Abstract: A cord retaining device consisting of a T-shaped housing with three legs. Through holes extend through each leg with two of the holes in two legs being aligned with each other. The third or other leg's through hole intersects with the two aligned holes. At the third leg there are two opposite cord retaining grooves that open upwardly and taper downwardly. A bottom slot extends along the length of the two aligned legs and has an enlarged mid portion. By placing a cord having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the two aligned housing through holes, such as a bungee cord, through the bottom slot and pulling a mid portion of the cord into the third leg, a loop may be formed by the pulled portion. Lower portions of this formed loop may be inserted into the cord retaining grooves to fix the cord therein. A second bungee cord may also be used with the first bungee cord and housing.

Abstract: A molded plastic ball stop element is adapted to be clamped to a cable or a chain particularly for an air balancing hoist, the ball formed in two pieces fastened together with flat faces in abutment. Pairs of grooved removable steel inserts grip a cable, while additional grooves form pockets configured to positively engage chain links when the inserts are removed.

Abstract: A rappelling descender having an elongated, substantially hexagonal ring, a capstan attached to a first long side of the ring, and a hand grippable handle attached to a second long side of the ring, opposite the capstan. The hand grippable handle is at least substantially one palm width in length. A first ear extends from one side of the capstan, and a second ear extends from an opposite side of the capstan as the first ear, both ears extending transversely to the capstan.

Abstract: The elastic cord tensioning and length adjusting apparatus is designed to allow the user to have much more flexibility with a single length elastic cord, rather than using a number of cords of different lengths. The apparatus can adjust, both the tension and length of elastic cords, by allowing the user to loop different lengths of the cord in a mechanism that can lock the looped section of elastic cord so that the length of the cord not in the loop is shortened and the tension is increased. The apparatus comprises a main horizontal body having two apertures designed for the cord to pass through. A locking mechanism fits into a center aperture in the main horizontal body and has two end notches to allow the elastic cord to fit into those notches. A spring tensioning device and a retaining piece maintain the lock in position.

Abstract: A load securing arrangement includes an elongated flexible rope and a plurality of couplers attached to the rope. Each coupler has an eye portion and a hook portion rigidly attached at one end to the eye portion. The eye portion defines an opening therethrough. The eye portion lie along a first plane. The hook portion lies along a second plane extending in transverse relationship to the first plane. Each coupler is attached to the rope by a loop formed in the rope and inserted through the opening of the eye portion and then over the hook portion so as to permit the cinching of the loop into the form of a knot having a pair of half hitches extending about the eye portion and through the opening thereof.

Abstract: A tiedown hitch for trucks and the like includes a medial body portion having a longitudinal axis, with a hook portion extending from one end and an eye portion extending from the opposed end. An interior hook surface is provided with an insert having a relatively large radius, so that the rope or line cannot be abraded or damaged by engagement with the hook. The hook insert may comprise a channel member bent into an arcuate shape and pressed onto the interior hook surface. Alternatively, the interior hook surface may be chamfered to provide a smooth arcuate exterior face to engage the rope or line secured about the hook portion. The eye portion includes a closed interior slot extending generally coaxially with the longitudinal axis and dimensioned to receive the rope or line therethrough. The medial body portion includes an arcuate closed slot formed therein, the slot defining a single finger that serves as a cleat to secure the rope or line passing thereabout.

Abstract: A strapping structure for an optical instrument such as a camera, a video camera, a binocular and so on, which is capable of performing as more than two straps having different functions such as a grip strap and a shoulder strap. The strapping structure comprises a loop-shaped strap which is installed on the camera body, and a stopper provided on an intermediate portion of the loop-shaped strap. The stopper is shiftable along a longitudinal direction of the strap, and forms a large loop-shaped first strap serving for example as a shoulder strap and a small loop-shaped second strap serving for example as a grip strap. The loop-shaped strap, which is positioned adjacent to the camera body, is provided with a pad. This pad can be used as a pad receiving a back of hand or a shoulder pad.

Abstract: A stair relief device is positioned around connecting plugs, splice or the like to relieve the contained plugs, splice or the like from any tension which is in the cord. It consists of a rigid hollow cylinder having two rigid circular flanges, extending outwardly at opposite ends of the cylinder. Each of these flanges has positioned therein two slots of appropriate size and shape to permit an electrical cord to pass through the slot. On each flange the two slots are positioned one hundred and eighty degrees (180.degree.) around the flange from each other. The slots in each flange are aligned directly opposite the slots in the other flange. The section of the cord to be protected is positioned within the cylindrical portion of the device. The cord at either end of the device is then positioned back through the slots in the flanges and turned at least one hundred and eighty degrees (180.degree.

Abstract: A strain relief device for a cable terminating in a plug, an outlet mounted on a base and a connection mechanism to connect said plug to said outlet. The device includes at least one pin extending from the plug, the pin being spaced from the connection mechanism. A block having a receptacle for receipt of the pin is mounted on the base, so that force exerted from the cable is dissipated by the device.

Abstract: A clamp assembly with a releasable bail for securing and suspending cables, drop wires or the like that utilizes a locking structure cooperating with an aperture in a tail of the clamp assembly to secure and lock the releasable free end of the bail to the clamp assembly. Preferably, the locking structure is a foot segment and head at the end of a leg of the bail with a reduced portion permitting passage of the foot segment from an entry portion along a connecting portion to locate the head at a lock portion. Additionally, the other leg of the bail can be slideably attached utilizing an interlocking structure that reduces bail deformations during installation. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for assembling the cable clamp assembly wherein the first and second legs are assembled and attached to the tail, and also providing a method for simultaneously forming the reduced portion of the second leg and a deformed region in the tail to capture the first leg in the tail.

Abstract: A hooking clasp for a cord-like member is provided which can simply and securely bind objects and furthermore, can be used repeatedly. The hooking clasp of the invention has a structure in which two elastic flat plates are fixed at their center portions, and a cord-like member such as a cord or rope is inserted into a gap formed between the flat plates and is hooked and wound on the fixed center portion for being pinched by the flat plates. An alternative hooking clasp of the invention has a structure in which an annular ring-shaped holding groove having almost the same width as a diameter of the cord-like member is engraved on a periphery of a cylindrical body and the cord-like member is hooked and wound for securement on the holding groove.

Abstract: In a support assembly for an excavating dragline bucket controlled by a hoist line and a drag line, the bucket having opposite side walls and an open forward end, a line protection device includes a sleeve for encircling the hoist line adjacent the bucket sidewalls for preventing direct contact between the hoist line and the bucket sidewalls. A sleeve also encircles the drag line adjacent the point of attachment between the drag line and the bucket forward end for preventing direct contact between the drag line and excavating material received by the bucket.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting and maintaining slack of fiber optic cable or the like in an aerial installation comprises an elongate channel member having an arcuate section and a plurality of linear sections for receiving the slack and means for securing the apparatus to a messenger cable support structure. Methods for supporting and maintaining the slack in two preferred embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A portable cleat including a primary connector element having a principal axis and opposed ends and a secondary connector element attached to the primary connector element at at least one of the ends, said secondary connector element having angularly disposed arms.

Abstract: A binding assembly for a structure which is designed to facilitate rapid movement along the surface of the earth such as a ski board for water wherein the binding assembly includes an elastic cord which when stretched permits tightening of the binding assembly to thereby securely clamp the user's foot to the structure. Once the binding assembly has been adjusted to the desired amount of securement, release of the elastic cord results in the binding assembly remaining in that established level of securement.

Abstract: A rope-tying device is disclosed which facilitates convenient and efficient formation of a loop in the free end portion of a rope. Economical fabrication and efficient use of the device is facilitated by its configuration as a unitary, generally cylindrical tubular body formed from a single piece of material. The tubular defines a pair of diametrically opposed, longitudinally extending slots, with the body including a pair of annular end body portions, and a pair of diametrically opposed side body portions extending between the end body portions. For loop-formation, the free end portion of a rope is inserted through the device, and a half-loop displaced laterally through one of the slots. The free end of the rope is thereafter inserted through the half-loop, with tension exerted to complete loop-formation.

Abstract: A device for fastening a line to an object, such as a mooring post or the like is of unitary construction having a bore therethrough through which a loop in the line is threaded. The device includes a cylindrical barrel portion which is adapted to be griped by user's hand, and a hub portion provided with a passageway through which one end of the line is threaded and knotted in order to secure the line to the device. The hub provides a shoulder against which the user's hand may bear to exert a force on the device in order to create slack in the loop to permit removal thereof from the anchoring object.

Abstract: A quick connect adjusting loop for a cargo tie-down rope comprises a body of substantially rigid, high strength material having a first portion forming a loop through which a loop of a tie-down rope extends and a second portion forming slip lock adjacent the loop for releasably gripping the rope.

Abstract: A hand held, trigger-actuated bow string release device has an elongate transversely flexible hand grip member coupled to and extending rearwardly from the rearward end of the body of the device. The hand grip member is coupled at its rearward end to a plate-like abutment member transverse to the longitudinal extent of the grip member so that when the grip member is gripped within a user's hand, the abutment member seats against the outer edge of the hand to prevent the grip member from being pulled forwardly from the hand as the grip member is longitudinally tensioned during drawing of the bow. The rearward end of the body is inclined with respect to the forward end of the body to provide ease of access to the trigger during use of the device.

Abstract: The line retension device includes a relatively thin plate having means defining an elongated passageway for receiving the line in a friction tight manner. The cross-sectional area of at least a portion of the passageway is complementary shaped and sized relative to the cross-sectional shape and size of the line. In one form of the invention, the passageway extends in a tortuous or non-linear configuration in the unstressed condition of the plate to grip the line frictionally. The plate is adapted to be flexed manually to deform it to a position where the configuration of the passageway is closer to that of a straight line, thereby permitting the line and the plate to be moved relative to one another in a much more facile manner.

Abstract: An endotracheal tube holder has a cord with a loop through which the endotracheal tube extends. A tube with slits surrounds the cord adjacent the loop to secure the endotracheal tube in the cord when the tube is placed in the mouth and throat of the patient. The remaining portions of the cord extend over the ears and under the chin of the patient. A lockable collar is positioned on the cord to tighten the cord under the chin so as to position and retain the endotracheal tube in the patient.

Abstract: A fastener for securing in position a string to be used for gathering the skirt of a coat or the open edge of a pouch, for example, is constructed of a housing provided therein with a blind cavity, a sliding member admitted into the blind cavity of the housing, and a spring interposed between the housing and the sliding member; the housing and the sliding member being respectively provided laterally therein with perforations and insertion holes adapted to come into mutual coincidence when the sliding member is pushed into the housing against the energizing force of the spring. Since opposed end portions of a given string can be inserted sidewise through the coinciding insertion holes into the perforations, this string fastener can be used advantageously without requiring the opposed end portions of the string to be always kept in mutual contact. It imposes no limitation upon the length of the string to be tied and enjoys ease of handling.

Abstract: A line holder is provided which permits using one hand to selectively engage and disengage a line as it is unwound from a reel. A line lock in the form of a hook assembly is secured to the reel so that angular movement of the reel to first and second positions selectively engages the hook assembly with the line to prevent uncoiling the line and selectively moving the reel to the second and first positions releases the hooked line to permit uncoiling the line. A base is provided for mooring the line to a fixed position.

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.

Abstract: The invention provides a wire tensioning member for providing spring tension in a fence wire. There is provided a spring steel member of a resiliently deformable compound curvature, with the wire being attachable to one end, and the other end being provided with an engaging portion or shaft engageable in a recess provided on a fence post or other fixed ground anchor. The particular application is to provide resilience in light gauge (i.e. between 12-22 gauge) high tensile wire used in electric fencing systems. The resilience of the wire tensioning member also enables it to be used as a conventional gate handle, and furthermore enables the fence to be tensioned to provide overhead or pinned gates in any desired part of the fence for animals or vehicles to pass therethrough.

Abstract: A tubing clip is disclosed herein which comprises a body member forming a pair of channels through which a flexible tube may be passed, each of which is provided with a means for narrowing said channel at one end which narrows the channel sufficiently to prevent the tubing from slipping through the channels unaided while permitting the flow passage of the tube to remain open.

Abstract: A rope tightener for a rope under tension such as a tent rope formed from a single piece of plastic forming two pairs of parallel legs, the respective legs of each pair having opposed hooks formed at the end of the leg to cooperate in forming a hole through the pair of legs for a rope, the respective leg ends each being bevelled toward the face where the legs of a pair come nearly together to facilitate the introduction of a rope between the legs.

Abstract: This invention relates broadly to an apparatus for shortening wires, cables and the like without requiring the disconnection of such wires and cutting off the ends thereof to achieve the shortening. The apparatus consists generally of a sheet metal or the like shortening device which has a degree of flexibility therein by means of which the shortening function is accomplished. The wire or the like to be shortened is affixed to lugs or the like which are struck from the edge of one portion of the device and from this portion extends a tail which is bent towards the aforesaid portion and the wire is affixed to the bend which is made in this tail portion. The amount of shortening of the wire is determined by the place where the tail is bent.