Cord Tensioning Device
This cord tensioning device allows for the easy attachment of an item needing to be secured, such as a tent or tarp to various types of anchor points without the ability to tie knots. The device includes: a body portion having a major surface said body portion having a distal section and a proximal section; at least two openings dimensioned to receive a cord, one of said openings located in the proximity the proximal section and the other of said openings located in proximity of the distal section. The proximal section further includes a head section and two arm sections and a slot between each of the head and arm sections. The slots are sized to be smaller than the interior shoulder portion and will frictionally hold a cord within the slot.
Current cord tensioning devices do not provide a means to organize the cord when the attached item (tent/tarp) is being taken down and stored. Un-organized cords often lead to the cord becoming tangled, requiring extra time and effort to set up the item attached (tent/tarp).
Most cord tensioning devices have limited functionality in the field and cannot be used with an anchor point that is accessible such as a tent peg, as well as, an anchor point that is NOT accessible such as tree trunk.
Also current cord tensioning devices are not intuitive and can be difficult to use. The user is required to remember multiple mechanical step and often resulting in confusion and extended set-up time.
No cord tensioning devise combines the functions described above to benefit the user by: reducing set-up time, providing multiple options for set-up, and being easy to remember how to use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOne object of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the known art described above and to achieve one or more of the objectives described above. The foregoing and further objects of the invention are accomplished according to one aspect of the invention provides a cord tensioning device that includes: a body portion having a major surface said body portion having a distal section and a proximal section; at least two openings dimensioned to receive a cord, one of said openings located in the proximity the proximal section and the other of said openings located in proximity of the distal section. The proximal section further includes a head section and two arm sections and a slot between each of the head and arm sections, the slots being smaller than the interior shoulder portion thereof and being adapted to frictionally hold a cord within the slot. In a preferred embodiment, the device is animal-shaped.
According to another aspect of the invention, there has been provided a combination cord tensioning device described above and a cord sized to be used with the cord tensioning device.
According to another aspect of the invention, there has been provided a method of organizing a cord on a cord tensioning device comprising: providing cord tensioning device described above, wherein the distal section further comprises two leg sections and a tail section; providing a cord having a first end extending from one side of the device through the proximal end opening, along the axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end, and through the distal end opening; wrapping the portion of the cord extending away from the proximal opening around the body portion of the device until substantially all of the cord has been wrapped and a segment remains unwrapped; bringing the segment under one of the legs between the legs and tail section and up to the proximal section, through one of the slots, across the head section and through the other slot.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, there has been provided, a method of anchoring an item to be secured to an anchor point, comprising: providing a cord tensioning device as described above; providing a cord having a first end extending from one side of the device through the proximal end opening, along the axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end, and through the distal end opening; securing the first end to the rear of the device to prevent the first end from passing back through the distal opening; attaching the other end of the cord to an item to be secured; pulling the portion of the cord that extends between the two openings to form a loop; extending the loop over a free end of an anchor; moving the device relative to the cord in a direction toward the item to be secured to tension the cord, whereby when the cord is tensioned the portion of the cord that passes through the proximal opening is kinked and forced to contact the edges of the opening, wherein the friction between the cord and the edges of the opening maintains the cord under tension.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, there has been provided, a method of anchoring an item to be secured to an anchor point, comprising: providing a cord tensioning device as described above, a body portion having a major surface, said body portion having a distal section and a proximal section, two openings dimensioned to receive a cord, one of said openings located in the proximity the proximal section and the other of said openings located in proximity of the distal section, said proximal section further comprising a head section and two arm sections and a slot between each of the head and arm sections, the slots being smaller than the interior shoulder portion thereof and being adapted to frictionally hold a cord within the slot; providing a cord having a first end extending from one side of the device through the proximal end opening; securing the first end to the rear of the device to prevent the first end from passing back through the proximal opening; attaching the other end of the cord to an item to be secured; wrapping the device and first end of the cord around an anchor point and extending the device and first end back toward the item to be secured; inserting the portion of the cord that extends between the item to be secured and the anchor point into each of the slots through the shoulder portion, whereby the portion of the cord between the slots extends across the head section; and tensioning the cord before or after insertion into the slots, whereby when the cord is tensioned the portion of the cord that passes through the slots and across the head section is kinked and forced to contact the edges of the slots, wherein the friction between the cord and the edges of the slots maintains the cord under tension.
Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from detailed consideration of the preferred embodiments that follow.
One aspect of the present invention provides a cord tensioning device. The cord that can be used in the cord tensioning device can include natural or synthetic rope or twine. Preferably, the cord is lightweight nylon kernmantle rope, commonly called parachute cord. The cord can also be a monofilament line. The cord can be sized to meet the use at hand as well as the size of the cord tensioner. A preferred dimension of the cord is in the range of 1-3 mm, preferably 1.5-1.9 mm, most preferably 1.7 mm.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in
For those embodiments that include a cord organizing feature, the cord tensioner will also include leg sections 11 and tail section 12, extending from the distal end of the body portion. The function of tail and legs will become apparent from the description of the use of the tensioner below.
Preferably, the major surface 3 of tensioner has a curvilinear shape 10 as shown in
The side portions of the device as formed by the arms, body portion and legs can be curved inwardly, as shown by reference numeral 14 in
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the tensioner can be in the shape of an animal. A particularly preferred shape is a bear-like shape. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, the animal shape serves a surprising and useful purpose of facilitating usage by making instructions for use easier to remember as will be described in more detail below.
The tensioner can be made from any suitable material, particularly those materials that will be able to maintain the cord in a kink when the cord is tensioned in the device as described above. Suitable materials can include plastic and metals, such as aluminum, steel and titanium. A particularly preferred material is titanium, because of its light weight, ideal for hiking and backpacking activities where minimal weight is highly sought after. The tensioner is sized to meet the cord that will be used with the tensioner. In a preferred embodiment, the major surface has dimensions of approximately 1 inch×1.25 inches.
According to one aspect of the invention, the cord tensioner can also be used to organize a cord in addition to tensioning cords. A preferred method of organizing a cord is shown in connection with
According to another aspect of the invention, the cord tensioner can be used to provide an easily adjustable length of cord to secure two items together, preferably an anchor (fixed or otherwise) and an object to be secured. Since camping is one activity in which the cord tensioner is often used, the item to be secured is often a tent, tarp, etc. Likewise, the anchor will often be a stake, rock or tree. However, any item to be secured can be used as can any anchor capable of securing the item. Other possible uses can be wherever ropes or cords are used to secure items, such as nautical, household, etc.
A loop 20, also called a belly loop, is formed by pulling the portion of the cord that extends between the two openings 4, 5. The loop 20 is extended over a free end of an anchor 25. The device is moved relative to the cord in a direction toward the item to be secured to tension the cord. When the cord reaches its desired length and is under tension, the device is allowed to assume an approximately parallel configuration relative to the cord. This forces the cord to pass through the proximal opening 4 in a kinked configuration 21. In other words, the cord, which is approximately parallel to the major surface 3, is forced through the opening in an approximately perpendicular configuration. This shift from parallel to perpendicular back to parallel forms the kink in the cord. The tension on the cord forces the cord against the edges of opening 4. The friction between the cord and the opening hold maintains the cord under tension and thus maintaining the item fixed relative to the anchor.
To adjust the length of the cord, the device can be slide along the length of the cord, preferably by removing some tension in the kink 21 to lower the frictional force holding the cord in place relative to the device. To reduce the tension in the kink, the device or the cord is manipulated in a direction that reduces the curvature of the cord as it passes the proximal opening 4.
The device 1 and the first end of the cord 16 are wrapped around an anchor point. After wrapping, the cord and device are back toward the item to be secured 24. The portion of the cord 22 that extends between the item to be secured and the anchor point is inserted into each of the slots 8 through the shoulder portion 9. This results in the portion of the cord between the slots 23 extending across the head section. When the cord reaches its desired length and is under tension, the device is in an approximately parallel configuration relative to the cord. This forces the cord to pass under the arms 7 through slots 8 and across head section 6 in a kinked configuration 21. In other words, the cord, which is approximately parallel to the major surface 3, is forced through the slots in an approximately perpendicular configuration. This shift from parallel to perpendicular back to parallel forms the kink in the cord. The tension on the cord forces the cord against the edges of slot 8. The friction between the cord and the opening hold maintains the cord under tension and thus maintaining the item fixed relative to the anchor.
To adjust the length of the cord, the device can be slide along the length of the cord, preferably by removing some tension in the kink 21 to lower the frictional force holding the cord in place relative to the device.
The cord tensioner can be made by techniques well know in the art. For example, if the cord tensioner is metal, the cord tensioner can be stamped or cut out of metal stock. The curve to the cord tensioner can be added before or after the cord tensioner is formed. For example, the metal stock that the cord tensioner is cut or stamped from can be a pipe having a large radius of curvature. Cord tensioner's that are made of plastic can be formed techniques known in the art such as thermal forming, injection molding, stamping etc. For those tensioners that are titanium, the titanium item is preferably made by cutting by laser from a titanium tube and the surface and edges are finished (softened) in a vibration tumbler. The logo, if present, is etched and burned into the titanium surface with laser.
As is evident from the previous description the tensioner device has many advantages and unique features, including: 1) a user friendly animal shape; 2) the additional utility of being a cord organizer; and the tensioning features that includes requiring no knots; adjustable and the ability to work with multiple anchoring types.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the compounds, compositions and processes of this invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations, provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
The disclosure of all publications cited above are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entireties to the same extent as if each were incorporated by reference individually.
PARTS LIST
- 1. cord tensioner
- 2. body portion
- 3. major surface of body portion
- 4. proximal opening
- 5. distal opening
- 6. head section
- 7. arm section
- 8. slot
- 9. shoulder portion
- 10. curvilinear surface leg section
- 12. tail section
- 13. side portions
- 14. inward curve of side portion (belly/waist)
- 15. cord
- 16. first end of cord
- 17. portion of cord extending away from the proximal opening
- 18. remaining unwrapped segment of cord
- 19. other end of cord
- 20. loop (belly loop)
- 21. kink in cord
- 22. portion of cord extending between item to be secured and anchor point
- 23. portion of cord between slots
- 24. item to be secured
- 25. anchor point
- 26. “snap” engagement of cord
Claims
1. A cord tensioning device comprising:
- a body portion having a major surface said body portion having a distal section and a proximal section;
- at least two openings dimensioned to receive a cord, one of said openings located in the proximity the proximal section and the other of said openings located in proximity of the distal section;
- said proximal section further comprising a head section and two arm sections and a slot between each of the head and arm sections, the slots being smaller than the interior shoulder portion thereof and being adapted to frictionally hold a cord within the slot.
2. A cord tensioning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said major surface is curvilinear along an axis extending from the distal section to the proximal section.
- wherein the distal section further comprises two leg sections and a tail section.
3. A cord tensioning device as claimed in claim 2, wherein side portions of the device formed by the arms, body portion and legs, are curved in toward the center of the body portion.
4. A cord tensioning device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the device is in the shape of an animal.
5. A cord tensioning device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the device is in the shape of a bear.
6. A cord tensioning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is made from titanium, steel, aluminum or plastic.
7. (canceled)
8. (canceled)
9. (canceled)
10. (canceled)
11. (canceled)
12. (canceled)
13. (canceled)
14. (canceled)
15. A method of organizing a cord on a cord tensioning device comprising:
- providing cord tensioning device comprising,
- a body portion having a major surface, said body portion having a distal section and a proximal section,
- two openings dimensioned to receive a cord, one of said openings located in the proximity the proximal section and the other of said openings located in proximity of the distal section,
- said proximal section further comprising a head section and two arm sections and a slot between each of the head and arm sections, the slots being smaller than the interior shoulder portion thereof and being adapted to frictionally hold a cord within the slot, and
- said distal section further comprises two leg sections and a tail section;
- providing a cord having a first end extending from one side of the device through the proximal end opening, along the axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end, and through the distal end opening;
- wrapping the portion of the cord extending away from the proximal opening around the body portion of the device until substantially all of the cord has been wrapped and a segment remains unwrapped;
- bringing the segment under one of the legs between the legs and tail section and up to the proximal section, through one of the slots, across the head section and through the other slot.
16. (canceled)
17. (canceled)
18. (canceled)
19. (canceled)
20. A method of anchoring an item to be secured to an anchor point, comprising:
- providing cord tensioning device comprising,
- a body portion having a major surface, said body portion having a distal section and a proximal section,
- two openings dimensioned to receive a cord, one of said openings located in the proximity the proximal section and the other of said openings located in proximity of the distal section, and
- said proximal section further comprising a head section and two arm sections and a slot between each of the head and arm sections, the slots being smaller than the interior shoulder portion thereof and being adapted to frictionally hold a cord within the slot;
- providing a cord having a first end extending from one side of the device through the proximal end opening, along the axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end, and through the distal end opening;
- securing the first end to the rear of the device to prevent the first end from passing back through the distal opening;
- attaching the other end of the cord to an item to be secured;
- pulling the portion of the cord that extends between the two openings to form a loop;
- extending the loop over a free end of an anchor;
- moving the device relative to the cord in a direction toward the item to be secured to tension the cord, whereby when the cord is tensioned the portion of the cord that passes through the proximal opening is kinked and forced to contact the edges of the opening, wherein the friction between the cord and the edges of the opening maintains the cord under tension.
21. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the item to be secured is a tent.
22. (canceled)
23. (canceled)
24. (canceled)
25. A method of anchoring an item to be secured to an anchor point, comprising:
- providing cord tensioning device comprising,
- a body portion having a major surface, said body portion having a distal section and a proximal section,
- two openings dimensioned to receive a cord, one of said openings located in the proximity the proximal section and the other of said openings located in proximity of the distal section,
- said proximal section further comprising a head section and two arm sections and a slot between each of the head and arm sections, the slots being smaller than the interior shoulder portion thereof and being adapted to frictionally hold a cord within the slot;
- providing a cord having a first end extending from one side of the device through the proximal end opening;
- securing the first end to the rear of the device to prevent the first end from passing back through the proximal opening;
- attaching the other end of the cord to an item to be secured;
- wrapping the device and first end of the cord around an anchor point and extending the device and first end back toward the item to be secured;
- inserting the portion of the cord that extends between the item to be secured and the anchor point into each of the slots through the shoulder portion, whereby the portion of the cord between the slots extends across the head section; and
- tensioning the cord before or after insertion into the slots, whereby when the cord is tensioned the portion of the cord that passes through the slots and across the head section is kinked and forced to contact the edges of the slots, wherein the friction between the cord and the edges of the slots maintains the cord under tension.
26. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the item to be secured is a tarp.
27. (canceled)
28. (canceled)
29. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 25, 2013
Publication Date: Jun 19, 2014
Inventor: John Wayne Davison (New York, NY)
Application Number: 13/926,111
International Classification: E04H 15/32 (20060101);