Method and apparatus for forming an eye in cordage
OwnerRussell F. Storminventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for forming an eye at the end of a multiple-stranded rope, string or other cordage by dividing the strands into bundles, twisting them longitudinally, overlapping the end portions and reverse twisting them to form a flemish eye. The apparatus includes a frame and rotatable strand retaining clamps to retain and twist the strands of the string to form the desired eye, a string retaining means to help position the string, and rotating means to rotate the strand retaining clamps in either direction.
Claims35
Apparatus for making an eye in a string having a plurality of strands, said strands capable of forming at least two bundles, including
- a pair of first retaining means for releasably retaining and longitudinally twisting at least two of said bundles of said strands of said string;
- a second retaining means spaced from said first retaining means for gripping and retaining a portion of said string at any of a plurality of positions along said string, said second retaining means spaced from said first retaining means;
- and
- means for rotating both of said first retaining means in the same direction, either clockwise or counterclockwise,
- whereby said bundles retained by said first retaining means may be twisted longitudinally in one direction thereby to provide a pretwist in said bundles and, after said bundles being laid over each other at the distal ends thereof, may be twisted longitudinally in an opposite direction to form said eye.
Apparatus for making an eye in a string having a plurality of strands, said strands capable of forming at least two bundles, including:
- frame means having first and second ends;
- two rotatable clamp means attached to said frame means and adjacent said first end for releasably retaining two of said bundles of said strands of said string and rotating each of said bundles about its longitudinal axis;
- string clamp means attached to said frame means mediate said first and second ends thereof for retaining said string therein at any of a plurality of positions along said string;
- and
- means for rotating both of said rotatable clamp means in the same direction, either clockwise or counterclockwise,
- whereby said bundles retained by said first retaining means may be twisted longitudinally in one direction thereby to provide a pretwist in said bundles and, after said bundles being laid over each other at the distal ends thereof, may be twisted longitudinally in an opposite direction to form said eye.
A method for making an eye in a string having a plurality of strands, including:
- separating a first end portion of said string into a first and a second bundle of strands, each of said bundles having a distal end portion and a body portion;
- longitudinally twisting said body portion in a first direction;
- overlapping said distal end portions to form a bight comprising a base and two legs adjacent said base;
- longitudinally twisting each of said legs in a second direction opposite said first direction and thereby entwining said legs one around the other to form an eye at the base of said bight while untwisting said body portions;
- and
- longitudinally twisting a segment of each of said body portions contiguous to said distal end portions in said second direction and thereby entwining said first and second bundles one around the other to assist in retaining said eye.
A method for making an eye in a string having a plurality of strands including:
- providing apparatus including two rotatable strand retaining means;
- separating a first end portion of said string into a first and a second bundle of strands, each of said bundles having a distal end portion and a body portion, meeting at a mediate point;
- releasably retaining said mediate points of said first and second bundles in said first and second rotatable strand retaining means, respectively;
- rotating said first and second strand retaining means in a first direction to longitudinally twist said body portions in said first direction;
- releasably retaining said first distal end portion in said second strand clamp and said second distal end portion in said first strand clamp to form a bight comprising a base and two legs adjacent said base;
- holding said base of said bight;
- rotating said first and second strand retaining means in a second direction opposite said first direction to longitudinally twist each of said legs in said second direction entwining said legs one around the other to form an eye at the base of said bight while untwisting said body portions;
- moving said base away from said strand retaining means to release said distal ends;
- and
- rotating said first and second strand retaining means in said second direction to longitudinally twist a segment of each of said body portions contiguous to said legs in said second direction and thereby entwining said first and second bundles one around the other to assist in retaining said eye.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.