U.S. patent application number 09/760260 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-25 for adjustable shock absorbing mooring and utility line.
Invention is credited to Brown, Jason Aaron, Pehrson, Paul B..
Application Number | 20010032576 09/760260 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26872776 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010032576 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brown, Jason Aaron ; et
al. |
October 25, 2001 |
Adjustable shock absorbing mooring and utility line
Abstract
A shock absorbing and adjustable-length mooring and utility
securing line for mooring a boat to a dock in a marine environment
utilizes a hollow flexible tubing constructed of substantially
inelastic fabric material and a bungee cord disposed within the
tubing. The hollow tubing has a central section disposed between
the opposite ends of the tubing, and the fabric material of the
central section is movable lengthwise between a gathered condition
and a fully-stretched condition to accommodate a lengthening of the
line as the opposite end portions of the central section are moved
farther apart from a condition at which the central section is in a
gathered condition and to accommodate a shortening of the line as
the opposite end portions of the central section are moved closer
together from a condition at which the central section is in a
fully-stretched condition. The bungee cord is attached to the
central section of the tubing for biasing the end portions of the
central section toward one another to thereby bias the central
section from the fully-stretched condition toward the gathered
condition.
Inventors: |
Brown, Jason Aaron;
(Clinton, TN) ; Pehrson, Paul B.; (Knoxville,
TN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Jason A. Brown
400 Eagle Bend Lane
Clinton
TN
37716
US
|
Family ID: |
26872776 |
Appl. No.: |
09/760260 |
Filed: |
January 12, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60176942 |
Jan 18, 2000 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
114/230.1 ;
114/230.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 21/00 20130101;
B63B 2021/005 20130101; B63B 21/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
114/230.1 ;
114/230.2 |
International
Class: |
B63B 021/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A line for attaching two objects together wherein the two
objects are capable of moving toward and away from one another,
said line comprising: a length of tubing constructed of
substantially inelastic fabric material and having two opposite
ends which are each adapted to be attached to a corresponding one
of two objects for attaching the two objects together with the
line; the length of tubing having a central section disposed
between its opposite ends wherein the central section has opposite
end portions and the fabric material of the central section is
movable lengthwise between a gathered condition and a
fully-stretched condition to accommodate a lengthening of the line
as the opposite end portions of the central section are moved
farther apart from a condition at which the central section is in a
gathered condition and to accommodate a shortening of the line as
the opposite end portions of the central section are moved closer
together from a condition at which the central section is in a
fully-stretched condition; biasing means acting upon the central
section for biasing the end portions of the central section toward
one another to thereby bias the central section from the
fully-stretched condition toward the gathered condition so that
when the opposite ends of the tubing are attached between two
objects capable of moving toward and away from one another, the
biasing means opposes the movement of the two objects away from one
another and the distance that the two objects can be moved away
from one another is limited by the length of the central section
when in its fully-stretched condition and so that when the two
objects move toward one another from the condition at which the
central section is in its fully-stretched condition, the biasing
means biases the central section toward the gathered condition.
2. The line as defined in claim 1 wherein the biasing means
includes a bungee cord having two opposite end portions and which
is capable of being stretched lengthwise from a relaxed condition
and a stretched condition, and wherein the bungee cord is disposed
within the central section of the tubing so that each end portion
of the bungee cord means corresponds with an end portion of the
central section, and the line further includes means for attaching
each end portion of the central section to a corresponding end
portion of the bungee cord so that when the bungee cord is in a
relaxed condition, the central section is in its gathered condition
and so that when the line is lengthened to the fully-stretched
condition of the central section, the bungee cord is stretched
lengthwise to a stretched condition.
3. The line as defined in claim 2 wherein the means for attaching
includes means for tightly binding each end portion of the central
section about a corresponding end portion of the bungee cord.
4. The line as defined in claim 3 wherein the bungee cord includes
at least one end which is folded over and secured upon itself and
wherein the folded end of the bungee cord is positioned at a
location along the length of the tubing which is disposed outboard
of the means for tightly binding to reduce the likelihood that the
means for tightly binding can be pulled over the folded end of the
bungee cord.
5. The line as defined in claim 1 further comprising means
associated with at least one of the opposite ends of the tubing for
securing the at least one end of the tubing to a corresponding one
of the two objects to be attached together.
6. The line as defined in claim 5 wherein the associated means
includes strap means including a portion which can be looped about
a corresponding one of the two objects to be attached together.
7. The line as defined in claim 6 wherein the material of the strap
means is integrally formed with the material of the tubing.
8. The line as defined in claim 6 wherein the portion of the strap
means capable of being looped includes sections which can be
attached to one another to form a loop positionable about the
corresponding one of the two objects to be attached together and
which can be detached from one another to release the corresponding
one of the two objects from the strap means.
9. The line as defined in claim 8 further comprising buckling
components attached to the sections of the strap means and to one
another to accommodate an adjustment in the size of the loop
capable of being formed with the strap means.
10. The line as defined in claim 6 wherein the strap means includes
means for adjusting the distance between the loop and the
corresponding end portion of the central section to thereby adjust
the total length of the line.
11. A shock absorbing and adjustable-length mooring and utility
securing line for attaching two objects together wherein the two
objects are capable of moving toward and away from one another,
said line comprising: a hollow flexible tubing constructed of
substantially inelastic fabric material and wherein the tubing has
two opposite ends which are each adapted to be attached to a
corresponding one of two objects for attaching the two objects
together with the line; the hollow tubing having a central section
disposed between its opposite ends wherein the central section has
opposite end portions and the fabric material of the central
section is movable lengthwise between a gathered condition and a
fully-stretched condition to accommodate a lengthening of the line
as the opposite end portions of the central section are moved
farther apart from a condition at which the central section is in a
gathered condition and to accommodate a shortening of the line as
the opposite end portions of the central section are moved closer
together from a condition at which the central section is in a
fully-stretched condition; a bungee cord attached to the central
section of the tubing for biasing the end portions of the central
section toward one another to thereby bias the central section from
the fully-stretched condition toward the gathered condition so that
when the opposite ends of the tubing are attached between two
objects capable of moving toward and away from one another, the
biasing means opposes and thereby dampens the movement of the two
objects away from one another and the distance that the two objects
can be moved away from one another is limited by the length of the
central section when in its fully-stretched condition and so that
when the two objects move toward one another from the condition at
which the central section is in its fully-stretched condition, the
biasing means biases the central section toward the gathered
condition.
12. The line as defined in claim 11 wherein the bungee cord
includes opposite end portions and which is capable of being
stretched lengthwise from a relaxed condition and a stretched
condition, and wherein the bungee cord is disposed within the
central section of the tubing so that each end portion of the
bungee cord means corresponds with an end portion of the central
section, and the line further includes means for fixedly attaching
each end portion of the central section to a corresponding end
portion of the bungee cord means so that when the bungee cord is in
a relaxed condition, the central section is in its gathered
condition and so that when the line is lengthened to the
fully-stretched condition of the central section, the bungee cord
is stretched lengthwise to a stretched condition.
13. The line as defined in claim 12 wherein the means for attaching
includes means for tightly binding each end portion of the central
section about a corresponding end portion of the bungee cord.
14. The line as defined in claim 13 wherein the bungee cord
includes at least one end which is folded over and secured upon
itself and wherein the folded end of the bungee cord is positioned
at a location along the length of the tubing which is disposed
outboard of the means for tightly binding to reduce the likelihood
that the means for tightly binding can be pulled over the folded
end of the bungee cord.
15. The line as defined in claim 11 further comprising means
associated with at least one of the opposite ends of the tubing for
securing the at least one end of the tubing to a corresponding one
of the two objects to be attached together.
16. The line as defined in claim 11 wherein the associated means
includes strap means including a portion which can be looped about
a corresponding one of the two objects to be attached together.
17. The line as defined in claim 16 wherein the material of the
strap means is integrally
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/176,942,
filed Jan. 18, 2000 and entitled Adjustable Shock Absorbing Mooring
and Utility Line, is hereby claimed. The disclosure of this
referenced provisional application is incorporated herein by
reference.
[0002] This invention relates generally to the attaching of two
objects together wherein the objects are capable of moving toward
and away from one another, particularly, to lines used to attach
said objects to one another.
[0003] The popularity of recreational water sports and water sports
has increased greatly over the last decade as seen by increased
recreational sales. This too has increased ownership of personal
watercrafts and boats that include yachts, rafts, canoes, kayaks,
pontoon boats and ski boats. As used herein, the term "boat(s)" is
intended to include any watercraft or boat.
[0004] An issue with owning boats, and especially motorized boats,
is the docking of them. Not only is it helpful to have an
experienced staff to operate a boat, but also it is also helpful
that the staff and the captain have the knowledge of securing the
boat properly to the item that the captain has decided to, dock
with. This item will be referred to as docking object throughout
the rest of the text. Also, the act of docking a boat will he
referred to as mooring. Rope is generally the item used as mooring
line to secure boats to a docking object. Rope used to as mooring
line, typically, is made of either nylon or cotton. Rope tying
experience is recommended for securing a boat to a dock, and there
are many different rope-tying methods for docking a boat that can
be used. Most novices and inexperienced boaters are unsure of how
to moor a boat and can use overly complex and in turn, inadequate,
securing methods with the line in efforts to ensure that the boat
will stay where it was parked. Novice rope tying efforts in mooring
a boat can be time consuming and inadequate, and can eventually
cause the boat to become unsecured.
[0005] Another concern other than securing the boat to a docking
object is the question of how tightly to secure the boat and the
distance the boat is to be secured away from the the docking
object. A boat secured too tightly will lead to greater and more
frequent impacts with the docking object. When secured too loosely
a boat is able to gain momentum before collision with the docking
object. In the case of mooring a boat to four posts as commonly
occurs for long-term mooring, the object is normally to keep an
equal distance between the posts and the boat. This can prove to be
a complex task for the inexperienced.
[0006] Mooring lines made of cotton or nylon do not cushion a
boat's abundant rocking caused mainly by: wakes created by passing
boats; persons moving about a boat; waves, or the like. Rocking
motions generally lead a boat to impact with the docking object if
secured closely with the docking object. Currently, marine bumpers
accomplish cushioning a boat from such impacts. Marine bumpers are
sold abundantly throughout the water sports market and can be found
in most marine equipment retail stores. Marine bumpers are placed
between the boat and the docking object, generally, to dampen the
impact between the two objects. If not for the marine bumpers, the
boat is allowed to impact with the docking object directly. The
force of a boat rocking back and forth against a docking object can
have harmful effects on a moored boat.
[0007] To further explain the force that a boat receives while
docked, a great deal can be explained by examining the mooring line
used to moor a boat. It is very well known that the wake from a
passing vessel causes the mooring lines of the boat to first relax,
gathering some slack, and then as the wave ebbs, the lines become
taut imparting a shock in the line which is transmitted to the boat
itself. This is particularly unpleasant if the boat serves as a
residence especially at times when the crew is aboard is seeking
some rest. The shocks applied are disruptive as well as having
deleterious effects on the mooring lines, boat and dock. Repeated
applications of impact loads gradually stretch and weaken the
mooring lines, and can damage boat and docking objects.
[0008] Literature has been found for several different types of
shock absorbers for accommodating the tensile shock loads in anchor
cables and mooring lines. One of the simplest solutions to the
problem was to wrap the mooring line around a length of elastic
rubber material such that the rubber served to tighten the lines as
shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,817,507 to Derman. This construction
tended to wear out quickly and was marginally effective in
controlling the larger shocks in the associated mooring lines.
Another arrangement was to use a spring mounted in a frame so that
the pull upon the line tended to compress the spring that, when the
tensile forces in the line diminished to less than the spring
force, the spring reacted to diminish the shock effect. Such
apparatus was noisy and thus interfered with the comfort of those
living on, say, a houseboat, and springs from contact with seawater
had a short service life and often failed. One such spring
arrangement is shown in the Strain, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,967,681,
which incorporated a nest of springs in a housing mounted so that
the springs compress as tensile loads were applied to members in
the housing supporting the springs. Such of an arrangement is
costly to manufacture and all the springs are vulnerable to the
corrosive effect of water.
[0009] Other metal and mechanical items attempting the effect of
reducing shock can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,094,096, 4,754,957,
and 5,524,566, all vulnerable to the corrosive effects of
water.
[0010] With any of these previous, mechanical shock absorbing
devices listed also come difficulties associated with their use.
Shock absorbing implements to use in conjunction with typical
mooring lines have been constructed of abrasive and non-pliable,
rigid material that can be detrimental or harming to a boat. The
materials have been comprised of steel that can cause damage to a
boat as well as the docking object to which it is moored. Storing
of the many mechanical models is often difficult due to size, shape
and material composition.
[0011] Not only are the shock absorbing apparatuses apparently
detrimental, but generally the designs have not been incorporated
into a line that are made easy enough for most anyone to use. Most
shock absorbers have been designed as an insert into a mooring
line. The claimed line has incorporated ease of use, adjustable
length and shock absorbing components all in one unit.
[0012] Easy to use and shock absorbing is a combination that would
best help boat owners and users enjoy water leisure activities as
well as other activities where complicated rope and knot tying are
used in: securing two items together; securing one item to another,
or other tying needs. A mooring line with components familiar to
the inexperienced and novice boat users, and even experienced boat
users, can assist in making a difficult mooring task easier.
[0013] It is an object of the present invention to provide a new
and improved line for attaching two objects together.
[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide such a
line which is particularly well suited for attaching two objects
together in a marine environment, such as a boat to a dock.
[0015] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide
such a line which is uncomplicated in construction yet effective in
operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] This invention resides in a line for attaching two objects
together wherein the two objects are capable of moving toward and
away from one another.
[0017] The line includes a length of tubing constructed of
substantially inelastic fabric material and having two opposite
ends which are each adapted to be attached to a corresponding one
of two objects for attaching the two objects together with the
line. In addition, the length of tubing has a central section
disposed between its opposite ends wherein the central section has
opposite end portions, and the fabric material of the central
section is movable lengthwise between a gathered condition and a
fully-stretched condition to accommodate a lengthening of the line
as the opposite end portions of the central section are moved
farther apart from a condition at which the central section is in a
gathered condition and to accommodate a shortening of the line as
the opposite end portions of the central section are moved closer
together from a condition at which the central section is in a
fully-stretched condition.
[0018] The line also includes biasing means acting upon the central
section for biasing the end portions of the central section toward
one another to thereby bias the central section from the
fully-stretched condition toward the gathered condition. When the
opposite ends of the tubing are attached between two objects
capable of moving toward and away from one another, the biasing
means opposes the movement of the two objects away from one another
and the distance that the two objects can be moved away from one
another is limited by the length of the central section when in its
fully-stretched condition. Furthermore, when the two objects move
toward one another from the condition at which the central section
is in its fully-stretched condition, the biasing means biases the
central section toward the gathered condition.
[0019] In one embodiment of the invention, the line is a nearly
infallible shock absorbing and adjustable length mooring and
utility line capable of use by all users, i.e. from the novice to
experienced boat hands, and for general tying occasions. The
adjustable shock absorbing mooring and utility line has an
unequivocal benefit when used to moor boats in that it reduces
physical stress exerted on the boat caused by waves and other
motion that normally causes the boat to rock or thrash while in the
water. Such motions can cause damage to the vehicle if allowed to
rock freely. The other benefits of the adjustable shock absorbing
mooring and utility line include: a design so that it can be used
to secure boat easily with little if any rope-tying experience or
knowledge; easy-to-use hardware components known to most; can be
manufactured with a varied thickness and design of materials in
order to accommodate the needs of boat, all outdoor, and even
indoor uses as required; ease of construction and manufacturing;
few parts vulnerable to water corrosion or wear, and stores
compactly and easily. The line, as in the preferred embodiment,
eliminates rope tying skills required by boat owners and users. The
length of the line is easily adjustable and accommodates several
mooring uses with many different attachment options.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the adjustable shock
absorbing mooring and utility line in its preferred use for
attaching a boat to a fixed docking object.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the
shock-absorbing mechanism for the line of FIG. 1.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of
the line which incorporates alternate hardware for the securing
ends.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT
[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates the line as depicted in one embodiment as
an adjustable shock absorbing mooring and utility line as it would
be used with a typical boat 81 but also applies to all other boats.
The application is basically one of securing one or more objects
together and this, in turn, can be applied to any two objects. The
first securing end 10 is attached to the depicted boat cleat 84 and
the second securing end 11 of the adjustable shock absorbing
mooring and utility line is secured to a fixed docking object 90.
The adjustable shock absorbing mooring and utility line is attached
to a docking object 90 using the securing end 11 that incorporates
a buckle comprised of a male 22 side and an adjoining female 23
side. Materials used for the line is flexible fabric such as nylon
webbing. The line 70 is depicted in detail in FIG. 2. Stitching is
used to collapse the tubing at selected intervals (noted 50 and 51)
in FIG. 1 to a flattened condition. Stitching is also used to
incorporate and fasten the securing end pieces together (noted 52,
53, and 54) as seen in FIG. 1.
[0024] At both ends of the adjustable shock absorbing mooring and
utility line are securing ends 10 and 11 fitted with hardware 21,
22, 23 and 24. This hardware aids to provide easy securing options.
The ends can be uncoupled in order to wrap the ends around an
object 90 and then secure the closure by joining the buckle pieces
(male 21 with female 20 and male 23 with female 22) back
together.
[0025] The securing ends 10 and 11 can remain fastened and serve a
lasso or loop that can also aid in securing an object, such as the
boat 81 depicted in FIG. 1. The securing end 10 can be left
buckled, forming a loop that can be used as any loop as a securing
option. One securing option for the securing end 10 left fastened
to form a loop is depicted in FIG. 1 to secure around the boat
cleat 80.
[0026] Once the securing ends 10 and 11 are fastened to the
intended docking or securing objects 81 and 90, the length of the
line can be adjusted by the use of the adjusting strap 40 and the
buckle 30. The buckle 30 construction design resists the strap 40
from freely feeding back through the buckle 30 without applying
upward force on the buckle 30 first. The buckle 30 assists in
keeping the desired, adjusted length.
[0027] The fastening ends 10 and 11 are incorporated to either the
adjusting buckle 30 or directly 50 to the shock absorbing line 70.
The second fastening end 11, as seen in FIG. 1, is attached
directly to the adjusting buckle 30. The adjustment strap 40 is
used in cooperation with the adjusting buckle 30.
[0028] FIG. 2 depicts a sectional view of the line 70. The line 70
includes a shock absorbing material 110 and a length of tubing 112.
The shock absorbing material 110 of the depicted line 70 is
comprised of a length of elastomeric (e.g. bungee) cord and having
two opposite end portions 110a and 110b. The bungee cord is capable
of being stretched lengthwise from a relaxed condition to a
stretched condition as the two end portions 110a and 110b are
pulled apart, and its elastomeric nature returns the bungee cord to
a shortened, or relaxed condition as the two end portions 110a and
110b are permitted to be moved toward one another or released.
Moreover, the elastomeric nature of the bungee cord continually
biases the two end portions 110a and 110b toward one another when
the opposite ends of the line 70 are pulled apart.
[0029] The tubing 100, on the other hand, is comprised of a
substantially inelastic, albeit flexible, fabric, such as
tightly-woven nylon, having a relatively high tensile strength. In
addition, the tubing 100 includes a central section 112 having two
opposite end portions 112a and 112b and which is disposed along the
length of the tubing 100 inboard of the opposite ends of the line
70. As is apparent herein, the fabric material of the central
section 112 is movable lengthwise between a gathered condition (as
best shown in FIG. 2) and a fully stretched condition to
accommodate a lengthening of the line 70 as opposite end portions
112a and 112b of the central section 112 are moved farther apart
from a condition at which the central section is in a gathered
condition and to accommodate a shortening of the line 70 as the
opposite end portions 112a and 112b of the central section 112 are
moved closer together from a condition at which the central section
is in a fully-stretched condition. In the interests of the present
invention, the central section 112 is in a "gathered condition"
when its fabric exhibits wrinkles and folds which extend
(annularly) around the central section 112 so as to provide the
central section 112 with somewhat of a pleated appearance.
[0030] As best shown in FIG. 2, the shock absorbing material 110 is
disposed within the central section 112 of the tubing so that the
end portion 110a of the shock absorbing material 110 is disposed
within (and thus corresponds to) the end portion 112a of the
central section 112, and so that the end portion 110b of the shock
absorbing material 110 is disposed within (and thus corresponds to)
the end portion 112b of the central section 112. In the depicted
FIG. 2 view, the central section 112 is arranged in a gathered
condition (to accommodate a lengthening of the central section 112
as the end portions 112a and 112b are pulled apart), and the shock
absorbing material 100 is in a relaxed condition.
[0031] Each end portion 110a or 110b of the shock absorbing
material 110 is fixedly secured to a corresponding end portion 112a
or 112b with attaching means, generally indicated 114 in FIG. 2.
Although the attaching means 114 can take any of a number of forms,
it preferably includes means for tightly binding each end portion
112a or 112b of the central section 112 about a corresponding end
portion 110a or 110b of the shock absorbing material 110 so that
the end portions are tightly bound together. In one embodiment 70,
the binding means can take the form of a metal clamp which is
tightly clamped about each end portion 112a or 112b, and in another
embodiment, the attaching means can take the form of a clamp which
is tightly secured about end portion 112a and 112b and a
heat-shrinkable plastic sleeve, and applicable sleeving means,
tightly positioned about the end portions 112a and 112b.
[0032] To further reduce the likelihood that the end portions 110a
or 10b could pull free, that thus become detached from, the end
portions 112a or 112b, each end of the shock absorbing material 110
can be folded over and secured upon itself to form a knot 130
disposed outboard of the attaching means 114. These formed knots
130 will render it more difficult for the end portions 110a or 110b
to slide through the attaching means 114.
[0033] When assembling the line 70, the shock absorbing material
110 is placed within the central section 112 in a relaxed condition
and the central section 112 is gathered lengthwise to its gathered
condition so that the each end portion 112a or 112b corresponds
with a corresponding end portion 110a or 110b of the shock
absorbing material 110. The attaching means 114 are then secured
about the central section end portions so that each end portion
110a or 110b is tightly bound within the end portion 112a or 112b.
With the shock absorbing material 110 secured within the central
section 112 in this manner, the central section 110 is free to
lengthen from its gathered (FIG. 2) condition (as the opposite ends
of the line 70 are pulled apart) to a fully stretched condition as
the shock absorbing material is stretched from its relaxed
condition toward its stretched condition.
[0034] It is also a feature of the line 70 that as the opposite
ends of the line are pulled apart, the central section 112 reaches
its fully-stretched condition before the shock absorbing material
reaches its fully-stretched condition. This way, when the opposite
ends of the line 70 are pulled apart to the limit permitted by the
lengthening of the central section 112 from its gathered condition,
the shock absorbing material is not exposed to (tensile) forces
that can damage or break the shock absorbing material 110. It
follows that tensile forces exerted upon the line 70 (i.e. those
forces which pull the end portions 112a and 112b apart to a fully
stretched condition) which would otherwise stretch the shock
absorbing material to a length beyond its (stretched) length
corresponding with the fully-stretched condition of the central
portion 112 are resisted and supported by, the high tensile
strength fabric of the tubing 100, rather than being entirely
supported by the shock absorber material 110. Further still, the
elastomeric strength of the shock absorbing material is such that
when the opposite ends of the line 70 are permitted to move toward
one another from the fully-stretched condition of the central
section 110, the shock absorbing material 110 returns the central
section 110 toward its gathered (FIG. 2) condition as the shock
absorbing means 110 returns toward its relaxed condition.
[0035] Shock absorbing material 110 is covered by the tubing 100.
The ends of the shock absorbing material 110 are doubled over as
depicted in FIG. 2 and as in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 of U.S. Pat. No.
5,187,852, and FIG. 11 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,682,652. The shock
absorbing material 110 is folded over on to itself and a clamp 60
is fastened around the shock absorbing material to create a knot
130. Another clamp 60 is secured around the tubing with the shock
absorbing material 110 inside.
[0036] FIG. 3 illustrates a method of incorporating alternate
hardware to fashion alternate securing ends 180 and 190. Securing
end 180 comprises of fabric webbing (as proposed use in FIG. 1)
fastened to itself creating a loop. This securing end 180 is
directly attached to the line 70. The line 70 is then directly
attached to the adjusting strap 200. The adjusting strap 200
incorporates an adjusting buckle 210 just as the method
demonstrated in FIG. 1. The second securing end 190 is constructed
with sliding components 150 and 140 that allow for travel up or
down the length of the second securing end 120. The fabric webbing
of the second securing end 120 is incorporated into the sliding
components 130 and 140 such that the sliding components 130 and 140
can travel toward the adjusting buckle 30 to create a larger
diameter loop. The sliding components 130 and 140 can also be
adjusted away from the adjusting buckle to decrease loop size of
the second securing end 120. The fastening clip 160 is used in
cooperation with the sliding components 130 and 140 to create a
loop at the second securing end 120. The fastening clip 160 alone
can be used to fasten to an object. Stitching is used to collapse
the tubing at selected intervals (noted 170 and 171) in FIG. 3 to a
flattened condition. Stitching is also used to incorporate and
fasten the securing end pieces (noted 172, 173, and 174) as seen in
FIG. 3.
[0037] It is recognized that variations and modifications will
occur to those skilled in the art, and it is intended that all such
modifications and variations be included within the scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *