Self-cleating rope holder

Claim 2

A holder for adjustably belaying the free end of a rope or the like, said holder comprising, in combination: A. an elongated body of sheet stock having first and second opposed ends; B. means defining a first enclosed aperture in said body at a location spaced from said first end, said first aperture accommodating the passage therethrough of the free end of a rope running to an object to be secured; C. means defining a second enclosed aperture in said body at a location adjacent said second end thereof, said second aperture having a non-binding edge adjacent said second end, said second aperture accommodating the passage therethrough of the rope free end extending from said first aperture; D. means defining a V-shaped slot in said body intermediate said first and second apertures, the wide end of said V-shaped slot being in open communication with said second aperture and the narrow end thereof terminating short of said first aperture, the edge of said first aperture adjacent said slot narrow end being a non-binding, generally laterally extending edge, the portions of the body that include said first aperture and said slot forming a generally coplanar mid-section, the portion of said body bounding the side of said second aperture opposite said slot being bent out of the plane of said body mid-section to the side where the rope free end portion extending between said first and second apertures is located; and E. a portion of said body intermediate said first end and said first aperture being turned back on itself to form a hook accommodating attachment to a stationary object, F. whereby the first end of the rope is pulled in a direction away from the stationary object and generally toward the secured object in reflex fashion to draw the rope freely through the first and second apertures to a desired tension, whereupon the rope free end is wedged in said slot to maintain the desired rope tension on the secured object.

Claim 3

The holder defined in claim 1, wherein the portions of said body bounding said slot are bent out of the plane of said body mid-section to the same side of said body as the bent out body portion bounding the side of said second aperture opposite said slot.

Claim 4

A holder for adjustably belaying the free end of a rope or the like, said holder comprising, in combination: A. an elongated body formed of a pair of coextensive wire segments having first and second opposed ends; B. means defining a first aperture in said body at a location spaced from said first end, said first aperture constituted by an eyelet embraced by said wire body, said first aperture accommodating the passage therethrough of the free end of a rope running to an object to be secured; C. means defining a second enclosed aperture in said body at a location adjacent said second end thereof, said second aperture having a non-binding edge adjacent said second end, said second aperture accommodating the passage therethrough of the rope free end extending from said first aperture; D. means defining a V-shaped slot in said body intermediate said first and second apertures, the wide end of said V-shaped slot being in open communication with said second aperture and the narrow end thereof terminating short of said first aperture, the edge of said first aperture adjacent said slot narrow end being a non-binding generally laterally extending edge, the portions of the body that include said first aperture and said slot forming a generally coplanar mid-section, the portion of said body bounding the side of said second aperture opposite said slot being bent out of the plane of said body mid-section to the side where the rope free end portion extending between said first and second apertures is located; E. a portion of said body intermediate said first end and said first aperture being turned back on itself to form a hook accommodating attachment to a stationary object, F. whereby the free end of the rope is pulled in a direction away from the stationary object and generally toward the secured object in reflex fashion to draw the rope freely through the first and second apertures to a desired tension, whereupon the rope free end is wedged in said slot to maintain the desired rope tension on the secured object.

Claim 5

A holder for adjustably belaying the free end of a rope or the like, said holder comprising, in combination: A. an elongated body formed of a pair of coextensive wire segments having first and second opposed ends; B. means defining a first aperture in said body at a location spaced from said first end, said first aperture constituted by an eyelet embraced by said wire body, said first aperture accommodating the passage therethrough of the free end of a rope running to an object to be secured; C. means defining a second enclosed aperture in said body at a location adjacent said second end thereof, said second aperture having a non-binding edge adjacent said second end, said second aperture accommodating the passage therethrough of the rope free end extending from said first aperture; D. means defining a V-shaped slot in said body intermediate said first and second apertures, the wide end of said V-shaped slot being in open communication with said second aperture and the narrow end thereof terminating short of said first aperture, the edge of said first aperture adjacent said slot narrow end being a non-binding generally laterally extending edge, the portions of the body that include said first aperture and said slot forming a generally coplanar mid-section, the portion of said body bounding the side of said second aperture opposite said slot being bent out of the plane of said body mid-section to the side where the rope free end portion extending between said first and second apertures is located; E. a portion of said body intermediate said first end and said first aperture being turned back on itself to form a hook accommodating attachment to a stationary object, F. whereby the free end of the rope is pulled in a direction away from the stationary object and generally toward the secured object in reflex fashion to draw the rope freely through the first and second apertures to a desired tension, whereupon the rope free end is wedged in said slot to maintain the desired rope tension on the secured object.