# US 2014/0150240 A1 · Thimble Mechanism For Retention Of A Shackle In A Wire Loop Termination

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- Number: US 2014/0150240 A1
- Document ID: US20140150240A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/758,661
- Filed: 2013-02-04
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-03-06
- Assignees: The Crosby Group, Inc.
- Inventors: Roger E. Beall; Paul A. Boeckman; Charles R. Garrett; Larry Postelwait
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150240A1

## CPC

- F16G 11/146: {Eyes}
- Y10T 29/49947: by applying separate fastener
- F16G: BELTS, CABLES, OR ROPES, PREDOMINANTLY USED FOR DRIVING PURPOSES; CHAINS; FITTINGS PREDOMINANTLY USED THEREFOR
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A thimble mechanism for retention of a shackle in a wire rope loop termination. In one preferred embodiment, a thimble device is provided for a shackle having a pair of opposed legs with each leg having an end with a width smaller than a depth. The thimble device includes a thimble body having an external arcuate edge with a rope groove for receipt of a wire rope therein. A central opening extends through the thimble body with the central opening larger than the width but smaller than the depth of the shackle ends. A keyway is provided in the thimble body extending from the central opening to the arcuate edge of the thimble body.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A thimble device for a wire rope loop termination for retention of a shackle having a pair of opposed legs with each of said legs having an end with a width smaller than a depth, which thimble device comprises:
a thimble body having an external arcuate edge with a rope groove for receipt of a wire rope therein;
a central opening through said thimble body, said central opening larger than said width but smaller than said depth of said shackle ends; and
a keyway in said thimble body extending from said central opening to said arcuate edge of said thimble body.

### Claim 2

A method of retention of a shackle in a wire rope loop termination wherein said shackle includes a bow and a pair of opposed legs with each of said legs having an end with a width smaller than a depth, which method comprises:
inserting a bow of said shackle into a central opening of a thimble body by passing through a keyway in said thimble body extending from said central opening to an external arcuate edge of said thimble body;
receiving a wire rope around a rope groove in said external arcuate edge of said thimble body; and
forming a wire rope loop termination in order to close said keyway with said wire rope.

### Claim 3

A thimble assembly for a wire rope loop termination for retention of a shackle having a pair of opposed legs, which assembly comprises:
a thimble body having an external arcuate edge with a rope groove for receipt of a wire rope therein;
a central opening through said thimble body for receipt of said shackle;
a retaining pin; and
a pair of openings in said thimble body to receive said retaining pin across said central opening.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A thimble assembly for a wire rope loop termination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said pair of openings in said thimble body are located to retain the proper orientation of said shackle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

A thimble assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said opposed legs each terminate in an end with a width smaller than a depth and wherein the central opening is in the shape of a slot.

### Claim 6

A method for retaining a shackle in a wire rope loop termination, which method comprises:
inserting an end of a leg of a shackle through a central opening in a thimble body;
inserting a retaining pin through a first opening in a thimble body, across said central opening, and into a second opening in said thimble body;
installing a wire rope around an external arcuate edge in a rope groove in said thimble body; and
completing said wire rope loop termination.

### Claim 7

A thimble device for a wire rope loop termination for retention of a shackle having a pair of opposed legs with a defined space between said legs, which thimble device comprises:
a thimble body having an external arcuate edge with a rope groove for receipt of a wire rope therein;
a central opening through said thimble body for receipt of said shackle;
wherein said thimble body and said wire rope have a combined dimension larger than said defined space between said legs.

### Claim 8

A method of retention of a shackle in a wire rope loop termination wherein said shackle includes a bow and a pair of opposed legs with a defined space between said legs, which method comprises:
inserting a shackle through a central opening in a thimble body;
receiving a wire rope around a rope groove in an external arcuate edge of said thimble body;
completing said wire rope loop termination; and
preventing said shackle from being removed from said central opening in said thimble body.