Abstract: Apparatus for attaching a sounding balloon by its filling tube to a device which is adapted to be connected to a radiosonde by a flexible connecting element includes an attachment member in which an aperture is formed and a fixing member adapted to be fitted in locking position on the attachment member so that at least a portion thereof extends through the aperture. The fixing member includes at least one wedge-shaped portion which extends through the aperture of the attachment member when the fixing member is fitted into locking position to urge the filling tube of the sounding balloon against the marginal edge of the aperture to fix the filling tube and, therefore, the sounding balloon to the attachment member. The attachment member preferably is integral with a plate body which widens in a downward direction and which constitutes a device for releasing the flexible connecting element between the radiosonde and the sounding balloon in a controlled manner.

Abstract: A rope-chaining device is formed consisting of a screw bar screwed into one side of acceptor, and an arcuately-shaped plate is provided rotatably at the end portion of the screw bar within the acceptor. A rope-fixing member is disposed within the acceptor and a wedge having a longitudinal hole defined therein is disposed within the rope-fixing member. A pivot penetrates the long hole so that the rope-fixing member may be pivotally mounted within the acceptor, and upon the wedge a rope is wound to be fastened tightly, an arcuately-shaped plate being pressed to the rope.

Abstract: A bight of a cable is wrapped around a sliding wedge thimble which, when one or both of the cable parts is pulled, jams the cable parts between convergent sides of the wedge thimble and opposed convergent sides of a casing. A key, when engaged through registering keyways of the wedge thimble and casing, limits the sliding movement of the wedge thimble so that the latter does not jam the cable parts but, rather, permits the cable to slip lengthwise around it. The key is tapered, and the keyways are so arranged that they serve to unjam the cable when the key is forced through the keyways.

Abstract: A fitting for anchoring together adjacent sections of rope or cable makes use of a housing with parallel, oppositely positioned frustoconical holes, each adapted to accommodate a pair of complementary wedge sections. Each wedge section of the pair has a semi-cylindrical recess for engaging a corresponding section of rope and a tapered exterior which matches the interior of the corresponding frustonical hole. The two wedge sections engage opposite sides of the section of rope and grasp the rope tightly when drawn into the hole as tension is applied to the rope.

Abstract: A cord lock including a body containing a passage within which there is received a locking slide adapted to wedge a pair of cords against opposite side walls of the passage, with the slide having a main locking portion with a pair of toothed faces engageable with the cords respectively, and resiliently flexible feeler arms projecting from the slide and engageable with the cords in both the locked and released positions of the slide to attain a self locking action automatically actuating the slide to its locking position upon predetermined movement of the cords, and retaining the slide in locked position until purposely released therefrom. The side walls of the passage and the body desirably have converging portions laterally opposite and coacting with the main locking portion of the slide, and non-converging portions laterally opposite and coacting with the resilient feeler arms.

Abstract: A retaining means, for use in securing a cover to a body, such as with swimming pools and trailers, including a housing member for receiving a shock cord or rope and an insert member for insertion into the housing member to retain the shock cord or rope against removal therefrom.

Abstract: For a draw string in which the looped mid portion operatively associated with a closable member has its ends slidably passing into one closed end and out of an open end of a thimble-like slide fastener, the closed end of which is adapted to abut the closable member while the ends of the cord are pulled, and a knob on the terminal ends of the cord having a tapered end insertable into the open end of the slide fastener for securing the portions of the pull cord therein and the looped mid portion of the cord in closed condition relative to the closable member.

Abstract: The clamp, operable to compressively lock a wire, comprises a casing having a cone-shaped cavity therethrough, and means engaging the cavity about the wire, the means gripping the wire as a result of constriction of the cone-shaped cavity as a result of loads applied to the wire.

Abstract: An easily installable, high load capacity deadending apparatus for securing the end of lines such as guy cables and the like to anchoring structure is provided which includes a tapered wedge block in conjunction with a helically preformed line tie adapted to grip the line and preferably extend around and engage the remote end of the wedge block for securing the latter against substantial axial movement; a socket casting having a complementally tapered bore is applied over the wedge block and line tie thereround to complete the apparatus and permit connection thereof to an earth anchor or like device so that the socket and block are biased together in mutual gripping interengagement. In practice, as the line experiences increasing tension loads, the wedge block and socket are pulled into tight interengagement which in turn causes a tighter grip of the line and increases the overall holding power of the deadending apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for mechanically and electrically joining two cables. The device includes a wedge-shaped member and a C-member formed from resilient, spring wire.

Abstract: A split hinged sleeve circumscribingly engages a substantial length of stranded aluminum cable and includes a plurality of diametrically opposed wedges extending laterally from the sleeve. The sleeve is mounted within a frame having bearing surfaces contacting each of the wedges. On exerting a pulling force upon the frame, which force is resisted by the cable, the bearing surfaces act upon the respective wedges to force the sleeve to grip the cable and place the cable in tension.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel fastener for attaching flexible tape comprising a tri-laterally symmetric retainer and a receiving aperture such that a portion of the flexible tape wrapped around said retainer may be gripped and said aperture, the gripping force increasing when tension is supplied to said tape.

Abstract: A device for locking cords or the like against longitudinal movement, and including a slide received within a tapering passage in a body and movable axially relative to the body, with a cord extending along a path between a locking portion of the slide and a side wall of the tapering body passage, and with the cord being gripped by a wedging action when the cord is pulled longitudinally, and also by a spring action attained by yieldingly urging the locking portion laterally toward the side wall of the body independently of the camming action. Preferably, the slide has two such locking portions formed as two arms yieldingly urged laterally away from one another and defining two paths along which a pair of cords or the like extend at opposite sides of the slide, with each cord being gripped by both a wedging action and spring action.

Abstract: A cord locking device including a body carrying a movable slide element having two sets of teeth at its opposite sides for releaseably gripping a pair of cords to lock them against movement in a predetermined direction, with each set of teeth including a first tooth which is relatively sharp and therefore capable of readily locally deforming a surface of the cord in a manner maximizing the tendency for automatic self locking displacement of the slide element by the cord upon longitudinal movement thereof, and including a second tooth which is less sharp and acts to take longitudinal forces exerted by the engaged cord in the ultimate locking condition in a manner protecting the sharper tooth against deformation and damage.