CORD LOCKING CLEAT

A cleat device for adjustably securing two segments of a cord in locked engagement includes a body and an integral head having an open mouth communicating with a through passage and left and right cord channels extending from the through passage to slots at a back end of the body. The cord segments pass through the open mouth and out from an open top of the body. The cord segments are pulled down into the channels and slots to lock them in the cleat. The channels include ribbed sidewalls that progressively narrow near a bottom of the channels to wedge the cord segments in the locked position. The cord segments can be pulled out through the slots and out of the back end of the cleat when in the locked position, but cannot be pulled out in the opposite direction from the mouth when locked in the channels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device for securing a cord and, more particularly, to a cleat device that locks two segments of a cord in a fixed, adjusted position, and particularly cord segments at the end of a looped cord that is fitted around an object for purposes of tightening the loop around the object and locking it in place.

Discussion of the Related Art

Devices for holding or locking a cord at a fixed position are well known in the art. In particular, spring loaded barrel fasteners are well known devices that are squeezed against a spring force to open a passage so that a cord can be pulled through the barrel fastener until the cord is at a desired position for locking. At the desired position, a plunger of the barrel fastener is released causing the spring to urge the plunger outwards so that the passage closes and grips the cord or multiple cord segments in a locked position. Various other cleat devices are also well known in the art. Notwithstanding, the known cord locking devices in the related art have various shortcomings that have proven to be problematic in certain applications. For instance, barrel fasteners include multiple parts including a spring that tends to corrode, especially in a harsh environment, such as a swimming pool. Moreover, barrel fasteners and other cord locking devices tend to allow the cord to slip when significant pressure is exerted on the cord, causing the cord to back out from the device.

Accordingly, there remains a need for a cord locking device that is specifically adapted to secure two segments of a cord in a locked position, and wherein the device is manufactured as a single piece to avoid moving parts that may jam or become corroded. Moreover, there is a need for a one piece cord locking device that is adapted to hold two segments of a cord in a fixed, locked position that resists significant forces tending to pull the cord out of the locking device. Still further, there is a need for a simple one piece cord locking device that effectively secures two cord segments of a looped cord so that the looped cord can be fitted around an object, such as a pool vacuum head, to secure the cord and a fitting such as a net on the vacuum head in a manner that resists loosening and accidental separation of the looped cord and net from the vacuum head.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a cleat device for adjustably securing two segments of a cord in locked engagement includes a body and an integral head having an open mouth communicating with a through passage and left and right cord channels extending from the through passage to slots at a back end of the body. The cord segments pass through the open mouth and out from an open top of the body. The cord segments are pulled down into the channels and slots to lock them in the cleat. The channels include ribbed sidewalls that progressively narrow near a bottom of the channels to wedge the cord segments in the locked position. The cord segments can be pulled out through the slots and out of the back end of the cleat when in the locked position, but cannot be pulled out in the opposite direction from the mouth when locked in the channels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the several views of the drawings, a cord locking cleat10is shown and includes a main body12and a head14that is integrally formed with the main body12. The head includes a forward distal edge15that is slightly curved for abutting engagement against the side of a surface, and particularly the curved surface of a neck surrounding a discharge opening on a vacuum head102, as seen inFIG. 1. In particular, the cord locking cleat10of the present invention is adapted for securing two cord segments50,52in locked position and, is particularly used for securing the cord segments50,52of a looped cord60that is fitted about an object, such as the neck104of a pool head vacuum102, of a pool vacuum device100, as seen inFIG. 1. More specifically, the locking cleat10secures the looped cord60that is fitted through a sleeve surrounding an opening of a bag108, whereupon closing the loop60serves to close the opening of the mesh bag108. In this particular use, the cord locking cleat10locks the cord in place once the loop60is pulled tight around the neck104of the vacuum head102to effectively secure the mesh bag108onto the neck104and over a discharge opening of the vacuum head102with the curved forward distal edge15of the locking cleat in abutting engagement against the side of the neck104.

The cord locking cleat10further includes a bottom side16, a top side18and an open mouth20in the head. The open mouth20communicates with an open through passage extending between the mouth20and a top opening22of the main body.

Left and right parallel cord channels24and26extend from the mouth to the back end of the cleat. More specifically, the left and right parallel cord channels24and26are in direct communication with the mouth and the through passage, as well as the top opening22and extend to corresponding slots25and27at the back end of the main body12. The left and right cord channels24and26include a tapered portion28that narrows towards the bottom, and particularly near the through passage and open mouth at the forward end of the channels. The tapered configuration of the channels allows the cord segments50and52to be wedged down into the respective cord channels24and26, as seen inFIG. 4, to effectively lock the cord segments50and52in place so that the cord segments50,52cannot be pulled out through the open mouth away from the locking cleat10.

Referring toFIGS. 2, 4 and 6, the cord channels24and26include ribs30extending upwardly rearwardly from the bottom of the channels to the open top of the channels. The ribs30assist in grabbing the cord segments50,52when pulled down through the respective channels24,26. Apertures32and34integrally formed within the lower portion of the slots25and27allow for rearward directional movement of the respective cord segments50and52out through the slots25and27upon application of a linear pulling force on the cord segments50,52in a direction away from the back end of the main body12. This allows the cord segments50,52to be pulled through the cleat to tighten the looped portion of the cord60without unlocking the cord segments from the cleat.

The outer sides of the main body12of the cleat10include textured areas40to promote gripping of the cleat between the fingers, and particularly between the thumb and index finger. Grasping the cleat10between the fingers, the user can then pull each of the cord segments50,52through the cleat10to the desired adjusted position whereupon the cord segments50,52can be locked into place by wedging the cord segments50,52down deep into the channels24,26so that the cord segments are effectively wedged within the tapered portion28and within the grip of the ribs30. When in the locked position, as seen inFIGS. 4-6, the cord segments50,52resist against significant forces pulling the card segments50,52out from the mouth20and away from the cleat. This prevents the looped portion60from becoming loosened which would be undesirable during use of the cleat for purposes such as holding the mesh bag108and the vacuum head102. To loosen the looped portion60, and enlarge the opening of the mesh bag108, thereby allowing removal of the bag108from the vacuum head102, the cord segments are simply lifted up and out from the open top of the channels24and26while pulling slightly rearward on the cord segments50,52until they are removed from the channels and extend out through the top opening22, as seen inFIG. 2.

While the present invention has been shown and described in accordance with a preferred and practical embodiment thereof, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are fully contemplated within the spirit and scope of the present invention which is not to be limited, except as defined in the following claims.