Abstract:
A fast looping-up and releasing rope loop assembly includes two one-way locking devices, at least one band, and a buckle. The one-way locking device includes a body constituted by a base and a cover. The one-way locking device allows the pull rope to extend therethrough and to move with respect thereto along a single direction. By inserting the pull rope through a rope entry opening of the base of the one-way locking device and further extending the rope around a rotary disk and a rotary wheel arranged inside the locking device and extending out of the locking device, the one-way locking device that locks the movement of the rope in an opposite direction is completed. When the rope is jammed due to excessive tightening, a presser of the buckle is depressed to release the one-way locking device from the jamming condition so that efficient loop-up and release can be realized.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to a fast looping-up and releasing rope loop assembly, which eliminates jamming problem of a rope loop that is operated with a one-way locking device to facilitate efficient release of the rope loop applicable to loop up an opening of a sack or the likes, and is particularly applicable to a covering sack for a yacht or a jet ski. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    When a motorized vehicle, such as a yacht or a jet ski, is to be stowed for not use for a long while, it is often to cover to vehicle with a dust-proof cover to protect the vehicle from being contaminated by dust or other debris and also to protect the vehicle against aging and surface cracking caused by sun light. 
         [0003]    The dust-proof cover is set over the yacht or the jet ski. When the yacht or the jet ski is transported to a marine area through road transportation, the dust-proof cover that covers the yacht or jet ski may be blown away by the high speed air flow caused during the road transportation through for example a high way. Thus, a rope is often used to loop up the cover around the yacht or jet ski for securing the cover. This is proven to be not working effectively in securing the cover and the cover may still be blown away once it is acted upon by strong blows. Another way is to use a sufficient length of rope, which can be for example as long as 80 feet, to entangle around fixation bars set around a yacht carrier platform to secure the cover on the yacht or jet ski. However, this is an elaborate and time-consuming job for entangling the rope around the yacht carrier platform, and the entangling rope is susceptible to over-tightening after being acted upon by strong blows during the road transportation, making it difficult to release subsequently. 
         [0004]    It is thus desired to provide a rope loop assembly that can efficiently tightened and released and is applicable to cover an article without the risk of being blown away when undergoing high way transportation and without the risk of jamming of the rope so as to facilitate efficient release of the rope loop assembly. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a fast looping-up and releasing rope loop assembly that can be efficiently tightened and released so that a cover to which a one-way locking device and a rope of the rope loop assembly are attached can be effectively looped up without being blown off during high speed transpiration through for example a high way. 
         [0006]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide a fast looping-up and releasing rope loop assembly, wherein in case a one-way locking device that selectively fixes the rope get jammed, a presser of a buckle can be simply depressed in a one-step operation to release the rope for a given distance that serves as a buffering space for actually releasing the rope so that convenience of efficient loop-up and release of the rope loop assembly can be realized. 
         [0007]    To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a fast looping-up and releasing rope loop assembly comprising two one-way locking devices, at least one band, and a buckle. The one-way locking device has a configuration that allows a rope extending therethrough to be pulled in a single direction and prevents movement of the rope in an opposite direction. The one-way locking device is provided at one side thereof with a metal slotted plate through which the band extends. An end of the band is coupled to the buckle. The rope is set to extend along an opening of a covering sack, whereby the opening of the sack can be looped up by pulling the rope to cause the rope to be withdrawn in a single direction to loop up the sack opening. To release the sack opening, a presser of the buckle is depressed to provide an initial release of the sack opening and an operation arm of the one-way locking device is actuated to completely release the rope of the sack opening. Thus, efficient loop-up and release of the rope loop assembly can be realized. 
         [0008]    The foregoing objective and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts. 
         [0009]    Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view illustrating the present invention loops up a covering sack. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a one-way locking device of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a pull rope inserting into the one-way locking device in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a band inserting into a buckle in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the band received in the buckle in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a plan view, partially broken, illustrating the operation of the one-way locking device in looping up, wherein a block is caused to resiliently leap between adjacent teeth by the movement of the pull rope. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a plan view, partially broken, illustrating the operation of the one-way locking device in releasing the pull rope. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a rope loop assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises two one-way locking devices  1 ,  1   a , a length of pull rope  80 , a length of a band  63 , and a buckle  70 . As shown, the band  63  has an end fixed to the buckle  70  and an opposite end extending through a slot  61  formed in a metal plate  60  of the first one-way locking device  1 , further extending through a slot  61  formed in a metal plate  60  of the second locking device  1   a , and eventually extending through a slot formed in front of a presser  76  of the buckle  70 , whereby the band  63  is connected between the two one-way locking devices  1 ,  1   a . The pull rope  80 , which is connected to the locking devices  1 ,  1   a , is looped around an opening rim  91  of a cover  90  (see  FIG. 2 ) to effect fast looping-up and releasing. 
         [0021]    To loop up the opening  91  of the cover  90 , the end of the band  63  is inserted into the buckle  70  and the presser  76  is operated to effect engagement and securely fixing (see  FIG. 7 ). Afterwards, an operator may use both hands to simultaneously pull the pull rope  80  from both one-way locking devices  1 ,  1   a  whereby the rope  80  fast reduces the diameter looped in a one-way ratcheted condition for looping up and the opening  91  is thus tightened to the extreme by the pull rope. Due to the two one-way locking devices  1 ,  1   a  that provide an effect against backward movement of the pull rope  80 , the pull rope  80  is maintained in a gradually tightened condition during the looping up process and can be secured in the extremely tightened condition after the looping up of the rope. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , to release the opening  91  of the cover for removing the cover, a release knob  53  that is provided in each one-way locking device  1 ,  1   a  can be operated to allow clockwise movement of the pull rope  80  for releasing. However, the pull rope  80  may get over-tightened, which causes the release knob  53  to be jammed by ratcheting teeth  33 . In accordance with the present invention, a one-step operation of depressing the presser  76  of the buckle  70  can be done to release the band  63  for a given distance and by doing so, the release knobs  53  of the two one-way locking devices  1 ,  1   a  are released from jamming caused by over-tightening and can be operated to allow clockwise releasing movement of the pull rope  80  (see  FIG. 9 ). Afterwards, the opening  91  of the cover that is looped up by the rope can be easily expanded to remove the cover  90 . Fast looping up and releasing can be realized. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, the rope loop assembly comprises a one-way locking device  1  to which a length of a band  63   a  is attached. An opposite end of the band  63   a  is attached to a buckle  70 . Another one-way locking device  1   a  is fixed to an extended length of band  63   b . The rope loop assembly further comprises a pull rope  80  that extends in and along an opening rim  91  of a cover  90  (see  FIG. 2 ). To loop up, an end of the band  63   b  is inserted into the buckle  70  and engagement and fixing thereof is effected by the presser  76 . A similar function of fast looping up and releasing can be realized. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the one-way locking device  1  (the one-way locking device  1   a  as well) is constructed in such a way that the one-way locking device  1  comprises a base  10 , a cover  20 , a rotary disk  30 , a rotary wheel  35 , and a locker  50 . The base  10  forms at one side thereof a rope entry opening  11  opposite sides of which form holes  18 . Two roller  13  are arranged above the holes  18  respectively and two bolts  19  extend in a down-to-up direction through the holes  18  and the rollers  13  to engage the cover  20  thereby rotatably holding the rollers  13  on the opposite sides of the opening  11  for protection of the pull rope  80  against abrasion and rubbing during the pulling operation of the rope. A recess  12  is centrally formed in the base  10  and a hole  16  is defined at a center of the recess  12 . One side of the base  10  is extended to form an extension plate  15  that forms on left and right side portions thereof two holes  14 . The cover  20  forms a positioning hole  21 , a positioning post  22 , and a slot  23 , and is extended at one side thereof to form an extension plate  25 . The rotary disk  30  forms a central bore  31 . The rotary disk  30  has a top face, which forms a cavity  32  that has a circumference forming the ratcheting teeth  33 . The rotary disk  30  has a bottom that has a configuration having a protruding central portion and a reduced circumferential portion and also forming raised ribs  34  that radially extend from a center defined by the bore  31  and an engagement peg (not shown) corresponding in shape to an engagement bore. The ribs  34  are arranged to respectively correspond to raised ribs  37  formed in the rotary wheel  35 . The rotary wheel  35  comprises a body that has a center-protruding and circumference-reduced configuration and forms the engagement bore  36  (which is octagonal in the drawings) at a center thereof around which radially extending ribs  37  are set. In the embodiment illustrated, the engagement peg formed on the bottom face of the rotary disk  30  is fit into and engages the engagement bore  36  of the rotary wheel  35 . However, the rotary disk  30  and the rotary wheel  35  can be integrally formed together, namely the engagement peg that is formed in the bottom of the rotary disk and is shaped corresponding to the engagement bore and the engagement bore defined in the center of the rotary wheel can be integrated together to provide an equivalent result. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the pull rope  80  is inserted into the rope entry opening  11  through the right hand side portion thereof, extending between the ribs of the rotary disk  30  and the rotary wheel  35  and then projecting outward through the left hand side portion of the rope entry opening  11 . In this way of arrangement, the pull rope  80  can be withdrawn out of the locking device  1  by a counterclockwise movement or retracted back into the locking device  1  in a clockwise movement. The locker  50  comprises a bar  51  from which an operation arm  53  transversely extends. A tongue  56  also transversely extends from the bar  51  and is substantially opposite to the operation arm  53 . The tongue  56  forms a through hole  54 . A block  52  is formed on a bottom of the operation arm  53 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the metal plate  60  that forms the slot  61  also forms holes  62 . A high-tension band  63   a  is received through the slot  61 . To assemble, bolts  24  are respectively and sequentially set through the holes  14  defined in the extension plate  15  of the base  10 , the holes  62  defined in the metal plate  60  and then engage threaded holes defined in the extension plate  25  of the cover  20  so as to secure the metal plate  60  between the base  10  and the cover  20 . An end of the band  63   a  extending through the slot  61  (see  FIG. 3 ) is folded over and is fixed to the band  63   a  by sewing. An opposite end of the band  63   a  extends through the buckle  70  and is also folded over and sewn to the band  63   a  itself. Thus, the band  63   a  connects between the one-way locking device  1  and the buckle  70 . 
         [0027]    To assemble the one-way locking device  1 , a central shaft  17  is first fit into the hole  61  defined in the recess  12  of the base  10 . Alternatively, the central shaft is integrally formed with the hole. The engagement bore  36  of the rotary wheel  35  is then fit over the central shaft  17  to allow the rotary wheel  35  to be positioned in the recess  12  of the base  10 . The rotary disk  30  is set to have the ribs  34  thereof opposing the rotary wheel  35  and the central bore  31  of the rotary disk  30  is fit over the central shaft  17  with the ribs  34 ,  37  of the rotary disk  30  and the rotary wheel  35  facing each other. The engagement peg formed on the bottom of the rotary disk and corresponding in shape to the engagement bore  36  is then fit into the engagement bore  36  of the rotary wheel  35 . The bar  51  of the locker  50  is fit into the positioning hole  21  of the cover  20  and the block  52  of the locker  50  is received in the cavity  32  defined in the top face of the rotary disk  30 . An end of a spring  55  is coupled to the through hole  54  of the tongue  56 , while an opposite end of the spring  55  is attached to the positioning post  22  of the cover  20  to provide a returning biasing force to the block  52  when the block  52  is forced aside by the ratcheting teeth  33  during the rotation thereof. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the band  63   a  extends between the metal plate  60  and the buckle  70 . The buckle  70  comprises a chassis  71  of which one end is coupled to the band and an opposite end supporting a stop tab  72 , a retention bar  73 , a pivot  77 , a spring  75 , and the presser  76 . The presser  76  forms a through hole  78 . The pivot  77  sequentially extends through a hole  79  defined in one sidewall of the buckle  70 , the through hole  78  of the presser  76 , and the spring  75 , and is fit into a hole defined in an opposite sidewall of the buckle  70  and fixed thereto by means of for example riveting, whereby the presser  76  is retained on the buckle  70 . The spring  75  is rotatably and deformably arranged on the back side of the presser  76 . The retention bar  73  forms a retention notch  74 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , to insert the pull rope  80  in a counterclockwise direction into the one-way locking device  1  by inserting the pull rope  80  through one side portion of the rope entry opening  11 , the pull rope  80  is caused to extend over outer surfaces of the ribs  34 ,  37  of the rotary disk  30  and the rotary wheel  35 . The forward insertion of the pull rope  80  induces a dragging force to cause the rotary disk  30  and the rotary wheel  35  to rotate. The pull rope  80  projects outward through the opposite side portion of the rope entry opening  11  to complete the assembling of the one-way locking device. When the pull rope  80  is pulled by an external force, the pull rope  80  is only allowed to move in a single direction, namely a direction that causes counterclockwise rotation of the rotary disk  30  (and the rotary wheel  35 ). Under this condition, the block  52  of the locker  50  is resiliently leaping between adjacent teeth  33  under a biased condition with the spring  55  that is coupled to the through hole  54  of the tongue  56  of the block  52 . Thus, each time the block  52  is put aside by one of the teeth  33 , the spring  55  drives the tongue  56  back to the original position, and the pull rope can thus be smoothly pulled outward. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , on the other hand, when the pull rope  80  is pulled in a clockwise direction, the teeth  33  engages and blocks the block  52 , preventing the rotary disk  30  from rotation. Thus, the pull rope  80  is constrained from moving outward. In this way, a one way locking function can be realized. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 ,  7 , and  9 , due to the spring  75  arranged below the presser  76  of the buckle  70 , the presser  76  is biased by the spring  75 , which is held in the retention notch  74  to generate an upward spring force, to tightly engage and thus fix the band. The rope loop assembly in accordance with the present invention can be tightly looped up by continuously pulling the pull rope  80  that is allowed to do one-way movement. In case that an attempt to release the pull rope  80  when the pull rope  80  is in a tightened condition is made and the actuation of the operation arm  53  is jammed by the over-tight engagement between the block  52  and the teeth  53 , slight relief of the pull rope tension is needed to remove the jamming. However, the over-tightened condition makes it difficult to release the rope. In accordance with the present invention, a one-stop operation of depressing the presser  76 , which releases the band  63  coupled thereto for a distance, can effectively release the tension of the pull rope through the releasing of the band  63  through such a distance, making the rotary disk  30  no longer jammed and a buffering space for retraction of the pull rope  80  is provided. The block  52  can thus be disengaged from the teeth  53  by the operation of the operation arm  53 . Consequently, fast clockwise retraction of the pull rope  80  can be carried out to release the rope loop assembly (see  FIG. 9 ). 
         [0032]    While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.