There are now many devices in the art which allow a rope to be adjusted and secured in position. In marine applications, the most common device used is a cleat of which there are numerous types and variants. In most instances, when constructed of appropriate materials of suitable design, the known deviced are generally satisfactory.

It will be appreciated, however, that by their very nature, cleats in order to function satisfactorily, must be permanently affixed to a structure. Thus in the case of sailing craft the majority of sheets and halyards being disposed in largely fixed positions, will be provided with cleats and/or other securing means which are attached to the structure of the craft. There are, however, situations where it may be desired to secure a rope in position but there is no cleat or other fixed device available to secure the rope. In these situations, generally the rope will be adjusted in length and passed around a convenient fixture on this craft and knotted. Clearly, if subsequent adjustment is required, or if one wishes to release the rope quickly, it is inconvenient and generally slow.

The present inventor has recognised that a need exists for a device which could be used in the latterly described situation which would allow a rope to be adjusted in length, secured in position and subsequently easily adjusted and secured as required.

The present invention consists in a rope securing device comprising a shank portion having disposed therein a channel adapted to slidingly accept a rope,and a curved portion which is resiliently biassed towards the shank and

with the shank defines an opening adapted to accept the rope into a substantially circular part of the opening, said circular part having an aperture into the channel and a diameter sufficient to urge a portion of said rope disposed therein into frictional cooperation with that portion of the rope disposed in the channel.

In use, a rope is passed through the channel of the device and around the fixture to which it is to be secured. The length of the rope is then adjusted appropriately and a portion of the rope is forced against the bias of the curved portion into the circular part of the device and into cooperation with that part of the rope in the channel which projects through the aperture. The rope is then secured in position by virtue of the frictional forces existing between the two cooperating portions of the rope. If subsequent adjustment of the length of the rope is required, or the rope is to be removed from the fixture, the portion of the rope in the circular part may be readily pulled out of the opening, the length adjusted and the rope resecured as described. The advantage of the present invention lies in the ease with which a rope may be secured in position, released, adjusted in length and resecured if required.

Thus, it will be seen that use of this device avoids the need for an individual to be able to tie effective knots.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that a single device will only be suitable for a narrow range of rope thickness. Since the channel is required to slidingly accept a rope, the effective width of the channel will be determined by the thickness of the rope. Preferably the channel will be circular in cross section thus ensuring that a rope, being generally circular in cross section, is able to slide easily along the channel. Similarly, the circular part of the opening will

have a diameter determined by the thickness of the rope. However, other factors must be considered in selecting the optimum diameter. Thus the magnitude of the frictional force between the portion of rope in the channel and the portion of the rope in the circular part will depend on the magnitude of the force exerted by the circular part and the effective area of contact between the two portions of the rope. Preferably, the optimum diameter of the circular part and the size of the aperture will be determined experimentally.

In order to permit the rope to enter the circular part, the opening must be dimensioned to accept the rope. It is preferred that the dimension of the opening is less than the diameter of the rope such that when a portion of the rope is caused to enter the opening, the curved portion will be forced outwards against the resilient bias until the rope enters the circular part, whereby the curved portion will return to its normal position. Thus, a portion of the rope will be retained in the circular part.

It is preferred that the length of the shank and the curved portion are substantially equal. However, the absolute length of each is not critical provided that sufficient rope is retained within the device to urge the two portions of the rope into frictional cooperation.

In order to assist in the entry of the rope into the opening, a lower end of the curved portion is provided with an edge that curves away from the shank. The benefit of this arrangement is that when a rope is placed into the opening, the curved portion will tend to be urged away from the shank, thereby allowing entry of the rope into the opening.

The device may be formed from any suitable material having the requisite strength. Preferably, however, the device is formed from a synthetic plastics material. In a

particularly preferred embodiment the device is formed from nylon in an injection moulding process.

Hereinafter by way of example only is a preferred embodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a device of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of a device of the present invention; and Fig. 3 is a bottom elevational view of a device of the present invention.

The rope securing device 10 comprises a shank portion 11 having a circular channel 12 disposed therein. A curved portion 13 has an opening 14 containing a circular part 15. The diameter of the channel 12 is sufficient to slidingly accept a rope 16. In order to ensure that the portion of the rope disposed in the circular part is in optimal frictional cooperation with that part of the rope 16 which projects through the aperture 17, the diameter of the circular part and the dimensions of the aperture have been experimentally determined. Similarly, the dimension of the opening 18 has been determined in accordance with the degree of bias applied by the curved portion 13. In the present embodiment, the dimension of the opening 14 will permit the rope to enter the opening by opposing the bias until the rope enters the circular part 15 and is retained there by the curved portion 13 returning to its normal state of bias.

In use, a rope 16 is passed through the channel 12. The rope is then passed around a fixture. Once the length of the rope is adjusted, a portion of the rope is caused to enter the opening 14 against the bias of the curved portion 13 and thence into the circular part 15. Thus, the portion of rope disposed in the circular part is brought into frictional cooperation with the portion of

the rope 16 projecting through the aperture 17. The curved portion 13 then returns to its normal state of bias, thereby retaining the rope securely in position. Adjustment to the length of the rope may be accomplished by pulling on the rope until it overcomes the bias applied by the curved portion 13, wherein the rope is released. The length may then be adjusted and the rope resecured in a manner herein described.

The described embodiment finds particular use in securing in position a rope to which is secured a fender for use in mooring a boat.