Abstract:
A article of survival equipment for wear by the user comprising a weaved cord portion, a shackle, a tongue and a pin. The shackle is coupled to one end of the cord portion and further includes two apertures disposed at opposing ends of the shackle adapted to receive a pin. The tongue is coupled to the other end of the cord portion and is disposed between the ends of the shackle. The tongue further includes a plurality of apertures for receiving the pin. The pin extends substantially between the shackle apertures when inserted in the shackle and the tongue.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent Ser. No. 13/409,591 filed on Mar. 1, 2012, which is a continuation of U.S. Provisional Patent Ser. No. 61/470,560 filed on Apr. 1, 2011, both of which are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to survival equipment and, in particular, to equipment with a connecting shackle. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Currently, it is known to weave high-strength, durable cord, such as paracord, into bracelets, necklaces and other articles. The paracord is weaved such that an individual wearing the item can unweave the paracord in a relatively easy manner and utilize the paracord in an emergency situation. Wearing the paracord as a bracelet, necklace, belt, or other item provides access to the cord wherever it is worn in the event an emergency situation arises. 
         [0004]    A predetermined length of paracord is used and selected based on the intended wearer&#39;s sizing, and weaved to a length appropriate for the particular piece of article to be worn. Because the paracord is typically high-strength, military grade paracord, the cord is not designed to stretch any significant amount. The additional strength added by weaving the paracord increases resistance to stretching. As such, the length of the paracord and the size of the article produced from the paracord must be perfectly sized to fit the individual wearing it. Moreover, any increase or decrease in the size of the individual cannot be accommodated by the item, requiring a new paracord article to be purchased at a different size. 
         [0005]    Typically, the ends of the paracord are joined by a common stainless steel shackle. The shackle includes a U-shaped portion and steel pin for enclosing the ends of the paracord within the shackle. The shackle has two holes for inserting a locking pin. Generally, only one shackle hole is threaded and engages the threaded portion of the pin when the pin is fully inserted. The opposing hole is non-threaded, fixedly securing the pin in the shackle. Thus, the paracord length and shackle must be sized an appropriate length to accommodate the wearer&#39;s dimensions. 
         [0006]    The paracord and shackle are adapted to withstand a high amount of tensile force. However, because of the strength of the paracord, when the paracord article is worn, for example as a bracelet, the high-strength materials can present a significant safety hazard to the wearer if the bracelet becomes lodged or hooked on something, for example, a hook or chain. The paracord of the item being worn will not give way unless under excessive force. The individual wearing the item could potentially suffer bodily harm before the material of the item succumbs to the force applied. 
         [0007]    Additionally, currently manufactured pins for shackles contain a flat head containing sharp edges likely to snag on clothing or other items. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, there has been a need for an improved mechanism for clasping paracord articles that permits the size of the item to be adjusted by the individual wearing it. Additionally, there has been a need for a safety mechanism which permits the paracord article to break away when excessive force is applied to negate injury to the wearer. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In accordance with an aspect of the current invention, a paracord article including a cord portion and a connecting mechanism is disclosed. The connecting mechanism joins the opposing ends of the cord portion and further comprises a shackle, a tongue, and a pin. In an embodiment, the pin has a knurled head and is removable from the shackle. 
         [0010]    The tongue contains axially aligned apertures for receiving the pin between the two ends of the shackle. The tongue permits the length of the paracord article to be adjusted. In an embodiment, the tongue may permit adjustment to three differing lengths. Further, the tongue may permit adjustment in one-quarter inch increments. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment, a paracord article comprising a cord portion and a connecting mechanism is disclosed. The connecting mechanism joins two opposing ends of the cord portion and further includes a shackle and a pin adapted to shear or break if the cord gets snagged while worn by a user before bodily harm. In an embodiment, the pin contains a groove disposed on the shaft of the pin to permit shearing of the pin when a substantial force is applied in order to minimize potential harm to a wearer. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there are illustrated in the accompanying drawings embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its constructions and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a paracord bracelet, a shackle, adjustable tongue, and a threaded pin of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the shackle, tongue and pin in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the pin of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a front cross-sectional view of the shackle, tongue and pin of  FIG. 1 , taken along line  4  in  FIG. 4   a.    
           [0017]      FIG. 4   a  is a side view of the shackle, tongue and pin in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a side view of another embodiment of a threaded break-away pin in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a front cross-sectional view of a shackle, adjustable tongue, and a threaded break-away pin in  FIG. 5 , taken along line  6  in  FIG. 6   a.    
           [0020]      FIG. 6   a  is a side view of the shackle, tongue and pin in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a front view of a front view of the shackle, tongue and pin of  FIG. 6  after the pin is broken. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a front view of a shackle, adjustable tongue, and clevis pin. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the shackle, tongue and pin in  FIG. 8 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a front cross-sectional view of the shackle, tongue and pin in  FIG. 9 , taken along line  10  in  FIG. 9 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a side view of a clevis break-away pin. 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is a front cross-sectional view of a shackle, adjustable tongue and clevis break-away pin in  FIG. 11  during insertion of the pin into the shackle and tongue, taken along line  12  in  FIG. 12   a.    
           [0027]      FIG. 12   a  is a side vide of the shackle, tongue and pin in  FIG. 11 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is a front view of the shackle, tongue and clevis break-away pin of  FIG. 12  after the pin is broken. 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  is a rear perspective view of the bracelet, shackle, tongue and pin in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]    While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to embodiments illustrated. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a cord bracelet  10  for use in emergency situations is shown. The bracelet includes a cord portion  12  and a connecting mechanism  14 . While the present invention will be described in the form of a bracelet for wearing around an individual&#39;s wrist, it will be appreciated that the present invention is capable of use in many forms, including watch bands, anklets, belts, necklaces, dog collars, hat bands, and other items of articles which can be readily made from paracord while not departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. It will be also be appreciated that while the present application discloses the use of a paracord as an embodiment of the invention, any type of cording, yarn or other material can be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the present application. 
         [0032]    In an embodiment, the cord portion  12  is weaved to a length suitable for wearing around a user&#39;s wrist. The cord portion  12  is capable of multiple widths, requiring additional cord to weave to the appropriate length. In an embodiment, the total paracord length required for weaving into the bracelet is, for example, approximately 10 to 28 feet. It will be appreciated that any length of paracord may be used. Additionally, in an embodiment, the cord  12  is a nylon kernmantle cord, such as military specification 550 paracord. 
         [0033]    At one end  11  of the cord portion  12  is a generally U-shaped shackle  16 . In an embodiment, the cord  12  is looped around the arcuate portion  18  of the shackle  16  multiple times, as is generally known in the art. 
         [0034]    In an embodiment, shackle  16  includes ends  19 ,  21  respectively having apertures  20  and  22  for retaining a pin  24 . In an embodiment, the inner walls of apertures may include threads  32 . The pin  24  contains a head  26  at a first end  40 , a threaded portion  28  at the second end  42  adapted to threadably engage the threads  32  of apertures  20  and  22 , and a shaft  30  disposed between the two head  26  and threads  28 . When installed, the shaft  30  extends between the two apertures  20  and  22  in the shackle  16 . The head  26  is sized larger than the diameter of the aperture  20  such that the head  26  abuts the shackle outside edge  34  and retains the pin  24  in the aperture  20 , preventing the pin  24  from passing completely through both apertures  20  and  22  in the shackle  16 . In an embodiment, the head  26  of the pin  24  is knurled to provide a gripping means when inserting or removing the pin  24 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . Additionally, the knurled head  26  prevents snagging on clothing and the like which frequently occurs when using a flat headed pin commonly used in other shackles. The threaded end  28  is adapted to engage the interior threads  32  of the apertures  20  and  22 . Because both apertures  20  and  22  are threaded, the pin can be completely removed by engaging the threaded portion  28  of the pin  24  with the interior threads  32  of the apertures  20  and  22 . Accordingly, the pin  24  can be replaced with a different pin. When the pin  24  is completely inserted in the apertures  20  and  22 , the second end  42  of the pin  24  lies substantially flush with the outside edge  34  of the shackle  16  and the head  26  abuts the shackle  16 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . In an embodiment, the pin  24  and shackle  16  are each made of metal, such as stainless steel. Alternatively, the shackle may be composed of plastic, carbon fiber or other metal. 
         [0035]    In another embodiment, the pin  124  is a break-away pin, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The head  126  of the pin  124  may be knurled to provide a gripping means when inserting or removing the pin  124 . The pin  124  may include an annular groove  150  circumferentially disposed on the shaft  130 . The groove  150  extends radially inwardly from the outside surface  154  of the shaft  130 . As such, the groove  150  functions as a weakened break-away feature for the bracelet  10  by shearing at the groove  150  location when a lateral force is applied to the pin  124 , such as, for example, when the article worn by a user gets snagged on something. In another embodiment, a plurality of annular grooves  150 ,  152  are circumferentially disposed on the shaft  130 . The first groove  150  is disposed adjacent the threaded end portion  128 . The second groove  152  is disposed adjacent to the head  126 . The grooves  150 ,  152  are configured so that the grooves  150 ,  152  substantially align with the interior edge  160  of the shackle  116  when the pin  124  is substantially inserted into the shackle  16 , such as when the article is worn by a user. The alignment of the grooves  150 ,  152  with the interior edge  160  of the shackle  16  creates a shear plane. When a substantial lateral force is applied to the pin  124 , the pin  124  will preferably shear at one or more of the grooves  150 ,  152 , decoupling the tongue  80  from the shackle  116  to avoid or minimize injury to a wearer, as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0036]    In an embodiment, the pin  124  shears at one or more of the groove locations when approximately 30 to 100 pounds of lateral force is applied. In an embodiment, the pin  124  shears at approximately 60 pounds. When broken, the pin  124  preferably disassembles into multiple pieces corresponding to the portions outside of the grooves and the portion disposed between the grooves, thereby causing the article to fall apart before harm is caused to the user. In an embodiment, the pin  124  is constructed of a plastic. 
         [0037]    In another embodiment, the pin may be a clevis pin  224 , as depicted in  FIGS. 8-10 . The clevis pin  224  may be constructed of metal, such as, for example, stainless steel, or plastic, carbon fiber or other material. The clevis pin  224  includes a flat head  226  at a first end  240  and a detent structure  270  disposed at a second end  242 . In an embodiment, the head  226  of the pin  224  is knurled to provide a gripping means when inserting or removing the pin  224 . In an embodiment, the detent structure  270  may include a ball bearing  272  extending radially from the pin shaft  230  and a spring  274  adapted to radially bias the ball  272  outwardly. The width of the shaft  230  and the detent structure  270  are slightly wider than the diameter of the apertures  220 ,  222 . The detent structure  270  is depressible when a force is applied such that the clevis pin  224  can pass through apertures  220 ,  222  when the detent structure is depressed. In an embodiment, apertures  220   222  in the shackle  216  do not include threads. As the clevis pin  224  is inserted into apertures  220 ,  222  of the shackle  216 , the detent structure  270  is depressed due to the force applied by the inner walls of apertures  220  and  222 . When the clevis pin  224  is substantially inserted into the shackle  216 , the second end  242  of the pin  224  extends beyond the outside edge  234  of the shackle  216  and the detent structure  270  is biased outwardly. The detent structure  270  thereby substantially prevents the pin  224  from being inadvertently removed from the shackle  216  without a force sufficient to depress the detent structure  270  while passing through apertures  220 ,  222 . 
         [0038]    In another embodiment, the pin  324  is a break-away pin, as shown in  FIGS. 11-13 . In an embodiment, the pin  324  may be constructed of a plastic. The pin  324  may include an annular groove  350  circumferentially disposed on the shaft  330 . In another embodiment, a plurality of annular grooves  350  and  352  are circumferentially disposed on the shaft  330 . The first groove  350  is preferably disposed adjacent the second end  328  and a detent structure  370 . In an embodiment, a plurality of detent structures or projections  370 ,  372  may be respectively disposed on a plurality of pliable legs  374  adjacent the second end  328  of the pin  324 , the legs  374  being elastically depressible when an inwardly radial force is applied to the legs  374 , as shown in  FIG. 12 . The second groove  352  is circumferentially disposed adjacent to the head  326 . The grooves  350  and  352  are configured so that the grooves  350  and  352  respectively substantially align with the interiors edge  360  of the shackle  316  when the pin  324  is substantially inserted into the shackle  316 . The alignment of the grooves  350  and  352  with the interior edge  360  of the shackle  316  creates a shear plane. As shown in  FIG. 13 , when a substantial lateral force is applied to the pin  324 , the pin  324  will preferably shear at one or more of the grooves  350  and  352 , decoupling the tongue  80  from the shackle  316  and avoiding or minimizing injury to a wearer of the article. In an embodiment, the clevis pin  324  shears at one or more of the groove  350  locations when approximately 30 to 100 pounds of force is applied. In an embodiment, the clevis pin  324  shears at approximately 60 pounds. When broken, the clevis pin  324  preferably disassembles into multiple pieces corresponding to the portions outside of the grooves and the portion disposed between the grooves, thereby allowing the article to fall apart. 
         [0039]    It will be appreciated that each of the previously disclosed shackle and pin embodiments are compatible with an adjustable tongue  80  adapted to change the size of the woven corded article to be worn by a user. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a tongue  80  is disposed at opposing end  13  of corded portion  12 . The tongue  80  may be constructed of steel, plastic, carbon fiber, other metal or other strong material. In an embodiment, the tongue  80  is generally arcuate in shape, and includes a plurality of adjustment apertures  81 ,  82 ,  83 ,  84  extending through the width of the tongue  80 . In an embodiment, the tongue  80  includes four adjustment apertures  81 ,  82 ,  83 ,  84 . It will be appreciated that tongue  80  can have any number of adjustment apertures for adjustment purposes. The adjustment aperture  84  is preferably disposed adjacent opposing end  13  of corded portion  12  and is adapted to engage the tongue  80  with the cording  12 . In an embodiment, the tongue  80  is coupled to the cording  12 , such as for example, weaving the cording  12  by looping the cording  12  through aperture  84  one or more times to ensure a proper engagement between the tongue  80  and the cording  12 . The other adjustment apertures  81 ,  82 ,  83  provide an adjustment mechanism whereby, the inner diameter of the bracelet or anklet  10  can be easily modified as desired to fit a user. In an embodiment, the adjustment apertures  81 ,  82 ,  83  are each disposed on the tongue  80  adjacent one another and spaced relative to each other in approximately ¼ inch increments throughout the length of the tongue  80  so that the diameter of the bracelet may be changed in ¼ inch increments for a total of ¾ inches depending on which adjustment aperture  81 ,  82 ,  83  is selected. 
         [0040]    Though the following description refers to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the interaction between the shackle  16  and tongue  80  is substantially identical for each embodiment discussed previously. To connect the shackle  16  to the tongue  80 , the desired adjustment aperture  81 ,  82 , or  83  of the tongue  80  is selectively substantially axially aligned with apertures  20 ,  22  of the shackle  16 , depending on the desired inner diameter of the bracelet  10 , and the pin  24  is inserted through one of the adjustment apertures  81 ,  82 , or  83  in the tongue  80  to secure the two ends  11 ,  13  of the corded portion  12 . When inserted, the pin  24  extends from aperture  20  at one end of the shackle  16 , continuing through one of the adjustment apertures  81 ,  82  or  83  of the tongue  80 , and is retained by aperture  22  at the opposing end of the shackle  16 , thereby releasably coupling the tongue  80  to the shackle  16 . 
         [0041]    The tongue  80  and shackle  16  are adapted to substantially prevent the tongue  80  from extending past the arcuate portion  18  of the shackle  16  when the pin  24  is inserted through aperture  83 , thereby adjusting the bracelet or anklet  10  to its shortest length. In an embodiment, the length of the interior of the shackle  16  is greater than the length of the tongue  80  from the tightest adjustment aperture  83  to the loosest adjustment aperture  81 . 
         [0042]    Referring now to  FIG. 14 , the preferred paracord of the bracelet  10  is capable of use, such as, for example, in an emergency situation. To use the corded portion  12 , which is preferably paracord, the shackle  16  and tongue  80  are disassembled. At the end  13  of the cord portion  12  coupled to the tongue  80 , two loose ends  90  and  92  of corded portion  12  pass through a loop  94 , as shown in  FIG. 14 . The loose ends  90  and  92  may be pulled outwardly from underneath the loop  94  and the remainder of the corded portion  12  can be unraveled. Once unraveled, the user will have, for example, between 10 to 28 feet of paracord, depending on the length and width of the article, which may be used for a plurality of purposes. Because the shackle  16  is weaved onto the corded portion  12 , the shackle  16  may also be used to attach the unraveled corded portion  12  to an external object to ensure a secure connection between the cord and the object. 
         [0043]    While the invention has been described with respect to specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and techniques that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention