Patent ID: 8959828
Filing Date: 2015-02-24
Classification: A01K,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A line connector apparatus for removably engaging a flexible line to an article, the flexible line having a long axis and an original diameter, said line connector apparatus comprising: (a) a beam having a longitudinal axis, said beam having an external surface portion, said beam including a flexible line end portion and an opposing article end portion along said longitudinal axis; (i) said flexible line end portion having a void that is disposed partially within said flexible line portion and said void partially formed from an open channel adjacent to said external surface portion, said void having a slip fit clearance with the flexible line, said void having a lengthwise axis, wherein said void communicates therethrough said flexible line end portion, wherein said void forms a tortuous passageway along said lengthwise axis, wherein said tortuous passageway is defined by at least three right angle turns along said lengthwise axis to form a loop along said lengthwise axis, wherein said at least three right angle turns form a continuous contoured surface for said void, wherein said at least three right angle turns are substantially equidistant from each other to form a symmetric tortuous passageway, wherein said void receives the flexible line allowing the flexible line to be manually fed therethrough said void along the lengthwise axis; (ii) a means for selectively compressing the flexible line that is positioned within said open channel to change said slip fit clearance to an interference fit, wherein said means for selectively compressing the flexible line is constructed of a finger having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, wherein said proximal end portion is pivotally attached to said flexible line end portion and said distal end portion is removably engaged to said article end portion, wherein said finger is positioned to be oppositely disposed from a portion of said passageway, said finger having an open state when said distal end is not engaged to said article end portion and a closed state when said distal end is engaged to said article end portion and; (iii) said opposing article end portion is attached to the article, wherein operationally the flexible line is affixed to said flexible line end portion along the long axis via said interference fit resulting in the flexible line being attached to the article, wherein operationally said tortuous passageway helps restrict the flexible line from moving along the long axis and helps prevent the flexible line from inadvertently dislodging from said beam with the flexible line being in contact with said continuous contoured surface to help prevent the flexible line from becoming damaged by being sharply bent, further a flexible line frictional load against said passageway is substantially balanced between each of said right angle turns and when said finger is in said closed state, said finger compresses the flexible line between said passageway and said finger to further retain the flexible line in said tortuous passageway.