Patent Publication Number: US-7219398-B1

Title: Flexible loop bungee cord terminus

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to a bungee cord terminus which has a flexible loop, one end fixed to the terminus, the other end being engageable to the terminus and releasable from the terminus, thereby to provide secure fastening through or about an anchor point. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Bungee cords are extremely common, and used in a variety of ways. The most simple and common bungee cord terminus is a stiff wire hook which is crimped to the end of the bungee cord. One form of terminus, as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,851,163 is adjustable. A variety of other forms are known to provide a variety of features to suit different applications. 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     Objects of the invention include: a bungee cord terminus which is extremely secure when in place; a flexible bungee cord terminus which may reliably engage a variety of anchors; and an improved bungee cord terminus. 
     According to the present invention, a bungee cord terminus includes a flexible loop having one end secured to the terminus and a free end releasable to permit passing the flexible loop around or through an anchor point, following which the free end of the flexible loop is reengaged with the terminus. 
     The invention provides a bungee cord terminus which, when engaged around or through an anchor point, is secure and will not release from the anchor point. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in the light of the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a sectioned, side elevation view of one form of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an elevation view of a first side of the terminus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an elevation view of a second side of the terminus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top sectional view taken on the line A—A of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a terminus  8  for a bungee cord  9  comprises a molded base  10  having a flexible loop  11  anchored therein by means of a compression sleeve  12  secured to the flexible loop  11 . In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the flexible loop  11  comprises steel cable, such as ⅛ inch 7×7 aircraft cable, or ⅛ inch 7×19 aircraft cable, coated with vinyl or other suitable plastic to an overall diameter on the order of 3/16 inch. Instead of a compression sleeve, the loop  11  could be bent and then molded into the base  10 . The loop may be on the order of between eight inches and twelve inches long, or of such other length as is found suitable in any implementation of the present invention. 
     The base  10  has a slot  15  having a narrow upper portion  16  and an enlarged lower portion  17 . An opening  20  at the end of the enlarged portion  17  allows passage of a compression sleeve  22  crimped to the free end  23  of the loop  11 . 
     In the embodiment disclosed herein, the position of the terminus  8  on the bungee cord  9  is adjustable, in the same fashion as disclosed in the aforementioned patent. Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 , the base  10  has a cord receiving bore  25  with a cord passage  27  extending outwardly from the bore  13 . A cleat  28  opens at  29  into the cord passage  27  in such a fashion that when a cord extends through the bore  25  and the passage  27  it may be pulled down into the cleat  28  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , thereby locking the terminus  8  to the cord  9 . A land  32  may be provided, if desired, to reduce the thickness of the cleat, to give the cleat a desired characteristic. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the cord  9  may be bent upon itself and crimped with a hog ring  36 , or otherwise, to prevent the terminus from slipping off the end of the cord  9 . 
     The invention, including a base  10 , a flexible loop  11 , the slot  15 , enlargement  17 , and opening  20 , may be utilized without the adjustability described with respect to items  25 – 32 , by molding the base  10  over the end of the cord  9 , after the cord  9  has a suitable hog ring or compression sleeve, or bend, to hold it in place. 
     The flexible loop  11  may alternatively be comprised of a non-metallic solid or braided semi-rigid plastic, either reinforced by glass or other fibers, or not. The flexible loop  11  may also comprise a suitably resilient solid metal such as spring steel; in such a case, the enlarged portion  17  of the slot  15  may be shorter, in contrast with the slot  17  shown with a compression sleeve or other enlargement on the free end  23  of the loop  11 . The flexible loop may be comprised of other materials, have other enlargements on the free end, and be secured in the base  10  by means other than a compression sleeve, all such modifications being well within the skill of the art in view of the teachings herein. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the base  10  has a groove  34  which may optionally be used to provide a more symmetrical mold thickness, to assist in manufacture; but the groove  34  may be omitted. 
     The aforementioned patent is incorporated herein by reference. 
     Thus, although the invention has been shown and described with respect to exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes, omissions and additions may be made therein and thereto, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.