Loop Engaging Patents (Class 24/115K)
  • Patent number: 6094783
    Abstract: A multipurpose rope clamp may be attached to a support or suspended from a rail as desired. The clamp provides clamping channel in an open channel between a back plate and a front tongue. Rope is prevented from slipping out of the mouth of the channel by rope guides defining open rope guide channels which open in a direction opposed to the rope gripping channel to form a partial cover for the rope gripping channel. The guides may be lugs spaced to either side of the front tongue so that a bight of rope may be manipulated behind the lugs into the rope gripping channel. Preferably another rope guide channel is provided to form a bight of rope in the clamp into a U-shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: 1217145 Ontario Inc.
    Inventor: Llewellyn Bertram Parsons
  • Patent number: 5950284
    Abstract: A strapping apparatus for strapping, clamping together or holding together different objects includes a strapping body and a strapping means. The strapping body is a solid body formed with at least one pair of slots or bores extending angularly to each other and extending straight through the strapping body. The strapping means is a rope, a wire or a band having an eye, or locking sling, at one end thereof and a free rope end at the opposite end. The eye of the strapping means extends through a slot of the pair of slots or bores, whereas the free rope end is introduced through the second slot or bore and is drawn underneath the eye as seen in a strapping direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Weta Plast AB
    Inventor: Bengt Persson
  • Patent number: 5915630
    Abstract: A mechanism for connecting a strap to a fabric includes first and second elements to be disposed cooperatively on opposite sides of the fabric and then securely coupled to each other with the fabric forcibly sandwiched therebetween. At least one of the two elements is provided with a non-bindingly held strap-connecting element to which either a strap is permanently connected by an end loop or which can detachably engage to a detachable strap with any known hook, snap-fastener, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: GMA Cover Corp.
    Inventor: Martin P. Step
  • Patent number: 5671508
    Abstract: A cord fastener used for fastening end portions of a cord is composed of two identical fastener members coupled together via an interlocking engagement between a locking portion and a resilient leg. The fastener members each include a cord-receiving portion for receiving the end portions of the cord, pointed teeth projecting from the cord-receiving portion to bite the material of the cord and a support wall disposed on at least one side of the cord-receiving portion at a position such that the support wall of each fastener member makes no interference with the support wall on the opposite fastener member when the two fastener members are assembled together. The cord fastener is manufactured less costly because the two identical fastener members can be molded on a single set of mold assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventor: Ryukichi Murai
  • Patent number: 5577299
    Abstract: A quick-release mechanical knot device for use in securing objects together having a novel means for quickly and safely releasing the mechanical knot device from the body of a rope or tether regardless of the amount of tension or load strain acting on the rope. The device comprises a semi-rigid elongated stock member having at least two circular orifices formed at opposing ends of a curvilinear intermediate portion. The first and second orifices are substantially perpendicular to the linear length of the stock member and formed with a substantially parallel and concentric axis to one another. A leading end of a rope is inserted through the first and second circular orifices of the stock member and wrapped around a stationary or movable object to form a hitch. The leading end of the rope is then placed between the curvilinear intermediate portion of the stock member and the portion of the rope passing between the first and second orifices to form a capture for the portion of the rope therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Inventors: Carl W. Thompson, Carl R. Foster
  • Patent number: 5570536
    Abstract: A float for a line for a fishing net. The line has a buoyant body with openings at each end to receive the line. The buoyant body is formed in two parts and defines a cavity within the body to receive a knot in the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Inventor: Rajko Panovic
  • Patent number: 5553981
    Abstract: A cargo holder for securing cargo loads in the bed of a pickup truck consists of a metal bar formed with a first hook at one end to engage the bottom edge of the wall of a pickup truck and a second hook at an opposite end to catch a loop in a tie-down rope. A flexible cylindrical tube disposed around the body of the metal bar can be slid downwards when securing the holder to a truck wall, thereby creating a clamping action between the tube and the first hook which secures the holder to the wall of the pickup truck. After several cargo holders have been positioned around the cargo bed and tie-down ropes have been arranged so as to catch the second hooks of the holders, the foam tubes of the cargo holders are slid upwards so as to provide a cushioned barrier between each cargo holder and the truck's finish, thereby preventing accidental marring of the truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Inventor: Leon T. Braden
  • Patent number: 5524883
    Abstract: A breakaway net attachment system for mounting a basketball net to the rim of a basketball goal at predetermined locations along the rim. The system includes clips which are attachable to the rim and which include retainer portions for retaining the net in association with the rim. The rim preferably includes a plurality of studs located along an undersurface thereof for engaging within apertures formed in the clips whereby the clips are retained in engagement with the rim. In one embodiment, the clips are provided with fingers for retaining the net wherein the fingers will release the net in response to a predetermined force being applied to the net. In a further embodiment, the clip is adapted to be pulled off of the rim when a predetermined force is applied to the net.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Huffy Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Allen, Ronald A. White, James N. Fitzsimmons, Joseph K. Bohrman
  • Patent number: 5473797
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a safety device for retaining the cords of a Venetian blind, comprising two integrally molded upper and lower covers in the shape of trapezoid having a long protruding edge at the longer side of each of the trapezoid-shaped covers and a protruding edge at the top side of each thereof. Inside the upper part of both the upper and lower covers are disposed a long protruding post and a splitted column hollowed inside, whereas the lower part of them are an inverted U-shaped square column attached at its bottom to an elastic stop plate amputated at its bottom with serrated teeth and a pressing block slanting sidewardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Inventor: Te-Tsun Wu
  • Patent number: 5444897
    Abstract: A hook reciprocable between a recessed inoperative position and an exposed operative position and comprises a housing formed with a cylindrical side wall which has an open exterior end and an interior end with a circular end cap enclosing the side wall at the interior end to define a cylindrical opening therebetween. A flange extends radially outwardly from the open exterior end. A pair of apertures are formed through a central axial extent of the side wall at diametrically opposed locations and exteriorly facing marking notches formed on the exterior surface of the flange in circumferential alignment with the apertures. A support is positioned within the opening of the housing. The support has an interior extent in a cylindrical configuration and a forward extent with a hook. The cylindrical extent includes a pair of recesses. A pair of leaf springs each have a forward end, a rearward end and a central portion therebetween. The forward end is secured to the exterior surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1995
    Inventor: Nathan R. Gross
  • Patent number: 5359962
    Abstract: A spar-buoy pen includes a net that is held open by a single elongated, substantially vertically oriented center spar. The pen of this invention includes either a fixed center spar or a floating spar buoy that is substantially vertically aligned. Several pairs of radially disposed lines extend outward from the center spar at two locations that are longitudinally spaced apart from one another along the length of the center spar. A net is fitted over the radial lines such that the opposed top and bottom sections of the net are held apart from each other by the lines. The ends of the radial lines distal from the center spar are attached to anchor assemblies that urge the lines away from the center spar to hold the net in the open state. The net is further constructed so that a small portion of the top section of the net is located above the surface of the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: Nor'Eastern Trawl Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary F. Loverich
  • Patent number: 5315736
    Abstract: A device (2) in a tarpaulin (3) for connecting a line (10) with the tarpaulin. A sheet of foldable material is folded over and forms two opposing portions (5, 6) which are interconnected with one another along a fold edge (48) formed during the folding. Each one of the opposing portions is fixed to an edge portion (31) of the tarpaulin (3) sandwiched between them. The device includes part portions (7, 8) which are located outside the defining edge (32) of the edge portion (31). The part portions form therebetween at least two mutually located channels (49a, b) which are substantially parallel to the defining edge (32) and are separated by a recess (40) in the fold edge (48). In one embodiment a line (10) is passed into one of the channels in order to anchor the tarpaulin and in another embodiment the line engages an anchorage rod (11) inserted in the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Plast Och Textil Ivan Nilsson
    Inventor: Ivan Nilsson
  • Patent number: 5310274
    Abstract: A lock structure for a flexible line in which one looped end and a contiguous intermediate section of the line are fitted in approximately V-shaped grooves formed in a pair of approximately trapezoidal lock halves. The lock halves are of synthetic resin and have sharp pointed projections formed within the grooves for securing the line therein. The lock members are aligned with one another by an arrangement of engaging projections formed on a first one of the lock halves which engage with a corresponding arrangement of receiving holes formed in the second one of the lock halves. The lock halves are securely joined to one another by welding so that the flexible line can be firmly maintained in the welded lock structure for a prolonged period of time without loosening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignees: Kabushikigaisha Heisei, Hayashi Kabushikigaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Arakawa
  • Patent number: 5229178
    Abstract: The combination of a shock cord including a shock cord loop at an end thereof, a serving tightly disposed about the shock cord immediately adjacent to the shock cord loop, and a binding tightly disposed about the serving and connected to the serving and shock cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Inventor: Martin S. Zemitis
  • Patent number: 5164546
    Abstract: A wire harness protector prevents wire harness wear resulting from repeated flexing at a single point by holding the harness in a bent fashion. The harness fits between a retaining portion and a retaining cap. A fixing arm may be connected to the retaining portion to facilitate attachment of the harness to a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Fumio Kumagai
  • Patent number: 4974549
    Abstract: A plastic fastener made of first and second keeping elements which are functionally joined together by means of a self-tapping screw which passes through cooperating openings in the keeper elements and is anchored in a dome-shaped element disposed on the second keeper element. The element is employed in combination with a pet lead to form a collar when the pet lead is disposed in the keeper element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Inventor: Richard A. Gordon
  • Patent number: 4915556
    Abstract: A hold-down bracket is provided for releasable engagement in a post pocket of a pickup truck, having a molded U-section body which resiliently clips into the pocket and is held there by external flanges, and a retainer member, preferably tubular, which snaps into position between the limbs of the U-section to lock the latter in place and provides a passage for a rope passing through apertures in the upper portion of the limbs of the body, thus bracing the body against applied tie-down forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Inventor: Eric Unger
  • Patent number: 4872240
    Abstract: The steel knot for ropes is a device to replace the time-honored metal hook and conventional knots used on tow and hoist ropes, and also tethering ropes. The device comprises two appropriately spaced rounded metal rings held together in proper relation to each other by 2 or more metal bars or similar connectors. To use the device, a rope is inserted through the rings and is then wrapped around the intended load. The end of the rope is then tucked between the device and a pushed-out portion of the rope. Next, either an overhand knot is tied in the end of the rope, or the rope end is wrapped around the device once again, and again tucked in between the pushed-out portion and the steel device. Tension on the rope secures the device in place. When pressure is relaxed the rope is easily untied. Should the rope break under stress, it will pull out of the steel piece immediately, thus permitting the steel device to drop free of the rope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1989
    Assignee: Clement F. Marley
    Inventors: Raphael F. Spinner, Clement F. Marley, Mary Brown, Cathy Grant
  • Patent number: 4819304
    Abstract: There is provided a snap hook, especially for mountain climbers, consisting of a C-shaped element having ends which are connected to each other by an elastic locking catch to form a closed elongated ring having first and second narrow sides. A holding element is attached to a first narrow side and the second narrow side forms a guide region for a safety rope. Projecting elements are included in the elongated ring, projecting perpendicularly to the plane defined by the ring on both sides thereof, so that when the snap hook is applied against a planar surface, the guide region for the safety rope is maintained at a distance from the planar surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: Stubai-Werkzeugindustrie RGenMBH
    Inventor: Stefan Engers
  • Patent number: 4820220
    Abstract: A flanged anchor is embedded in a surfboard and has a non-circular recess. A non-circular retainer fits into the recess but leaves a passageway for a cable which comes in through the passageway and loops around a screw, optionally key-operated, that engages and holds the retainer in the anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Inventors: Bradley E. Fruzzetti, Micheal Jack
  • Patent number: 4762318
    Abstract: An exerciser that includes a stretchable tension member connected to an adjuster mechanism which permits the tension member's length to be varied as desired by the user. The adjuster mechanism, in preferred form, includes a housing that defines a cavity open through a port to atmosphere. A free end of the tension member is looped around a latch pin within the cavity, both ends of the loop extending through the housing's port. The latch pin, which is accessible to a user from exteriorly of the housing, is movable within the cavity away from the port when it is desired to adjust the tension member's length, and is movable within the cavity toward the port when it is desired to lock the tension member at the desired length. The cavity includes wedge shaped interior walls that flare away from the port, and that cooperate with the pin and the tension member's looped end, to establish the locking position of that looped end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1988
    Assignee: `totes`, incorporated
    Inventors: Bradford E. Phillips, Roy J. Bertacchi
  • Patent number: 4742602
    Abstract: A tarpaulin securing assembly includes a first surface contacting portion, a second surface contacting portion, a securing portion and a connecting portion. The first and second surface contacting portions include enlarged planar sections with axially aligned central openings disposed in substantially continuous contact with opposite major surfaces of the tarpaulin. The securing portion includes first and second rotatable fastening members operatively connected to the respective planar section extending outwardly from an exposed major surface and being axially aligned with the central openings thereof. A threaded finger member extends from the first fastening member through the planar section central openings. The second fastening member includes a threaded central passage therethrough axially aligned with the openings engageable with the threaded finger member. At least one of the fastening members includes a transverse passage therethrough substantially perpendicular to the axis of the central openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Inventor: James W. Horner
  • Patent number: 4738214
    Abstract: A mooring device comprising a base adapted to be fastened to a surface of a dock or boat deck for mooring a boat. An arm extends up from the base generally adjacent one end of the base and converges toward the opposite end of the base thereby to define, in conjunction with the base, a space for retaining a mooring line. The arm converges toward the base to a point where it is relatively closely spaced to the base thereby to form a mouth through which a mooring line may be passed inwardly into the line-retaining space. A finger is provided on the arm adjacent the mouth inclined downwardly and inwardly toward the line-retaining space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Inventor: Jewell C. Fry
  • Patent number: 4738216
    Abstract: A rope anchor for use in situations in which frequent attachment and removal of the rope is required. The anchor has a U-shaped bracket which is secured to a support such as the transom of a boat. The bracket has a central finger midway between and parallel to the bracket legs. The portion of the finger adjacent its attachment to the closed end of the bracket is in the same plane as the bracket legs but the inner end of the finger is bent out of this plane at a minor angle. The legs have stops which position the bracket such that the end of the finger is so spaced from the surface of the bracket support as to create a passage for the rope less than the normal diameter of the rope but large enough to permit the rope to be passed through it when the rope has been diametrically squeezed in one direction. This prevents inadvertent release of the rope when it is slack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignee: ITC, Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard J. Camarota, James H. Miller
  • Patent number: 4699410
    Abstract: A swivel connector includes a ring (1) which is assembleable into a slot (5) in a hoist member (2), with the slot having an open end forming an enlarged bifurcated recess portion (8). The ring and hoist are assembled to an annular housing (9) and a first nut (14) is positioned for sliding movement and relative rotation within the housing and is threaded onto the slotted end of the hoist member. A plug (16) is positioned within the bifurcated hoist slot recess end and a second nut (17) having a threaded axial opening is secured within the housing. A threaded shaft (22) is provided and which is threadably disposed within the second nut opening and in relatively loose engagement with the plug. The shaft extends outwardly for securement to the load or the like. During swiveling use, the ring (1), hoist (2), plug (22) and first nut (14) turn together, with the other elements remaining fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Inventor: Richard E. Seidel
  • Patent number: 4648765
    Abstract: A two-piece universal tie-down bracket which has wide applications but is especially useful in connection with utility trucks having plastic bed liners, and with marine craft. The bracket comprises an elongate base member constructed as a wire form, having openings at its ends and an open loop intermediate its ends. The base member is mounted on a supporting surface such as the plastic bed liner by screws, bolts or the like passing through the end openings, and prior to its attachment a tethering ring also fabricated as a wire form is placed in the open loop to hang loosely therefrom in readiness for use after securement of the base member. The supporting surface for the base member holds the tethering loop captive, and the loop will hang in a collapsed out-of-the-way position close to the base member for a large number of different mounting positions of the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Inventors: John W. Kovaleski, Thomas M. Lee
  • Patent number: 4641986
    Abstract: For lifting loads there is provided an eyebolt with a collar swivelly mounted on a stud so as to freely rotate in a horizontal plane throughout a full 360.degree.. A lifting ring has oppositely disposed pivot pins in swivel engagement with the collar to allow the ring to pivot in a vertical arc as well as to rotate about the stud. The stud in turn is adapted to be anchored in fixed position to the load, whatever the load may be. Enlargements at free ends of the pivot pins serve to resist pulling the pins free of the collar when a heavy lifting force is applied to the lifting ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1987
    Assignee: CBC Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Tsui, Thomas Heimbigner
  • Patent number: 4575904
    Abstract: A guy hook used to attach a guy cable to a transmission line pole includes an upper body portion (25), a central body portion (26), and a lower heel portion (27). The upper portion has a neck (29) and ears (28) for engaging the guy cable. The central body portion has a rearward pole-engaging surface (37), an opposite frontward side and a passageway (40) therebetween through which a through-bolt is horizontally disposed to install the hook on the pole. The frontward side includes a recess (38) surrounding the aperture (39) to the passageway for countersinking the head of a through-bolt below the frontward side to a depth substantially in line with the vertical line of action (41-42) of the hook. The moment caused by the downward and outward force exerted on the hook by the guy cable is thus minimized and therefore also the tendency of the hook to overturn and bend the through-bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1986
    Assignee: Bell Communications Research, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Drewes, Richard J. Gemra
  • Patent number: 4531263
    Abstract: A guy attaching device embodies a body having an upper hub with a horizontal passageway therethrough for receiving a bolt. A forward bearing surface on the hub engages the head of the bolt to align it with a horizontal hole through a pole. An upstanding neck at the forward end of the hub has a curved rear side which receives a loop of a guy and the upper end of the neck carries elongated, laterally tapering, mooring cleats. The rear end of the hub carries an annular projection which surrounds and extends perpendicular to the passageway through the hub in position to engage the adjacent surface of the pole. A depending pole engaging pad is carried by the body beneath the annular projection on the hub with the lower end of the pad being inclined forwardly and downwardly in position for its rear surface to engage the pole. At least one spur member is carried by the lower rear portion of the pad and has a sharp chisel edge which is elongated vertically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1985
    Inventor: Gaddis G. Hall
  • Patent number: 4516295
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for attaching each end of a rope (12) to the boom of a sail board so that the rope (12) can be used by a rider with a "Hawaiian Harness" the apparatus (1) having in each case a frame (2) with a pliable member (3) held to the frame (2) and adapted to extend around the boom arranged so that with the frame (2) lying alongside the boom tension on the rope (12) will cause the frame (2) to tighten a gripping hold of the pliable member (3) on the boom. The apparatus provides for good retention of the rope position during periods of non-use and facilitates adjustment of its position during use by a sail board rider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Inventor: Donald G. McCoy
  • Patent number: 4480358
    Abstract: A rigid tie capable of being removably mounted on an end portion of an elongate pliable member such as a bungee cord that has a resilient core covered with a woven fabric, with the tie when so mounted serving as an anchor. A pair of the ties may removably engage opposite end portions of a pliable member to form an endless loop that is adjustable as to length by sliding the pair of ties towards or away from one another. A single tie if desired may be utilized to removably join the end portions of two elongate pliable members together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1984
    Inventors: Donald E. Barling, John W. Barling
  • Patent number: 4477948
    Abstract: The invention is concerned with a device for holding a cable suspended from a support, the cable having an aerial support wire connected therealong for supporting same with an end portion thereof securely held by the device. The device of the invention comprises an open-ended tubular member having an inlet end and an outlet end for receiving the cable and support wire therethrough with the end portion of the support wire extending beyond the outlet end and separated from the cable, wire retention means integral with the tubular member for securing the wire end portion to the tubular member and means for connecting the tubular member to the support such that the tubular member lies at a predetermined distance from the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1984
    Inventor: Isaac Sachs
  • Patent number: 4358212
    Abstract: A high compression thimble is disclosed for use with fiber and particularly wire rope, either spliced thereto or used with compression sleeves. A ring is securely welded within an enlarged semi-circular lower end of the thimble to snugly receive an attachment device, such as a pin therethrough, and the thimble is particularly adapted for high stress uses such as the securement of marine rigging ends as well as other uses involving heavy equipment or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1982
    Inventor: William E. Compton
  • Patent number: 4354653
    Abstract: A device for suspending an article as a signboard, a clothes hanger, or the like on a horizontally-disposed rope has a shape which cooperates with the rope to permit ready attachment but to prevent inadvertent detachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1982
    Inventor: Gote Ericsson
  • Patent number: 4337554
    Abstract: A stamped yoke end and a method of making the same where the yoke end has a flat stamped center piece. A tab is cut out of the center piece to form a slot and the tab is bent to one side of the slot to form a lever engaging surface having a section of constant radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1982
    Assignee: Acco Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Warren E. Sevrence
  • Patent number: 4322077
    Abstract: A wrist band is attached to the handle of a tennis racket for use in securing the tennis racket to the wrist of a player. The wrist band can be attached to the handle of an existing tennis racket without requiring removal of the grip. The wrist band includes a flexible strap having a pair of ends fixed together by a sleeve secured over the adjacent ends of the strap for forming a fixed loop of the wrist band. The sleeve has a generally rounded outer surface and a rim that projects outwardly from the rounded surface of the sleeve. A base plate loosely fitted around the outer surface of the sleeve protrudes outwardly away from the rim on the sleeve and is retained around the sleeve by engagement with the rim. The sleeve and the base plate can be inserted in a hole drilled in the end of the racket handle, with the base plate bearing against the end of the handle and bridging the hole to retain the strap in the end of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1982
    Inventor: Gustaaf Van't Hof
  • Patent number: 4257309
    Abstract: Continuous filament rope and method of making same whereby high strength continuous synthetic filaments may be used to provide a rope which in use will have a strength approaching the theoretical strength of the fibers therein. The rope is made by combining a plurality of filaments and twisting the filament group into a light twine in comparison to the rope ultimately desired. The twine is then impregnated with a suitable flexible resin system and wound in a loop having at least a substantial number of turns of the twine. Thereafter the loop is allowed to twist back on itself in response to the twist initially set in the twine so as to form a rope-like center section with loops at each end thereof. Curing of the flexible resin system results in a suitable flexibility of the rope while providing for abrasion and fraying resistance. The loops at the end of the rope may be looped over hooks or pins when in use, with the resulting strength of the rope approaching that of the combined fiber strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1981
    Assignee: Fiber Science, Inc.
    Inventor: Edmond A. Dunahoo
  • Patent number: 4257592
    Abstract: Exercising apparatus comprising in combination an elongate housing with a first surface having a first slot adjacent one end thereof and a second slot adjacent the opposite end thereof; first and second pulleys rotatably supported between opposite sides of the housing and extending out of the first and second slots, respectively; a rope having first and second ends and first and second intermediate portions; first and second handles secured to the first and second ends of the rope, respectively; a clamping device operably associated with the rope for selectively extending or reducing the effective length of the rope; and a loop forming member for securing the first end of the rope around the first handle, the loop forming member having structure readily enabling selective expansion and contraction of the loop to position and secure the first end of the rope at any one of several desired locations on the first handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1981
    Inventor: Arthur Jones
  • Patent number: 4241916
    Abstract: Sports goals employing a goal net having a plurality of cord loop portions comprising the boundary region of such goal net whereat attachment to a goal frame is made by passing each of said cord loops, respectively, through one of a plurality of spaced apart fasteners on the goal frame. Said fasteners are configured as a bracket member which is attached at its midpoint to the goal frame, substantially in the plane thereof, and which has both ends formed, by bending, into a nearly circular path to accept the goal net cord loops. The extremities of the loop accepting regions are designed to be spring-tight against the goal frame, thereby precluding the goal net from being readily removed. An alternate configuration is envisioned to include only one cord accepting region per fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1980
    Inventor: Robert J. Palm
  • Patent number: 4121325
    Abstract: The invention is concerned with an anchor and coupler unit for use with stressing cables in reinforced concrete structures. The unit comprises a base plate having an aperture therethrough and supporting a cable anchor the body of which includes an external surface curved convexly towards the socket base and spaced apart therefrom and adapted to receive a looped end of a reinforcing cable wherein the body is preferably separate from the base plate and the latter in the form of a socket which has a peripheral flange extending towards the cable anchor body and a conical housing around the aperture extending on the opposite side of the plate to the flange. Also the anchor preferably has a pair of oppositely extending semi-cylindrical projections each providing a curved surface spaced from the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1978
    Assignee: Triple Bee Prestress (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventors: Konstant E. Bruinette, Ulrich E. O. B. Brand
  • Patent number: 4072113
    Abstract: A cargo tie down anchor unit which can be attached to automotive vehicles, or the like, featuring a slideable anchoring element which can be retracted into the anchor unit housing wherein the slideable anchoring element is positioned out of sight when not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1978
    Inventor: Harold H. Thurston
  • Patent number: 4040149
    Abstract: A base member of a push pin is formed by casting or molding, and a pin is inserted pointed end first into a hole in the base member and forced through the base member until the end opposite thereof lies below the surface of the base member. The material of the base member is then flowed over the end of the pin, by mechanical or heat techniques, to form a substantially complete layer over the end of the pin within the base member. The pins preferably extend at an acute angle to a flat surface of the base member. The push pin may have pins extending from opposite surfaces thereof, a loop shaped projection adapted to be affixed to a wire, or a hinge separating the base member into a hook portion and a portion carrying one or more pins. The push pin may have a contoured base member to facilitate the affixing of a picture wire to a hook formed on the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1977
    Assignee: Coats & Clark, Inc.
    Inventor: Ruediger Einhorn
  • Patent number: 4027360
    Abstract: A tie down bracket for receiving and engaging a bight or loop in a flexible member, such as a rope or cable, such tie down bracket including a base plate having secured thereto a spring mounting body. The spring mounting body includes a projecting finger which cooperates with a spring mounted on the body. The spring defines with the base plate an opening adjacent the finger for receiving and retaining the bight or loop of the flexible member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1977
    Inventor: Willard W. Moser
  • Patent number: 4010569
    Abstract: A connector for attaching two or more segments of lines, preferably lines which have looped end portions. The connector consists of a body with two apertures extending transversely therethrough, and two slots which extend obliquely from the apertures to the exterior surface of the body in a parallel and opposing fashion. The structure of the body and slots is that the slots are normally in a substantially closed position and portions of the body adjacent the slots have resilience to permit the opening of the slots and passage of the line therethrough for connecting or disconnecting the lines therewith. By placing the looped end portion of each segment in an outwardly most portion of the slot and pulling the loop in the direction of the aperture, the portion of the body adjacent the slot widens sufficiently to allow the link to pass through the slot to the aperture. The slot closes and thereby retains the line in the body, providing removable connection of the various line segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1977
    Inventors: T. J. Finley, Gwendolyne Finley
  • Patent number: 3998561
    Abstract: A friction grommet for securing and retaining the end portion of a rope, comprising a bottom piece and a locking lid piece adapted to be secured together. The bottom piece comprises an upright and a pin extending from one side thereof, the upright having an axial aperture and beams projecting radially into the aperture to define groove therebetween. The locking lid piece comprises an upright extending from one side thereof and having radially projecting locking beams adapted to fit into the grooves of the bottom piece upright and to engage the beams of the bottom piece upright when the bottom piece and locking lid piece are secured together by inserting the locking lid piece upright within the bottom piece upright and turning one piece relative to the other. The bottom piece and locking lid piece are provided with cooperating locking means which serve to prevent relative rotation thereof when they are secured together in predetermined relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1976
    Assignee: Gerro Holding Company Limited
    Inventor: Bernhard Rohland
  • Patent number: 3983860
    Abstract: A slingshot having a crotch having two branches, one branch being longer than the other and the power bands are swiveled about the ends of the branches. The branches are substantially parallel to each other and to the handle of the slingshot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1976
    Inventor: Vernard D. Bolton
  • Patent number: 3973298
    Abstract: A tie down bracket for receiving and engaging a bight or loop in a flexible member, such as a rope or cable, such tie down bracket including a base plate having secured thereto a spring mounting body. The spring mounting body includes a projecting finger which cooperates with a spring mounted on the body. The spring defines with the base plate an opening adjacent the finger for receiving and retaining the bight or loop of the flexible member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1976
    Inventor: Willard W. Moser