A soft padeye is shown and disclosed. The soft padeye has a spindle that runs through the deck of the ship or boat or other surface. The fastener is then screwed on the shaft and secured against the deck securing the fastener and the spindle to the deck. The spindle has a hole through it allowing the passage of a loop of line. The loop remains above deck while the two ends of the loop are fed through the shaft and tied in a knot that will not pull through the shaft. This allows the user to secure line or other hardware to the loop.

FIELD

The present version of these embodiments relate generally to the field of devices used to attach lines to the decks of boats or ships or other surfaces.

BACKGROUND

These embodiments relate to padeyes or devices used to attach ropes or lines to the decks of ships or boats, and more particularly the devices can also be used to hold a line near the deck of a boat or ship or any other flat surface.

Boats and ships use lines for many purposes. Many times these lines must be run to a certain area on the deck or below the deck for adjusting many devices on the ships or boats. Padeyes were developed as a means to hold a line in a certain position on the deck so that the users would know where to reach to get the line. Alternatively padeyes were used as a guide to run a line from one area on the deck to another area on the deck. The padeyes also help keep the lines from getting tangled or misplaced.

Typical padeyes are manufactured from a ferrous or non-ferrous material and are either a solid piece of material bolted to or through the deck or a u-shaped piece of material that was retained on both ends and bolted to or through the deck.

These traditional padeyes obviously stick up from the deck and boaters and sailors can step on or ram their feet into the padeyes as they are moving around on the deck. This can cause injury and/or discomfort when the crew are rushing on the deck to take care of their responsibilities.

For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a padeye that does not protrude as far from the deck and that lessens the likelihood to cause potential injury or discomfort to the feet. There is also a need for a device that can be stepped upon without damaging it while still maintaining the functionality of the device.

SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the field of the traditional padeyes there is a need for a soft padeye.

A first objective of these embodiments is to provide a device that can hold or guide ropes or hold other deck hardware.

Another objective of these embodiments is to provide a device that can be stepped upon without injury to the device or the stepper.

It is yet another objective of these embodiments to provide a device that is relatively simple to install.

It is a still further object of these embodiments to provide a device that is at least as strong as the devices currently on the market.

These together with other objectives of these embodiments, along with various features of novelty which characterize these embodiments, are pointed out with particularity in this application forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of these embodiments, the operating advantages and the specific objectives attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, descriptive matter and claims in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, there is shown inFIG. 1a partial cutaway installed view of one embodiment of the padeye12installed in the deck11. To install the padeye12, the user would drill a hole in the deck sized as close to the diameter of the shaft24as possible. The shaft24has threads18. The shaft24of the spindle14is inserted into the hole on the deck and the threaded hole30of fastener16is threaded onto the shaft24threads18securing the top26of the fastener16to the underside of the deck11. This fixes the bottom22of the head20to the top of the deck11. A box wrench or crescent wrench can be used on the flat28to secure the fastener16.

Both ends of the loop13are inserted into the hole23on the top21of the spindle14above deck11to below deck11. The two ends of loop13are then tied into a knot17where it exits the end25of the shaft24. This secures the loop13in the padeye12. The user can then attach line15or hardware through the loop13above deck11.

FIG. 2shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the padeye12. The fastener16has flat28on the bottom27that facilitates the attachment of a tool (not shown) to tighten the top26of fastener16to the bottom of deck11and the bottom22of the head20to the top of the deck11. This thereby secures the padeye12to the deck11.

FIG. 3shows a side view of one embodiment of the padeye12. The size of the fastener16can be increased based upon the expected loading of the padeye12. Since the loading of the padeye12is primarily in a direction up from the deck11, the larger the fastener16, the higher the potential loading allowable.

FIG. 4shows a view of the bottom27of the fastener16.

It will now be apparent to those skilled in the art that other embodiments, improvements, details and uses can be made consistent with the letter and spirit of the foregoing disclosure and within the scope of this application.