Field of the nvention

The present invention relates to a cleating device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cleating device suitable for mooring boats.

Background of the Invention

Conventional cleats known in the art suitable for mooring boats generally include the double horned-type which are fastened to a deck with fasteners between the horns thereof.

Generally, when fastening a rope or the like, the rope must be placed through the opening between the horns of the cleat and subsequently wrapped about the horns. The rope is then knotted to securely fasten the same to the cleat.

Although such cleats are useful, they are particularly inconvenient and time consuming during a mooring procedure. A further disadvantage is evident from the fact that two people are generally required during a mooring procedure when the known cleats are used.

Further, circular cleats are used in marinas and the like for mooring. Such cleats require that a user knot the rope thereto. It is apparent that these cleats share common disadvantages to the horn-type cleats.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a novel cleating device suitable for mooring boats.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a cleating device comprising: an elongated length of generally non- flexible material having first and second generally straight segments, the segments being in an opposed coplanar diagonally oriented relationship; and at least one transversely spaced loop, integrally connected to the first and second straight segments whereby upon placement of a flexible elongated length about the at least one loop, the length is releasably retained.

In a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of connecting a length of flexible material to a cleat, the improvement comprising the steps of: providing a cleating device having at least one transversely spaced apart loop and spaced apart ends; positioning a looped flexible elongated length of material between the ends and about the at least one transversely spaced apart loop; and pulling the loop of flexible material about the transversely spaced apart loop to thereby engage the flexible material with the spaced apart loop.

In another object of the present invention there is provided a cleating device for retaining a fixed or non-fixed looped flexible elongated length about the cleating device.

In a further object of the present invention there is provided a- cleat which does not require that a rope or the like be fastened thereto by knots.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cleat which is lightweight and simple in construction.

In preferred features of the present invention, the device is preferably made of generally inflexible material of a suitable elongated length. Such suitable materials include, for example, steel, aluminum, iron or alloys. In addition, synthetic resinous materials, e.g., PVC, ABS and other suitable thermoset or thermoplastic materials having adequate strength may be employed. Further to this end, composite materials may be used.

The elongated length may be formed into the looped structure by suitable methods known in the art. One such method includes wrapping the elongated length about a former. Further, the length may be bent into shape by making use of a wire bending device.

The device preferably further includes vertical and integral segments to elevate the loop of the device and support the same.

Depending upon the application of use, the opposed vertical segments may be generally parallel to the vertical axis of the loop or between about 0' and about 40" off the vertical axis.

The inclination of the straight segments to the vertical axis of the loop has been found to be of importance. Any variation substantially greater than the 40° offset results in depreciated

retaining capacity of a rope or the like about the device.

The device of the present invention further has a greater scope of application than the arrangements known in the art. It is evident that the device may be used to attach the leash of a dog thereto, and in other applications tying down a tarp to a truck-box, hanging up life jackets in a boat, etc.

For appearance and corrosion purposes, the device may include a suitable protective coating and may, for example, be electroplated with a corrosion resistant suitable metal, e.g., chromium. Alternatively, the device may be coated electrostatically with suitable polymers or mixtures thereof.

Typically, the diameter of the loop structure will vary depending upon the application; additionally, the transverse spread of the loop will vary with the diameter thereof. A typical range of transverse spread is from about 0.7 cm to about 2.5 cm or longer.

This range of transverse spread prevents a rope or the like retained by the device from knotting thereon.

The device of the present invention may be attached to a substrate by suitable means, e.g., welding, fastening, etc. such that the loop is elevated from the surface of ithe substrate to facilitate placement of a rope or the like about the loop.

In an alternate embodiment, the device may be mounted to a base member.

In a further alternate embodiment, the loop may be eccentric for different applications.

In yet another alternate embodiment, the straight segments of the device may include integral angularly inclined extensions for bonding, clamping, etc. to a substrate.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Having thus generally described the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention in use;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top view of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a front view of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2;

Figure 4A is a side view of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment;

Figure 6 is a side view of the device of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the loop of material as positioned about the device of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments *

Referring to Figure 1, shown is a view of the cleating device of the present invention 10 in use for mooring a boat 30 to a deck 40. A flexible elongated length 26 extending from the boat 30 is placed about the cleating device 10 mounted to deck 40.

Referring now to Figure 2, shown is an enlarged perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention, with the. objects in Figure 1 removed for clarity purposes, and the flexible length of material as positioned thereabout generally indicated by numeral 10. Generally, the device comprises an elongated continuous length of suitable generally non-flexible material, e.g., steel, aluminum, iron or alloys such as brass etc., or suitable composite materials. The elongated length preferably is formed into a transversely-spread helical continuous loop 12 which includes downwardly extending and generally vertical segments 14 and 16, being in vertical and spaced apart parallel planes. The segments 14 and 16 are preferably opposed, diagonal and terminate, in this embodiment, with generally straight fastener receiving means 18, e.g., integral loops which receive fasteners 19. The loops 18 are preferably generally coplanar and perpendicular to the plane of loop 12 and outwardly spaced therefrom. In a preferred form, the elongated length is circular in cross-section, however, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the elongated length may' well be square, triangular, etc. in cross-section.

The present invention may be manufactured by known methods in the art, for example, by employing wire bending apparatus or, further to this, by wrapping the elongated length around a suitable former.

The segments 14 and 16 preferably are sufficient in length to slightly vertically elevate the looped portion 12 from the plane in which the receiving means 18 reside. In this way, a rope or other flexible elongated length of material may be placed thereunder or therebetween the loop 12 for engagement therewith. This will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter.

Referring now to Figure 3, shown is a top view of the device 10, more clearly illustrating the transverse spread of the loop 12 generally indicated by numeral 5 in the figure. It is preferred that the spread of the loop 12 be from about 0.5 cm to about 2.5 cm and preferably between about 0.7 cm and 1.5 cm. Applicant has found that a greater transverse spread of loop 12 is ineffective for retaining a flexible looped length about the loop 12.

Referring now to Figure 4, shown is a front view of the device 10. This figure illustrates the extent to which the generally straight members 14 and 16 are offset from the vertical axis of the loop 12. It is preferred that the variation in offset to the vertical be from about 0 * to about 40*, and preferably from about 20' to about 35". Figure 4A illustrates this in side view. Additionally, as in the transverse spread of the loop, Applicant has found that this requirement, if exceeded, alters the

functioning of the cleating device, and further presents difficulty for a user to slip a looped- εegment of a flexible length thereunder or therebetween for fastening therewith when the device is affixed to a substrate. Referring to the loop 12 of the device 10, it will be understood that the diameter will vary depending upon the application of the device.

Referring now to Figure 5, shown is a perspective of an alternate embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the fastener receiving means 18, in the previous embodiment are eliminated and replaced with downwardly projecting, angularly inclined and diagonally oriented opposed mounting members 20, which permit the device 10 to be welded, etc. to a substrate or to a base plate 17 which also may be fastened to a substrate by suitable fastening means 19. The base plate 17 preferably includes diagonally oriented apertures 21 which preferably extend through the plate 17 and receive the diagonally oriented mounting members 20 of the device 10. The plate 17 includes, on a top surface thereof, a frusto-conical skirt 23, about each of the apertures 21 for enhanced strength of the mounting members positioned therein. In this arrangement, the members 20 may be suitably fastened within the plate 17 by, for example, welding on the underside thereof. Further, the loop 12 in this embodiment preferably includes an inwardly projecting dimple 22. The dimple 22 acts as a stop to limit the travel of a flexible length engaged about the loop 12. This feature is augmented by an integrally associated portion of base material projecting upwardly therefrom which preferably registers in alignment with the axis

and bottom of the loop 12. This prevents the loop of flexible material from slipping while about the loop 12 since the passage between the loop 12 and base 17 is slightly restricted. Additionally, the segments 14 and 16, in this embodiment, are angled from the spaced apart vertical plane of Figures 2 to 4 to an angular plane inclined to the vertical plane. This is more clearly illustrated in Figure 6. It is important to note, however, that the spread parameters of the loop, and vertical offset angle parameters of the segments 14 and 16 are applicable to this embodiment.

In use, a user simply places a looped portion of a flexible length of material under or between the loop 12 of the device 10 and pulls the same upwardly. The result is that the loop of material is engaged about the loop 12 in such a manner that it can be moved thereon without knotting. The reverse procedure releases the loop of material from the device or, when the flexible length has a loop formed in a slip knot formation, the length may be removed by simply pulling the length to release the knot. The loop of material as positioned about the device is illustrated in Figure 7. The flexible conduit 26 shown in Figure 7 may include a loop, or the user may simply form one from the length thereof. The loop is preferably placed under or between the loop 12 of the device 10 and subsequently upwardly pulled thereon. As a result, the looped length 26 assumes an open ended figure 8 pattern about the loop 12 of the device. As such, this pattern cannot become entangled or knotted regardless of how tight the flexible length is pulled.

Clearly, one can see the advantages of such a device. This may not only be used for boat mooring, but also for engaging the leash of an animal, etc. It will be understood that although a generally circular loop of the device has been illustrated, the loop may be eccentric, i.e., distorted to the point, for example, of being elliptical.

The device may further include a suitable coating to reduce corrosion, or alternatively may be electroplated with a suitable metal, e.g., chromium by conventional methods. Alternatively, the device may be electrostatically coated with a suitable polymer mixture thereof e.g. a polyester polyurethane blend.

As those skilled in the art would realize, these preferred illustrated details can be subjected to variation, without affecting the function of the illustrated embodiments.

Although embodiments of the invention have been described above, it is not limited thereto and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications form part of the present invention insofar as they do not depart from the spirit, nature and scope of the claimed and described invention.