Patent Publication Number: US-2022228316-A1

Title: Rope having an end connector segment comprising two rope-branches for making noosed connections

Description:
The invention relates to a rope, wherein the rope along a longitudinal rope direction of the rope towards a longitudinal rope end of the rope successively comprises at least a main rope segment, a branching position and an end connector segment, wherein the end connector segment comprises a first rope-branch and a second rope-branch, wherein each of the first rope-branch and the second rope-branch at said branching position is branched off from the main rope segment. The invention further relates to use of such a rope, as well as to a method of manufacturing such a rope. 
     The rope according to the invention may be used offshore as well as onshore, for example as a lifting rope, a towing rope, a mooring rope, or the like. 
     A rope of the type as initially identified above is known from WO 2012/150469 A2. See for example the rope 100 or the rope 200 of FIG. 9 of the Abstract of WO 2012/150469 A2. It is seen that said rope 100 has the end connector segment 116 having the first rope-branch-eye 50 and the second rope-branch-eye 52. Similarly, said rope 200 has the end connector segment 216 having the first rope-branch-eye 250 and the second rope-branch-eye 252. It is further seen that a connecting component in the form of the shown connecting spool 58 can be used to connect the ropes 100 and 200 together end-to-end. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative rope, which allows for alternative favourable manners of connecting the rope to other ropes and/or to other types of external objects. 
     For that purpose the invention provides a rope according to the appended independent claim  1 , use of such a rope according to the appended independent claim  10 , and a method of manufacturing such a rope according to the appended independent claim  12 . Specific embodiments of the invention are set forth in the appended dependent claims  2 - 9  and  11 . 
     Hence, the invention provides a rope, wherein the rope along a longitudinal rope direction of the rope towards a longitudinal rope end of the rope successively comprises at least a main rope segment, a branching position and an end connector segment, wherein the end connector segment comprises a first rope-branch and a second rope-branch, wherein each of the first rope-branch and the second rope-branch at said branching position is branched off from the main rope segment, 
     characterized in that the first rope-branch comprises:
         a noosed first rope-branch portion for making a noosed connection with a thickened rope portion, or   a thickened first rope-branch portion for making a noosed connection with a noosed rope portion;       

     and in that the second rope-branch comprises:
         a noosed second rope-branch portion for making a noosed connection with a thickened rope portion, or   a thickened second rope-branch portion for making a noosed connection with a noosed rope portion.       

     Such an end connector segment, which comprises such a first rope-branch and such a second rope-branch, allows for many various favourable manners of connecting a rope according to the invention to other ropes and/or to other types of external objects. 
     Naturally, as used herein, a “noosed portion” of a rope (or of a rope-branch) is referring to an adjustable loop (eye) of the rope (or of the rope-branch), wherein said adjustable loop is tightened as the rope (or the rope-branch) is pulled when a rope having a thickened portion has been inserted through the adjustable loop, so that a tight and secure connection is formed in that the rope having the thickened portion is trapped in the tightened loop. Logically, as used herein, a “noosed connection” refers to such a tight and secure connection. Similarly, as used herein, a “thickened portion” of a rope (or of a rope-branch) refers to a thickened portion of a rope that is insertable through such a noosed portion of a rope to form such a noosed connection. 
     In a first preferable embodiment of a rope according to the invention:
         the rope comprises a first plurality of strands and a second plurality of strands,   each strand of said first plurality of strands is extending continuously at least from within the main rope segment to within the first rope-branch,   said first plurality of strands is at least partially forming either said noosed first rope-branch portion or said thickened first rope-branch portion, as the case may be,   each strand of said second plurality of strands is extending continuously at least from within the main rope segment to within the second rope-branch, and   said second plurality of strands is at least partially forming either said noosed second rope-branch portion or said thickened second rope-branch portion, as the case may be.       

     This first preferable embodiment of a rope according to the invention allows to manufacture the rope, including its specifically configured end connector segment, of a more or less continuously stranded rope construction, providing the advantages of a strong, flexible, soft and compact rope construction. 
     A first main class of embodiments of a rope according to the invention is characterized in that said first rope-branch comprises said noosed first rope-branch portion, and in that said second rope-branch comprises said thickened second rope-branch portion. 
     A rope according to said first main class of embodiments allows to easily realize a rope-eye at the longitudinal rope end of the rope, and to easily effectuate connection of the rope via the realized rope-eye. That is, a rope according to said first main class of embodiments allows for a use of the rope, wherein a noosed connection is made between said noosed first rope-branch portion of the first rope-branch, on the one hand, and said thickened second rope-branch portion of the second rope-branch, on the other hand, so that the first rope-branch and the second rope-branch together are forming a rope-eye at said longitudinal rope end of the rope, wherein said rope-eye is suitable for connecting the rope to external objects. 
     A second main class of embodiments of a rope according to the invention is characterized in that said first rope-branch comprises said thickened first rope-branch portion, and in that said second rope-branch comprises said thickened second rope-branch portion. 
     A third main class of embodiments of a rope according to the invention is characterized in that said first rope-branch comprises said noosed first rope-branch portion, and in that said second rope-branch comprises said noosed second rope-branch portion. 
     As used herein, an attainable maximum first effective length of the first rope-branch equals a vertical first length along the first rope-branch as measured in a first reference condition of the rope, wherein in said first reference condition the first rope-branch, as well as its noosed first rope-branch portion or its thickened first rope-branch portion, as the case may be, are as much as possible in a first plumb line configuration, in which the very end of the noosed first rope-branch portion or of the thickened first rope-branch portion, as the case may be, corresponds to the lowest part of the noosed first rope-branch portion or of the thickened first rope-branch portion, as the case may be, and is considered to be a concentrated first plumb mass point of the first plumb line configuration, and wherein said vertical first length is measured from the branching position up to said very end of the noosed first rope-branch portion or of the thickened first rope-branch portion, as the case may be. 
     Analogously, as used herein, an attainable maximum second effective length of the second rope-branch equals a vertical second length along the second rope-branch as measured in a second reference condition of the rope, wherein in said second reference condition the second rope-branch, as well as its noosed second rope-branch portion or its thickened second rope-branch portion, as the case may be, are as much as possible in a second plumb line configuration, in which the very end of the noosed second rope-branch portion or of the thickened second rope-branch portion, as the case may be, corresponds to the lowest part of the noosed second rope-branch portion or of the thickened second rope-branch portion, as the case may be, and is considered to be a concentrated second plumb mass point of the second plumb line configuration, and wherein said vertical first length is measured from the branching position up to said very end of the noosed second rope-branch portion or of the thickened second rope-branch portion, as the case may be. 
     In further preferable embodiments of a rope according to the invention, the attainable maximum first effective length of the first rope-branch is higher than 105% of the attainable maximum second effective length of the second rope-branch, more preferably higher than 110% of said attainable maximum second effective length, and yet more preferably higher than 120% of said attainable maximum second effective length, and yet more preferably higher than 150% of said attainable maximum second effective length, and yet more preferably higher than 200% of said attainable maximum second effective length, and yet more preferably higher than 300% of said attainable maximum second effective length. 
     In other further preferable embodiments of a rope according to the invention, the attainable maximum second effective length of the second rope-branch is higher than 105% of the attainable maximum first effective length of the first rope-branch, more preferably higher than 110% of said attainable maximum first effective length, and yet more preferably higher than 120% of said attainable maximum first effective length, and yet more preferably higher than 150% of said attainable maximum first effective length, and yet more preferably higher than 200% of said attainable maximum first effective length, and yet more preferably higher than 300% of said attainable maximum first effective length. 
     All ropes according to the last-mentioned further preferable embodiments and the last-mentioned other further preferable embodiments have in common that such a rope has mutually unequal maximum effective lengths of the first rope-branch and the second rope-branch. Such mutually unequal maximum effective lengths further contribute to providing many various favourable manners of connecting a rope according to the invention to other ropes and to other types of external objects. 
    
    
     
       In the following, the invention is further elucidated with reference to non-limiting embodiments and with reference to the schematic figures in the attached drawing, in which the following is shown. 
         FIG. 1  shows, in a side view, an example of an embodiment of a rope according to the above-mentioned first main class of embodiments of a rope according to the invention, wherein the rope is hanging with its main rope segment extending vertically and with its end connector segment below. 
         FIG. 2A  shows the rope of  FIG. 1  in a similar situation as in  FIG. 1 , however wherein this time the rope is shown in its above-mentioned first reference condition in order to illustrate the attainable maximum first effective length of the first rope-branch of the rope. 
         FIG. 2B  shows the rope of  FIG. 1  in a similar situation as in  FIG. 1 , however wherein this time the rope is shown in its above-mentioned second reference condition in order to illustrate the attainable maximum second effective length of the second rope-branch of the rope. 
         FIG. 3A  shows the rope of  FIG. 1  in a similar situation as in  FIG. 1 , however wherein this time an end portion of the longer first rope-branch has been bent upwards toward the end of the shorter second rope-branch, and wherein a noosed connection is made between the noosed first rope-branch portion of the first rope-branch, on the one hand, and the thickened second rope-branch portion of the second rope-branch, on the other hand, so that the first rope-branch and the second rope-branch together are forming a rope-eye at the longitudinal rope end of the rope. 
         FIG. 3B  shows the rope of  FIG. 1  in a similar situation as in  FIG. 3A , however wherein this time, before said noosed connection was made, the end portion of the longer first rope-branch had been passed through a lifting lug of a hoisting load. 
         FIG. 4A  shows, in a side view, an example of an embodiment of a rope according to the above-mentioned second main class of embodiments of a rope according to the invention. 
         FIG. 4B  shows the rope of  FIG. 4A  in a similar situation as in  FIG. 4A , however wherein this time the rope of  FIG. 4A  is connected to another rope having two noosed rope portions at its two opposite rope ends, respectively. 
         FIG. 5A  shows, in a side view, an example of an embodiment of a rope according to the above-mentioned third main class of embodiments of a rope according to the invention. 
         FIG. 5B  shows the rope of  FIG. 5A  in a similar situation as in  FIG. 5A , however wherein this time the rope of  FIG. 5A  is connected to another rope having two thickened rope portions at its two opposite rope ends, respectively. 
         FIG. 6A  shows, in a side view, another example of an embodiment of a rope according to the above-mentioned first main class of embodiments of a rope according to the invention. 
         FIG. 6B  shows the rope of  FIG. 6A  in a similar situation as in  FIG. 6A , however wherein this time the rope of  FIG. 6A  is connected to another rope having a noosed rope portion and a thickened rope portion at its two opposite rope ends, respectively. 
         FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D  illustrate an example of a first embodiment of a method of manufacturing a rope according to the invention. 
         FIGS. 8A, 8B  illustrate an example of a second embodiment of a method of manufacturing a rope according to the invention. 
         FIGS. 9A, 9B  illustrate an example of a third embodiment of a method of manufacturing a rope according to the invention. 
         FIGS. 10A, 10B  illustrate an example of a fourth embodiment of a method of manufacturing a rope according to the invention. 
         FIGS. 11A, 11B  show, in a side view, a rope according to the invention, wherein the rope is similar to the rope of  FIG. 1 , however wherein the embodiment of the noosed first rope-branch portion of the rope of  FIGS. 11A, 11B  is different from that of the rope of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     Now, reference is first made to the rope  1  shown in  FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B . The reference signs used in  FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B  are referring to the above-mentioned parts and aspects of the invention, as well as to related parts and aspects, in the following manner.
           1  rope     2  longitudinal rope direction     3  longitudinal rope end     4  main rope segment     5  branching position     6  end connector segment     8  rope-eye     9  lifting lug     10  external object (e.g. a hoisting load)     11  first rope-branch     12  second rope-branch     21 N noosed first rope-branch portion     22 T thickened second rope-branch portion   L 1  attainable maximum first effective length   L 2  attainable maximum second effective length       

     Based on the above introductory description, including the brief description of the drawing figures, and based on the above-listed reference signs used in  FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B , the examples of  FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B  are readily self-explanatory. The following brief additional explanations are given of  FIGS. 3A, 3B , which illustrate a use according to the invention of the rope  1  according to the invention. 
     In  FIGS. 3A, 3B  a noosed connection has been made between the noosed first rope-branch portion  21 N of the first rope-branch  11 , on the one hand, and the thickened second rope-branch portion  22 T of the second rope-branch  12 , on the other hand, so that the first rope-branch  11  and the second rope-branch  12  together are forming the rope-eye  8  at the longitudinal rope end  3  of the rope  1 .  FIG. 3B  illustrates a situation, in which, before said noosed connection was made, an end portion of the longer first rope-branch  11  had been passed through the lifting lug  9  of an external object in the form of the shown hoisting load  10 . 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 4A, 4B , which show the rope  101  comprising the main rope segment  104 , the branching position  105  and the end connector segment  106 . The end connector segment  106  comprises the first rope-branch  111 , which has the thickened first rope-branch portion  121 T, and the second rope-branch  112 , which has the thickened second rope-branch portion  122 T.  FIG. 4B  additionally shows another rope  110 , which has two noosed rope portions  110 N at its two opposite rope ends, respectively. In  FIG. 4B  a noosed connection has been made between the thickened first rope-branch portion  121 T of the rope  101  and one of the two noosed rope portions  110 N of the rope  110  while another noosed connection has been made between the thickened second rope-branch portion  122 T of the rope  101  and the other of the two noosed rope portions  110 N of the rope  110 . 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 5A, 5B , which show the rope  201  comprising the main rope segment  204 , the branching position  205  and the end connector segment  206 . The end connector segment  206  comprises the first rope-branch  211 , which has the noosed first rope-branch portion  221 N, and the second rope-branch  212 , which has the noosed second rope-branch portion  122 N.  FIG. 5B  additionally shows another rope  210 , which has two thickened rope portions  210 T at its two opposite rope ends, respectively. In  FIG. 5B  a noosed connection has been made between the noosed first rope-branch portion  221 N of the rope  201  and one of the two thickened rope portions  210 T of the rope  210 , while another noosed connection has been made between the noosed second rope-branch portion  222 N of the rope  201  and the other of the two thickened rope portions  210 T of the rope  210 . 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 6A, 6B , which show the rope  301  comprising the main rope segment  304 , the branching position  305  and the end connector segment  306 . The end connector segment  306  comprises the first rope-branch  311 , which has the noosed first rope-branch portion  321 N, and the second rope-branch  312 , which has the thickened second rope-branch portion  322 T.  FIG. 6B  additionally shows another rope  310 , which has a thickened rope portion  310 T at one of its two opposite rope ends, and a noosed rope portion  310 N at the other of its two opposite rope ends. In  FIG. 6B  a noosed connection has been made between the noosed first rope-branch portion  321 N of the rope  301  and the thickened rope portion  310 T of the rope  310 , while another noosed connection has been made between the thickened second rope-branch portion  322 T of the rope  301  and the noosed rope portion  310 N of the rope  310 . 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D  which illustrate an example of a first embodiment of a method of manufacturing a rope according to the invention. 
     The rope  1 ″ of  FIG. 7A  comprises a main rope segment  4 ″ of, for example, braided or laid rope strands. The rope  1 ″ further comprises the branching position  5  and a rope end segment  6 ″. In the shown example, the rope end segment  6 ″ comprises twelve rope strands  14 . It is noted that the construction of the rope end segment  6 ″ previously was identical to and integral with the rope construction of the main rope segment  4 ″. In fact, the twelve rope strands  14  of the rope end segment  6 ″ as shown in  FIG. 7A  were obtained by mutually disentangling (for example un-braiding or un-laying) the rope strands of said previously identical and integral rope construction. 
     The rope  1 ′ of  FIG. 7B  has the same main rope segment  4 ″ and the same branching position  5  as the rope  1 ″ of  FIG. 7A . However, the rope  1 ′ of  FIG. 7B  has a rope end segment  6 ′, which is different from the rope end segment  6 ″ of the rope  1 ″ of  FIG. 7A . That is, the rope  1 ′ of  FIG. 7B  has two rope end portions  11 ′ and  12 ′. Each of said rope end portions  11 ′ and  12 ′ has been obtained by mutually entangling (for example braiding or laying) six of the twelve rope strands  14  of the rope  1 ″ of  FIG. 7A . Purely to illustratively elucidate this, the twelve mutually disentangled rope strands  14  in  FIG. 7A  are shown in two separately arranged groups, each having six mutually disentangled rope strands  14 . 
     The rope  1  of  FIG. 7C , which is the same as the rope  1  of  FIGS. 1-5 , may be obtained by transforming the rope end portion  11 ′ of the rope  1 ′ of  FIG. 7B  into the first rope-branch  11  having the noosed first rope-branch portion  21 N, and by transforming the rope end portion  12 ′ of the rope  1 ′ of  FIG. 7B  into the second rope-branch  12  having the thickened second rope-branch portion  22 T. Said transformations can be performed by many various methods, including many various methods known in the art, for making such a noosed first rope-branch portion  21 N and such a thickened second rope-branch portion  22 T. 
     It is noted that the mutually unequal lengths L 1  and L 2  of the two rope-branches  11  and  12  of the rope  1  (see  FIGS. 2A, 2B ) may for example be obtained by considerably shortening the rope strands  14  used for the rope end portion  12 ′ in  FIG. 7B  prior to transforming the rope end portion  12 ′ into the second rope-branch  12  of  FIG. 7C . 
       FIG. 7D  shows another example of a rope that may be obtained from the rope  1 ′ of  FIG. 7B . The rope  401  of  FIG. 7D  comprises the main rope segment  404 , the branching position  405  and the end connector segment  406 . The end connector segment  406  comprises the first rope-branch  411 , which has the noosed first rope-branch portion  421 N, and the second rope-branch  412 , which has the thickened second rope-branch portion  422 T. The rope  401  of  FIG. 7D  may be obtained by transforming the rope end portion  11 ′ of the rope  1 ′ of  FIG. 7B  into the first rope-branch  411  having the noosed first rope-branch portion  421 N, and by transforming the rope end portion  12 ′ of the rope  1 ′ of  FIG. 7B  into the second rope-branch  412  having the thickened second rope-branch portion  422 T. It is seen that in the example of  FIG. 7D  the attainable maximum second effective length of the second rope-branch  412  is higher than the attainable maximum first effective length of the first rope-branch  411 . 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 8A, 8B , which illustrate an example of a second embodiment of a method of manufacturing a rope according to the invention, more specifically a method of manufacturing the rope  501  of  FIG. 8B . 
       FIG. 8A  shows two separate first and second ropes  501 A and  501 B, respectively. The first rope  501 A comprises the noosed first rope-branch portion  521 N. The rope  501 B comprises the thickened second rope-branch portion  522 T. Each of the first and second ropes  501 A and  501 B can be manufactured by many various methods. 
     The rope  501  of  FIG. 8B  is obtained by splicing an end portion of a main rope segment of the rope  501 B into an intermediate portion of a main rope segment of the rope  501 A in such manner that the rope  501  has the shown main rope segment  504 , the shown branching position  505  and the shown end connector segment  506  having the shown two rope-branches  511  and  512 , wherein the first rope-branch  511  comprises the noosed first rope-branch portion  521 N of the first rope  501 A as the noosed first rope-branch portion  521 N of the rope  501 , and wherein the second rope-branch  512  comprises the thickened second rope-branch portion  522 T of the second rope  501 B as the thickened second rope-branch portion  522 T of the rope  501 . 
     It is noted that many various splicing techniques may be applied for said splicing of the end portion of the main rope segment of the rope  501 B into the intermediate portion of the main rope segment of the rope  501 A. 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 9A, 9B , which illustrate an example of a third embodiment of a method of manufacturing a rope according to the invention, more specifically a method of manufacturing the rope  601  of  FIG. 9B . 
       FIG. 9A  shows two separate first and second ropes  601 A and  601 B, respectively. The first rope  601 A comprises the noosed first rope-branch portion  621 N. The rope  601 B comprises the thickened second rope-branch portion  622 T. Each of the first and second ropes  601 A and  601 B can be manufactured by many various methods. 
     The rope  601  of  FIG. 9B  is obtained by splicing an end portion of a main rope segment of the rope  601 A into an intermediate portion of a main rope segment of the rope  601 B in such manner that the rope  601  has the shown main rope segment  604 , the shown branching position  605  and the shown end connector segment  606  having the shown two rope-branches  611  and  612 , wherein the first rope-branch  611  comprises the noosed first rope-branch portion  621 N of the first rope  601 A as the noosed first rope-branch portion  621 N of the rope  601 , and wherein the second rope-branch  612  comprises the thickened second rope-branch portion  622 T of the second rope  601 B as the thickened second rope-branch portion  622 T of the rope  601 . 
     It is noted that many various splicing techniques may be applied for said splicing of the end portion of the main rope segment of the rope  601 A into the intermediate portion of the main rope segment of the rope  601 B. 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 10A, 10B , which illustrate an example of a fourth embodiment of a method of manufacturing a rope according to the invention, more specifically a method of manufacturing the rope  701  of  FIG. 10B . 
       FIG. 10A  shows a rope  701 ′ of multiple load-bearing sub-ropes  741 A,  741 B,  742 A,  742 B within an outer jacket  731 . 
     The rope  701  of  FIG. 10B  is obtained by coupling the sub-ropes  741 A,  741 B together and by coupling the sub-ropes  742 A,  742 B together, in such manner that the rope  701  has the shown main rope segment  704 , the shown branching position  705  and the shown end connector segment  706  having the shown two rope-branches  711  and  712 , wherein the first rope-branch  711  comprises the shown noosed first rope-branch portion  721 N of the rope  701 , and wherein the second rope-branch  712  comprises the shown thickened second rope-branch portion  722 T of the rope  701 . 
     It is noted that many various coupling techniques may be applied for said coupling the sub-ropes  741 A,  741 B together and for said coupling the sub-ropes  742 A,  742 B together. Said many various coupling techniques may comprise many various splicing techniques for splicing the sub-ropes  741 A,  741 B into one another and for splicing the sub-ropes  742 A,  742 B into one another. Said many various coupling techniques may further comprise many various techniques for forming the noosed first rope-branch portion  721 N and for forming the thickened second rope-branch portion  722 T. 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 11A, 11B , which illustrate a rope according to the invention, wherein the rope is similar to the rope of  FIG. 1 , however wherein the embodiment of the noosed first rope-branch portion of the rope of  FIGS. 11A, 11B  is different from that of the rope of  FIG. 1 . 
     In the examples of  FIGS. 1, 5A, 6A, 7C, 7D, 8A, 8B, 9A, 9B, 10B  it is seen that each time a noosed portion of the rope concerned is of a type in which the line of the adjustable loop that forms the noosed portion is transversely running through itself in a transversely slidable manner. This is a known embodiment of a noosed portion of a rope for making a noosed connection with a thickened portion of a rope. 
     The rope  801  of  FIGS. 11A, 11B  comprises the main rope segment  804 , the branching position  805  and the end connector segment  806 . The end connector segment  806  comprises the first rope-branch  811 , which has the noosed first rope-branch portion  821 N, and the second rope-branch  812 , which has the thickened second rope-branch portion  822 T. The difference between the noosed first rope-branch portion  821 N of the rope  801  of  FIGS. 11A, 11B  and the noosed portion  21 N of the rope  1  of  FIG. 1  is that the noosed first rope-branch portion  821 N is not of the known type in which the line of the adjustable loop that forms the noosed portion is transversely running through itself in a transversely slidable manner. Instead, the line of the adjustable loop that forms the noosed portion  821 N of the rope  801  of  FIGS. 11A, 11B  is coaxially running through itself in a coaxially slidable manner. Also this coaxially slidable embodiment is a known embodiment of a noosed portion of a rope for making a noosed connection with a thickened portion of a rope. 
     The difference between the shown situations of  FIGS. 11A and 11B  is that in  FIG. 11B  the adjustable loop that forms the noosed portion  821 N of the rope  801  is in a more tightened condition than in  FIG. 11A . 
     It is further noted that each of the above-mentioned examples of a method of manufacturing a rope according to the invention (said examples being illustrated by  FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10 ) can be used to manufacture a rope according to the above-mentioned “first preferable embodiment” of a rope according to the invention. As mentioned in the introduction of the present disclosure, said “first preferable embodiment” of a rope is characterized in that:
         the rope comprises a first plurality of strands and a second plurality of strands,   each strand of said first plurality of strands is extending continuously at least from within the main rope segment to within the first rope-branch,   said first plurality of strands is at least partially forming either said noosed first rope-branch portion or said thickened first rope-branch portion, as the case may be,   each strand of said second plurality of strands is extending continuously at least from within the main rope segment to within the second rope-branch, and   said second plurality of strands is at least partially forming either said noosed second rope-branch portion or said thickened second rope-branch portion, as the case may be.       

     If so manufactured, the respective ropes shown in  FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10  have the following features. 
     For the rope  1  of  FIG. 7C , the main rope segment  4  and the first rope-branch  11  are each containing said first plurality of strands, while the main rope segment  4  and the second rope-branch  12  are each containing said second plurality of strands. 
     For the rope  401  of  FIG. 7D , the main rope segment  404  and the first rope-branch  411  are each containing said first plurality of strands, while the main rope segment  404  and the second rope-branch  412  are each containing said second plurality of strands. 
     For the rope  501  of  FIG. 8B , the main rope segment  504  and the first rope-branch  511  are each containing said first plurality of strands, while the main rope segment  504  and the second rope-branch  512  are each containing said second plurality of strands. 
     For the rope  601  of  FIG. 9B , the main rope segment  604  and the first rope-branch  611  are each containing said first plurality of strands, while the main rope segment  604  and the second rope-branch  612  are each containing said second plurality of strands. 
     For the rope  701  of  FIG. 10B , the main rope segment  704  and the first rope-branch  711  are each containing said first plurality of strands, while the main rope segment  704  and the second rope-branch  712  are each containing said second plurality of strands. 
     Similarly, the respective ropes shown in  FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 11  may be manufactured to have the following features. 
     For the rope  101  of  FIGS. 4A-4B , the main rope segment  104  and the first rope-branch  111  are each containing said first plurality of strands, while the main rope segment  104  and the second rope-branch  112  are each containing said second plurality of strands. 
     For the rope  201  of  FIGS. 5A-5B , the main rope segment  204  and the first rope-branch  211  are each containing said first plurality of strands, while the main rope segment  204  and the second rope-branch  212  are each containing said second plurality of strands. 
     For the rope  301  of  FIGS. 6A-6B , the main rope segment  304  and the first rope-branch  311  are each containing said first plurality of strands, while the main rope segment  304  and the second rope-branch  312  are each containing said second plurality of strands. 
     For the rope  801  of  FIGS. 11A-11B , the main rope segment  804  and the first rope-branch  811  are each containing said first plurality of strands, while the main rope segment  804  and the second rope-branch  812  are each containing said second plurality of strands. 
     It is remarked that the above-mentioned examples do not limit the invention, and that various alternatives are possible within the scope of the appended claims. 
     For example, many various types of embodiments of the noosed first rope-branch portion and of the noosed second rope-branch portion are possible. Similarly, many various types of embodiments of the thickened first rope-branch portion and of the thickened second rope-branch portion are possible. Such a thickened rope-branch portion may for example be formed by a line being knotted together, which can be done in many various manners. In lieu of such a knot formed by a line being knotted together, or in addition to such a knot, it is also possible to form a thickened rope-branch portion from less soft materials, such as by assembling parts of plastic and/or metal with the rope line. 
     In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. For the purpose of clarity and a concise description, features are disclosed herein as part of the same or separate embodiments, however, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention may include embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features disclosed. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures can not be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.