Elongate fitting with an eye and a "V"-channel for compressively engaging a rope, particularly for cargo tie-down

Abstract

A generally elongate fitting has a distal-end region for affixing an external object, a mid-region eye, and a proximal-end region for attaching a rope. In one embodiment, the distal-end and middle regions are configured as an eye hook having an eye at its proximal end, a hook at its distal end, and a connecting shank between the hook and the eye. In another embodiment, the distal-end region is configured as a base member bolt-mounted to the external object, a rotating member rotatably mounted to the base member, and an arm pivotally mounted to the rotating member, forming thereby a swivel joint. In this embodiment the mid-region's eye is integrally within the arm. In both embodiments the distal- and mid-regions are formed integrally with a proximal-end region defining one or more "V" channels. In one embodiment "V" channels are formed as a modified cleat having both (i) a pair of projecting arms and (ii) one or more additional projecting arms. Both channels are suitable to compressively engage a rope that is forcibly wedged within such channel. A rope slipped through the eye is pulled taught against the eye, and not against either channel, until, a desired tension in the rope having been achieved, the rope is easily, while still held taut, angled into that channel of the cleat which is formed between the two projecting arms. The rope is then pulled tight into the remaining channel, and rethreaded through the eye in an opposite direction.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.