Fastener for placement on a flexible tension element without passing an end of the tension element therethrough

Abstract

A fastener provides first and second rings interconnected by a neck. The neck has a size such that the lateral portions of both rings extend laterally spacedly beyond the neck. At least one ring defines an orifice of sufficient size to allow passage of two portions of a flexible tension element on which the fastener is to be carried to pass through the orifice without either portion being supported on the other. For use a slackened medial portion of the tension element is folded upon itself to form a loop, the loop end is passed through the first ring, over and about the second ring and about the neck so that the tension element is fastened about the fastener without an end of the tension element having been passed through any fastener orifice.

What I claim is:  
     
         1 . A fastener for releaseable fastening on an elongate flexible tension element, having a longest and a shortest cross-sectional dimension, without passing an end of the tension element through any orifice defined in the fastener, comprising in combination: 
 a first ring defining a first orifice and interconnected by a neck having opposed lateral surfaces with a second ring defining a second orifice, said first and second rings each extending laterally spacedly beyond each lateral surface of the neck and said first orifice having a longest dimension at least greater than twice the longest dimension at least of a cross-section of the tension element and a shortest dimension as long as the shortest cross-section of the tension element.    
     
     
         2 . A fastener for releaseable fastening on an elongate flexible tension element, having a longest and a shortest cross-sectional dimension, without passing an end of the tension element through any orifice defined in the fastener, comprising in combination; 
 a first ring having a peripheral element defining a first medial orifice having a longest dimension at least greater than twice the longest cross-sectional dimension of the tension element and a shortest dimension at least as long as the shortest cross-sectional dimension of the tension element;    a second ring having a peripheral element defining a second orifice having a longest dimension at least as long as the longer dimension of the cross-section of the flexible tension element; and    a neck interconnecting the peripheral elements of the first ring and the second ring, said neck having a length at least as great as the longest cross-sectional dimension of the tension member.    
     
     
         3 . The fastener of  claim 2  wherein the first and second rings comprise flat planar elements.  
     
     
         4 . The fastener of  claim 3  wherein the first and second rings are interconnected in coplanar relationship.  
     
     
         5 . The fastener of  claim 2  further characterized by: 
 the peripheral elements forming the first and second rings and the neck having similar cross-sectional configurations; and  
 the edges of the peripheral elements and the neck being rounded to lessen damage to the tension element carrying the fastener.  
 
     
     
         6 . The fastener of  claim 2  further characterized by: 
 the first ring having an elongate configuration defined by a peripheral element having a substantially rectilinear cross-section with rounded corners; and  
 the first orifice having similar curvilinear end portions interconnected by linear portions with a longest dimension between proximal surfaces of the curvilinear end portions greater than twice the longest cross-sectional dimension of the flexible tension element and a shortest dimension between proximal surfaces of linear portions greater than the shortest cross-sectional dimension of the flexible tension element.  
 
     
     
         7 . The process of releaseably fastening the fastener of  claim 2  on an elongate flexible tension element comprising the steps of 
 forming a loop in a slackened medial portion of the tension member;  
 passing the loop through the first orifice defined in the first ring of the fastener;  
 passing the loop over the second ring of the fastener and about the neck interconnecting the first ring and the second ring to releaseably fasten the fastener on the tension element.