Rope puller

#THIS INVENTION relates to hand held device for manually exerting a tensile force on ropes.

#In this specification the term `rope` includes any flexible member of reasonable thickness and adapted to carry a tensile load..

#It is often necessary to hold a rope and pull it hard in order to place a tensile loading on the rope. Sailing for example, requires ropes such as sheets, halyards and the like to be pulled in order to properly set a sail, raise a sail or like operations. Pulling on a rope in this manner can hurt the hands of the person pulling on the rope.

#An embodiment of the invention described by way of example only, follows with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 shows a side view of a device for pulling a rope.

#FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the puller of FIG. 1, and

#As shown in the illustrations, a device for pulling a rope comprises a body 1 having a rope passage 2 defined therein in which a rope 3 may be received as shown. The body has a bulbous forward end 4 which increases the dimension of the body in the forward region thereof and enables the body to be better gripped in use. The bulbous end has a hole 5 therethrough for receiving a tie cord therein.

#A cleat 6 is formed in the rearward part of the rope puller, the cleat 6 being defined by a pair of fixed jaws 7 providing `V` shaped rope gripping formations S thereon as is best seen in FIG. 3. The rope gripping formations 8 are thus angled relative to the length of the rope puller such that the lowermost ends thereof are forward of the uppermost ends thereof. This configuration of formations will tend to pull the rope 3 located in the cleat down towards the base of the `V` shape, thereby improving the grip on the rope as the rope puller is used to pull on a rope.

#The rope passage is defined by a recess 9 on one side of the body and the area between the jaws 7. Thus, the rope passage is substantially `L` shaped and has a substantially right angled configuration. The tension side 10 of the rope passing through the rope puller will pass between two fingers of a person holding the rope puller in his hand. From the aforegoing it will be appreciated that it will be easy to introduce a rope into, and remove it from, the puller.