GB2051218A - Cord Anchorage - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention concerns releasable cord anchorages, principally for use with elastic cord. These anchorages comprise a body 2 having an aperture or bore 3 through which the cord 12 is passed and reversed and a slot 4 in which the cord is retained so as to maintain reversal of the cord. The anchorage is provided with some means of securement to a surface or object and such means include eyelets, hooks and holes for screws. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cord Anchorage This invention concerns releasable cord anchorages, principally for elastic cord.

Various means are available for anchoring an elastic cord to an object but these are generally complicated to manufacture and hence expensive.

Such anchorages are often provided with a hook to which the cord is non-releasable fixed.

Releasable anchorages are known in which the cord is secured by means of a screw but these are relatively difficult to undo and also the screw can eventually cause the cord to fray.

The object of the present invention is to provide a releasable cord anchorage which is relatively simple and cheap to manufacture.

Accordingly this invention provides a releasable cord anchorage comprising a body having a means for reversing the cord therein, and means for retaining the cord such that reversal of the cord can be maintained.

According to a first preferred aspect, the present invention provides a releasable cord anchorage comprising a body having a bore communicating with a longitudinal slot, the sidewalls of which form a constriction, whereby a cord can be fed through the bore and trapped in the slot by the constriction, the cord entering the bore in one direction and emerging from an end of the slot in a generally opposite direction.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment the bore and the slot are in parallel relationship so that the cord will beturned through 1 800 where the slot and bore communicate. This arrangement results in a particularly secure grip on the cord.

It is preferred that the body of the anchorage of this invention is arranged so that only a small part of the cord passing through the anchorage is exposed. This has the advantage of reducing possible damage to the cord due to rubbing and the like.

The slot may be of the keyhole type, i.e. having convergent sides walls over part of the depth of the slot and then divergent towards the base of the slot. The inner ends of the convergent side walls form a constriction for trapping a cord.

The body of the anchorage may be constructed in any suitable way for securement to an object or surface. In one preferred embodiment the body is provided with an end portion having an eyelet therein by which it can be fastened to an object or surface or to which a hook may be attached.

In another preferred embodiment, the body is provided with a hook either as an integral part or as an added part. The anchorages according to the invention will usually be moulded from plastics material, such as polypropylene or nylon, in which case it will usually be convenient for the hook to be integral with the body. However, a metal hook could be secured to the body by a screw thread or by being moulded into the body.

Any other means whereby the hook is releasably secured to the body may, of course, be used.

A further preferred embodiment comprises two anchorages end to end for joining two cords. Such an anchorage conveniently has a transverse hole to facilitate feeding the cords through their respective bores into their respective slots.

Although the anchorages according to this invention will usually be moulded from plastics material, they may also be formed by pressing metal sheet or even extrusion, to form a bore and a slot having side walls which form a constriction, the bore and slot being generally in a side by side arrangement.

The anchorage of this invention may be used for a number of purposes. In particular, the hook embodiment may be used with elastic cord for securing luggage to luggage racks, tarpaulins on lorries or trampoline mats to the trampoline frame.

According to a second preferred aspect, the present invention provides a releasable cord anchorage comprising a body having a notch therein and an upturned end provided with means for retaining a cord, such that reversal of the cord at said notch can be maintained.

The notch may be formed in an end or side of the body, may be part of a through aperture in the body of the anchorage or may be accessible via a cut-out portion of the body or even a slot in the side.

The means for retaining the cord may be a slot whose sidewalls form a constriction for trapping the cord therebeneath. Any other suitable construction may, of course, be used for retaining the cord.

It has surprisingly been found that the notch is of great importance to the operation of the abovedescribed anchorage. The dimensions of the notch must be such that an elastic cord will be compressed when pressed into it. It is this compression coupled with reversal of the cord which anchors the cord.

A particularly useful anchorage embodiment is one provided with means for securement to a surface, such as holes in the body for screws or nails. Anchorages can be provided with other securement means such as hooks, integral or added.

According to a third preferred aspect the present invention provides a releasable cord anchorage comprising a body having an aperture between its ends and a slot in an upturned end, the sidewalls of the slot forming a constriction, whereby the cord can be fed through the aperture and trapped in the slot by the constriction.

The slot may be of the keyhole type, i.e. having convergent sidewalls over part of the depth of the slot and then divergent towards the base of the slot. The inner ends of the convergent sidewalls form a constriction for trapping a cord therebeneath.

Advantageously the cord is elastic to enhance the constrictive effect and the cord used has a larger section than that of the slot.

The aperture in the body of the anchorage will usually be circular or oval in shape but preferably forms a notch, say V-shaped, in the side therof closest to the slot. Such a notch has the advantage of providing an additional grip on a cord especially if accompanied by reversal of the cord.

The body of the anchorage may be constructed in any suitable way for securement to an object or a surface. In one preferred embodiment the body is provided with a portion having an eye therein by which it can be fastened to an object or surface said portion being opposite the upturned end.

In another preferred embodiment, the body is provided with a hook either as an integral part or as an added part. The anchorage according to the present invention will usually be made from sheet metal by pressing and bending techniques, in which case it will usually be convenient for the hook to be integral with the body. However, a hook could be secured to the body by a screw thread. Any other means whereby the hook is releasably secured to the body may of course be used e.g. attached by means of an eye.

A further embodiment comprises two upturned ends for joining two cord ends, not necessarily of the same cord. Such an anchorage has conveniently only a single aperture between the two upturned ends, the aperture preferably being provided with two notches, each adjacent a respective end of the body.

It may be convenient for some uses to provide an anchorage body having two slots side by side in the upturned end with a pair of apertures in the body one of each being associated with one of the slots. Alternatively a single aperture could be provided which is generally U-shaped, each arm of the U being associated with one of the slots.

This latter anchorage embodiment is particularly useful for securing a trampoline mat to a frame wherein pairs of cords are required to be secured at single points around the frame.

Such anchorages are advantageously made from metal to provide the required strength to withstand the wear and tear likely to be inflicted by use of a trampoline.

The anchorages of the present invention may also be used for many other purposes apart from in trampolines, such as for securing luggage to luggage racks, tarpaulins on lorries, and on yachts and the like where a releasable cord anchorage may be required.

The present invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1A shows a releasable cord anchorage end portion; Figure 1 B shows a part section of Figure 1 A; Figure 2 shows one preferred embodiment of a cord anchorage; Figure 3 shows a second preferred embodiment of a cord anchorage; Figure 4 shows a third preferred embodiment of a cord anchorage; Figure 5 shows a fourth preferred embodiment of a cord anchorage.

Figures 6a, b and c are views of a cord anchorage having an integral hook; Figure 7 shows a cord anchorage for joining two cord ends; Figure 8 shows an anchorage for joining two cord ends in a side by side arrangement; and Figure 9 shows an anchorage which is fixible to a surface.

Referring to Figures 1 A and 1 B, elastic cord on anchorage 1 comprises a body portion 2 through which passes a bore 3 which communicates with a longitudinal slot 4. A cord (not shown) is threaded through the bore 3 and turned back on itself and pulled and pressed into the slot 4. The slot 4 has a longitudinal constriction 6 formed by the edges 7 of the slot. The constriction 6 grips the cord. Also, a notch 8 is provided where the cord is turned back on itself and this also grips the cord. The notch may be of any suitable shape, such as V-shaped or square.

Figure 2 shows a cord anchorage having an end portion 10 provided with an eye 11 to which a hook or similar attachment means may be fastened or by which the anchorage may be fixed to an article. The anchorage of Figure 2 shows a cord 12 in position. In use, that part of the cord in the slot may be pulled to adjust the tension on that part of the cord entering the bore. However, the cord cannot be pulled the other way. Release of the cord is achieved by pulling the cord out of the slot.

Referring to Figure 3, there is shown a cord anchorage having an end portion in the form of a hook 14. As shown in Figure 3, the hook 14 is integral with the body 2 of the anchorage.

However, the hook may be made of a different material to the body and may be secured to the body in any suitable way, such as by a screw thread or by moulding it into the body when formed.

Figure 4 shows an anchorage for joinging two cords. The body 17 is generally rectangular in cross-section save for a cutout 1 8 between its ends. In the region of the cutout is a transverse hole 19 which communicates with a bore 20, and a slot 21 at each end of the body 17.

In use, a first cord is fed through one bore, up through the transverse hole, doubled up and pressed into the slot. The edges of the slot form a constriction 1 5 which grips the cord. A second cord is then secured to the other end of the body in a similar way. The cutout 1 8 is not essential but will facilitate deflection of the cords toward their respective slots.

The anchorages shown in Figures 1 to 4 will normally be moulded from a strong plastics material, such as polypropylene or nylon.

However; anchorages according to the invention may also be made from metal and such an anchorage is shown in Figure 5. This anchorage may be pressed from a single sheet of metal or extruded to provide a hole 22 and a slot 23 in parallel relationship. One end of the anchorage is provided with V-shaped slots 24 which will normally be cut in a metal sheet before pressing, or cut in desired lengths of extrusion. Such V shaped slots 24 may be provided in both ends of the anchorage.

The metal anchorage may be provided with means (not shown) for fixing it to a surface or article, such as a hook or an eye.

In use a cord is fed through the hole 22, doubled and pressed into the slot 23, a constriction 25 formed by the edges of the slot 23 trapping the cord.

The tension on the cord being anchored can be adjusted by removing the cord end from the slot, pulling it further through the anchorage bore and pressing it back into the slot. However, it has been found that adjustment of the cord can be made while still fixed in the anchorage by pulling on the end of the cord emerging from the slot. The cord, of course, cannot be pulled the other way.

Referring to Figures 6a, b and c, an anchorage 100 comprises a body 102 having an integral hook 103 at one end thereof and an upturned portion 105 at the other end thereof. The upturned portion 105 has a slot 107 whose sidewalls form a constriction 109 for gripping a cord 111. Between its two ends, the body has through the aperture 113 which has a notch 11 5 directed towards the slotted end of the body.

In use, an elastic cord is fed through the aperture 11 3 stretched and pressed into the slot 107. The cord may be pulled further through the slot 107 to adjust its tension but may not be pulled in the other direction thus provided a good anchorage for the cord. To release the cord, it is lifted upwards out of the slot.

Referring to Figure 7 an anchorage 11 9 comprises a body 120 having at each end an upturned portion 122,123 provided with a slot 124,125 whose sidewalls form a constriction 128 between its ends, each end of the aperture 128 forming notches 129, 130. Securing and releasing an elastic cord is the same as described for Figure 6.

Referring to Figure 8, an anchorage 140 has a body 142 which has a hole 143 through which is fitted a hook 1 45 at one end an upturned portion 147 at the other end. The upturned portion 147 has two slots 149,151 side by side. The sidewalls of the slot 149,151 form constrictions 1 53, 1 55 respectively. The body 142 has a transverse generally U-shaped aperture 157, the arms 1 59, 1 60 of the U pointing towards the slots 149,151 respectively. The ends of the arms 159, 1 60 form V-shaped notches 161, 162.

The procedure for securing and releasing elastic cords for the anchorage 140 is a described for Figure 6.

Referring to Figure 9, an anchorage 200 is made from a blank and bent into shape along two lines 210, 211 to provide three portions 202, 204 and 207 perpendicular to each other.

The portion 202 has a slot 203 whose sidewalls form a constriction 205. The portion 204 has a V-shaped notch 206 therein and the portion 207 has two holes 208 for securing the anchorage to a surface by nails, screws or the like.

An elastic cord can be secured by the anchorage 200 by passing the cord downwards towards the notch 206, into the notch 206 then upwards towards the slot 203 and finally pressing the cord into the slot 203, so that the cord passes through 1 800 in the notch 206.

Claims (29)

Claims

1. A releasable cord anchorage comprising a body having means for reversing the cord therein and means for maintaining reversal of the cord.

2. A releasable cord anchorage as claimed in claim 1 comprising a body having a bore communicating with a longitudinal slot, the sidewalls of which form a constriction, whereby a cord can be fed through the bore and trapped in the slot by the construction the cord entering the bore in one direction and emerging from an end of the slot in a generally opposite direction.

3. An anchorage as claimed in claim 2 wherein the bore and the slot are in parallel relationship.

4. An anchorage as claimed in claim 2 or 3 arranged so that a minimum amount of the cord is passing through the anchorage exposed.

5. An anchorage as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein the slot has convergent sidewalls over part of the depth of the slot and then divergent towards the base of the slot.

6. An anchorage as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 constructed for securement to an object or surface.

7. An anchorage as claimed in claim 6 wherein the body is provided with an end portion forming an eyelet.

8. An anchorage as claimed in claim 6 wherein the body is provided with a hook.

9. An anchorage as claimed in claim 8 wherein the hook is integral with the body.

10. An anchorage as claimed in claim 8 wherein the hook is releasable from the body.

11. A releasable cord anchorage comprising two anchorages as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 end to end for joining two cords.

12. An anchorage as claimed in claim 11 having a transverse hole between its end to facilitate feeding of the cords through their respective bores into their respective slots.

1 3. A releasable cord anchorage as claimed in claim 1 comprising a body having a notch therein and an upturned end provided with means for retaining a cord, such that reversal of the cord at said notch can be maintained.

14. An anchorage as claimed in claim 13 wherein the notch is formed in an end or side of the body.

1 5. An anchorage as claimed in claim 13 wherein the notch is part of an aperture through body.

1 6. An anchorage as claimed in claim 13 wherein the notch is accessible via a cut-out portion of the body or a slot therein.

1 7. An anchorage as claimed in claim 1 6 wherein the means for retaining the cord is a slot whose sidewalls form a constriction for trapping the cord therebeneath.

18. An anchorage as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 17 wherein the notch is of dimension such that an elastic cord will be compressed when pressed into the notch.

19. A releasable cord as claimed in claim 1 comprising a body having an aperture between its ends and a slot in an upturned end, the sidewalls of the slot forming a constriction, whereby a cord can be fed through the aperture and trapped in the slot by the constriction.

20. An anchorage as claimed in claim 20 wherein the aperture is circular or oval.

21. An anchorage as claimed in claim 21 wherein the aperture forms a notch in the side thereof closest to the slot.

22. An anchorage as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 21 having means for securement thereof to a surface or object.

23. A releasable cord anchorage as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 21 comprising two upturned ends for joining two cord ends, not necessarily of the same cord.

24. An anchorage as claimed in claim 23 having a single aperture between the upturned ends.

25. An anchorage as claimed in claim 24 wherein the aperture has a notch at each end.

26. An anchorage as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 22 wherein the body has a pair of side by side slots in an upturned end or ends and aperture associated with each slot.

27. An anchorage as claimed in claims 26 wherein the aperture is U-shaped each arm of the U being associated with one of the slots.

28. An anchorage as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 27 made from sheet metal by pressing and bending techniques.

29. A releasable cord anchorage substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.