Elastic anchor rope

Abstract

An anchor rope provided with an elastic core to retract an unloaded watercraft from a beach. The elastic core extends along a major portion of the anchor rope and is attached at its ends to the rope by cords each of which terminates externally of the anchor rope in knotted securement thereto.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains generally to an anchor rope for use with mooring small watercraft as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,911 issued to the present inventor and incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward a rope for the temporary mooring of small watercraft offshore to avoid damage to the boat hull as would otherwise occur due to the hull coming into contact with rocks, sand, etc., when beached.

The elastic anchor rope includes an elastomeric core, which stretches during mooring permitting discharge of persons and items such as on a beach with subsequent retraction of the craft to an offshore location. A bow line permits retraction of the craft to the beach for loading purposes. After long periods of use of the rope it is not uncommon to find that the stands of the braided rope clamped about the elastic core have damaged the core by embedment of rope strands into the core.

The present invention serves to isolate the elastic core from biased engagement with the rope strands.

Further, the present anchor rope dispenses with a metal ring clamped about the rope exterior to attach an elastic core can mar a plastic surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a small watercraft anchored close to shore using an elastic anchor rope:

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the elastic anchor rope disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,911

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the end segment of the anchor rope disclosed in the above noted patent.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of an end segment the present anchor rope with fragments broken away; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the external knot shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of a modified connection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the drawings, reference numeral 15 identifies a segment of a braided anchor rope normally several feet in length. An elastic core at 16 of the rope may be of tubular latex and, in a relaxed state, contracts the rope resulting in the braided rope having an open or expanded cross section housing elastic core 16. The rope main segment is at 15a while rope end segments are typically shown at 15b. The unseen end of rope 15 would be a mirror image of FIG. 4.

With further attention to FIG. 4 elastic core 16 is shown in endwise attachment to braided rope 15 by a cord 17. A ring 19 closed about the end of the elastic core confines the cord end which is enlarged as by a knot 18. Cord 17 extends toward a rope end and passes outwardly at 21 between rope braids for external rope securement to 22 rope 15. Cord attachment to elastic cord 16 may be by a suitable knot as at 18 or a collet at 24 in FIG. 6. The remaining end of cord 17 may be attached to the rope exterior by a nail knot used by sport fishermen to secure a leader to a fly fishing line. The term nail is used as the knot is used in tying a leader to a fly line with a nail used to position the leader. Such a knot results in only a small irregularity in the rope surface. Other knots may be utilized to fix cord 17 about a rope segment. In use, as cord 17 is tensioned, knot 22 is tightened about the braided rope. Such indirect attachment of elastic core 16 to braided rope 15 prevents damage to the elastic core that otherwise occurs if the core is subjected to clamped engagement with the rope strands.

Spreading of the end of the elastic tubing for admission of the knot 18 or collet 24 is by a spreader with multiple arms.

In use as an elastic anchor rope for small watercraft, an anchor is dropped perhaps twenty feet from shore, the watercraft is then momentarily beached for unloading while tethered to the extended anchor rope. Upon unloading the rope automatically retrieves the watercraft to a safe offshore depth adjacent the beach. A bow line to the beach permits retrieval of the watercraft for boarding.

While I have shown but one embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied still otherwise without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.

Claims

1. In a braided anchor rope having an elastic core occupying a major portion of the rope the improvements including attachment means at each end of the core comprising cord segments each attached to an end of the elastic core and terminating externally about the braided anchor rope.

2. The improvement claimed in claim 1 wherein said elastic core is tubular, a second end of each of said cord segments secured respectively within an end of the elastic core.

3. The improvement claimed in claim 2 wherein said second end of each of said cord segments is knotted.

4. The improvement claimed in claim 3 including a clamp about said second end of each of said cord segments.

5. The improvement clamed in claim 1 wherein said cord segments each terminate in knots in place about the braided anchor rope.

6. The improvement claimed in claim 2 wherein said second end of each of said cord segments is fitted with a collet.