US2006283997A1PendingUtilityA1

Line tensioning device and methods

43
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Sep 8, 2003Filed: Sep 8, 2004Published: Dec 21, 2006
Est. expirySep 8, 2023(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Scott Thomas
F16G 11/12B60P 7/0838B60P 7/0853B63B 21/04F16G 11/106
43
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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Claims

Abstract

A line tensioning device ( 10 ) comprising an elongated body ( 12 ) having a line locating region ( 13 ) and a hook ( 14 ) at a first end ( 16 ) of the elongated body, wherein the hook is adapted to maintain the line tensioning device in position after rotation of the device to achieve a desired tension in the line ( 22 ). The device comprises at least one aperture ( 18 ) through the elongated body and at least one locking means ( 24 ) in the form of a pivotally mounted, manually operated lever ( 26 ) for securing in position a line passing through one of the apertures ( 18 ).

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A line tensioning device comprising: 
 an elongate body having a line locating region; and    a hook at a first end of the elongate body;    wherein, said hook maintains the line tensioning device in position after rotation of the device to achieve a desired tension in said line.    
   
   
       2 . The line tensioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the line locating region is of reduced thickness compared with a remainder of the elongate body.  
   
   
       3 . The line tensioning device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one aperture through the elongate body.  
   
   
       4 . The line tensioning device of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one aperture is through the line locating region of the elongate body.  
   
   
       5 . The line tensioning device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one locking means for securing in position the line passing through one of the apertures.  
   
   
       6 . The line tensioning device of  claim 5 , wherein the locking means comprises a pivotally mounted lever.  
   
   
       7 . The line tensioning device of  claim 6 , wherein the lever is accommodated in a slot in the elongate body.  
   
   
       8 . The line tensioning device of  claim 6 , wherein the lever is biased towards a closed position by a biasing means.  
   
   
       9 . The line tensioning device of  claim 6 , wherein the lever comprises a serrated end for engaging the line.  
   
   
       10 . The line tensioning device of  claim 9 , wherein the serrated end comprises a tooth that protrudes further from the end of the lever than remaining teeth of the serrated end.  
   
   
       11 . The line tensioning device of  claim 9 , wherein the serrated end is gently curved.  
   
   
       12 . The line tensioning device of  claim 6 , wherein an upper profile of the lever matches an upper profile of the elongate body apart from a raised portion at an end of the lever nearest a pivot point of the lever.  
   
   
       13 . The line tensioning device of  claim 8 , wherein the biasing means urges the lever toward the closed position such that the serrated end engages the line passing through an adjacent aperture and forces the line against a post of the elongate body.  
   
   
       14 . The line tensioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body comprises ribbed portions to aid gripping by a user.  
   
   
       15 . A method of tensioning a line, said method including the steps of: 
 locating part of the line about a line locating region of an elongate body of a line tensioning device;    rotating the line tensioning device in a first direction of rotation until a desired tension is achieved in the line;    and maintaining the desired tension via a hook at a first end of the elongate body, said hook engaging the line and preventing rotation of the line tensioning device in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein locating part of the line includes the step of threading an end of the line through an aperture in the line locating region.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein locating part of the line includes the step of looping the line at least once around the line locating region.  
   
   
       18 . A method of tensioning a line having no free ends, said method including the steps of: 
 looping part of the line at least once around a line locating region of an elongate body of a line tensioning device;    rotating the line tensioning device in a first direction of rotation until a desired tension is achieved in the line; and    maintaining the desired tension via a hook at a first end of the elongate body, said hook engaging the line and preventing rotation of the line tensioning device in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation.    
   
   
       19 . A method of tensioning a line having one free end, said method including the steps of: 
 threading the free end of the line through an aperture in a line locating region of an elongate body of a line tensioning device;    looping part of the line at least once around the line locating region;    rotating the line tensioning device in a first direction of rotation until a desired tension is achieved in the line; and    maintaining the desired tension via a hook at a first end of the elongate body, said hook engaging the line and preventing rotation of the line tensioning device in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation.    
   
   
       20 . A method of tensioning a line having two free ends, said method including the steps of: 
 threading the free ends of the line through a respective aperture in a line locating region of an elongate body of a line tensioning device;    rotating the line tensioning device in a first direction of rotation until a desired tension is achieved in the line; and    maintaining the desired tension via a hook at a first end of the elongate body, said hook engaging the line and preventing rotation of the line tensioning device in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation.    
   
   
       21 . A line tensioning device comprising: 
 an elongate body having a line locating region;    a hook at a first end of the elongate body;    at least one aperture through the line locating region; and    locking means for securing in position the line passing through one of the apertures;    wherein, said hook maintains the line tensioning device in position after rotation of the device to achieve a desired tension in said line.

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