EP2564087A1

EP2564087A1 - Method and device for making a rope hitch

Info

Publication number: EP2564087A1
Application number: EP11768502A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Anders Jansson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-04-12
Filing date: 2011-03-04
Publication date: 2013-03-06
Also published as: WO2011128497A1; FI20105376A0; FI20105376A; FI122658B

Abstract

Device (1) for making a rope hitch, for example for securing a rope (30) holding a boat's fender to the rail or other similar structures of the boat and formed of an elongated piece (1) containing no moving parts. The device comprises parts (8, 9, 10) for the permanent attachment of a rope (3) on one edge and, on the other edge, parts (11, 12, 13) permitting a detachable attachment of the rope. Also a method is disclosed.

Description

Method and device for making a rope hitch

The present invention relates to a method and a device for making a rope hitch, and particularly, but not solely, for making hitches that are used in a boating environment, for example, for placing fenders in the correct position on the side of a boat.

Because yachting and boating in general are very popular pastimes, and because many entities also use a boat for professional purposes, the number of boats world-wide is very large.

In harbour, most boats are secured at the stern to a buoy, post, or anchor, and at the prow to a jetty or similar structure.

So-called fenders, which are various types of elongated or barrel-like, air-filled components, made nowadays mainly from plastic-based materials, in which there is a suitable lug for attaching a cord or rope, are used between a boat and a jetty or another boat or some other structure. This rope is used to place the fender at a suitable height on the side of boat, by hitching the other end of the rope to the boat's structures, most usually to bar-like structures. Handrails and other similar structures, to which a rope can be hitched, are also widely used.

Fenders are used to protect boats against abrasion against a jetty caused by the rise and fall of the waves, though it is perhaps even more important to protect the boat from being damaged by other boats moored to it, for example, in boat-club harbours, where the boats are in practice nearly in contact with each others' sides. The use of a fender is thus conventional, and at least in boats statutorily subject to inspection, are part of the boat's minimum equipment, thus being compulsory.

In the simplest case, the fender's rope is only hitched to a rail. Depending on the type of knot, the fender will either remain in the desired position, or else there may be a danger of the knots opening and the position of the fender changing. However, two hands are always needed to make knots. In a heaving boat, it can be both difficult and even dangerous to keep two hands free to make a knot.

Of course, many different accessories have been invented for hitching a fender. From the wide range of these, examples can be given, which are set on the boat's rail, the rope being threaded along a specific groove, with securing taking place on the narrowing-slot principle. Such solutions are often very closely linked to the rail thickness, i.e. they are always adapted separately to a specific thickness. In addition, the use of only a narrowing-slot securing system is unreliable.

A numerous group of various types of accessory are also known, in which locking the rope in place takes place by turning a lever. Turning the lever squeezes the rope between two surfaces. Various forms of knurling, etc. can be using to increase adhesion. Firstly, the moving parts are difficult to use at the intended location, as they often require the use of both hands, while in the case of mechanically moving components there is always the risk of operating faults appearing.

Thus, the present invention is intended to create a method and device which are simple and functional and avoid the drawbacks of the prior art described above.

The aforementioned and other benefits and advantages of the present invention are achieved in the manner described as characteristic in the accompanying claims.

In the following, the invention is described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 , which shows an axonometric view of one well- regarded embodiment of the invention, in operating conditions. The method will come clear in connection of the description of the device.

Thus, how, by using the device 1 according to the invention, it is possible, for example, to secure a fender, which is not shown in the figure, but which is located attached to the continuation of the rope marked with the reference number 3', to a rail 2 with the aid of a rope 3. The device 1 according to the invention is formed of a piece made most usually of a plastic or metal material, which is described in greater detail hereinafter. The cross-section of the device is most usually a square or rectangle with rounded corners. The intention is to make it possible to grip the device securely.

As can be seen from the figure, the free end of the attachment rope comprises preferable, though in no way necessarily, a clip 4, with the aid of which the freely hanging end of the rope can be attached to the other portion of the rope. As can be seen from the figure, the attachment is based on a slot 5, on either side of which retaining tongues 6 and 7 open out in opposite directions.

When the device 1 is not being used to hitch a fender or similar, the attachment rope 3 runs through the holes 8 and 9 in the device, without running under the tongues on the opposite side of the device. In the embodiment shown, there is a knurled narrowing slot 10 between the holes 8 and 9, into which the rope can be pressed. In this situation, the locking need not be in any way perfect. However, the knurling of the internal walls of the slot 10 can be set an angle, in such a way that, when the device is in use holding a fender, the direction of the knurling causes the tension acting on the rope to tend to pull the rope towards the bottom of the slot 10 and into a tightening grip.

When using the device, the position of the fender is estimated, in such a way that the rope is moved by pulling it through the holes 8 and 9 in the direction in which it is estimated that the desired height of the fender will be achieved in the final situation. The device 1 is turned around the bar 2, in such a way that one or more loops are formed around the bar. Turning the device several times around the bar or similar will mean a tighter bond, because the second or subsequent can be tied to cross over the previous loop and thus further reinforce the attachment. After that, a movement turning the device is used to thread the rope under the three separate retainer tongues 11 , 12, 13, after which the rope loop formed around the bar 2 is tensioned, if this is necessary.

As the figure shows, the retainer tongues 1-13 open alternately in different directions. The tongues preferably protrude sufficiently for the open edge of the tongue to curve slightly "downwards", thus holding the rope suitable in place. The opening, which forms between the tongue and the body of the device, if

approximately the size of the thickness of the rope being used, so that the rope will not be able to unintentionally slip out through the said opening. The tension forces acting on the rope hold the rope automatically tightly on the roof of the tongue.

The figure also shows how, between the tongue 12 and the tongue 13, the rope 3 must make a relatively sharp bend, which is marked with the reference number 14. Together with the other properties, this ensures that, for example, the forces used when attaching a fender will not be sufficient to loosen the joint, but instead a joint created in this manner will be tight and permanent.

If the loop needs to be tightened, this is performed and then the free end of the rope can be attached to the portion of the rope travelling towards the fender, with the aid of a clip 4, so that it will not, for example, cause unnecessary noise at night if the wind makes it strike the structures of the boat.

The device according to the invention is suitable for use in connection with any rail or similar whatever. The thickness of the rail is of no importance. The device is suitable for use by both right and left-handed people. The device can be used from start to finish with one hand, or only with the assistance of the other hand for a short time. Above, the purpose is emphasized as being the hitching of a fender in the field of boating. However, it is self evident that the use is in no way restricted to the said purpose. Instead, the device according to the invention can be used, for instance, to attach a tent's guy ropes to surrounding trees, or similar objects. Tensioning is easy and the operation is also generally simple.

In addition, the device according to the invention can be used the other way round too. This refers to the end of the rope, which in the embodiment described above is attached to the fender, being hitched to a fixed object, in which case the rope loop shown in Figure 1 can be hitched to a hoisting loop or similar of an article to be lifted. By pulling on the free end of the rope, loads of a limited weight can be raised. In other respects, the operation corresponds entirely to that described above. By means of the invention, a reliable rope/fender locking is achieved. The locking is assisted by slot 10 on the side of the rope-attachment holes 8, 9 and, on the other hand, on the opposite side of the rope attachment, the relatively tight passage of the rope and especially the bend 14. The construction of the device according to the invention is simple, as it incorporates not a single moving part, making it essentially unbreakable and reliable in operation.

The device is shaped suitably to fit comfortably in the hand and shaping is also exploited in order to ensure certain matters. One such is, for example, the concavities 15 on both sides of the slot 10, into which a normal grip on the device will press the rope when desired, thus ensuring locking into the slot 0. This is important particularly during the initial operations for positioning a fender. The end of the device 1 facing towards the rail can also be shaped to be suitably curved to fit onto the rail, in cases in which the device is positioned in contact with the rail.

As previously stated, the manufacturing material is especially plastic or metal, or why not also wood or a similar material. A strong plastic can be regarded as the best alternative, due to its easy manufacturing technology and strength. Metal has its drawbacks, especially in cold conditions.

Suitable patterning can also be used in the device, in order to improve its appearance, advertisement, etc. can be printed on, or otherwise attached to it. Variations of the well-regarded embodiment of the invention described above are possible in many ways, while remaining within the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A method for making a rope hitch to attach a rope (3) in a loop to a rail (2), mooring ring, or similar structure, by using an elongated securing device (1), characterized in that the rope (3) is threaded trhrough holes (8, 9) on one longitudinal side of the securing device (1), a rope loop is formed around the rail (2) or the like and securing the rope (3) by retainer tongues (11 , 12, 13) facing alternately to opposite directions to keep the rope in place.

2. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the rope (3) is locked on the first mentioned side of the device (1) by the aid of a locking device (10) operating on the principle of a narrowing slot.

3. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that a sharp bend (14) is formed to the rope (3) between the retainer tongues (12, 13).

4. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the retainer tongues (11 , 12, 13) are formed in the vicinity of the free edge of the same narrower than further from the edge.

5. Means (1) for making a rope hitch to attach a rope (3) in a loop to a rail (2), mooring ring, or similar structure, and formed of an elongated piece (1) without any moving parts, in which the rope travels under retainer tongues (11 , 12) facing in opposite directions, characterized in that the device comprises securing parts (8, 9, 10) on one edge, for adjusting the length of the rope, and on the other edge a retainer tongue (13), which is a continuation of the retainer tongues (11 , 12), and the position of which forces the rope to make a sharp bend (14), in order to lock it into place.

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the rope loop permitting the attachment is formed as a loop external to the device, in the area between the parts (8-10) and (11-13).

7. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the securing parts (8, 9, 10) are formed of holes (8, 9) for running the rope through and a locking device between them, operating on the principle of a narrowing slot (10).

8. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the retainer tongues (1 1 , 12, 13) face in opposite directions alternately.

9. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that there is a concavity (15) in the area between each hole (8, 9) and the slot (10).

10. Device according to any of the above claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the retainer tongues (1 1 and 12) and (13) are located in the longitudinal direction of the device on different planes, so that there is a sharp bend (14) in the rope held by them.

11. Device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the walls of the slot (10) are knurled or otherwise patterned, in order to improve adhesion.

12. Device according to any of the above claims 5 to 11 , characterized in that the space at the free edge of the retainer tongue (11 , 12, 13) is more cramped than in the other areas within it.