Apparatus for guiding and clamping flexible ropes and the like

Apparatus for guiding and firmly clamping an elongated flexible element such as a rope or cable:

• said apparatus comprising a body supporting a plurality of rotatively mounted guide rollers for guiding said flexible element aligned in a plane;
• a first of said guide rollers mounted on said body adjacent one end of said flexible element and selectively lockable against rotation in at least one direction relative to said body;
• a second of said guide rollers mounted on said body adjacent another portion of said flexible element that is pulled to provide tension and mounted on said body for movement toward and away from said first guide roller so that said flexible element passing around both guide rollers and between adjacent portions thereof is pressed into a clamped position engaged against both rollers on opposite sides of said element when the second guide roller is moved toward said first guide roller and is released upon movement of said second roller in an opposite direction;
• means for securing said body in a clamping position for securely holding said flexible element;
• and
• means for securing said body to a fixed point for pivotal movement about said point between said clamping position and a release position comprising a U-shaped element extending outwardly of said body with a pair of legs adjacent opposite sides thereof, said legs being pivotally connected to said body and including means for clamping said legs in a selected rotative position relative to said body.