SNOOD FOR A LONG LINE

Abstract: A snood (6) for a long line (1) comprising a fastening device (7) for securing the snood (6) to the long line. The snood (6) further comprises a snood line (17) being provided with a hook at one end. The opposite end of the snood line (17) extends through an aperture (16) formed in the fastening device (7). The aperture (16) ends in a chamber (13) formed in the fastening device, said chamber being adapted to rotatably receive a thickening (21) provided at the extremity of the second end of the snood line and being integrally formed therewith by injection moulding. The snood line (17) is made of a plastic material being different from and having another melting point than that of the plastic material from which the fastening device is made.

Description: Title: Snood for a long line- Technical Field The invention relates to a snood for a long line, said snood comprising an injection moulded plastic fastening device for securing the snood between fixed stop means and being shaped substantially as an open annular or tubular member with two arms, locking means being provided at the free ends thereof and adapted to lockingly snap engage each other so as to form a gripping aperture receiving the long line and to allow the fastening device to rotate freely about the long line, said snood further comprising a snood line provided with a first thickening at one end, the shank tip of a hook being fixedly embedded therein and the other end of the line extending through an aperture formed in the fastening device and having an axis substantially in a plane essentially perpendicular to the long line when the fastening device is mounted thereon, said aperture ending in a seat in a chamber formed in the fastening device, said chamber adapted to rotatably receive a second thickening arranged at the extremity of the second end of the snood line. Background Art US-A-3533184 discloses a snood with a clip comprising two arms which are adapted to lockingly snap engage each other so as to form a gripping aperture receiving the long line. The clip is further provided with a through-going hole extending transversely of the long line in the mounted state of the clip. One end of the snood line is passed through the said hole and secured to the clip by means of a knot. Furthermore DK-B165099 discloses a snood of the above type, wherein the second thickening, which is accommodated in the chamber of the fastening device, is formed of a knob. It is not stated in the publication how the said knob is connected to the snood line, but it appears from the drawing that it is made as a separate part secured to the end of the snood line. When manufacturing the snood, the other end of the snood line is passed through the hole in the fastening device from the outside, whereafter the separately manufactured knob is secured to the outer end of the snood line, eg by being glued or clamped thereon. Brief Description of the Invention The snood line according to the present invention is characterised in that the second thickening is formed integrally with the snood line by injection moulding thereof in a plastic material different from and having a melting point different from the plastic material from which the fastening device is injection moulded, the snood being formed in two successive moulding processes of the snood line and the fastening device, respectively, the second thickening accommodated in the chamber and the snood line extending through aperture. The number of separate elements forming the snood and the number of operations necessary for manufacturing the snood are thus reduced at the same time as the risk is minimised of the second thickening being torn off the snood line and the latter thereby being separated from the fastening device. According to the invention the second thickening of the snood line may be rotational-symmetrical about the axis of the snood line. Furthermore according to the invention the second thickening of the snood line may be substantially spherical at least in the portion facing the seat of the fastening device. As a result the snood line may rotate freely in every direction, which is advantageous when handling the long line and the snoods arranged thereon. Moreover according to the invention the chamber at least in the seat area may have a substantially cylindrical inner shape and extends between opposed lateral walls of the fastening device transversely of the aperture. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a snood according to the invention, and by which method the snood line with associated first and second thickenings is moulded in a corresponding mould cavity of an injection mould, the outer shank tip of the hook being embedded in a first thickening at the same time and the fastening device subsequently being moulded in a corresponding second mould cavity of an injection mould, the thickening portion of the snood line being accommodated in a portion of the mould cavity corresponding to the chamber and the portion of the snood line adjacent the second thickening forming a part of the mould cavity, and whereby the material of the snood line has a melting point exceeding the melting point of the material of the fastening device. According to the method the snood line may be moulded in a first injection mould and subsequently thereto be transferred to a second injection mould, in which the fastening device is moulded, the second thickening of the snood line accommodated in the chamber and the line extending through the aperture. However it is also possible to mould the fastening device in the same mould as the one, in which the snood line is moulded, the mould thus being provided with movable mould parts which subsequent to the moulding of the snood line may be moved to positions for the formation of a mould cavity for moulding the fastening device. Injection moulds formed in this manner are known to persons skilled in the art. It should further be mentioned that at the moulding of the fastening device the end portions of the snood line comprising the second thickening may also be moulded such that the said thickening forms the mould cavity for the chamber in a manner corresponding to the manner in which the adjacent portion of the snood line forms the aperture of the mould cavity portion. However, according to a preferred embodiment of the said method the mould cavity for injection moulding the fastening device comprises mould-cavity forming parts enclosing the second thickening and forming a chamber whose inner surface is spaced apart from and encloses the thickening. A clearance is thereby obtained between the thickening and the inner surface of the chamber to allow free movement of the thickening and thus of the snood line relative to the fastening device. The invention relates to another method of manufacturing a snood according to the invention, by which method the fastening device and the aperture therein are moulded in a corresponding mould cavity of an injection mould, the snood line subsequently being moulded in a corresponding second mould cavity of an injection mould and the fastening device being arranged such in the mould that the portions of the mould cavity corresponding to the thickening are arranged in the chamber and at least the aperture of the fastening device forms part of the mould cavity, and whereby the material of the fastening device has a melting point exceeding the melting point of the material of the snood line. In this second method according to the invention the fastening device may be moulded in a first mould and subsequently transferred to a second mould, in which the moulding of the snood line and embedment of the hook take place as described above in connection with the first method according to the invention. It is, however, also possible to mould the fastening device and the snood line in one and the same mould by providing the mould with movable mould parts which can be moved to form the mould cavities necessary for the two moulding processes. Moreover according to the invention the mould cavity for injection moulding the snood line may comprise mould-cavity forming parts for the formation of a second thickening accommodated in the chamber spaced apart from the inner surface thereof. As a result the thickening has a high degree of movability in the chamber, whereby the snood line has high movability in relation to the fastening device. It is preferred in both said methods according to the invention that the snood line is of a stretchable plastic material and that the snood line is stretched subsequent to the moulding of the snood. By stretching the snood line, preferably at an increased temperature below its melting point, said line becomes thinner, whereby a clearance between the line and the aperture is created. As a result the free movability of the snood line is increased in relation to the fastening device. Stretching the snood line also increases the strength of the line. A great number of different materials may be used for the snood fastening device and the snood line and the choice is obvious to a person skilled in the art. An example of a possible material combination for use in a method by which initially the snood line is moulded and subsequently the fastening device is moulded is a snood line made of polyamide, eg. a at least partially crystalline polyamide such as PA6, and polyoxy methylene (POM) for the fastening device. An example of a possible material combination for use in a method by which initially the fastening device line is moulded and subsequently the snood line is moulded is a fastening device made of polyamide imide (PAI) and a snood line of polyamide as mentioned above. Brief Description of the Drawings The invention is explained in detail below with reference to the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a portion of a long line and a snood according to the invention mounted thereon, Fig. 2 is a sectional view along the line II-II in Fig. 1 , Fig. 3 is a sectional view corresponding to the section II-II in Fig. through a snood according to the invention in its non-mounted state, Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view in the direction toward a parting surface of a mould half of an injection mould for manufacturing a snood line forming part of the snood according to the invention, Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view in the direction toward a parting surface of a mould half of an injection mould for manufacturing a fastening device forming part of the snood according to the invention, Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view in the direction toward a parting surface of a mould half of another injection mould for manufacturing a fastening device forming part of the snood according to the invention, and Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view in the direction toward a parting surface of a mould half of another injection mould for manufacturing a snood line forming part of the snood according to the invention, Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a portion of a long line 1 , to which a cylindrical sleeve 2 is secured having a cylindrical body 3 and radially outwardly extending flanges 4,5 at each end of the body 3. It should be understood that the long line 1 is provided with a plurality of mutually interspaced sleeves 2. A snood 6 according to the invention rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the snood line 1 is mounted on the sleeve 2 by means of a fastening device 7 forming part of the snood 6. As illustrated in Fig. 3 the fastening device 7 of the snood 6 is shaped as an open annular or tubular member with two arms 8,9. At their free ends the arms are provided with locking means 10, 11 which are adapted to lockingly engage each other by a snap action. The locking means 10 on the free end of the arm 8 is formed as a rib with barbs, while the locking means 11 on the outer end of the arm 9 is formed as a corresponding groove with barbs. For mounting the fastening device 7 on the sleeve 2, the arms 8,9 are inserted over the body 3 of the sleeve 2 and subsequently pressed towards each other to bring the locking means 10, 11 into locking snap-engagement with each other. The inner surfaces 12 of the arms thereby form a cylindrical gripping aperture having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the sleeve body 3 and receiving the latter, as shown in Fig. 2. In the arm 8 of the fastening device 7 a cylindrical chamber 13 extends between two lateral faces 14, 15 of the fastening device. Finally the fastening device 7 is provided with a cylindrical aperture 16 situated in the central plane of the fastening device and ending in the cylindrical chamber 13. the axis of the aperture 16 being substantially perpendicular to the axis of the cylindrical chamber 13. The snood 6 further comprises a snood line 17 provided with a first spherical thickening 18 at one end, an outer broadened shank tip 19 of a hook 20 being embedded in the said thickening. The other end of the snood line 17 is provided with a second spherical thickening 21 accommodated in the cylindrical chamber 13 of the fastening device, the adjacent portion of the snood line extending through the aperture 16. The second spherical thickening 21 of the snood line 17 has a diameter slightly smaller than that of the cylindrical chamber 13. As the line 17 has a smaller diameter than the aperture 16, the snood line may rotate and pivot freely in relation to the fastening device 7. With reference to Figs. 4 and 5 a first method of manufacturing the snood shown in Figs. 1 to 3 is now described in detail. The snood line is moulded in a first injection mould substantially formed of two symmetrical mould halves, of which one mould half 22 is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 4. When the snood line is moulded the broadened shank tip 19 of the hook 20 is embedded in the first spherical thickening. With a view hereto the injection mould 22 is provided with a mould cavity 23 corresponding to the shape of the snood line, the snood line being moulded with a diameter exceeding the diameter thereof in use. Moreover, the mould is provided with positioning faces 25-27 for correct positioning of the hook 20 in the mould such that the broadened shank tip 19 of the hook is embedded in the correct position. Fig. 4 illustrates the hook 20 arranged in the mould 22. When moulded the snood line is transferred to a second injection mould, of which one mould half 28 is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 5. This injection mould is formed substantially symmetrical such that the other mould half corresponds substantially to the shown mould half. The second mould 28 has a mould cavity 29 corresponding to the shape of the fastening device 7. Each of the mould halves 28 is further provided with a core 41 having a cylindrical outer shape to form the cylindrical chamber 13 of the fastening device 7. A hemispherical recess 30 is formed in each of the mutually facing end faces of the cores 41. The recesses 30 correspond jointly to the shape of the second spherical thickening 21 of the snood line 17. Jointly with a second cavity 24, which corresponds substantially to the shape of the snood line, the hemispherical recesses 30 position and retain the snood line during moulding of the fastening device. It should also be noted that each of the cores 41 is provided with radially extending semi-cylindrical recesses 31 in its inner end face, said recesses tightly enclosing the adjacent portion of the snood line in the moulding position of the mould. Fig. 5 illustrates the snood line with the hook arranged in the injection mould. Since the previously moulded snood line as illustrated in Fig. 5 is arranged in the mould for moulding of the fastening device during the moulding thereof, the fastening device is moulded with the second thickening 21 accommodated in the chamber 13 and the snood line extending through the aperture 16. It should be noted that the portion of the snood line adjacent the second spherical thickening 21 forms the part of the mould cavity forming the aperture. When the fastening device 7 has been moulded, the snood line 17 is stretched, whereby its diameter is reduced such that the diameter of the aperture 16 exceeds the diameter of the snood line 17. This feature is illustrated in Fig. 3 in which the diameter of the snood line in its moulded state is shown by means of dotted line and its diameter subsequent to stretching is shown by means of solid lines. In the first method described above for manufacturing a snood according to the invention a plastic material having a higher melting point than the material of the fastening device is used for the snood line 17. As an example PA6 having a melting point of about 225 °C may be used for the snood and POM having a melting point of about 180°C may be used for the fastening device. In this instance it is advantageous to stretch the snood line at a temperature of about 170°C. Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7 another method of manufacturing the snood shown in Figs. 1 to 3 is now described. The fastening device 7 is moulded with the shape shown in Fig. 3 in a first injection mould substantially formed of two essentially symmetrical mould halves, of which one mould half 32 is shown in Fig. 6. To this end the mould is comprises two substantially symmetrical mould cavities 33. For the formation of the cylindrical chamber 13 each mould half 32 comprises a core 34 corresponding substantially to the core 41 described above and a movable core 35 provided in the parting surface for the formation of the aperture 16. The movable core 35 is guided by means of a guide bore 42 formed by semi-circular faces in the mould halves. After moulding of the fastening device, the movable core 35 is withdrawn and the mould 32 is displaced in its closed state in the direction of the arrow P to the position shown in Fig. 7 in which the guide bore 42 of the movable core 35 is aligned with a corresponding portion of a mould cavity in an additional injection mould 36. The additional injection mould comprises two substantially symmetrical mould halves, of which one mould half 36 is shown. Jointly with the mould cavity formed of the hemispherical recesses in the end faces of the cores 34, the radially extending semi-cylindrical recesses in the rims thereof and the aperture in the fastening device the mould cavity 37 of the additional injection mould forms a mould cavity for moulding the snood. The said hemispherical recesses and the semi-circular recesses correspond to the recesses 30 and 31 , respectively, of the cores 41 shown in Fig. 5. The additional mould further comprises positioning faces 38, 39, 40 for correct positioning of the hook 20. The snood line is moulded in means of the injection moulds 32, 36 in the position shown in Fig. 7, the snood line is moulded, whereby the broadened shank tip 19 of the hook is embedded in the first spherical thickening 18 and the second spherical thickening 21 is accommodated in the cylindrical chamber 13 of the fastening device. As described above in relation to the first method, the snood line is stretched subsequently to being moulded. In a modification of the second method, the moulded fastening device may be removed from the first injection mould and placed in a corresponding cavity of a second injection mould substantially corresponding to a mould formed of the moulds 32 and 36 shown in Fig. 7 whereafter moulding of the snood line takes place therein. In the second method described above a plastic material with a melting point exceeding that of the material of the snood line 17 is used for the fastening device 7. The fastening device may for instance be moulded of polyamide imide having a glass transition temperature of about 280 °C, and the snood line may be moulded of PA6 having a melting point of about 225 °C. It is thus possible to stretch the snood line at a temperature of about 170°C.

Claims: Claims 1. Snood (6) for a long line, said snood comprising an injection moulded plastic fastening device (7) for securing the snood between fixed stop means (4,5) on the long line (1) and being shaped substantially as an open annular or tubular member with two arms (8,9), their free ends provided with locking means (10, 11) adapted to lockingly snap engage each other so as to form a gripping aperture receiving the long line and to allow the fastening device (7) to rotate freely about the long line (1), said snood (6) further comprising a snood line (17) provided with a first thickening (18) at one end, the shank tip (19) of a hook (20) being fixedly embedded therein and the other end of the line extending through an aperture (16) formed in the fastening device (7) and having an axis substantially in a plane essentially perpendicular to the long line (1) when the fastening device (7) is mounted thereon, said aperture (16) ending in a seat in a chamber (13) formed in the fastening device (7), said chamber adapted to receive a second thickening (21) arranged at the extremity of the second end of the snood line, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the second thickening (21) is formed integrally with the snood line (17) by injection moulding thereof in a plastic material different from and having a melting point different from the plastic material from which the fastening device (7) is injection moulded, the snood (6) being formed in two successive moulding processes of the snood line (17) and the fastening device (7), respectively, the second thickening (21) accommodated in the chamber and the snood line extending through aperture (16). 2. Snood according to claim 1 , c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the second thickening (21) of the snood (17) is rotational-symmetrical about the axis of the snood line. 3. Snood according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the second thickening (21) of the snood line (17) is substantially spherical at least in the seat area of the fastening device (7). 4. Snood according to one or more of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the chamber (13) at least in the portion adjacent the seat has a substantially cylindrical inner shape and extends between opposed lateral walls (14, 15) of the fastening device (7) transversely of the aperture (16). 5. Method for manufacturing a snood (6) according to one or more of the preceding claims, and by which method the snood line (17) with associated first and second thickenings (18,21) is moulded in a corresponding mould cavity (23) of an injection mould (21), the outer shank tip (19) of the hook being moulded into a first thickening (18) at the same time and the fastening device (7) subsequently being moulded in a corresponding second mould cavity (29) of an injection mould (28), the thickening (21) portion of the snood line (17) being received in a portion of the mould cavity corresponding to the chamber (13) and the portion of the snood line (17) adjacent the second thickening (21) forming a part of the mould cavity, and whereby the material of the snood line (17) has a melting point exceeding the melting point of the material of the fastening device (7). 6. A method according to claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the mould cavity (29) for injection moulding the fastening device (7) comprises mould-cavity forming parts (41) enclosing the second thickening (21) and forming a chamber whose inner surface is spaced apart from and encloses the thickening. 7. Method of manufacturing a snood (6) according to one of the claims 1 to 4, by which method the fastening device (7) and the aperture (16) therein are moulded in a corresponding mould cavity (33) of an injection mould (32), the snood line (17) subsequently being moulded in a corresponding second mould cavity (37) of an injection mould (36) and the fastening device (7) being arranged such in the mould that the portions of the mould cavity corresponding to the second thickening (21) are arranged in the chamber and at least the aperture (16) of the fastening device (7) forms part of the mould cavity, and whereby the material of the fastening device (7) has a melting point exceeding the melting point of the material of the snood line (17). 8. Method according to claim 7, characterised in that the mould cavity (37) for injection moulding the snood line (17) comprises mould-cavity forming parts for the formation of a second thickening (21) accommodated in the chamber (13) spaced apart from the inner surface thereof. 9. Method according to claim 5 or 7. characterised in that the snood line is made of a stretchable plastic material, the said line subsequently being stretched.

Inventors: JOERGENSEN TORBEN, JOERGENSEN, TORBEN
Applicants: JOERGENSEN TORBEN, SVENDSEN & HEINSBAEK A S, JOERGENSEN, TORBEN, SVENDSEN & HEINSBAEK A/S
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A01K91
IPC codes: A01K91