Rope fastening and adjustment device

Abstract

A rope fastening device includes a body including: (i) a neck that extends along a longitudinal axis; (ii) a connector portion located at a first end of the neck and including a connector adapted to be engaged by an associated article; (iii) a rope attachment portion located at a second end of the neck, the rope attachment portion adapted to be connected to an associated rope. The rope attachment portion includes first and second rope engagement regions including respective first and second rope receiving apertures defined therein such that the body is adapted to be connected to an associated rope free end when the associated rope free end extends through the first rope receiving aperture in a first direction, around the neck, under itself adjacent the neck, and through the second rope receiving aperture in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.

1 . A rope fastening device comprising:
 a body comprising: (i) a neck that extends along a longitudinal axis and including opposite first and second ends; (ii) a connector portion located at said first end of said neck and comprising a connector adapted to be engaged by an associated article; (iii) a rope attachment portion located at said second end of said neck, said rope attachment portion adapted to be connected to an associated rope;   wherein said rope attachment portion comprises first and second rope engagement regions that project outwardly from said neck in opposite first and second directions, respectively, and wherein said first and second rope engagement regions comprise respective first and second rope receiving apertures defined therein such that said body is adapted to be connected to an associated rope free end when the associated rope free end extends through said first rope receiving aperture in a first direction, around said neck, under itself adjacent the neck, and through said second rope receiving aperture in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.   
     
     
         2 . The rope fastening device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said connector comprises a connector body including an opening defined therein. 
     
     
         3 . The rope fastening device as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said connector body defines said opening to have a perimeter that is closed. 
     
     
         4 . The rope fastening device as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said connector body comprises a slot defined therein that opens through a perimeter of said opening through the connector body. 
     
     
         5 . The rope fastening device as set forth in  claim 4 , further comprising a gate connected to said connector body and adapted to move between a closed position where said gate blocks said slot and an opened position where said gate is moved away from said slot such that said slot is opened and communicates with said opening when said gate is located in its opened position. 
     
     
         6 . The rope fastening device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said body comprises a one-piece metal rod formed to include said neck, said connector portion, and said rope attachment portion. 
     
     
         7 . The rope fastening device as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said neck comprises first and second neck sections of said rod that extend parallel relative to each other and that are located adjacent each other. 
     
     
         8 . The rope fastening device as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said rod comprises opposite first and second rod ends that are respectively welded to the first and second neck sections. 
     
     
         9 . The rope fastening device as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said first and second neck sections are connected together. 
     
     
         10 . The rope fastening device as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said neck comprises four sections of said rod that extend parallel to each other and that are arranged successively adjacent each other. 
     
     
         11 . The rope fastening device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said body comprises a one-piece stamped metal structure. 
     
     
         12 . The rope fastening device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said first and second rope receiving apertures are respectively defined in said first and second rope engagement regions to each have a closed perimeter. 
     
     
         13 . The rope fastening device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said body is coated with a polymeric coating. 
     
     
         14 . The rope fastening device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the rope attachment portion comprises a maximum rope attachment portion width WD 1  measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;   the connector portion comprises a maximum connector portion width WD 2  measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;   the neck defines a maximum neck width WD 3  measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X;   and the maximum neck width WD 3  is less than both the maximum rope attachment portion width WD 1  and the maximum connector portion width WD 2  so that the device defines a generally hourglass shape comprising enlarged opposite axial ends defined respectively by said rope attachment portion and said connector portion and comprising said neck located between and connecting said enlarged opposite axial ends.   
     
     
         15 . The rope fastening device as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein:
 the first rope engagement region is defined by a first bent portion of the rod that extends outwardly from the first neck section toward the first rod end; and,   the second rope engagement region is defined by a second bent portion of the rod that extends outwardly from the second neck section toward the second rod end.   
     
     
         16 . A method for connecting a rope fastening device to a rope, said method comprising:
 inserting a free end of a rope through a first rope receiving aperture in the rope fastening device from a rear side of the device toward an opposite front side of the device;   pulling the free end of the rope through the first rope receiving aperture and diagonally across a neck of the rope fastening device on the front side of the rope fastening device;   wrapping the free end of the rope around behind the neck adjacent the rear side of the rope fastening device;   bringing the rope free end back to the front side of the rope fastening device and tucking the free end under itself adjacent the neck on the front side of the rope fastening device;   passing the free end of the rope through a second rope receiving aperture from the front side of the device toward the rear side of the device so that the rope free end extends outwardly away from the rear side of the device and such that an X-shaped region is formed by the rope adjacent the neck on the front side of the rope fastening device where the rope free end is tucked under itself adjacent the neck.   
     
     
         17 . A rope fastening system comprising:
 a rope fastening device and a rope engaged with the rope fastening device;   said rope fastening device comprising a body including: (i) a neck that extends along a longitudinal axis and including opposite first and second ends; (ii) a connector portion located at said first end of said neck and comprising a connector adapted to be engaged by an associated article; (iii) a rope attachment portion located at said second end of said neck;   said rope attachment portion of the rope fastening device comprising first and second rope engagement regions that project outwardly from said neck in opposite first and second directions, respectively, said first and second rope engagement regions comprising respective first and second rope receiving apertures defined therein;   wherein said rope attachment portion of the rope fastening device is connected to the rope such that a free end of the rope extends through said first rope receiving aperture in a first direction, around said neck, under itself adjacent the neck, and through said second rope receiving aperture in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.