Rope-mounting Bracket

Abstract

A rope-mounting bracket having a body portion that is formed of a generally flat face having a tang and a pair of apertures therein for adjustably securing a line. A pair of resilient fingers are integrally connected to the body portion to form a gap therewith and are operable to releasably secure the body portion to the cleat, rail, coaming or the like, of a boat.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to releasable brackets or clips for securing ropes or lines to small boats, cruisers, yachts, or the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It has been common practice prior to the advent of this invention to locate fenders or bumpers at the sides of a boat by tying lines of appropriate length to the railings, cleats or other parts of a boat. Usually several such fenders are used on a single boat. Tying the lines that carry the fenders is a time-consuming process, particularly if the fenders must be adjusted or relocated frequently such as is often the case when boats are being passed through canal locks or are otherwise closely packed with other boats.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a device that is releasably mounted to the boat, so that it can be slipped on and off with a minimum delay, and which holds the line carrying a fender, anchor or the like, in a manner that allows adjustment or relocation of the fender or anchor without the time-consuming need to untie knots. In the preferred form the invention comprises a cliplike mounting bracket which can be quickly and easily attached to a hand rail, cleat or similar type of hardware on a boat for the purpose of suspending a line which in turn is used to hold a fender, for example, at the side of the boat. The line is securely fastened, while at the same time can be easily freed for adjustment so as to permit a change in length of the line and thus allow adjustment in the position of the fender. Another feature of the invention is that the device may be easily and inexpensively fabricated. Still another feature is that use of the bracket enhances the appearance of the boat by eliminating the unsightly clusters of knotted lines on the boat railings, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a rope mounting bracket embodying the principles of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a section taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view from the side opposite FIG. 1 and illustrating how a line is attached to the mounting bracket and also showing a fender (in phantom lines) suspended from the lower end of the line. This figure also illustrates how the mounting bracket would be mounted on a boat railing also shown in phantom lines.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a mounting bracket of this invention attached to a marine-type boat cleat on the boat deck.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view of a small boat or skiff with a pair of mounting brackets attached to the coaming thereof. For illustrative purposes only, one mounting bracket is shown supporting a fender at the side of the boat while the second mounting bracket is supporting an anchor or mooring line.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The rope-mounting bracket as illustrated in the several figures is preferably comprised of a single piece of strong, resilient material, such as plastic, having a relatively flat face panel or body portion 10. The body portion is integrally joined at a reverse bend 11 to a pair of spaced, flat prongs or clips 13 defining a slot 25 therebetween and which extend downwardly and define an open gap 14 in conjunction with and adjacent to the body portion. The lower ends of the two prongs terminate in curved tips 15 which facilitate the installation of the mounting brackets on boat railings or the like, as will be apparent.

The body portion 10 is provided with means for adjustably securing line 16 as shown in FIG. 3. The securing means includes a central hole 17, through which the line is threaded thence running upwardly a short distance within the bracket to exist at an offcenter hole 18. Passage of the line 16 offers only a moderate amount of resistance through the holes 17 and 18, to thus allow pulling it in either direction through the holes for adjusting the length of the line and thus the height of a fender 19. To firmly lock the line at a given setting, it is wedged behind a projecting, locking tang 20. When locked in this manner, as shown in FIG. 3, the harder the line is pulled from below by the fender, the more firmly it is gripped. The locking tang 20 is shown as an integral part of the body portion 10 having been punched outwardly.

As shown in FIG. 4, the mounting bracket may be readily attached to a marine-type deck cleat 21. The neck (not shown) of the cleat passes through the slot 25 between the two prongs 13, as is readily apparent, to prevent the mounting bracket from sliding sidewise off the cleat 21.

In FIG. 3 the mounting bracket is shown attached to a railing 22. It is desirable to locate the bracket at a point on the railing where the latter is supported by a vertical post member 23, so that the post 23, will be positioned between the prongs 15 and thereby reduce any tendency of the bracket to slide along the railing.

The versatility of the mounting bracket of this invention is further illustrated in FIG. 5 where it is shown attached to a small boat which has no railing or cleats. Most small boats of this type are generally made of fiber glass and usually are provided with a downwardly projecting internal coaming at either side of the boat such as at 24. This provides a convenient place for mounting the brackets of this invention. In this case the mounting brackets are slipped on from below so that they are generally upside down as compared to other types of installations on railings and the like. A mounting bracket utilized in this manner may support a fender 19, an anchor, or may simply be used to secure a mooring line.

While only the preferred form of the invention has been described it is not to be considered limitive, since the particular construction shown and described is intended as illustrative only. Obviously changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A rope-mounting bracket for installation and use on a boat or the like, and comprising a front portion, a rear portion integrally connected by a reverse bend to said front portion, said rear portion comprising a pair of spaced, resilient clips, said front portion including a generally centrally located outwardly extending tang, a first aperture generally centrally located beneath said tang, a second aperture above said first aperture and substantially directly below one corner of said tang, the arrangement of said tang and said apertures being such that a rope is attachable to the installed bracket by being led through said first aperture toward said rear portion out said second aperture away from said rear portion and wedged between said tang and said front portion, with the portion of said rope extending between said apertures lying substantially between and facing the ends of the spaced clips.

2. The rope mounting bracket of claim 1, wherein said bracket is fabricated of plastic.