WO1992005371A1

WO1992005371A1 - Manually operable fastener

Info

Publication number: WO1992005371A1
Application number: PCT/GB1991/001522
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roy Wallace Henderson
Original assignee: Abbicoil Springs Limited
Priority date: 1990-09-13
Filing date: 1991-09-06
Publication date: 1992-04-02
Also published as: GB9020050D0; AU8504491A

Abstract

A releasable fastener (10, 100) is described for releaseable attachment of ropes (40) and the like to anchorages. Such fasteners (10, 100) may be used in the rigging of yachts or as part of safety harnesses. The described fastener (10, 100) may be attached and released by the use of a single hand, is adapted to prevent unintentional detachment and comprises a first leg member (12, 112) with an attached hook means (24, 124) and a second leg member (14, 114) with an attached keeper means (32, 132), the hook (24, 124) and keeper means (32, 132) along with three transverse members (16, 17, 28), forming a closed loop (34) when the fastener (10, 100) is in a closed state, the leg members (12, 112; 14, 114) being resiliently movable towards one another so as to open the loop (34) and so the fastener (10, 100), wherein the transverse members (16, 17, 28) form a recessed portion which, when the loop (34) is closed, forms a channel means (60, 160) arranged to receive a locking member (rope 40) to prevent relative movement between the leg members (12, 112) sufficient to open the loop (34).

Description

MANUALLY OPERABLE FASTENER

The present invention relates to manually operable fasteners and in particular, but not exclusively, to a manually operable fastener for releasable attachment of a rope or strap to an anchorage or the like.

There are currently available many different designs of releasable fastener for releasable attachment of ropes to anchorages. Such fasteners have found use for anchoring ropes in a wide variety of applications, including sailing where they are widely used in the rigging of yachts and dinghies. In addition, many types of safety harness for use in hazardous situations incorporate quick action fasteners to enable the wearer to secure himself safely to a suitable anchorage. Typical situations in which such safety harnesses are used include scuba diving, mountaineering, yachting, and direction of or work on scaffolding, particularly for high buildings.

When using such fasteners, it is imperative that the fastener is prevented from accidentally opening and thereby becoming undesirably released from the anchorage. Many conventional fasteners provide security against such accidental release by the provision of a captive nut as in the case of link shackles.

Such known locking means result in a more complicated design of fastener and also often require the use of two hands to lock and/or unlock the fastener.

A gripping device formed from a single length of wire for releasably holding such things as ropes and cords is described in US-A-1526787.

A compact manually operable fastener which can be operated with one hand and is formed from a single length of wire is described in EP-A-0202121.

It would be advantageous if a manually operable fastener could be provided which includes the security of locking means so as to prevent accidental opening of the fastener, which locking means can be simply formed on the fastener, operated by one hand and maintained in a locking state due to loading of the fastener.

The present invention seeks to provide a manually operable fastener which exhibits at least some of the above advantages.

According to the present invention, there is provided a manually operable fastener comprising a first leg member and a second leg member spaced from the first leg member, a first transverse member extending from a first end of the first leg member and towards the second leg member and having a portion disposed between and in juxtaposition with corresponding portions of second and third transverse members, said second transverse member extending from a first end of the second leg member and towards the first leg member, hook means attached by way of one of the transverse members to one of said leg members and keeper means attached by way of another of the transverse members to the other of said leg members, the hook and keeper means, along with said corresponding portions of the transverse members, forming a closed loop when the fastener is in a closed state, the first ends of the leg members being resiliently movable towards one another so as to open the loop and so the fastener, wherein the corresponding portions of the first, second and third transverse members each includes a recessed portion which, when the loop is closed, are in alignment so as to form channel means arranged to receive a locking member to prevent relative movement between the leg members sufficient to open the loop.

Preferably, the leg members are arranged to be held in, and moved by, one. hand so that the fastener can advantageously be held in the palm of the hand. Advantageously, the fastener is arranged to receive rope means or strap or webbing means for anchorage thereof. In particular, a portion of the rope, strap or webbing means may comprise the locking member. According to a particular, advantageous feature of the present invention, the rope, strap or webbing means may be arranged to move into the channel means upon loading of the fastener.

The leg members, transverse members, hook means and keeper means may each, separately or in combination, be formed of metal wire and the leg members may be formed of a unitary piece of wire which is bent so as to form a coil at an intermediate region between the two leg members. Further, the fastener of the present invention may be formed of a single piece of metal wire, appropriately formed into the required shape.

The fastener may be provided in a generally triangular form so as to be readily hand held.

Further, the present invention also provides a safety harness having a manually operable fastener means as outlined above.

In another aspect the invention provides a safety harness comprising a manually operable fastener and an elongate flexible member selected from a cord, rope, or strap or a length of webbing, the manually operable fastener comprising a length of wire including a first leg member, a coil portion at an intermediate region between the two leg members, a first transverse member extending from a first end of the first leg member and towards the second leg member and having a portion disposed between and in juxtaposition with corresponding portions of second and third transverse members, said second transverse member extending from a first end of the second leg member and towards the first leg member, hook means attached by way of one of the transverse members to one of said leg members, and keeper means attached by way of another of the transverse members to the other of said leg members, the hook and keeper means, along with said corresponding portions of the transverse members, forming a closed loop when the fastener is in a closed state, the first ends of the leg members being resiliently movable towards one another so as to open the loop and so the fastener, wherein the corresponding portions of the first, second and third transverse members each include a recessed portion which, when the loop is closed, are in alignment so as to form channel means arranged to receive a portion of the elongate member to prevent relative movement between the leg members sufficient to open the loop, and the elongate member passing through the coil portion, through the closed loop and back through the coil portion.

Thus, according to the present invention, a particular advantage can be provided in that, upon loading the fastener, the locking member is thereby retained in the channel means so as to prevent relative movement between the leg members sufficient to open the loop of the fastener.

The invention is described further hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompany drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a manually operable fastener embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the fastener of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the fastener of Fig. 1 in an open state;

Fig. 4A is a plan view of a boss for use in a fastener embodying the present invention;

Fig. 4B is a cross-section through the line X-X of Fig. 4A;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of another fastener embodying the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a part-view of a further fastener embodying the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the fastener of Fig. 1 with the boss of Figs. 4A and 4B in place; and

Fig. 8 is a front view of the fastener of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, a manually operable quick action rope fastener 10 is formed from a single length of stainless steel wire which has been bent into a substantially flat shape. Suitable forms of stainless steel include types 302S26 (formerly also known as EN58A) and 316S42 (formerly also known as EN58J) as described in British Standard No. 2056 revised in 1983. The unitary piece of wire forming the fastener 10 has ends 36, 38 and is formed into a substantially flat triangular shape having curved side portions for ready manipulation by the hand. The fastener 10 is illustrated in Fig. 1 in its normally closed state whereby a loop 34 is arranged to be located around an anchorage point (not shown) as required. A length of rope 40 is looped through the fastener 10 shown in Fig. 2 and can thereby be secured to the anchorage point by means of the fastener 10.

The fastener 10 comprises a first leg member 12 and a second leg member 14 forming opposite sides of the triangle and extending away from a coil portion 18 which enhances the resilience of the leg members when moved relatively towards one another as is required to open the fastener. The ends of the leg members 12, 14 remote from the coil portion 18 extend, by way of respective bend portions 20, 22, to form a first transverse member 16 and a second transverse member 17 respectively. The first 16 and second 17 transverse members extend from their respective leg members towards each other and have portions in juxtaposition. These juxtaposed portions 42, 44, 46, 48 of the first 16 and second 17 transverse members are provided with U-shaped portions which, when the fastener is in a closed state as illustrated in Fig. 1, form a channel portion 60 for receiving a locking member. According to the illustrated example, the locking member comprises a portion of the rope 40 attached to the fastener.

The upper side regions of the U-shaped portions forming the channel 60 comprise shoulder portions 61, 63 which form a narrow neck to the channel 60 which acts to retain the locking member in the channel once located therein.

A hook portion 24 is attached by way of a shank portion 26 to the first transverse member 16 so as to be outwardly extending therefrom. A keeper portion 32 extends from the second transverse member 17 and is arranged to co-operate with a retrousse tip 30 of a bend portion 28 of the hook portion 24 so as to from part of the closed loop 34 of the fastener 10. Advantageously, so as to enhance the strength of the fastener, the hook portion 24 is arranged to form a semi-circle about the anchorage (not shown) such that the hook only engages the upper half of the anchorage and does not engage below a horizontal diametric line thereof.

The retrousse tip 30 is spaced from the upper portion of the keeper 32 by an amount indicated by arrows A of Fig. 2. As such, when the fastener is loaded, the hook portion is resiliently deformed and the tip 30 contacts the keeper 32 before exceeding its elastic limit. Thus, under heavy loads, the keeper 32 helps maintain the loop in a closed state such that upon releasing the load, the resilience of the material forming the hook 24 returns it to the position indicated in Fig. 2.

A portion of the wire between the second end 38 and the first transverse member 16 is arranged to form a retainer portion 58 within which the rope 40 is retained so that it remains in the region of the channel 60.

The front view of the fastener 10 as provided by Fig. 2, shows the form of the first transverse member 16, second transverse member 17, keeper portion 32 and hook portion 24 in greater detail. Also, the rope 40, which extends from the retainer portion 58 and through the eye of the coil portion 18 is also further illustrated.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the hook portion 24 is formed by a hair-pin bend portion of the wire having two parallel shanks 50, 52 separated by the bent portion forming the retrousse tip 30. The keeper portion 32 is formed of shanks 54, 56 separated by a bent portion whose lateral dimension, as viewed in Fig. 2, is greater than that of the hook portion 24 such that the retrousse tip 30 is readily received in the keeper portion 32.

The operation of the fastener of the present invention is illustrated with particular reference to Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 illustrates the fastener 10 in an open state so as to be released from, or engaged with, an anchorage as required. Opening of the loop 34, and thus the fastener 10, is effected by movement of the first 12 and second 14 leg members relatively toward each other as indicated by arrows B. Such movement separates the hook portion 24 from the keeper portion 32 thereby opening the loop 34. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the relative movement of the first 12 and second 14 leg members causes relative movement between the first 16 and second 17 transverse members which in turn moves the U-shaped portions 42, 44, 46, 48 of each transverse member 16, 17 out of alignment.

Once the fastener 10 is anchored and it is desired to prevent accidental release of the fastener, the portion of the rope 40 located above the U-shaped region 60 is moved downwardly as indicated by arrow C in Fig. 1 and into the channel 60. This portion of the rope 40 acts as a key member which maintains the U-shaped portions 42, 48 of the transverse members 16, 17 substantially in alignment and therefore prevents the relative movement indicated by arrows B in Fig. 3, thereby preventing the fastener from opening.

As will be seen with particular reference to Fig. 2, a portion of the rope 40 can be caused to enter the channel 60 merely by loading the fastener. By maintaining the load on the fastener that portion of the portion of the rope 40 is maintained in the channel 60 and thereby prevents the fastener 10 from opening whilst loaded. In order to open the fastener, it is merely necessary to move that portion of the rope 40 out of the channel 60 so as to allow for relative movement of the first 12 and second 14 leg member as indicated in Fig. 3.

Figs. 4A and Fig. 4B illustrate a further feature which can be particularly advantageously incorporated into the fastener of the invention. Such a feature comprises a boss 62 arranged to be received in the coil portion 18 of the wire and so which has circular dimensions similar thereto. In particular, the boss 62 comprises a disc shaped body 64, having a bore 68 extending radially therethrough and having arcuate flanges 66 extending around the periphery of the body 64 and between the openings of the bore 68. The flanges 66 are such that they act as a screw thread to the boss 62 which can thereby be twisted into secure location in the coil portion 18. Such insertion of the boss 62 into the coil 18 acts to separate the wire portions of the coil so that the rope 40 extends and engages therebetween. The bore 68 of the boss 62 provides a friction fit to the rope 40 which increases the locking security of the rope in the channel 60 and also prevent lateral movement of the rope relative to the fastener, which movement would be particularly disadvantageous. Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate the fastener 10 with the boss 62 in place and the rope 40 in the locking position in the channel 60. Also, the fastener of Figs. 7 and 8 illustrates a hard plastic coating or sheath 76 which may be provided on the hook member 24 for enhancing the strength thereof.

Fig. 5 illustrates another fastener which is arranged for use with a strap or webbing and, as such, possesses a rectilinear base to the channel 160. Fig. 5 also illustrates a feature which can be included in the fastener of Fig. 1, and others, in that the shaft of the hook member 124 has a bend in it 121 so as to enhance the movement and engagement between the retrousse tip 130 and keeper 132 within the wire material's elastic limit. This occurs due to the geometry of the bend 121 and straight portions of the shaft 120 on either side which dictates that minor deformation at the bend 121 provides a relatively larger magnitude of movement at the retrousse tip 130 towards, and away from, the keeper 132. Thus, engagement between the tip 130 and keeper 132 is achieved with only minor deformation of the curved portion 120. The shaft 122 of the keeper 132 also possess a bend 123 for this reason.

Fig. 6 illustrates, in part, another fastener in which the rope 40 is secured, by a friction fit, in a toggle 74 which is biased away from the base 72 of the coil 18 of the fastener 10 by means of a compression spring 70 or other resilient member. As such, the bias of the spring 70 acts so as to retain the rope 40 in a locking position in the channel 60 of the fastener 10.

Fasteners of this type are useful for safety harnesses which are for use in the building industry when it is desired to use scaffolding poles, a girder or I-section beams as an anchorage.

Indeed, the invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment. For example, the leg members can be provided in any suitable resiliently relatively movable form so as to facilitate one-handed operation whereby loading of the fastener acts so as to enhance the locking action of the fastener.

Claims

1. A manually operable fastener comprising a first leg member and a second leg member spaced from the first leg member, a first transverse member extending from a first end of the first leg member and towards the second leg member and having a portion disposed between and in juxtaposition with corresponding portions of second and third transverse members, said second transverse member extending from a first end of the second leg member and towards the first leg member, hook means attached by way of one of the transverse members to one of said leg members, and keeper means attached by way of another of the transverse members to the other of said leg members, the hook and keeper means, along with said corresponding portions of the transverse members, forming a closed loop when the fastener is in a closed state, the first ends of the leg members being resiliently movable towards one another so as to open the loop and so the fastener, wherein the corresponding portions of the first, second and third transverse members each include a recessed portion which, when the loop is closed, are in alignment so as to form channel means arranged to receive a locking member to prevent relative movement between the leg members sufficient to open the loop.

2. A fastener according to claim 1, wherein said leg members comprise a unitary piece of wire bent so as to form a coil at an intermediate region between the two leg members.

3. A fastener according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said fastener is formed of a single piece of metal wire.

4. A fastener according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said locking member comprises a portion of rope, strap or webbing.

5. A fastener according to claim 4, wherein the rope, strap or webbing is arranged to move into said channel means upon loading of the fastener.

6. A fastener according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the leg members are arranged to be held in, and moved by, one hand.

7. A astener according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said fastener is in a generally triangular form.

8. A fastener according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, upon loading said fastener, the locking member is thereby retained in the channel means so as to prevent relative movement between the leg members sufficient to open the loop of the fastener.

9. A fastener according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said locking means comprises a rope and wherein there is further provided retaining means for retaining the rope in association with the fastener.

10. A fastener according to claim 9, wherein said retaining means comprises a spring loaded toggle.

11. A fastener according to claim 10, wherein said retaining means comprises a boss having a bore therethrough wherein the rope is a friction fit.

12. A fastener according to claim 11, wherein said leg members comprise a unitary piece of wire which is bent to form a coil at an intermediate region between the two leg members, wherein said boss has a diameter which can fit within the coil and is provided with peripheral arcuate flanges defining a screw thread to permit the boss to be twisted into secure location in the coil.

13. A fastener according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the bore in the boss is adapted to accommodate two portions of the rope separated by an intermediate portion of the rope for engagement with said recessed portions of said first, second and third transverse members.

14. The combination of a fastener according to any one of the preceding claims with a rope, strap or webbing.

15. A safety harness comprising a fastener according to any one of claims 1 to 13 and a locking member selected from a rope, a strap, and a length of webbing, the locking member being arranged to pass through said closed loop in or in proximity to said recessed portions of said first, second and third transverse members.

16. A safety harness comprising a manually operable fastener and an elongate flexible member selected from a cord, rope, or strap or a length of webbing, the manually operable fastener comprising a length of wire including a first leg member, a coil portion at an intermediate region between the two leg members, a first transverse member extending from a first end of the first leg member and towards the second leg member and having a portion disposed between and in juxtaposition with corresponding portions of second and third transverse members, said second transverse member extending from a first end of the second leg member and towards the first leg member, hook means attached by way of one of the transverse members to one of said leg members, and keeper means attached by way of another of the transverse members to the other of said leg members, the hook and keeper means, along with said corresponding portions of the transverse members, forming a closed loop when the fastener is in a closed state, the first ends of the leg members being resiliently movable towards one another so as to open the loop and so the fastener, wherein the corresponding portions of the first, second and third transverse members each include a recessed portion which, when the loop is closed, are in alignment so as to form channel means arranged to receive a portion of the elongate member to prevent relative movement between the leg members sufficient to open the loop, and the elongate member passing through the coil portion, through the closed loop and back through the coil portion.