Patent ID: 6857381
Filing Date: 2005-02-22
Classification: B63B,F16G

Abstract:
1. A cam cleat for holding a line under tension, said cam cleat having i) a base for mounting on a surface; and ii) a first cam having a bottom surface and a top surface opposite the bottom surface, said first cam mounted on the base on an axle for rotation between an idle position and a gripping position, and with the bottom surface in proximity to the base, said first cam substantially in the form of a cylinder having a jaw on an edge thereof, said jaw having a gripping surface eccentrically mounted with respect to the axle, and said first cam mounted on the base adjacent to a gripping path extending along the base and along which gripping path the line to be gripped by the first cam passes, said first cam's idle position placing the gripping surface within the gripping path, wherein the improvement comprises a first fairlead projection extending from the first cam's top surface and adjacent to the gripping path with the first cam in the idle position, said first fairlead projection rotating with the first cam to a position aligned with the gripping path and spaced from the base when the first cam is in the gripping position; and wherein the first fairlead projection extends from the first cam generally parallel to the base and traverses a first fairlead projection path as the cam rotates between the idle and gripping positions.