitable stoplugs or pins on the side arms 8 and 9 of the frame member 5 which are engageable with the handles 2'! and 28 to prevent reverse rotation of the winding member l5. The device is extremely easy to operate and when the line becomes stretched in use, it may be re-tightened by merely turning the operating handles. Thus, it is unnecessary to disconnect the line from the device and cut a length therefrom. Moreover, the device takes up very little of the length of the line when interposed between the line supports and none of the length of line when applied against the reverse side of a line support so that the maximum length of line may be utilized for the purpose for which it is intended. In most cases the device may be installed without screws or other fastening means and thus may be easily and quickly applied to use.

My improved line tightening device may be used as a means for tightening clotheslines, tennis and badminton net lines, the wires of arbore, wire fences, radio antennae, guy wires, and other lines or straps or flexible members wherein a relatively high degree of tension is desirable, and, accordingly, wherever I use the term line herein I intend to cover any such flexible member.

It is also to be noted that the drawing shows a commercial form of my line-tightening device in approximate full size, and that the reduced portion I1 of the winding means l5 in effect constitutes a drum of substantial circumference. This permits a relatively great length of line to be wound thereon, which is an advantage over conventional turnbuckles. For example, several feet of relatively heavy gauge wire may be wound on the winding means l5, to provide sufficient take-up for even relatively long lines of stretchable material, such as soft galvanized wire.

While the improved line-tensioning and holding device has been herein shown and described as embodied in a preferred form of construction by way of example, I do not intend to be limited to the specific disclosure contained herein since.

various changes, modications, and substitutions may be incorporated in the exemplary embodiment disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I hereby reserve the right to all such changes, modifications, and substitutions as properly come within the scope of my appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device for tensioning a line between a line support and a point remote therefrom, comprising: a U-shaped frame member including a mounting portion adapted to be disposed against the line support, and spaced arms projecting from said mounting portion, said arms being provided with circular bearing apertures; a drum menlber rotatable in said apertures Ywith its ends projecting beyond said arms, one of said ends having an enlarged portion, and each of said ends having a diametrieal hole, said drum member having a hole for receiving the end of said line to secure said line thereto; and elongated handle members slidable in said diametrical holes and provided with means for preventing their withdrawal from said diametriea-l holes, said handle members being alternately slid downwardly in the diametrical holes under the influence of gravity during rotation of said drum member to engage against lthe line support to prevent reverse rotation of said drum member, said enlarged portion at one end of said drum member and the handle member at the other end of said drum member being adapted to automatically engage said arms to retain said drum member in said bearing apertures.

2. A device for tensioning a line between a substantially circular line support and a point remote therefrom, comprising: a U-shaped frame member including a mounting portion adapted to be disposed against the line support and having pads engageable against the periphery or" the line support, and spaced arms projecting from said mounting portion, said arms having aligned, circular bearing apertures; a drum member rotatable in said apertures with its ends projecting beyond said arms, one of said ends having a head and each of said ends having a diametrical hole,

said drum member yhaving a hole for receiving the end of said line to secure said line thereto; and elongated handle members slidable in said dia-P metrical holes and provided with proections at their ends for preventing their Withdrawal from said diametrical holes, said handle members being alternately slid downwardly in the diametrical holes under the influence of gravity during rotation of said drum member to automatically engage against the line support to prevent reverse rotation of said drum member, said head at said one of said ends of said drum member engaging against one of said arms to prevent Ylongitudinal movement of said drum member in one direction, and the handle member at the other end of said drum Ymember engaging against the other of said arms to prevent longitudinal movement of said drum member in the opposite direction.

MARION E. LANRENCE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 327,126 Walker Sept. 29, 1885 331,421 Melins Dec. 1,1885 473,899 Berdan May 3, 1892 780,822 Shaw Jan. 24, 199,5

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