Locking device with combined wedging and spring action

Claim 2

A locking device comprising: a body containing a passage having two opposite side walls; a slide contained at least partially within said passage and movable essentially along a predetermined axis relative to said body; said slide having two arms with gripping portions located opposite said two side walls respectively in a relation defining two paths at opposite sides of said slide along which two elongated flexible elements can extend between said arms and side walls; said side walls having portions which converge toward one another as they advance in essentially a predetermined axial direction and which are positioned laterally opposite said gripping portions of said arms at locations to clamp said elements tightly between said gripping portions and said opposed converging portions of said side walls and thereby positively lock said elements against movement in said predetermined direction, by a wedging action resulting from the convergence of said wall portions; said arms being yieldingly urged relative to one another in opposite lateral directions and toward said two converging portions of said side walls respectively to clamp said elements thereagainst independently of said wedging action, and being actuable inwardly away from said side walls to release said elements.

Claim 3

A locking device as recited in claim 1, in which said two arms are adapted to be actuated toward one another by said wedging action as said elements are pulled in said predetermined direction with increasing force.

Claim 4

A locking device as recited in claim 1, in which said two arms, upon movement toward one another, are engageable laterally against one another in a relation limiting such movement at a predetermined extreme position.

Claim 5

A locking device as recited in claim 1, in which said gripping portions of said arms have teeth at their outer sides facing toward said converging portions of said side walls of the passage for engaging and gripping said elongated elements.

Claim 6

A locking device as recited in claim 1, in which said two arms of said slide are connected together resiliently to yieldingly urge said arms in said opposite lateral directions and toward said side walls respectively.

Claim 7

A locking device as recited in claim 1, in which said slide has a portion connecting corresponding ends of said arms together resiliently in a manner yieldingly urging said arms in said opposite lateral directions.

Claim 8

A locking device as recited in claim 1, in which said slide is formed of a single piece of elastic material having a portion integrally joining said two arms together at ends thereof, and having resilience yieldingly urging said arms in said opposite lateral directions.

Claim 9

A locking device as recited in claim 7, in which said arms have handle portions projecting outwardly beyond said body and accessible to a user, and adapted to be manually squeezed toward one another to release said elongated elements.

Claim 10

A locking device as recited in claim 8, in which said gripping portions of said arms have teeth at outer sides thereof facing toward said converging portions of said side walls respectively for gripping said elongated elements.

Claim 11

A locking device as recited in claim 9, including a projection on at least one of said arms received within a slot in said body and engageable with an end of the slot in a relation limiting axial retracting movement of said slide.

Claim 12

A locking device as recited in claim 1, including projections on said arms received within a slot in said body and engageable with an end of the slot in a relation limiting axial retracting movement of said slide.

Claim 13

A locking device as recited in claim 1, including projections on said arms received within a slot in said body and engageable with an end of the slot in a relation limiting axial retracting movement of said slide, said projections having camming surfaces at axially leading sides thereof adapted to engage and slightly resiliently distort a wall of said body upon initial insertion of the slide into the body passage to allow movement of said projections into said slot.

Claim 14

A locking device as recited in claim 1, in which said arms have handle portions projecting to a position at which they are accessible to be manually squeezed toward one another to release said elongated elements.

Claim 15

A locking device comprising: a body containing a passage which tapers to a reduced dimension as it advances in essentially a predetermined axial direction; a slide contained at least partially within said passage and movable generally axially relative to said body; said slide having a locking portion located laterally opposite a side wall of said tapering passage in a relation defining a path along which an elongated flexible element can extend between said locking portion and said side wall; said side wall having a portion which converges toward an opposite side of said passage as it advances in essentially said predetermined axial direction and which is positioned laterally opposite said locking portion of said slide at a location to clamp said element tightly between said locking portion and said opposed converging portion of said side wall and thereby positively lock said element against movement in said predetermined axial direction, by a wedging action resulting from the convergence of said side wall portion toward said opposite side of the passage; said locking portion of the slide being yieldingly urged laterally toward said portion of said side wall which converges toward said opposite side of the passage to clamp said elongated element thereagainst independently of said wedging action.

Claim 16

A locking device comprising: a body containing a passage which tapers to a reduced dimension as it advances in essentially a predetermined axial direction; a slide contained at least partially within said passage and movable generally axially relative to said body; said slide having a locking portion located laterally opposite a side wall of said tapering passage in a relation defining a path along which an elongated flexible element can extend between said locking portion and said side wall; said side wall having a portion which converges toward an opposite side of said passage as it advances in essentially said predetermined axial direction and which is positioned laterally opposite said locking portion of said slide at a location to clamp said element tightly between said locking portion and said opposed converging portion of said side wall and thereby positively lock said element against movement in said predetermined axial direction, by a wedging action resulting from the convergence of said side wall portion toward said opposite side of the passage; said locking portion of the slide being yieldingly urged laterally toward said portion of said side wall which converges toward said opposite side of the passage to clamp said elongated element thereagainst independently of said wedging action.

Claim 17

A locking device as recited in claim 14, in which said slide has a second portion yieldingly urged laterally away from said locking portion to exert force against said opposite side of said passage in a relation urging said locking portion toward said side wall.

Claim 18

A locking device as recited in claim 14, in which said locking portion of the slide has teeth facing toward said converging portion of said side wall of said passage to grip said element.

Claim 19

A locking device as recited in claim 14, in which said slide has a portion projecting outwardly relative to said body to a position of access for manual actuation of said slide.

Claim 20

A locking device as recited in claim 14, including shoulders on said slide and body limiting axial movement of the slide relative to the body.

Claim 21

A locking device as recited in claim 14, in which said slide has a portion spaced laterally from said locking portion and engageable with an opposite side of said passage and connected to said locking portion at corresponding ends of said portions, said slide being formed at least partially of resilient material constructed and positioned to yieldingly urge said two portions of the slide relatively laterally apart to yieldingly urge said locking portion against said elongated element.

Claim 22

A locking device as recited in claim 1, in which said slide is formed of a single essentially U-shaped piece of elastic material having a portion integrally joining said two arms together at first ends thereof and having resilience yieldingly urging said arms relatively apart and in said opposite lateral directions, said arms having second ends which project generally axially from an end of said passage and beyond said body and between said elongated elements and which have handle portions at said second ends adapted to be manually squeezed toward one another to release said elongated elements, said gripping portions of said arms including teeth formed at the outer sides of said arms at locations intermediate said first and second ends thereof and facing outwardly toward said converging portions of said side walls.