Line gripping device

Claim 1

A line gripping device comprising: (a) a base member, (b) a first jaw member fixedly mounted to said base member and having an angularly disposed face with alternate ridges and grooves disposed at an angle on said face, (c) a second jaw member disposed on said base in juxtaposed relation to said first jaw member and having an angularly disposed face with alternate ridges and grooves disposed at an angle on said face, (d) said faces of said first and second jaw members being spaced apart to form a generally V-shaped opening into which a line to be gripped may be easily guided, (e) said base member and said second jaw member having a pair of cooperating cam follower-cam slots thereon with said cam slots being parallel to each other and having angular paths whereby said second jaw member is mounted on said base for free movement toward and away from said first jaw members in a parallel relationship, (f) said alternate ridges and grooves causing said second jaw member to automatically move toward said first jaw member when tension is applied to a line between the jaws and causing automatic movement away from said first jaw member upon relaxation of tension to release said line, (g) said V-shaped slot permitting easy ingress and egress of said line while tension on the line tends to force the line to the bottom of the V to increase the grip on the line, said cam slots extending generally perpendicular to said faces of said first and second jaw members and having a portion of their path varying from the perpendicular.