Apparatus for fastening and adjusting a line

An apparatus for fastening a line supporting a fender on a vessel has a body portion defining a first bore extending through the body portion for receiving the line, and a second bore spaced apart from the first bore and extending through the body portion for receiving the line after it is passed through the first bore and wrapped around a rail on the vessel. A handle portion is generally U-shaped for receiving the body portion between opposing sides of the handle portion and is slidable relative to the body portion. A drive arm is pivotally mounted on one end to the body portion, and is coupled on another end to the opposing sides of the handle portion. The drive arm defines a toothed surface and is spring biased for engaging the line extending through the second bore with the toothed surface to lock the line in place. The toothed surface of the drive arm is moved into and out of engagement with the line by moving the handle portion toward and away from the body portion.

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Claims

1. An apparatus for fasting a line, comprising:

a body portion defining at least one passageway extending through the body portion for receiving a line;
a handle portion coupled to the body portion and movable relative to the body portion and defining at least one elongated slot; and
a drive arm pivotally mounted on one end to the body portion and coupled on another end to the handle portion, the drive arm defining a line-engaging surface normally biased toward the passageway to engage a line extending through the passageway, and at least one drive surface received within the at least one elongated slot for movement of the drive surface through the elongated slot in response to movement of the handle portion relative to the body portion to move the drive arm between first and second positions, the drive arm being movable between a first position to one side of the passageway to permit movement of a line through the passageway in response to movement of the handle portion toward the body portion, and a second position at least approximately in the passageway to engage a line extending through the passageway upon movement of the handle portion away from the body portion.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one spring member coupled between the drive arm and the body portion for normally biasing the drive arm toward the second position.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the body portion defines two passageways extending through the body portion and spaced apart from each other, and the second position is in one of the passageways.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the line-engaging surface defines a plurality of raised surface areas and corresponding depressed surface areas for engaging a line extending through the at least one passageway with raised surface areas.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein a plurality of the raised surface areas are pointed and oriented generally toward one end of the at least one passageway.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein a surface defining the at least one passageway defines a plurality of raised surface areas and corresponding depressed surface areas for engaging a line extending through the at least one passageway with raised surface areas.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein a plurality of the raised surface areas are pointed generally toward one end of the at least one passageway.

8. An apparatus for fastening a line, comprising:

a body portion defining at least one passageway extending through the body portion for receiving a line;
a handle portion coupled to the body portion and movable relative to the body portion; and
a drive arm pivotally mounted on one end to the body portion and coupled on another end to the handle portion, the drive arm defining a line-engaging surface normally biased toward the passageway to engage a line extending through the passageway, and movable between a first position to one side of the passageway to permit movement of a line through the passageway in response to movement of the handle portion toward the body portion, and a second position at least approximately in the passageway to engage a line extending through the passageway upon movement of the handle portion away from the body portion, wherein the drive arm includes two drive surfaces located on opposite sides of the drive arm relative to each other, and the handle portion includes two elongated slots located on opposite sides of the handle portion relative to each other, and each elongated slot receives a respective drive surface for movement of the drive surfaces through the elongated slots in response to movement of the handle portion relative to the body portion to move the drive arm between the first and second positions.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the line-engaging portion defines a plurality of raised surface areas and corresponding depressed surface areas for engaging a line extending through the second passageway with the raised surface areas to fix the line in the second passageway.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein a plurality of the raised surface areas are tapered and pointed generally toward one end of the second passageway.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein a surface defining the second passageway defines a plurality of raised surface areas and corresponding depressed surface areas between raised surface areas for engaging a line extending through the second passageway with raised surface areas.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the raised surface areas are tapered and pointed generally toward one end of the second passageway.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the line-engaging portion includes at least one drive member and the handle portion defines at least one elongated slot for receiving the drive member for slidable movement of the drive member through the elongated slot with movement of the line-engaging portion between the first and second positions.

21. An apparatus for fastening a line, comprising:

a body portion defining a first passageway extending through the body portion for receiving the line, and a second passageway spaced apart from the first passageway extending through the body portion for receiving the line passed through the first passageway;
a handle portion coupled to the body portion; and
a line-engaging portion pivotally mounted to the body portion and coupled to the handle portion, and normally biased toward a second position into engagement with the line extending through the second passageway to fix the line in the second passageway, and movable from the second position to a first position away from the second passageway to permit passage of the line through the second passageway upon movement of the handle portion toward the body portion, wherein the line-engaging portion includes two drive members located on opposite sides of the line-engaging portion relative to each other, and the handle portion includes two elongated slots located on opposite sides of the handle portion relative to each other, and each elongated slot receives a respective drive member for slidable movement of the drive members through the elongated slots with movement of the line-engaging portion between the first and second positions.

22. An apparatus for fastening a line, comprising:

a body portion defining a first passageway extending through the body portion for receiving the line, and a second passageway spaced apart from the first passageway extending through the body portion for receiving the line passed through the first passageway;
a handle portion coupled to the body portion; and
a line-engaging portion pivotally mounted to the body portion and coupled to the handle portion, and normally biased toward a second position into engagement with the line extending through the second passageway to fix the line in the second passageway, and movable from the second position to a first position away from the second passageway to permit passage of the line through the second passageway upon movement of the handle portion toward the body portion, wherein the body portion includes a first part, a second part, and means for detaching the first part from the second part, and wherein the second part defines a modular attachment component defining the first passageway, and the means for detaching includes a recess defined by one of the first part and the second part of the body portion, and an elongated raised portion defined by the other of the first part and the second part received within the recess for coupling the first part to the second part, and wherein the elongated raised portion defines at least one tapered wall and the recess is defined by at least one corresponding tapered wall for securing the raised portion within the recess.

23. An apparatus for fastening a line, comprising:

a body portion including means for forming a loop with a line external of the body portion, including a first unobstructed aperture extending through the body portion for receiving a line, and a second aperture spaced apart from the first aperture and extending through the body portion for receiving the line after it is received through the first aperture and forming a loop within the line between the first and second apertures;
a handle portion coupled to the body portion and movable relative to the body portion; and
means coupled to the handle portion and to the body portion for engaging the line received within the second aperture to secure the line within the second aperture upon movement of the handle portion away from the body portion, and for releasing the line upon movement of the handle portion toward the body portion to permit passage of the line through the second aperture.

24. An apparatus as defined in claim 23, wherein the means for engaging the line includes a drive arm pivotally coupled on one end to the body portion, defining at least one drive surface on another end coupled to the handle portion for movement with the handle portion toward and away from the body portion, and defining a line-engaging surface for engaging a line received within the second aperture with movement of the handle portion away from the body portion.

25. An apparatus as defined in claim 24, further comprising a biasing member coupled between the drive arm and the body portion for biasing the drive arm toward the second aperture and biasing the handle portion away from the body portion.

26. An apparatus as defined in claim 23, wherein the means for engaging the line includes a drive arm pivotally coupled to the body portion and integral with the handle portion, and defining a line-engaging surface for engaging the line upon movement of the handle portion away from the body portion to secure the line within the second aperture, and for releasing the line upon movement of the handle portion toward the body portion for passage of the line through the second aperture.

27. An apparatus as defined in claim 26, further comprising a biasing member coupled between the handle portion and the body portion for biasing the handle portion away from the body portion and simultaneously biasing the line-engaging surface toward the second aperture..Iadd.

28. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the means for engaging is movable between first and second positions, the first position being located to one side of the second passageway to permit movement of the line through the second passageway, and the second position being at least partially within the second passageway to engage the line within the second passageway and fix the line within the second passageway..Iaddend..Iadd.29. An apparatus as defined in claim 28, wherein the portion of the body extending between the first and second passageways defines a support surface for engagement with a surface on the fixture to support the apparatus against the fixture..Iaddend..Iadd.30. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the means for engaging is defined by a plurality of line-engaging surfaces spaced relative to each other and extending into the second passageway for engaging and fixing the portion of the line within the second passageway..Iaddend..Iadd.31. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, further comprising a line defining a first end, and a second end adapted to be connected to a load for supporting the load from the fixture, wherein the first end of the line is received through the first passageway and in turn through the second passageway to thereby form the closed loop with the line surrounding at least a portion of the fixture, and the second end of the line hangs from the first passageway for connection to the load to support the load from the fixture..Iaddend..Iadd.32. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, further comprising means for biasing the line-engaging portion toward the second position into engagement with the portion of the line extending through the second passageway to fix the line in the second passageway and thereby secure the line to the fixture, and wherein the line-engaging portion is movable from the second position to the first position upon movement of the handle portion toward the body portion..Iaddend..Iadd.33. An apparatus for fastening a line to a fixture, comprising:

a body defining first and second passageways for receiving the line and forming a closed loop with the line surrounding at least a portion of the fixture, wherein the first passageway defines an unobstructed space through the body for receiving a portion of the line and permitting the line to move freely therethrough, and the second passageway is spaced apart from the first passageway for receiving another portion of the line and forming the loop, and wherein the body further defines a portion extending between the first and second passageways and closing the loop with the line surrounding at least a portion of the fixture; and
a line-engaging surface extending into the second passageway for engaging and fixing the portion of the line within the second passageway to thereby fasten the line to the fixture..Iaddend..Iadd.34. An apparatus as defined in claim 33, wherein the portion of the body extending between the first and second passageways defines a support surface for engaging the fixture and supporting the apparatus against the fixture, and the second passageway includes a first end located adjacent to the support surface and a second end spaced away from the support surface, and the line-engaging surface is defined by a plurality of raised surface areas, each extending in a direction generally away from the first end and approximately toward the second end of the second passageway to facilitate engagement of the line within the second passageway when the line is pulled in the direction from the second passageway toward and into the

first passageway..Iaddend..Iadd.35. An apparatus as defined in claim 33, further comprising a line defining a first end, and a second end adapted to be connected to a load to support the load from the fixture, wherein the first end of the line is received through the first passageway and in turn through the second passageway to thereby form the closed loop with the line surrounding at least a portion of the fixture, and the second end of the line hangs from the first passageway for connection to the load to support the load from the fixture..Iaddend..Iadd.36. An apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein the load is a fender for a marine vessel.

.Iaddend..Iadd.37. An apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein at least one of the line and line-engaging surface is movable relative to the other within the second passageway to engage and fix the line within the second passageway..Iaddend..Iadd.38. An apparatus as defined in claim 37, wherein the line-engaging surface comprises a plurality of raised surface areas spaced relative to each other and extending into the second

passageway..Iaddend..Iadd.39. An apparatus as defined in claim 33, further comprising a clip coupled to the body for attachment of the apparatus to the fixture..Iaddend..Iadd.40. An apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein the line defines a knot formed therein for engaging the body and preventing passage of the line in the direction from the second passageway into the first passageway..Iaddend.

Referenced Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
248367 November 1881 Haft
2573806 November 1951 Paterson
2942315 June 1960 Johnson
3650236 March 1972 McFarlane
3678876 July 1972 Alter
4114553 September 19, 1978 Zidek
4143446 March 13, 1979 Down
4278042 July 14, 1981 Lindquist
4324193 April 13, 1982 Cutler
4660493 April 28, 1987 Lowry, III
4887337 December 19, 1989 Bateman
4895094 January 23, 1990 Carlstedt
4993123 February 19, 1991 Siwek
4998495 March 12, 1991 Bos et al.
5008981 April 23, 1991 Smithson
5068949 December 3, 1991 Horace
Patent History
Patent number: RE35965
Type: Grant
Filed: Jul 9, 1996
Date of Patent: Nov 24, 1998
Inventor: Peter Cook (Pompano Beach, FL)
Primary Examiner: Stephen Avila
Law Firm: McCormick, Paulding & Huber
Application Number: 8/680,530
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Bitts, Cleats, And Pin Rails (114/218); Cam Lever (24/134R)
International Classification: B63B 2104;