US2222038A - Rope clip - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 19, 1940.

D. Vr'. LARKIN ROPE CLIP original Filed mit. 13, '1937 2 sheets-sheet 1 FIG.

FIG.

I'NVENTOR:

DENNIS F. LARKIN BY va I ATTORNEY.

, Nov. 19, 1940.. D LAWN 2,222,038.

ROPE CLIP Original Filed Oct. l5, 1937 2- Sheets-Sheet 2 vINVENTOR: DENNIS F. LARKIN BY l ATToRNsY Patented Nov. 19, 1940 Born our Dennis F. Larkin, San Francisco, Calif. j j

october 13, 1937, serial No. 168,739 Renewed April 6, 1940 Application 4 Claims.

` This invention relates to improvements in rope clips and more particularly tomeans for joining intersecting ropes.

In the fabrication of rope nets'and othery reticulate fabrics it has been the practice to form involved knots at the points of the intersecting ropes to prevent them slipping relative to each other. This method, limited as it is to hand tyl ing, requires Very skilled labor, is tedious, costly,

and lacking in uniformity. `In addition to the disadvantage of the extra length and weightinvolved in such knots, the knots themselves are subject to undue wear because of their bulk.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide mechanical means for joining theoverlying ropes of reticulate fabrics without knotting.

Another object is to clamp the overlying ropes within .a metal clip that is simple, compact, and easily applied by pressure.

Another object is to compress tightly the overlyingA ropes Within the clips to prevent slippage therein. f

Another-object is to reinforce the clipsfso that they will maintain the applied pressure.

Another object is to protect the junctureof the ropes against wear.

Another object is to avoid crystallization and resultant cracking of the clinching'lugs of the assembled rope clips. Y

Another object is to assure uniformity in the meshes of reticulate fabrics.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description progresses.

In this specification and the accompanying drawings, the invention is disclosed in its preferred form. But it is to be understood that it is not limited to this form because it may be embodied in other forms within the purview of the claims following the description.

In the two sheets of drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the juncture of two overlying ropes joined in accordance with this invention, two of the clinching lugs being broken away to better illustrate the underlying structure.

Fig. 2 is a side view o-f the same in vertical section taken along the line II-II, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an oblique section taken on the line III-III, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation detail of the crown plate. n

Fig. 5 is a plan viewfrorn above of the clinch plate.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail in vertical sec- (cl. 24.--123)V tion of one corner of the line III, Fig. 1.

Fig. 'Tis a similar view ofthe same with the associated portion of the crown plate in place and the bending of the clinchinglug in progress. 5 Fig. 8 is a plan View from above of the crown plate, modified bythe addition ofvnon-slipembossments. f

Fig. 9 is a cross section of the sameonthe line IX-IX, Fig. 8. 10

In detail the structure illustrated in ythe drawings, referring rst to- Fig. 5, comprises a rectangular metal plate having the groove Ick struck the clinch plate, taken on down into the body of the plate by formingvdies. v l

The groove has theserni-cyiindrical` necks 3, 4 at I l5 opposite ends thereof. The longer necks 5, 6 intersect the central portion of ,thev groove I at right angles thereto- The necks 5, 6 are elevatedy g above the bottom ofthe groove I. 'Ihe necks terminate in the flaring edges I, I5,l 9and i0 re- 20 spectively.

The four corners II, I2, I3, Iflof the' plate` are struck upward by dies, perpendicular 'to the plane I5 of the plate', to forrnclinching lugs. The triangular ends. I I', I2', I3', and I of the lugs are 25 bent outward, see Figs. 5, 6, '7;'v

'Ihe octagonal crown plate shownin Figs. 1, 2, and 4 is similar in every respect to the clinch plate, except that the clinching lugs II--Ili are omitted. `It comprises thefgroove lI with the 3o necks 3', 4. at its opposite ends. The necks 5',

6' intersect the central portion of the groove I. The necks are ared outwardly to form the belllike ends 'I', 8', 9', and It. The planes I5 are flanged upward to form the struts I I", I2", I3", 35 and I4 between the bell ends l', 3', 9', and IIJ of the crown plate.

In assembling the opposed plates, the rope A is laid in the groove I in the clinching plate, and the rope B overlies it in the'crossed groove I' in 40 the crown plate which is placed on top of the crossed ropes so that the four edges II", I2", I3, I4" lie within the four clinch lugsII-IA, with the rope B within the groove I which is transverse to the groove I in the clinch plate I5. 45

These lugs II'-I4 are then bent inward by lateral dies such as y, see Fig. 7. When the bending operation is partially effected, the dies y are backed away. The bending operation is completed by a clinching tool which is forced dOWn- 50 wardly against the clinching lugs from above under considerable pressure. `It is important that the pressure of the clinching tool be applied only against the angularly offset triangular planes II', I2', I3', and I4 of the lugs and direct 56 pressure on the bends be avoided. The resulting bends are of wide radius as shown in Fig. 3. This precludes destructive strains in the bent portions of the clinching lugs and cracking resulting from crystallization thereof.

This pressure forces the ropes A, B into their respective grooves and bends them across each other and also clamps the several necks 3, 4, and 5, 6 tightly around the ropes where they emerge from the clip. This clamping action and the friction between the overlying ropes prevents any relative movement between the ropes which4 are tightly compressed and completely iill the space within the clip, as shown in Fig. 2.

' The struts I I"-l4 assist in maintaining the compression of the rope bers clinched within the clip by preventing the flattening or distortion of the necks I-4 when the clinching die pressure is released. The struts also reinforce the clinched clip to prevent moisture swollen rope from opening the clinch or distorting the clip so that it is loose when the rope dries out. A further advantage of the vstrust is the enabling ofthe increasedradius of the bends H-l4, see Fig. 3, in clinching the lugs over these struts as discussed above. The struts, being locked within the bends of the clinching lugs, prevent the planes I5' from slipping from under the clinching lugs should heavy forces be applied to the ropes tending to force the clinch andI crown platesapart.

The bell shape ends of the several necks as at 'l-IU and '|Ill' prevent the edges of the clip fraying the ropes A-B where they extend from the clip.l

The combined plates are shaped so that their `respective grooves conform to the juncture of the ropes and are of such depth that they compress the juncture when the plates are finally joined. When twisted rope is under tensile strain it reduces in diameter. It is therefore necessary to put the juncture of the cross ropes A, B, under compression sufficient to prevent this'reduction of cross section within the clips. The struts II-I4" make this compression possible with thinner gage metal clips. Thicker metal tends to fracture at the clinch bends, often breaking away entirely during fabrication or later. Small cracks permit corrosion to further weaken the clinch.

The embossed tits lli-I6 may be provided as shown in Fig. 8 and 9 to increase the compression They also counteract the tendency of the twisted rope to rotate and unscrew from the clips while under tension and reduced in diameter.

Where the cross ropes join the side rope, the ends of the cross ropes can be cut oif flush with the neck 3 if desired, as indicated by the dotted line a: in Fig. 1.

'I'he clips can be used to fasten the cross rungs in rope ladders, drapers, and the like, by inserting the rung ends into the neck 4 and between the strands of the single rope before clinching the clip on to the rope.

In forming drapers, rope slings, etc., where it is desired to reinforce a sheet of canvas or screen with a reticulate net, the clinching lugs ll--M are forced up through the canvas before the crown plate is clinched therein.

The ingenuity of those skilled in the art in yapplying this clip to rope, wood and metal rods, wire, cable, etc., will suggest uses and advantages not herein stated, without departing from the spirit of the invention. i

Having thus described Vthe invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by letters patent is:

1. A clip such as described comprising a clinch plate and a crown plate having registering grooves formed thereon respectively; upstanding struts on said crown'plate; and lugs on said clinch plate enclosing said struts respectively.

2. lA clip such as described, comprising opposed plates each having registering grooves forming circular necks; bell-like flanges on the outer ends of said necks; upstanding struts on one of said plates between said necks respectively; and lugs on the opposite plate and enclosing said struts respectively.

3. A clip such as described comprising a pair of plates having registering grooves formed therein respectively; upstanding struts on the edges of one of said plates; and corner lugs on the opposite plate enclosing said strut in a curve of relatively wide radius.

4. A clip such as described comprising an octagonal crown plate; upstanding kstruts on said plate; a clinch plate havingr corners enclosing said struts and lying against the plane of said crown plate; and circular necks `formed by lsemicircular grooves in both of said plates between said struts respectively.

DENNIS F. LARKIN.

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