A quick connect adjusting loop for a cargo tie-down rope comprises a body of substantially rigid, high strength material having a first portion forming a loop through which a loop of a tie-down rope extends and a second portion forming slip lock adjacent the loop for releasably gripping the rope.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to rope tie-down devices and pertains 
particularly to a trucker's knot. 
Truckers traditionally use one or more ropes to tie down the load on their 
truck bed. The prior art approach is for the trucker to tie one end of the 
line or rope to one side of the truck bed, toss the line over the load, 
and form a first or fixed loop in the line near the other end of the rope, 
so that he can extend a variable loop of the line through the first loop 
and hook it over a hook or the like on the side of the truck bed. The 
trucker then pulls on the tail end of the rope to snug it tight across the 
load. 
The major problem with this approach is that it takes time to form the 
knot. Another problem is that if the knot is placed at the wrong position, 
it must be removed and replaced. This can be time consuming and 
frustrating. The present invention eliminates the time and frustration 
normally involved in forming the trucker's knot in the proper position in 
the line. 
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved 
trucker's knot. 
In accordance with a primary aspect of the invention a trucker's knot for 
use on a cargo tie-down rope comprises a body of substantially rigid, high 
strength material having a loop formed therein and a slip lock adjacent 
said loop.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated an exemplary 
embodiment of a mechanical trucker's knot in accordance with the 
invention, designated generally by the numeral 10, shown in operative 
position on a tie-down rope. The mechanical trucker's knot or rope loop, 
in accordance with the invention, comprises a body of substantially rigid, 
high strength material, forming a ring or loop 12 at the lower end 
thereof. The body of the device may be formed of any suitable material, 
such as a durable high strength plastic, a metal, wood or any other 
suitable high strength substantially rigid material. The ring or loop 
defines or forms hole or loop 14 through which a rope is to pass to form a 
variable or sliding loop. 
The overall body member 10 comprises a combination of a ring or loop and a 
slip lock extending upward from the loop. The overall body is asymmetric 
about a central axis, forming an extension of the axis of the upper 
portion of a tensioned rope or line to which the device is attached. 
The overall device, as viewed in FIG. 1, has a top, bottom, front and back, 
and left and right sides. As described from this orientation, the hole or 
opening 14 of the loop 12 is on the order of at least twice and preferably 
on the order of several times the diameter of the rope or line to which 
the device is to be attached, and is positioned on the vertical center or 
load axis. This vertical center line or load axis will generally coincide 
or align with the axis of the line portion 42 under load or tension. 
The slip lock portion of the device comprises a first arm 16, extending to 
the upper left of the main body and forming a somewhat cleat like 
structure of an arm 18, and extending at an angle of on the order of about 
thirtydegrees from the loop 12 upward toward the vertical axis of the 
device. The ar 16 includes an upper end, having a curved hook portion 20 
that hooks over and across the axis of the upper portion of a line or rope 
42 to be hooked therein positioning the body relative thereto. A lower 
hook or finger portion 22 cooperatives with the upper hook or finger 
extension 20, to form a generally C-shaped opening through which the line 
extends with a notch like section or opening 24 which limits the line or 
rope to a pre-determined maximum diameter. The opposite end of the arm or 
member 16 is formed with a notch 26 at the juncture of the lower arm 
portion 18 and loop 12. This notch through which the rope or line extends 
to pass across the back of the device supports the line for its change in 
direction, as will be described. 
A guide way 28 (FIG. 3) extends from the hook and notch portion 24 at the 
upper end of the device down to the lower left hand notch 26. A guide way 
30 (FIG. 4) extends across the back of the device and over to a notch 32, 
at the right hand side of the device formed by the outer extension of an 
arm 34. The upper edge of arm 34 cooperatives with a lower edge of the 
lower finger portion of arm 16 to form another notch 36, through which a 
line extends back to the back of the device, where it then loops through 
the loop 12. These guide surfaces and notches also function as frictional 
gripping surfaces to grip the line or rope to prevent slippage of the 
device on the line or rope when the line is tight. This arrangement 
provides three gripping surfaces, excluding the notches. The loop over the 
finger 34 loops the rope or line over a portion of itself and thereby 
provides additional gripping. 
As previously explained, the present device is used as a trucker's knot, 
and may be selectively positioned very easily and quickly at any position 
along a tie-down rope. As disclosed in FIG. 1, a tie-down rope, an 
intermediate portion of which is shown, includes an upper portion 42, 
which is a portion that would normally extend over the load. The opposite 
or other end of the rope is secured to an opposite side of the bed of a 
truck, with the near side as illustrated, then being provided with the 
loop device of the present invention. The loop device is selectively 
positioned and hooked into place with the hook 20, 22 first extending onto 
the rope or line 42, with the line then passed along groove or friction 
surface 28, and through notch 26. The rope then extends across the back or 
behind the device along groove or friction surface 30, into notch 32 and 
then up and across groove or surface 40 and into notch 36. A loop 44 is 
then formed in the rope and extended through the loop 12. This loop 44 is 
looped over a hook or cleat on the trunk bed, with the tail end of the 
rope or line 46 extending down to use to draw the line tight and tail it 
off. 
The loop 44 is pulled down and hooked to or looped around a hook or the 
like on the near side of the truck bed. The tail end 46 is then used to 
draw the line tight across the load, with the loop 12 acting somewhat in 
the fashion of a pulley. When the line is tight, the tail end of the line 
portion 46 is tied off to a suitable cleat or the like on the truck bed. 
Thus, it is seen from the above described structure and operation that 
there is provided an improved mechanical trucker's knot, which may be 
quickly and easily attached to a tie-down line or rope and can be quickly 
and easily moved to selected positions along a section of the rope or 
line. 
While I have illustrated and described my invention by means of specific 
embodiments, it is to be understood that numerous changes and 
modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and 
scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.