Apparatus, system, and method for facilitating tying a friction hitch knot in a chord

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for tying a friction hitch knot. The apparatus includes at least one support member having at least one substantially rigid support surface opposing an interior space. The support member and a bight in the chord define an opening when the chord is positioned adjacent the support member. The support member supports at least one loop formed by a first length of chord and a second length of the chord. The interior space receives a first and a second tail portion of the chord after the at least one loop is formed around the support member. Engagement between the at least one loop and the first and second tail portions of chord is facilitated by slideably releasing the support member from the at least one loop after the first and second tail portions are received in the interior space.

1 . A method for tying a knot in a chord, the method comprising:
 providing a chord for tying the knot;   forming a bight in the chord, the bight comprising a bend in a portion of the chord;   providing at least one support member having at least one substantially rigid support surface and an interior space disposed opposite the at least one substantially rigid support surface;   positioning the chord adjacent the at least one support member such that the bight of the chord and the at least one support member define an opening;   wrapping a first length of chord and a second length of chord about the support member and through the opening defined by the bight of the chord and the at least support member, wherein the first length of chord and the second length of chord are wrapped around the support member to form at least one loop around the support member;   positioning a tail portion of the chord in the interior space in the support member after the at least one loop is formed around the support member; and   removing the support member from the at least one loop such that the at least one loop is positioned around the tail portion of the chord.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising coupling a base member to a first end of the at least one support member to maintain the at least one loop on the at least one support member, wherein at least a portion of the base member extends beyond the at least one substantially rigid support surface in a direction opposite the interior space. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising removably coupling a capping member to a second end of the at least one support member to maintain the at least one loop on the at least one support member, wherein at least a portion of the capping member extends beyond the at least one substantially rigid support surface in a direction opposite the interior space and wherein the second end is disposed opposite the first end. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising maintaining the chord on the at least one support member by positioning a retention member opposite the interior space such that at least a portion of the substantially rigid support surface is positioned between the interior space and the retention member, the retention member configured to releasably engage the at least one loop. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising biasing the retention member in an engagement position with a biasing member, the retention member applying a pressure to the at least one loop in the engagement position to maintain the at least one loop on the at least one support member. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising aligning the at least one loop in a wrapping orientation around the at least one substantially rigid support surface with at least one groove that transects the at least one substantially rigid support surface, the at least one groove engageable with the at least one loop. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising engaging the bight with a projecting member coupled to the at least one substantially rigid support surface to position the at least one loop in a wrapping orientation around the at least one substantially rigid support surface, the projecting member extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the at least one substantially rigid support surface. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising extending the first tail portion of the chord and the second tail portion of the cord through an aperture disposed through the support member, the aperture extending from the interior space through the at least one substantially rigid support surface, the aperture facilitating retaining at least a portion of the first tail portion of the chord and the second tail portion of the cord within the interior space. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for facilitating tying a friction hitch knot in a chord, the friction hitch knot having a bight formed in the chord, a first length of chord and a second length of the chord extending from opposite ends of the bight, the first length of chord having a first tail portion disposed opposite the bight, the second length of chord having a second tail portion disposed opposite the bight, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one support member having at least one substantially rigid support surface, wherein the at least one support member and the bight of the chord define an opening when the chord is positioned adjacent the at least one support member, the at least one support member configured to support at least one loop formed around the at least one support member by the first length of chord and the second length of chord;   an interior space disposed opposite the at least one substantially rigid support surface, the interior space configured to receive the first tail portion of the chord and the second tail portion of the chord after the at least one loop is formed around the at least one support member; and   wherein the at least one support member facilitates an engagement between the at least one loop and the first tail portion of the chord and second tail portion of chord by slideably releasing the at least one loop after the first tail portion of the chord and second tail portion of chord are received in the interior space.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a base member removably coupled to a first end of the at least one support member, wherein at least a portion of the base member extends beyond the at least one substantially rigid support surface of the at least one support member in a direction opposite the interior space. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a capping member removably coupled to a second end of the at least one support, wherein at least a portion of the capping member extends beyond the at least one substantially rigid support surface of the at least one support member in a direction opposite the interior space and wherein the second end is disposed opposite the first end. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a retention member positioned opposite the interior space such that at least a portion of the at least one substantially rigid support surface is positioned between the interior space and the retention member, the retention member configured to releasably engage the at least one loop to maintain the chord on the at least one support member. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a biasing member configured to bias the retention member in an engagement position, the retention member applying a pressure to the at least one loop in the engagement position to maintain the chord on the at least one support member. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one support member includes a plurality of grooves transecting the at least one substantially rigid support surface, the plurality of grooves engageable with the chord to align the at least one loop in a wrapping orientation around the at least one substantially rigid support surface. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a hooking member positionable within the interior space, the hooking member engageable with the first tail portion of the chord and the second tail portion of the chord to facilitate receiving the first tail portion of the chord and the second tail portion of the chord within the interior space. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one support member has at least two substantially rigid support surfaces and further comprising an adjusting member, the adjusting member coupled to the at least two substantially rigid support surfaces, wherein the adjusting member adjusts a size of the interior space. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a coupling member attached to the at least one support member, the coupling member configured to couple the at least one support member to a user. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a guiding member positioned within the interior space and wherein the support member includes an aperture extending from the interior space through the at least one substantially rigid support surface, the guiding member guiding the first tail portion of the chord and the second tail portion of the chord through the aperture to facilitate retaining at least a portion of the first tail portion of the chord and the second tail portion of the cord within the interior space. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the support member is telescopically extendable in a lengthwise direction. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for facilitating tying a knot in a chord, the knot having a bight formed in a the chord, the bight comprising a bend in a portion the chord with a first length of chord and a second length of the chord extending at opposite ends of the bend, the first length of chord having a first section that extends away from the bend, the second length of chord having a second section that extends away from the bend, wherein a first doubled back portion of chord extends from the first section of chord in the direction of the bight and a second doubled back portion of chord extends from the second section of chord in the direction of the bight, wherein the first doubled back portion and the second doubled back portion are positioned through the bight to form at least one loop, wherein a first tail portion of chord extends from the first doubled back portion of chord and a second tail portion of chord extends from the second doubled back portion of chord, the first tail portion of chord and the second tail portion of chord positioned through the at least one loop to form the knot, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one support member having at least one substantially rigid support surface, wherein the at least one support member and the bight of the chord define an opening when the chord is positioned adjacent the at least one support member, the at least one support member supporting the at least one loop formed by the first length of chord and the second length of chord;   an interior space disposed opposite the at least one substantially rigid support surface, the interior space configured to receive the first tail portion of the chord and the second tail portion of the chord after the at least one loop is formed around the support member; and   wherein the at least one support member facilitates an engagement between the at least one loop and the first tail portion of the chord and second tail portion of chord by slideably releasing the at least one loop after the first tail portion of the chord and second tail portion of chord are received in the interior space such that the at least one loop engages the first tail portion of the chord and second tail portion of chord to form the knot.