AU767244B2 - A cord tie-off fitting - Google Patents

Description

P0 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

r Name of Applicant: Hills Industries Limited Actual Inventor: Trevor William Lambert Address for Service: MADDERNS, 1st Floor, 64 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Invention title: "A CORD TIE-OFF FITTING" Details of Associated Provisional Application No: PQ 3102 dated 27 September 1999 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us.

PatAU131 This invention relates to a cord tie-off fitting, and in particular to a fitting which enables a cord to be easily and quickly secured to the fitting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The main application for the invention is in relation to clothes line frames where a single cord is threaded back and forth between two side arms with the ends of the cord tied off or secured to the side arms. Although this is the main use for the invention, there will be numerous other applications to which the invention would be equally suited.

Clothes line frames normally comprise a square or rectangular tubular frame where a pair of opposing sides have a series of spaced apertures through the tubes. A cord is secured at one end of a side and extends to the opposite side. It is threaded through a corresponding aperture and then through the next aperture in that same side so that the cord can then extend back across the frame to the other side. This threading process is repeated until there are the required number of cords extending across the frame. The end of the cord is then placed through the remaining aperture and tied to the tube.

A plastic coated multi-strand rope is the cord that is normally used. The load applied to such cord can result in a considerable stretching and loosening of the cords. This is unsightly and using the current tie-off procedure, is inconvenient to easily re-tension the line.

Accordingly, it is an aim of this invention to provide a cord tie-off fitting which enables the cord to be readily released from the fitting to thereby allow retensioning of the cord throughout the frame. The fitting is designed to allow the cord to be quickly and easily reconnected to the tie-off fitting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention is a cord tie-off fitting used to releasably hold a cord with respect to a frame member wherein said frame member has an aperture through which said cord passes, said tie-off fitting including: a retaining band that holds said cord tie-off fitting to said frame member, a body attached to said band having an aperture through which said cord passes, and at least one elongate recess into which said cord locates to releasably hold said cord with respect to said body.

Preferably, the fitting has the cord forming at least one right angle bend between the aperture and the cord retainer. This results in the tensile force within the cord being applied normal to the aperture. Preferably, the elongate recess applies a compressive force to the cord and prevents movement of the cord through the fitting.

°In the clothes line application described above, the cord can easily be released 0 from the cord tie-off fitting and the excess cord pulled out so that it is re-tensioned within the frame. The cord can then be quickly and easily re-secured to the tie-off fitting.

The body may comprise a fitting which is separately attached to a member to enable the cord to be secured with respect to that member. The body may be moulded from a polymeric material.

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Preferably, the retaining band in combination with the body creates a loop or S• ring-like member that can be placed over a bar or tube. Both the body and the retaining band can be shaped so that the resultant opening is the same shape as the cross-section of the bar or tube which may be round, square or elliptical. The retaining band may also be provided with an aperture that aligns with the aperture in the body so that the cord can be placed directly through the fitting and the bar or tube.

The elongate recess is preferably formed within the body and comprises a transverse slot across the body. The slot may be shaped so that the cord is a tight fit within the slot so that a compressive force is in turn applied to the cord.

The elongate recess may be spaced from the aperture so that there is a short span of cord from the opening of the aperture to the cord retainer. The body may be provided with a combination of recesses and/or guides which accommodate the short length of cord between the opening of the aperture and the elongate recess.

As an alternative to a body combined with a retaining band, the body may be alternatively fixed to the member by other means such as threaded fasteners or rivets. In addition, the body may be incorporated within the member to which the cord is secured. For example, the body may form a portion of a bar or tube within which an aperture and a cord retainer is formed.

*o The body may also be formed with additional recesses or channels for storing 2 0 the free end of the cord that extends from the elongate recess to avoid the cord end hanging freely from the tie-off fitting. A short length of cord can be used to enable the required tension to be manually applied. This short length of cord will need to be of sufficient length to enable it to be grasped by hand. This length will be in excess of the length of cord that will extend from the aperture and be held within the elongate "25 recess. The further recesses or channels will also result in additional right angle bends within the cord. Each additional right angle bend further assists in locking the "l cord to the tie-off fitting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order for the invention to be fully understood, a preferred embodiment will now be described. However, it should be realised that the invention is not to be confined or limited to the exact features of this embodiment. This embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 shows a side view of the tie-off fitting, Fig 2 shows a plan view of the tie-off fitting, Fig 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the tie-off fitting about line A-A as shown in Fig 2, and Fig 4 shows a perspective view of a tie-off fitting on a tubular frame member with an attached cord.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The tie-off fitting 10 comprises a ring-like fitting moulded from polymeric material. The body 11 has formed within it an aperture 12 and a cord retainer 13.

Also formed in the body 11 are a pair of channels 14. A retaining band 15 extends from the cord retainer 13 to the other end of the body adjacent one of the channels 14.

This produces a ring-like structure which can be located over a tubular member.

00.0 The tubular member (shown in Fig 4) has an aperture in each wall through which a cord 16 passes. The aperture 12 in the body 11 aligns with one of the apertures in the tube. The retaining band 15 also has an aperture 17 that aligns with the other aperture in the tube. This enables the cord 16 to pass through both the tieoff fitting 10 and the tube.

A channel 18 extends from the aperture 12 to one side of the tie-off fitting The depth of channel 18 equals the thickness of the cord 16 so that the cord is held recessed below the outer surface of the body 11.

The thickness of the body 11 varies across its width. A thicker centre portion as shown in Fig 3 is bordered on either side by flanges 20. The channel 18 forms a gap in the flange 20 so that the cord 16 can locate underneath the flange 20 and be out of view.

The elongate recess 13 comprises a slot 22 that extends across the thicker portion of the body 11. The flanges 20 also extend either side of the slot 22. There are gaps in the flanges 20 which enable the cord, which is beneath the flange 20 to locate within the slot 22.

The slot 22 and the opening of slot 22 is narrower by comparison to the diameter of the cord 16. This results in a compressive force being applied to the cord 16 when it is located within the slot 22. This in turn applies a retaining force to the cord 16, which in combination with right angle bends of the cord 16 at the exits of aperture 12 and channel 18 and at the entrance to slot 22, result in the cord being securely held. The upper opening of the slot 22 is also narrowed to further assist retention of the cord 16.

Channels 14 are used to retain the free end of the cord that extends out of the cord retainer 13. They also result in furtherright angle bends of cord 16 which assist in locking the cord 16 to the tie-off fitting 10. Clearly, the length of cord contained within the slot 22 and that extends from the slot 22 to the aperture 12 would be of o• insufficient length to enable it to be grasped to apply the necessary tension to the cord 16. A longer length of cord is required to enable it to be firmly grasped. This additional length is accommodated by threading it through the first channel 14 and then through the second channel 14. The cord 16 locates beneath the flange 20 as it extends from the end of the slot 22 to the first channel 14. The cord 16 is also located beneath a flange 20 as it extends from the first channel 14 to the second channel 14.

This then enables the additional length of cord to be conveniently stored and held out 25 of view.

Fig 4 shows a schematic arrangement of a tie-off fitting 10 on a tubular frame member. The figure shows the path taken by the cord 16.

Once the required tension is applied to the cord 16, it is moved into the channel 18 and located beneath the flange 20. The cord is then forced into the slot 22 which securely holds and maintains the tension within the cord 16. The free end of the cord 16 can then be threaded into the first and second channels 14 and pulled tight so that the cord is held beneath the flanges 20. Any excess length of cord can be trimmed as required.

If the cord 16 requires re-tensioning, then it is an easy process to remove the cord 16 from the channels 14, disengage the cord from the slot 22 which then enables the cord to be pulled through the apertures 12 and 17. The cord is then reaffixed as described above.

Clearly, the invention provides a quick and convenient means for retensioning clothes lines in rectangular frames. There will also be other applications for the invention where the features of the tie-off fitting 10 are equally suited.

o• 0. 0 **0 a

Claims (18)

1. A cord tie-off fitting used to releasably hold a cord with respect to a frame member wherein said frame member has an aperture through which said cord passes, said tie-off fitting including: a retaining band that holds said cord tie-off fitting to said frame member, a body attached to said band having an aperture through which said cord passes, and at least one elongate recess into which said cord locates to releasably hold said cord with respect to said body.

2. A cord tie-off fitting according to claim 1 wherein said retaining band is circular.

3. A cord tie-off fitting according to claim 1 wherein said retaining band is elliptical. o.

4. A cord tie-off fitting according to claim 1 wherein said retaining band is square.

A cord tie-off fitting according to claim 1 wherein said retaining band is rectangular.

6. A cord tie-off fitting according to any one of the preceding claims wherein .25 said body is on the outer surface of said retaining band so that it can be located on o006 one side of said frame member. o• SS

7. A cord tie-off fitting according to claim 6 wherein said retaining band has a first aperture that aligns with the aperture in said body and a second aperture opposite said first aperture.

8. A cord tie-off fitting according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said elongate recess is substantially normal to the axis of the aperture in said body.

9. A cord tie-off fitting according to claim 8 wherein the path of said cord between the aperture in said body and said elongate recess changes direction at least twice.

A cord tie-off fitting according to claim 9 wherein said path of said cord turns through 90 degrees upon exit from the aperture of said body.

11. A cord tie-off fitting according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the opening of said elongate recess is narrower than the diameter of said cord.

12. A cord tie-off fitting according to claim 11 wherein said cord is compressed and wedged into said elongate recess.

13. A cord tie-off fitting according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said elongate recess is spaced from the aperture in said body and further comprising a first flange that extends between said elongate recess and a position towards the aperture in said body, said cord locating under said flange. o:eo

14. A cord tie-off fitting according to claim 13 further comprising a channel extending from the aperture in said body to said first flange. 25

15. A cord tie-off fitting according to claim 14 further comprising a second flange 0000 on the side of said body opposite to said first flange so that said cord is located below said second flange as it exits said elongate recess. .0O0 S

16. A cord tie-off fitting according to claim 14 further comprising at least one channel spaced from and parallel to said elongate recess for storage of the end of said cord.

17. A cord tie-off fitting according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said frame member is part of a clothes-line frame and said cord comprises the line on said clothes-line.

18. A cord tie-off fitting substantially as hereindescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 10 th day of September, 2003. Hills Industries Limited By its Patent Attorneys MADDERNS .00. o 0* 0 a go** a o gOO• •go 0°00°• •go o•OO 0•o o