Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ROPE CLAMPING DEVICE
BACKGROUND
The present invention relates to the field of rope
clamping devices and is particularly concerned with a rope
clamping device for securing a rope in a loop configuration
adjacent to a free end thereof.
Various situations exist wherein a rope needs to be
releasably secured in a loop configuration adjacent to a free
end of the rope. One example of such situation occurs in the
field of car shelters wherein a sheet of substantially flexible
material is mounted over a rigid tubular frame. The lower
peripheral edges of the sheet often need to be secured to a
lower supporting post that is part of the frame.
Conventionally, the lower peripheral edges of the sheet are
provided with eyelets. Rope segments are thus threaded through
the eyelet and wrapped around the supporting post. This
procedure is both tedious and time consuming. Prior art rope
clamping devices have proven to be either inefficient,
unnecessarily complex or unergonomical.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide an improved adjustable rope clamping device. The rope
clamping device in accordance with the present invention will
secure a rope in a loop configuration adjacent to a free end
of the rope.
The rope clamping device in accordance with the present
invention allows a quick and ergonomical clamping and
~ unclamping action. The rope clamping device in accordance with
the present invention will conform to conventional forms of
manufacturing in order to be economically feasible.
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The rope clamping device in accordance with the present
invention provides a reliable locking action.
According to one embodiment of the invention, there is
provided a rope clamping device for releasably clamping a rope
in a substantially loop-shaped configuration adjacent to an end
section of the rope, the rope clamping device comprising: a
base member, the base member having a substantially elongated
base member body, the base member body having a first base
member end wall, a second base member end wall, a first base
member side wall, a second base member side wall and a base
member top surface, a closure member, the closure member having
a substantially elongated closure member body, the closure
member body having a first closure member end wall, a second
closure member end wall, a first closure member side wall, a
second closure member side wall and a closure member bottom
surface, the base member body and the closure member body
sharing a common longitudinal extent, an hinge means for
hingely connecting the first base member side wall to the first
closure member side wall, the hinge means allowing the closure
member to be pivoted between an open configuration wherein the
closure member is positioned aside relatively to the base
member and a closed configuration wherein the closure member
is positioned in an overlying relationship relatively to the
base member with the base member top surface abuttingly
contacting the closure member bottom surface, a locking means
fixed to the closure member and the base member for releasably
locking the closure member in the closed configuration, a rope
receiving channel extending longitudinally through the base
member body, from the first base member end wall to the second
base member end wall, the rope receiving channel having a
channel peripheral wall, an abutment shoulder extending
integrally and substantially radially from the channel
peripheral wall, the abutment shoulder being positioned
substantially adjacent to the first base member end wall, an
open-top base member groove formed in the base member top
surface, the base member groove extending longitudinally from
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the first base member end wall to the second base member end
wall, a set of rope gripping means for gripping the rope inside
the groove and preventing longitudinal displacement of the rope
in the groove when the closure member is in the closed
position, the rope gripping means extending from the closure
member bottom surface, whereby, the rope is adapted to be first
tied into a knot adjacent to the end section and thread through
the rope receiving channel with the knot abutting against the
abutment shoulder, with the closure member in the open
configuration, the rope is then adapted to be formed into a
loop adjacent to the knot and a rope segment is adapted to be
rested inside the base member groove, in order to releasably
lock the rope in the loop configuration, the closure position
is then pivoted, about the hinge means, to the closed position,
with the rope gripping means preventing longitudinal
displacement of the rope segment inside the base member groove.
Preferably, the locking means comprises a set of locking
pins extending integrally from the closure member bottom
surface and a corresponding set of pin receiving apertures
extending through the base member top surface, the set of
locking pins and the set of pin receiving apertures being
correspondingly configured and positioned so that when the
closure member is in the closed configuration, the set of
locking pins are snappingly inserted into said set of pin
receiving apertures for releasably locking the closure member
in the closed position.
Conveniently, the gripping means comprises a set of
locking protuberances extending integrally and outwardly from
the closure member bottom surface, the locking protuberances
being longitudinally spaced relatively to one another, the
locking protuberances being positioned so that when the closure
member is in the closed position, the locking protuberances are
substantially in register with the base member groove.
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Preferably, each one of the locking protuberances has a
locking protuberance upper surface, each locking protuberance
upper surface defining a set of relatively sharp locking
protuberance peripheral edges, the locking protuberance
peripheral edges being adapted to grip into the rope when the
closure member is in the closed configuration.
Conveniently, the gripping means further comprises a set
of base member groove recesses, the base member groove recesses
being formed in the base member groove, the base member groove
recesses being configured and positioned so that when the
closure member is in the closed position, the base member
groove recesses are substantially in register with the locking
protuberances, the base member groove recesses and the locking
protuberances cooperating to grip the rope inside the base
member groove by squeezing the rope in a substantially curved
configuration.
In one embodiment, each one of the base member groove
recesses defines a set of relatively sharp groove recess
peripheral edges, the groove recess peripheral edges being
adapted to grip into the rope when the closure member is in the
closed configuration.
Conveniently, the rope clamping device further comprises
a set of hollowing apertures extending through the base member
body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by
way of example, in reference to the following drawings in
which:
FIGURE 1: in a perspective view, illustrates a rope
clamping device in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention, the rope clamping device is
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shown clamping a rope which is used to secure the
lower peripheral edge of a shelter to a securing
post;
5 FIGURE 2: in a perspective view, illustrates a rope
clamping device in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention in its closed configuration;
FIGURE 3: in a perspective view, illustrates a rope
clamping device in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention in its opened configuration;
FIGURE 4: in a top view, illustrates a rope clamping
device in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention in its opened configuration;
FIGURE 5: in a transversal cross-sectional view taken
along arrows 5-5 of figure 4, illustrates a rope
clamping device in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention in its opened configuration;
FIGURE 6: in a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken
along arrows 6-6 of figure 4, illustrates a base
member part of a rope clamping device in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIGURE 7: in a longitudinal cross-sectional view,
illustrates a rope being clamped by a rope clamping
device in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention, the rope clamping device being in
its closed configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to figure 1, there is shown a rope clamping
device 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention. The rope clamping device 10 has a base member 12 and
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a closure member 13. The base member 12 and the closure member
13 share a common longitudinal extent.
The base member 12 comprises a substantially elongated
body. The base member body has a pair opposite base member
longitudinal end walls 14 and 16. The base member body also has
a pair of opposite base member side walls 18 and 20. The base
member body further has a base member lower surface 22 and a
base member rope gripping top surface 24.
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A rope receiving channel 26 extends longitudinally through
the base member 12 from the base member end wall 14 to the base
member end wall 16. The channel 26 extends along a longitudinal
axis indicated by the reference letter A in figure 6.
An abutment shoulder 28 extends integrally and inwardly
from the channel 26. The abutment shoulder 28 is positioned
adjacent to the base member end wall 14.
The intersection of the opposite base member side walls
18 and 20 with the base member rope gripping top surface 24
defines a pair of corresponding opposite base member top
surface longitudinal side edges 30 and 32.
An open top base member groove 34 is formed in the base
member rope gripping top surface 24. The base member groove 34
extends from the base member end wall 14 to the base member end
wall 16. The base member groove 34 is substantially centrally
located relatively to the base member top surface longitudinal
side edges 30 and 32.
The base member groove 34 has a substantially "U"-shaped
cross-sectional configuration. The base member groove 34 has
a groove bottom wall 36 and a pair of integrally extending and
outwardly upstanding groove side walls 38.
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A set of base member groove recesses collectively denoted
by the reference numeral 40 are formed in the groove bottom
wall 36. The base member groove recesses are longitudinally
spaced along the groove bottom wall 36.
A set of locking pins collectively denoted by the
reference numeral 42 extend integrally and substantially
perpendicular to the base member rope gripping top surface 24.
The locking pins 42 are positioned adjacent to the base member
top surface longitudinal side edge 32. Each locking pin 42 has
a locking pin spacing section 44 extending integrally from the
base member rope gripping top surface 24. Each locking pin 42
also has a locking pin gripping section 46 extending integrally
from the locking pin spacing section 44. The locking pin
gripping sections 46 have an external diameter which is greater
than the external diameter of the locking pin spacing sections
44.
The base member 12 is hollowed-out, at least to some
extent, by a pair of base member longitudinal cavities 48 and
50 formed in the base member rope gripping top surface 24. The
base member longitudinal cavity 48 is formed adjacent to the
base member top surface longitudinal side edge 32 while the
base member longitudinal groove 50 is formed adjacent to the
base member top surface longitudinal side edge 30.
The closure member 13 has a substantially elongated body.
The closure member body has a pair of opposite closure member
longitudinal end walls 52 and 54. The closure member body also
has a pair of opposite closure member side walls 56 and 58. The
closure member body further has a closure member upper surface
60 and a closure member rope gripping lower surface 62. The
intersection of the closure member side walls 56 and 58 with
the closure member rope gripping lower surface 62 defines a
pair of corresponding opposite closure member bottom surface
longitudinal side edges 64 and 66.
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A hinge means hingely connects the base member top surface
longitudinal side edge 30 to the closure member lower surface
longitudinal side edge 66. In a preferred embodiment, the hinge
means takes the form of a relatively thin hinge strip 68 made
of substantially flexible material. The hinge strip 68 has a
first longitudinal peripheral edge which merges with the base
member top surface longitudinal side edge 30 and a second
longitudinal peripheral edge which merges with the closure
member lower surface longitudinal side edge 66.
The hinge strip 68 allows the base member 12 and the
closure member 13 to be hingely pivoted relatively to one
another between a rope clamping device opened configuration
illustrated in figures 3, 4 and 5 and a rope clamping device
closed configuration illustrated in figures 1, 2 and 7.
In the rope clamping device opened configuration, the
closure member 13 is positioned aside relatively to the base
member 12 whereas in the rope clamping device closed
configuration the closure member 13 is in an overlying
relationship relatively to the base member 12. A prehension
tongue 7o extends integrally and substantially perpendicularly
from the closure member side wall 56. The prehension tongue 70
is positioned adjacent to the closure member lower surface
longitudinal side edge 64. The prehension tongue 70 is adapted
to facilitate the rotation of the closure member 13 relatively
to the base member 12.
A guiding protuberance 72 extends integrally and
substantially perpendicular to the closure member rope gripping
Lower surface 62. The guiding protuberance 72 has a
substantially elongated configuration which corresponds
substantially to the configuration of the base member
longitudinal cavity 48. The guiding protuberance 72 is
positioned adjacent to the closure member lower surface
longitudinal side edge 64. The guiding protuberance 72 is
configured and positioned so that when the rope clamping device
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is in its closed configuration, the guiding protuberance 72
will penetrate into the base member longitudinal cavity 48.
A set of pin receiving apertures 74 extend through the
5 closure member rope gripping lower surface 62. The pin
receiving apertures 74 are positioned adjacent to the closure
member lower surface longitudinal side edge 64. The pin
receiving apertures 74 are configured and positioned so that
when the rope clamping device 10 is in its closed position, the
10 pin receiving apertures 74 will receive the locking pins 42.
The pin receiving apertures 74 have a general configuration
which corresponds substantially to the general configuration
of the locking pins 42.
Each pin receiving aperture 74 thus has a section
configured and sized to receive a corresponding locking pin
spacing section 44 and a section configured and sized to
receive a corresponding locking pin gripping section 46.
Each pin receiving aperture 74 is adapted to cooperate
with a corresponding locking pin 42 in snappingly locking the
rope clamping device 10 in its closed configuration.
A set of locking protuberances 76 extends integrally and
outwardly from the closure member rope gripping lower surface
62. Each locking protuberance 76 has a generally block-shaped
configuration defining a set of peripheral locking edges 78.
The intersection of the bass member groove recesses 40 with the
groove bottom wall 36 defines a set of groove locking edges 80.
The locking protuberances 76 are positioned so that when the
rope clamping device 10 is in its closed configuration, each
locking protuberance 76 is in register with a corresponding
base member groove recess 40.
In use, the rope clamping device 10 is adapted to clamp
a rope such as the rope indicated by the reference numeral 82,
in a loop configuration adjacent to a free end thereof.
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In order to form a loop configuration such as the loop 84
of figure 7, a rope knot 86 is first tied in the rope 82
adjacent a first rope free end 88. A second rope free end 90
is then threaded into the first channel 26 from the base member
5 end wall 16 to the base member end wall 14. The rope 82 is then
pulled through the first channel 26 until the knot 86
abuttingly contacts the abutment shoulder 28. The abutment
shoulder 28 prevents the rope free end 88 from being pulled-out
of the channel 26 through the aperture formed in the base
10 member end wall 14 by the channel 26.
The rope 82 is then bended in order to form the loop 84.
With the rope clamping device 10 in its opened configuration,
a segment of the rope 82 which extends between the loop 84 and
the second rope free end 90 is abuttingly rested inside the
rope receiving channel 26. The closure member 13 is then
pivoted about the hinge strips 68 in an overlying relationship
relatively to the base member 12. The segment of the rope 82
which abuttingly rests atop the rope receiving channel 26 is
thus sandwiched between the base member 12 and the closure
member 13.
As illustrated in figure 7, the locking protuberances 76
are adapted to deform the rope 82 and to bias the rope 82 into
the base member groove recesses 40. Consequently, the rope 82
will be engaged by the peripheral locking edges 78 of the
locking protuberances 76 and the groove locking edges 80 of the
base member groove recesses 40. The locking protuberances 76
and the base member groove recesses 40 are thus adapted to
cooperate in preventing the longitudinal axial displacement of
the segment of the rope 82 which is sandwiched between the base
member 12 and the closure member 13.
It should be noted that although the rope clamping device
10 in accordance with the present invention is adapted to work
with any suitable rope which fits into the first channel 26 and
the base member groove 34, the rope clamping device 10 is
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particularly efficient with ropes having a substantially
flattened configuration. For example, ropes having a
substantially oval cross sectional configuration have proven
to be particularly well suited for working with the rope
clamping device 10.
The pivoting of the closure member 13 in an overlying
relationship relatively to the base member 12 also allows for
the insertion of the locking pins 42 into the pin receiving
apertures 74. When the closure member 13 is squeezed against
the base member 12, the locking pins 42 and the pin receiving
apertures 74 cooperate in locking the rope clamping device 10
in its closed configuration.
In order to release the locking action of the rope
clamping device l0, a pressure is exerted on the prehension
tongue 70 so as to rotate the closure member 13 away from the
base member 12. By exerting a pressure which biases the closure
member 13 away from the base member 12, the rope clamping
device 10 is moved back to its opened configuration and the
rope 82 can be withdrawn from the rope receiving channel 26.
A typical type of application wherein a rope clamping
device such as the rope clamping device 10 in accordance with
the present invention can be used is illustrated in figure 1.
In this typical application, the rope clamping device 10
secures the rope 82 in a loop configuration 84. The rope 82 is
adapted to secure the lower edge of a car shelter skirt 92 to
a securing post 94. The rope 82 is thus threaded to an eyelet
96 provided in the lower peripheral edge of the skirt 92. The
rope 82 is also wrapped around the post 94.
