Method for securing load using rope tying device

A device to assist manual tightening of a rope passed over a load on a vehicle. In use the device is first attached to the rope by passing the rope over ridge (14), through hole (13) and around neck (18); tensioning may then be achieved by pulling on the rope, after it has been looped (by 180 degrees) around a fixed anchorage on the vehicle and then around hook-like tensioner (15). The taut rope is secured by again passing it around a fixed anchorage point and then winding it around neck (19) and under the rope lying between ridge (14) and a hole (13). An alternative device has two tensioners (15) and is used similarly to the above.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a device for securely tightening a rope across a 
load. 
BACKGROUND ART 
Commonly, the payload on trucks is stabilieed by the process of tying one 
end of a rope to one fixed point of the truck, extending the other end of 
the rope around the load, looping the rope about a fixed receiving point, 
then securely tightening the rope around the load by tying a hitch knot 
back at a point along the length of the rope. However, the jolting motion 
of the truck causes the load to exert a force against the rope, leading to 
a loosening of the grip of the knot. The risk of the load moving 
independently of the truck poses a foreseeable risk of danger. 
Furthermore, the knot itself may threaten to interfere with vehicles 
passing nearby. For instance the loop of the hitch knot normally extends 
some distance from the side of the truck when not properly concealed, and 
can attach to vehicles passing in close proximity. 
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
It is a object of the present invention to overcome or substantially 
ameliorate the abovementioned disadvantages. 
The present invention provides a device for securely tightening the free 
end of a rope across a load, which device comprises a rope fixing means, a 
tensioning means and a receiving means, the arrangement being such that a 
portion of the free end of the rope is fixed to the fixing means and the 
free end of the rope is passed around a first anchor site external of the 
device and then a portion of the free end of the rope downstream thereof 
engages on the tensioning means whereby the rope is maintained under 
tension and the remaining free end of the rope is passed around a second 
anchor site external of the device and then secured to the receiving 
means. 
Optionally, the device may include more than one tensioning means. Where 
the device includes two tensioning means, the arrangement is such that 
after a portion of the free end of the rope is fixed to the fixing means 
and the free end of the rope is passed around a first anchor site external 
of the device with a portion of the free end of the rope downstream 
thereof being engaged on a first tensioning means and maintained thereon 
under tension, the remaining free end of the rope is passed around a 
second anchor site external of the device and a portion of the free end of 
the rope downstream thereof engages on the second tensioning means and is 
maintained thereon under further tension before being passed around a 
third anchor means external of the device and being secured to the 
receiving means. 
The device may be permanently fixed to the rope or be capable of separation 
therefrom.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The rope tying device 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 consists of an elongated rib 
11 having at one end an enlarged head portion 12 containing an aperture 13 
and ridge 14 and having at the other end a hook 15. Between the head 
portion 12 and hook 15 and on both sides of the rib 11 are winged portions 
16 and 17 fixed to the rib 11 by respective necks 18 and 19. FIGS. 2, 3 
and 4 show that the ridge 14, hook 15 and winged portions 16 and 17 are 
raised above the plane of the rib 11. 
FIGS. 5 to 7 show a procedure for using the device of FIGS. 1 to 4 to 
securely tighten a rope 20 about a load 21 carried on a vehicle 25, which 
rope 20 is tied at one end to the vehicle at a first anchor site 22, is 
slung across the load 21 and left untied at its other end situated at the 
opposite side of the load 21. The rope 20 is preferably of a diameter that 
will fit tightly in the recess between the head portion 12 and any of the 
winged portions 16 or 17. 
As shown in FIG. 5, and referring to the features enumerated in FIG. 4, a 
length of the free end of the rope 20 is fed over ridge 14, through the 
aperture 13 and a portion thereof is tightly looped through a 360.degree. 
angle around neck 19 of the winged portion 17. In this configuration, the 
device 10 is restricted from moving along the length of the rope 20 and so 
the aperture 13, ridge 14 and winged portion 17 co-operate to serve as the 
fixing means. 
Referring to FIG. 6, the free end of the rope 20 is then looped through an 
angle of 180.degree. about a second anchor site 23 of the vehicle, and 
then looped through an angle of 180.degree. about the hook 15. The hook 15 
serves as the tensioning means. 
The free end of the rope 20 is then pulled in the direction of the axis of 
the rib 11 away from the device 10 so as to bring the device 10 closer to 
the second anchor site 23, thereby increasing the tension of the rope 20 
about the load 21. 
Whilst at its desired tension, FIG. 7 shows that the remaining end of the 
rope 20 is looped through an angle of 180.degree. about a third anchor 
site 24 of the vehicle 25 and then secured to the device 10 by firstly 
being looped through an angle of 360.degree. around the neck 18 of the 
winged portion 16 and then having the remaining short leading portion of 
the rope 20 fed between the head portion 12 and the portion of the rope 20 
that rests upon the head portion 12 down from the ridge 14. The winged 
portion 16, the ridge 14 and the rope threaded through aperture 13 and 
over ridge 14 when under tension co-operate to serve as the receiving 
means. 
It is apparent that the length of the free end of the rope from the site at 
which the device 10 is fixed to the rope must be sufficient to enable the 
user to perform the manipulations suggested as above. 
When the device 10 is in operation across a load the device maintains the 
desired tension on the rope, thereby effectively restricting independent 
movement of the load. 
Various modifications may be made in details of design and construction 
without departing from the scope or ambit of the invention.