Abstract: The invention relates to a self-locking descender wherein the pulley in the form of a cam is equipped with a drive finger cooperating with a mechanism having a transmission rod movable between an active engagement position with the finger to establish a unidirectional mechanical link between the handle and cam when the handle is actuated to an intermediate unlocking position in the course of the descending movement, and an inactive escape position to break said mechanical link after the intermediate position of the handle has been passed, causing disengagement of the pulley and automatic return of the cam to the locking position due to the action of the tension of the rope. The locking effect of the rope is thus preserved after disengagement, without maintaining a force on the handle.

Abstract: An improved self-locking cleat for rope, cable, and the like including a housing, a rotatable generally spherically-shaped engaging member, a biasing means and a positioning means. The housing includes an elongated base, a first passageway generally circular in cross-section and extending transverse to the length of the base. A chamber is formed in the base and is disposed adjacent one side of the first passageway. A length of rope is drawn through the first passageway in either a first or an oppositely directed second direction. The rotatable engaging member is pivotally mounted within the chamber and is positionable at either a first or a second position. The member is biased into the first position by the biasing means and is manually positionable, via the positioning means, into the second position.

Abstract: A cord locking device of this invention comprises a casing having openings respectively at opposite ends and a longitudinal aperture in a front plate, and a slide adapted to be inserted in the casing. The slide has a pair of resilient grip portions extending from opposite sides of a head portion of the slide, and also has a pair of engaging portions each extending from a side surface of the slide between the head portion and a base of each of the grip portions. In order to increase the resilience, the slide further has a resilient portion situated between the grip portions. The slide additionally has a central resilient guide portion situated rearwardly of the head portion in such a manner that the guide portion should project outwardly from an outer surface of the front plate of the casing through the aperture when the slide is inserted in the casing. For locking and unlocking the cord, the slide is slided with the gripping of the grip portions.

Abstract: An apparatus for releasably clamping an elongated flexible member is provided. This clamping apparatus includes body defining at least one passage therethrough. A clamping member is operatively associated with the body member such that a portion of the clamping member can be selectively moved into and out of the passage. Juxtaposed clamping surfaces on the clamping member and the body converge and diverge as the clamping member is moved into and out of the passage. An actuator member extends from the clamping member and is operable for causing the clamping member to move into and out of the passage to engage and disengage the flexible elongated member therein. A locking mechanism is utilized to releasably fix the clamping member in one of a plurality of engaged positions.

Abstract: A readily assemblable and disassemblable tent, awning or canopy structure including tubular beams, rafters and uprights interconnected by slip fit junction fittings in telescope relation with respect to the beams, rafters and uprights, the improvement comprising a hold down channel assembly mounted on the upright member of the slip fit junction fitting, the channel member assembly including a rod pivotally mounted on the lower end of the channel member, a bail ring mounted on said rod, a strip of webbing attached to the tent, awning or canopy top and wrapped around the rod of the bail ring, and a tie down cable connected to the lower end of the bail for anchoring the tent structure to the ground.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cam cleat device for use in gripping rope, lines, or the like. The device includes a base plate having a rope receiving surface portion along and against which the rope travels, a cam pivotally connected to the base plate, and a plurality of protrusions extending generally radially outwardly from the surface of the cam. The protrusions provide an improved bite when in operation so as to prevent rotational as well as translational movement of the rope when gripped.

Abstract: An improved releasable toggle locking mooring hook (10) having a releasable hook (20), toggle linkage (89), a stop/release mechanism (119), a self locking safety latch (126) and a self release mechanism (251) adapted to provide a secure locking mooring hook and a low friction, low effort releasing means while mooring hook is under heavy tensile load. In the mooring of ships, boats and barges to a dock or oil well platform, a line, usually under tension, is run from the ship to a mooring means mounted on the dock or platform. When it is desired that the ship leave this moorage, this mooring means can be actuated manually, mechanically or by a pre-set tensioned self releasing means to release mooring line and thus, allow the ship to sail. This mooring means is identified as a releasable toggle locking mooring hook (10) of this invention.

Abstract: A Patient Positioning Apparatus comprises a hoist and pulley assembly suspended on a frame above a bed, and connectable through adjustable straps and clamping means to a sling which is positioned under the patient. When the rope connected to the hoist and pulleys is actuated by the patient or a person beside the bed, the patient is moved from either the foot of the bed toward the head of the bed or from the side of the bed toward the center of the bed. A rope gripping means is provided to clamp the rope and suspend the patient in an elevated position above the bed.

Abstract: A portable hand held rope cleat has two opposing rope gripping rotatable cams affixed to a tubular handle by two convergent side arms. The size and structure of the device allows for easy and comfortable gripping of jib sheets while trimming sails during boating. The addition of a support brace elevates the user's hand sufficiently to help prevent injury from the rotating cams and from rope burns.

Abstract: An improvement to a cam lock mechanism suitable for use in a wide variety of rope and belt tightening apparatus including boat anchor systems and tree seats and climbing aids to insure the positive engagement of the cam locking device employs a transverse rib which substantially spans the rope receiving gap between the ears on the cam wheel bracket.

Abstract: A mounting clamp particularly suited for mounting medical accessories on support poles comprises a stationary clamping surface which can be attached to an accessory housing. A cam is pivotly mounted on a trunnion connected to the stationary clamping surface has a spiral clamping surface, the stationary clamping surface and spiral clamping surface being positioned to constitute a clamping means when the clamp is in a clamping position. A spring means having one end connected to the trunnion and the other end connected to the cam is provided for biasing the cam to the clamping position. A lever pivotly mounted on the trunnion has a projection which engages the cam and causing it to pivot with the lever when the lever is pivoted to a clamp releasing position. The cam preferably has two spiral surfaces, one generated by a line parallel to the axis of rotation of the cam and the second cam surface by a line forming an angle with the axis of rotation of the cam.

Abstract: A cam cleat having opposed rotatable rope-gripping cams can be remotely operated by the action of the free end of the rope on an open rope-engaging face of a cam actuating arm, there being a rope-restraining lip overlying the rope-engaging face of the arm.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus for releasably clamping a cable or line (6), comprising a housing (1), a clamping lever (3) which is mounted rotatably thereon (at 7) and two clamping surfaces (2, 8) of which the first is arranged on the housing (1) and the second is arranged on the clamping lever (3) and between which the cable or line (6) passes. The cable is also passed around at least one direction-changing means (8-10), the clamping lever (3) being designed for a lever ratio b/a such that at most the coefficient of friction .mu. is attained at the frictional location.

Abstract: A cam cleat includes a pair of spring loaded cams or pawls rotatably mounted on a base. The cams have specially formed teeth and open and close in opposite rotary directions to releasably grip a line therebetween. The cams or pawls are rotatably mounted on a shaft and the case by a plurality of rotatable bearings to substantially reduce the effort required in opening and closing the cams and to reduce the spring force maintained on the cams, resulting in substantial advantages in performance. An alternate single cam version is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cleat formed with an improved rope-engaging surface adapted to facilitate the engagement of a rope and its subsequent release from the cleat. The rope-engaging surface is formed with a first stage raked and slanted teeth structure that tends to be self-feeding for engagement of the rope by the cleat. A second stage raked and slanted teeth structure tends to hold the rope secure within the cleat and also facilitates release of the rope from the cleat. The first and second stage teeth structures are joined by a transitional, curved teeth structure that permits continuous feeding into or release of the rope from the cleat. The teeth structure defined is useful in all types of cleats such as cam cleats, fixed jaw jam cleats, and sliding jaw jam cleats.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a clasp for gripping free end portions of a strap to maintain a loop thereof tightly engaged around an object, such as a portion of the human body, the clasp including upper and lower casing halves with means for releasably securing the casing halves in superposed relationship to each other to define a passage therebetween through which free end portions of a strap may pass, a clamping lever pivotally carried by the clasp to present one end portion lying at the loop end of the passage whereby to be forceably engaged by the loop when tight so that the other end of the clamping lever clamps the free end portions of the strap between it and one of the casing halves, and the lower casing half having a bridge-like cross bar lying transversely within the passage.

Abstract: A device for gripping an elongated flexible element, such as a flexible belt, and including a first member, an actuating member mounted to swing relative to the first member between locking and released positions, and a locking member connected to the actuating member for swinging movement therewith and acting in the locking position to clamp the elongated element against a gripping portion of the first member in a relation retaining the elongated element against longitudinal movement, with said locking member being free for limited pivotal movement relative to the actuating member in a relation acting to progressively tighten the grip on said elongated element as a result of said pivotal movement of the locking member relative to the actuating member when the latter is in its locking position.

Abstract: A skid-resisting chain adapted to be attached to and removed from the tires of a vehicle with a minimum of effort to provide improved traction in snow, ice, mud or other slippery road conditions. The attachment-detachment means comprises a flexible metal cable adapted to tie the tire chain around the tire and wheel and a biased cam gripping means adapted to frictionally-engage the end of the cable in a manner which provides increased locking action when a withdrawal force is applied to the cable and yet permits easy release when a tightening force or a detachment force is applied to the cable.

Abstract: A rope lock intended for preventing a rope (13) inserted therein from being moved in a certain direction therethrough by a pulling force in the rope. The lock is primarily intended for use as a sheet lock or a winch unloading lock on sailing boats. The lock has an abutment (4), an operating member (6) arranged pivotable about a first pin (7) in relation to the abutment and a locking member (10) arranged pivotable about a second pin (11) relative to the abutment. The locking member has a thrust portion (12) which forces the rope towards the abutment with a thrusting force in the active position, but not in the inactive position. The locking member also has a contact portion (14) for generating at least a portion of this thrust force. The lock is taken between active position and inactive position by pivoting the operating member.

Abstract: A cam cleat designed to secure sheets, halyards, lines etc. introduced into it on boats. The cam cleat includes two parts moving respectively, towards and away from each other, the faces of these parts which face each other being serrated, and these parts being so designed that they adopt a fixed position and a free position and are so pivoted that when they rotate in the same direction they either move towards each other or away from each other. These parts are spring-loaded in such a way that the first of the parts strives to adopt the free position and the other of these parts strives to adopt the fixed position. Further, the first of these parts can be locked in the fixed position by an eccentric control device. The first part is pivoted about a point in such a way that when rotated from the fixed position to the free position its serrations tend to detension a line in the cam cleat.

Abstract: A device for rapidly securing and releasing a helicopter is provided. The vice effects positive haul down of an aircraft from a landing attitude above a landing pad aboard ship to a predetermined landing position on the pad, among other uses, through a plurality of rotatable spring-loaded over-center dogs clamped onto the free end of a haul-down cable and a sliding, cylindrical spring-loaded latching device which maintains the dogs in clamped relationship with the haul-down cable. The haul-down cable is instantly released upon freeing of the dogs.

Abstract: A rope holding device including an improved cam cleat useful on a sailboat for maintaining sail ropes taut. The improved cam cleat contains two cam-type jaws to grip the rope, one of which has a serrated or tooth-like surface for gripping, while the other has a smooth gripping surface which permits easy rotation of the smooth cam member to the release position. The smooth cam member has an arcuate face with a radius of curvature for the gripping surface substantially greater than the smooth face of the release surface adjacent it. Consequently, when the smooth release cam is pivoted so that the retained rope is slipped from the smooth gripping surface to the smooth release surface, the rope is automatically released without the need for the operator to exert a force on the rope to pull it away from the cam cleat as is usually done.

Abstract: In a block for a rope or sheet: a pulley over which the rope moves, an eccentric cam which is pivotable to selectively clamp or release the rope against the pulley and a pivotably lever to which the cam is connected such that motion of the lever pivots the cam between its clamping and releasing position; bearing means to enable pivoting of the lever away from the cam clamping position; a spring to at least return the cam to its clamping position.

Abstract: A safety clamp slidably mounted on a vertical safety carrier, such as a cable or rod, in proximity to a ladder is attached to a workman's belt by a pivotal actuating arm which shifts a wedge plate into clamping engagement with the safety carrier immediately under free-fall conditions encountered if the workman falls from the ladder. Instantaneous actuation of the wedge plate into clamping engagement with the safety carrier in response to the slightest pivotal movement of the actuating arm towards its closing position is provided by cam action exerted against the wedge plate by the actuating arm and by a cam member on the clamping bracket. Cam follower and guide surfaces on the upper end of the wedge plate cooperate with camming action of the actuating arm against the lower end of the wedge plate to maintain the wedge plate in an upright position of uniform contact with the safety carrier.

Abstract: In a box, open at least at one end, is a drum cam, into each end of which is secured a stub shaft from the hub of a hand lever; the hub of a hand lever; the hubs being journaled in opposite side walls of the box; the hand levers being outside the box for turning the cam manually to release the webbing; cross-sectionally the cam is a substantially diagonal cam, the opposite projections or apices of which are rounded and spaced apart to a distance equal to or greater than the height of the box; smooth gripping surfaces adjacent the respective projections are diagonally spaced apart to leave a clearance less than the thickness of the webbing to be clamping against the top and bottom of the box when tension on the webbing around the cam urges the projections toward said top and bottom; a light multiple ribbon spring between an end wall of the box and the cam urges the webbing against the surface of the cam with light pressure; a pin spaced from the cam anchors the end of the webbing, so that the webbing extends f

Abstract: A cord locking device for blinds or the like having a housing adapted to be secured above a window frame or the like and a wheel rotatable mounted in the housing for receiving thereover a pair of cords connected to the blinds. The device includes clamping means which moves into clamping engagement with the cords thereby clamping the cords in a locked position. The device also includes built-in guide means for guiding the cords into locking position.